CNN

First I'd like to state that I'm a Conservative who wholeheartedly despises Bush... (Please don't forget though I am 100% Republican and I do not take sides with any Democratic or Liberal point of view)

All pardoning and commutation for personal reasoning is wrong... The fact is those who recieve a pardon are convicted criminals and to pardon is to chip away at the foundation of our society, the legal system!

Does anyone here wonder why Bush may have commuted Libby's sentence (and I guarantee he will pardon in the future) although it is wrong? It's very simple... he has nothing left to lose... he's hated by nearly everyone in this country because of his lack of morals and reasoning... The situation for him is going to be no worse... in fact it may even be better... This story has been completely blown out of proportion... It's not really an important topic yet we spend so much time conversing about it... You don't think that this has taken some of the media air-time off of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?? I think this may actually be what he wanted on many levels... That's why he hasn't pardoned him fully... He'll do that when the time is right.

Lets get off this story because it's not important... Lets respect the power of the president, although I know two-thirds of us disapprove of him. Respect should still be given to our president because he is just that, our president, whether you like it or not!!

I am personally tired of the media and the American people crucifying him every chance they get over things that do not need much attention. Isn't it obvious he does not care what the American people think about how he runs our country? So why not save your breath and energy until his time passes and put a little effort into researching the next presidential candidate before you blindly cast your vote! That's how we ended up where we are today... to many blind votes... So vote for anyone except Hillary!! She will be a horrible president as she is a horrible human being with no morals or respect for her fellow neighbor...

BUFFOONS, ALL OF YOU!! Every single person here misses the bigger picture, thus misses the reason why we are torn apart as a nation. Every one of you believes that your "leader" is the chosen one and doesn't make mistakes. Who cares who did what when and to whom. The question remains, was it in the best interest of the country and the people they serve? All of you are so short sighted that you can't see beyond your own nose and want to point the finger at someone else. Those who support the president don't want to own up that he's made a quite a few bonehead mistakes, those who are against refuse to recognize any accomplishments he has made. You bicker like little children on a playground and instead of voting for the person in the best interest of the country, you vote for the one who serves your best interest. All of you disgust me because you have nothing better to do than point fingers and make comments. You offer nothing but blithe comments that serve only to shut out the person before you. Instead, why not pull your resources together and come up with better ideas on how to run the country the way it should be. Step up and be leaders yoursleves and quit succoming to the likes of those who wish to take advantage of your loyalty. Who really gives a damn as to who came up with the idea. If this nation pulls together as one entity, then we can create a better future and vision for ourselves in the long run.

Oh, wait, whatever happened to the Iraq Civil War? Our more than 3,500 troops who gave their lives? The more than 25,000 injured? And, and, and.......

OK, let's out a CIA counter-terrorism agent because her husband calls your lies on something important - lets call it the Iraq War. Then, we'll have a press conference and show everyone how committed we are to fighting terrorism and promise to bring the person responsible for the leak to justice. Hmmmm. That was double-speak. So we're supposed to trust that terrorists attacked us here because we're free but we pass the Patriot Act which restricts most of our freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. And we believe this administration is telling the truth about 9/11? What is wrong with us?

GOP Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-CO, told us that he is against illegal immigrants because they broke the law and people should be arrested, prosecuted and put in jail. I thought Rep. Tancredo was a law & order kind of guy but he fooled all of us when he agreed with President Bush that Scooter Libby should not go to prison. Scooter Libby should be going to prison just because he & other people of President Bush administration had fooled all of us to go to war in Iraq instead concentrating on fighting terrorists & Osama Bin Ladin in Afghanistan. American citizens have been locked up for longer periods of time by President Bush Administration for lesser crimes. Apparently law & order only applies to us, not to law breaker friends of President Bush.

Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican I think we can all agree on this: The power of the presidential pardon is out of control. Everyone needs to stop pointing fingers and admit that it was wrong for Clinton, Bush Sr., Bush Jr., Carter, Nixon or any modern president for that matter to issue controversial pardons. The federal government needs to take the necessary steps to see that this does not happen again. Understand that I am saying that ALL of these presidents were wrong to issue a vast majority of the pardons or commutations that they did. So why don’t we stop screaming at each other and work together to stop this foolishness.

