OK, so I know that I'm late blogging about this one, but better late than never, eh? This article seems to think that the commutation of Scooter Libby's sentence isn't going to have any effect on the 2008 presidential election. I don't think so.
Here's what I think is going to happen: Bush commuted Libby's sentence without granting a full pardon in order to keep him out of jail (his aides are quick to point out that this is the first time that Bush has commuted someone's sentence without going through the full Justice Department review process - a fact that I wouldn't really bring to light, since it only lends more credence to the fact that this administration acts more on cronyism that anything) . This was done in order to minimize the political damage to the Republican party that would come from a full pardon. Once the election in 2008 is decided (one way or the other), there is going to be a full pardon. Mark my words.
All that you have to do is look into history for this one. Clinton pardoned Marc Rich right before he left office, well after the election. It was an unpopular decision, but it had no real impact for anybody. The same is going to be true here. Bush may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but his aides and strategists certainly are.
Leave a comment