To all you people that say since Clinton pardons people, then it's OK for Bush to pardon Libby. The way you are thinking it should be Ok for Bush to have oral sex with a young woman in the Oval Office. Two wrongs don't make a right.

Clinton pardoned around 700 people, over one hundered his LAST DAY ALONE.

Bush is well under 20 pardons.

This is hypocracy at it’s finest, that Clinton can pardon people and get paid for it an bush hardly touches his pardoning power and is lynched.

Globally popular Presidents rarely accomplish anything for the country that they serve.

Posted By Josh, Lincoln, CA : July 6, 2007 2:45 pm

Josh – Franklin Roosevelt was beloved throughout the world, except by our true enemies...facists.

Also, Now that son-of-a-bush is pardoning friends... will he also have an affair with an intern.

You're defending a criminal, in Skater Libby.

To answer Tom's question, the right constantly screams that Richard Armitage was the leaker. Well he wasn't the ONLY one, who was it that told Rich? This is why it is important that Libby be punished for lying under oath and covering up for his boss – like Fitzgerald said, when Libby lied to the Federal grand jury, it was like throwing sand in one's eyes – you can't get to the bottom of the issue because no one will TELL YOU THE TRUTH. And besides, if you lie to cover-up for your boss, well don't worry, your boss will pardon you and no one will ever have to pay for blowing the cover of a covert CIA officer in a time of war. A nice little Crime Syndicate we have in the white house.

Who cares what the "majority" of whomever likes?

It's pretty immature to attack another person's position by using the whole "he did it too" tactic. Just because Clinton, Bush 1 and other presidents used or misused pardons doesn't make Libby's commutation any less right or wrong. Wrong is wrong. Libby repeatedly lied to a GRAND JURY and obstructed justice. A jury of his peers found him guilty. A judge, who, by the way, worked for Bush 1, sentenced him to jail time, citing the large amount of evidence against him. As for those arguing with the results of this poll, are all polls that don't support your position biased? And everyone please check your grammar and use spellcheck, esp. if you refer to the Constitution or the Federalist Papers.

Uh, Jon,

Hey!

Jon...

Earth to Jon...

4) The Dems cannot muster a supermajority to overcome either veto or filibuster by the R's.

You need to go back and actually pass civics 101.

Simple question my liberal friends and please try and answer with no mention of Bush, Rove or Cheney:

If this was such a major deal outing this "supposed" CIA operative, why are we not prosecuting the man (who is NO FRIEND of Bush) Richard Armitage who admitted that he was the one that dropped her name?

Simple question.

I totally agree with Xavier. What were the exact questions and in what order? Polls without that information are the tools of political bias media.

Think about these facts...

Pardons and Commutations

George W. Bush (2001 – )
Pardons - 13
Commutations - 4

Bill Clinton (1993-2001)
Pardons - 396
Commutations - 61

George H.W. Bush (1989-1993)
Pardons - 74
Commutations: 3

Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)
Pardons - 393
Commutations - 13

Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
Pardons - 534
Commutations - 29

Gerald Ford (1974-1977)
Pardons - 382
Commutations - 22

Richard Nixon (1969-1974)
Pardons - 863
Commutations - 60

Lyndon Johnson (1963-1969)
Pardons - 960
Commutations - 226

John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)
Pardons - 472
Commutations - 100

Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961)
Pardons - 1,110
Commutations - 47

Harry Truman (1945-1953)
Pardons - 1,913
Commutations - 118

Typical comment seen: "...blah blah LIED..blah blah...WORST EVER..blah blah...IMPEACH NOW"

IF the case (as many of your decry) of impeachment is so cemented against President Bush, WHY hasn't the democratically controlled House AND Senate taken any steps? Either 1) they are too afraid, 2) they are incompetent, or 3) there IS NO CASE – just the rantings of frustrated liberals.

I suspect D. All of the Above is the correct answer.

The President should not have the power to just get rid of a prison term or conviction. Libby broke the law, but so have Bush and Cheney. Laws mean nothing to the people in power. It is truly an embarrassing time to be an American.

"Two wrongs make a right" seems to be a popular argument here.

Just a thought for those who are seeing continuities in the abuse of presidential power by recent administrations: doesn't that mean it would be in America's interest to limit arbitrary presidential powers, regardless of party?

Some of those who are now pleased to give the executive branch unlimited power and no oversight may not be so happy when that power is handed over to a Democrat in 2008.

The President Using powers mistakenly given to the President as the trigger for pusing for impeachment???? Man some people are dumb as a box as rocks

Go read the Constitution because that is what this country was established on. And while your at it read the Federalist papers because ignorance in this case should not be bliss

All the discussions about Clinton and his pardons are tiresome. If I remember correctly, and I do, Republicans and conservatives were up-in-arms about Clinton's pardons, now all we here is "What about Clinton's pardons...?" Well if Clinton was wrong then, so now is Bush, plain and simple. The difference however is that Clinton's pardons were not about official conduct of those in his administration. Bush's commutation, and, I am sure, eventual pardon of Libby has to do with official conduct of a member of the administration in covering up the breaking of the law for cynical political purposes. We all seem to forget that the outing of Plame had to do with her husband's criticism of the motive given by the administration for the war in Iraq. Joe Wilson was correct and unfortunately our young servicemen and women and their families are paying a terrible price for the lies perpetrated by the Bush/Cheney administration. This administration will stop at nothing to accomplish its goals through barely legal or illegal means and when they do not like the law they either ignore it or rewrite it. This administration is doing more damage than any other to the office of the presidency, America's standing in the world, citizens faith in our government, etc., etc. It will take years to undo this mess.

Frankly, you all sound like idiots. Congressional members of both parties fancy themselves as the social elite and demand that a different set of rules apply to them. While we (Dems and Repubs)all spend our time trashing each other on these blogs, they are voting themselves pay raises.

Wake up. This conversation should be focused on how both parties have completely abandoned the fact that this is supposed to be a "representative democracy". All of this political grandstanding is simply a way for members of each party to maintain their position of power, and to be their to "help" the little guy.

You people keep talking about ex- Pres.Clinton given pardons. I believe those were done at the end of his presidency. Mr. Bush started that crazy war . And this man was sitting on his cabinet. And to give leaking information as he did. Yes he should SERVE time. He's not the only one up there thats guilty . That awful president needs to be prosecuted for starting a war, for which was a personal vendetta with his family and Sadaam...

I find it to be an ultimately ironic decision to make. "Too harsh?" This from the same staunch advocate of the death penalty. Did any of those executed Americans receive "too harsh" a sentence? Ahhh too late.

Bush uses Libby to attack a dissenting critic of the disastrous war in Iraq by committing treason and then keeps him out of prison. I believe James Madison and George Mason both wrote about the pardoning of crimes which the President advised upon.

Can we impeach yet?

I think we need to take the pardon power away from Presidents. I went back & studied other administrations to be fair to Bush. Its down right scary, both parties, are giving friends family & money donators a get out of jail free past. They do not need to be trusted with let the courts decide

Why do Republicants keep telling the rest of us that no one cares about this matter?

There is a cover-up in the White House over lies regarding yellowcake being sought in Africa and it's no big deal?!!?

And as far as the Republicant meme that Dick Armitage was the first to leak...? How do you know that?

Certainly not from Patrick Fitzgerald.
Unlike Ken Starr, he doesn't leak his case to Fox news.

It appears to most of us who aren't Loyal bushies that, first, Dick Cheney told Scooter Libby to tell Judith Miller. However, Libby refuses to admit that. Thus, we have perjury and obstruction of justice regarding the outing a covert CIA operative by a senior official in then White House.

Is that REALLY okay with Republicants these days? Gosh, I hope not.

How about a poll on if it was right for Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary to accept money for pardoning numerous criminals?

Besides!!! A CIA agent was NOT outed by Libby or Bush. There was NO crime committed. Here's a good poll, do you think the money Fitzgerald spent prosecuting Libby for lying about a non-crime was a huge excess waste of time and money?

We have a group of idoits who are corrupted by power in the white house.This is a soft version of dictatorship,disregarding ethics and laws, as long as they can put spin on their conduct

[...] Most people think commuting Libby’s sentence was a bad idea. As if that’s stopped the president [...]

Shock and Aw is what these post’s are to me. Quit attacking each other and look at the facts. Don’t accept the interpretation of them from one source alone read and learn before you spout your partisan nonsense.

Who cares what Nixon, Clinton or any other President did. That time is gone and will not come back. Don’t use those deeds to absolve the crime of today. What we have to do is learn from history so not to repeat the errors of our past.

Be a democrat, be a republican or an independent, but please first and foremost be an AMERICAN and make AMERICA your priority.

“WE THE PEOPLE”

Regardless of whether one aspires to be a right "wing nut" or a "lefty" liberal... the reality is the damage being caused to this nation by this self serving oil barron-esque administration leaves us all in great danger. It's rather apparent that Libby lied to protect Cheney knowing Bush would let him off, the deal with the devil was made long ago. In the meantime, as we approach nearly 4000 dead American soldiers, with tens of thousands forever damaged physically and emotionally and our tax dollars in the hundreds of billions going to secure the biggest oil heist in history, this administration continues to divide this nation with its power grab for the rich and richer. Oil companies gouging us at the pumps while we spend billions of tax dollars to secure the oil fields so they can laugh all the way to the bank for decades to come. Yet, the loyal sheep who would rather shout about party affiliation or the "war on terra" or what Clinton did or...can you believe, what Ted Kennedy did 40 yeares ago, fail to realize that they are one paycheck from the poor house while these well connected cronies bankrupt our country and bastardize our constitution.
The fox is in the hen house.

The same poll indicates 54% of Americans want Congress to impeach Vice President Cheney and 45% want President Bush impeached. Is CNN going to mention this? It's big news everywhere else.

I just sent a comment and was putting my name – Donna Sims, my city which did not get posted is Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Libby should be pardoned.

Although Wm H. Vanderbilt is said to have originated the phrase "the public be damned", I think history should be re-writtent to show that Geo. W. Bush really originated it.

I think Scooter Libby should be pardoned. President Bush took the first step. I believe he is waiting for the appeal process to take its course. This was a witch hunt from day 1. When it was revealed that Armitage was the source that leaked Valerie's name, it should have stopped right there and gone no further. This was a waste of the taxpayer's money and has got to stop. Congress spends the majority of their time slinging mud, conducting investigations, issuing subpoenas ....and stonewalling when it comes to passing a budget to support the war and our men and women over seas. I had high hopes when Nancy Pelosi became Speaker of the House, but she and Harry Reid quickly shot their wad with me with their venomous insults and total disrespect for the President of our country – absolutely no class whatsoever.

Libby was a fall guy and he should be pardoned.

"yea but whom are you polling your lib friends?? try calling some real americans!!!! Not those dems that
don’t have a clue !!"

Yeah! A pox on your scientific polling data! Don't you know the polls only count if they support the republican talking points??

I don't believe that it is in the best interest of the country to allow for Mr. Libby sentence to be commuted. President Bush and Darth Vader Chenney has showed throughout his administration that they both have a high disregard for the law by their actions related to enemy prisoners and the ease dropping decisions. I will be one voter who will be glad when this administration is gone from office. Good riddance!

I dont agree with anybody getting pardoned, no matter who the President is, but I will not stand up for a President who lied about this war & got thousands of innocent killed. If anybody should go to prison it should be Bush.

yea but whom are you polling your lib friends?? try calling some real americans!!!! Not those dems that
don't have a clue !!

Rob Thompson

Let's roll back polls and look at Kennedy 's driving off a bridge with no charges, Clinton's zipper malfunction. How short liberal memories.

How can anyone be surprised that this happened? How can we expect anything less from Bush? He lied taking us in to the biggest disaster in U.S. foreign policy and causing mass causalities of our own people and people across the globe. And we wonder why we are fighting terrorism? I hope that all that voted for Bush are now reaping in this havoc that he causing our country and our Constitution. He is a shame, he has ruined our country and what it was founded for and upon. He is a disgrace and will go down in history as the WORST American President ever! Let's stand together for change in 2008...VOTE!

As insightful as polls such as this are, they're meaningless. American can disapprove of Mr. Bush's unethical conduct, but Mr. Bush doesn't care.

I used to do phone surveys of voters in California and you would be astounded how ignorant most people are of the most basic facts about any current event. I'll bet a majority of Americans have no idea where the capital of the United States is located, let alone whether or not someone should have had a perjury sentence commuted. Check out the list of most popular stories on CNN. We're asking people who actually waste time reading about Paris Hilton and Britney Spears what they think about Scooter Libby? Come on!

First up, CNN has reported on the entire Plame affair with bias against the Republican perspective. No crime was ever committed, right? And the prosecutor knew the answer to the question he was sworn to learn long before he questioned Scooter Libby - who didn't feel it was necessary to take the fifth. After that long term, consistent bias I would be very surprised if a poll returned different results. Your own bias had much to do with that poll's result.

I'll always hate U.S president!!!

–bargarh

I feel that President Bush lied when he said that he would fire anyone convicted of leaking secrets to the media. Commutation of Libby is ridiculous while our border agents sit in prison for enforcing the border laws. Shame on George W Bush.

That CNN and the Clintons' (and any democrat)are outraged over the Libby commutation is outrageous and the epitome of hypocrisy considering the commutations Clinton gave out, I don't want to hear it any more!

Too many people on this issue have their heads stuck in the sand.

Clinton caused more damage in his abuse of the power of pardons then one pardon by Bush could ever accomplish. Clinton bias towards the person who benefited was far more clearer. Come on he pardoned his idiot brother. Their was no common good of the United States taken into account for that crap.

It is something that needs to be re-written because Clinton has done a fine job at showing how open to abuse it is. When someone you pardoned turns around and donates money to your presidential library something is wrong.

Also the complaints about the liberal media not doing enough are laughable. Bush at least had the sense to not let Libby completely off the hook and only commuted his sentence. He hasn't pardoned hundreds of people who got what they deserved.

Libby repeatedly lied to a federal grand jury. He constantly committed perjury. That is a crime. He did so knowingly, consciously, and clearly with the intent to subvert the course of true justice and save the sorry asses of his employers, President Cheney and *Vice*-President Bush. This is a corrupt, entirely immoral administration that hypocritically hides behind the myths of religion in a sorry attempt to cover up its total incompetence at home and in foreign policy. In *Vice*-President Bush we have a former drug abuser and former alcoholic. He was a chicken-hawk draft-dodger who spent more time in his so-called "National Guard" days patrolling the whorehouses of New Orleans than the skies of Texas. He is a serial adulterer (just like his daddy) and a two-time bankrupt in the Texas oil business (no mean feat if your name happens to be "Bush." This sorry excuse for a human being needs every lying, blind loyalist he can get. The good news is that even die-hard Republicans are beginning to recognize the utter shamelessness and hypocracy of this corrupt and totally incompetent administration. No doubt they see the handwriting on the wall. Bush's extraordinary ability to screw up everything he does will ruin Republican electoral chances for years as it has already turned the nation, left and right, away from his crude, always self-serving behaviors: blind religious faith, know-nothing anti-science stances, subservience to the corrupt military/industrial corporate welfare complex, and devotion to cheap illegal immigrant labor to keep the rich Republican bosses happy. The [times they are a'changin'. Thanks to the runt of the Bush litter.

I am ashamed of Bush commuting this sentence. What more can I say. If Paris and Martha go to jail for crimes, big or small, Libby should do his time also. I am ashamed of those people.

I believe that more polls from a variety of pollsters should be done before making a statement on what people wanted. One pollster's results just doesn't offer enough accuracy on the true results of the population's thoughts. Could the American Research Group be biased?

I can't seem to understand why these politicians are able to get away with dishonesty and putting our American people at risk everyday. At what point should the president be in peached? Why is this taking so long. It didn't take long for politicians to get Clinton out of office. Why must we be put through these obsticals everyday that we wake up. It's either on t.v or in person. I think that the president has a control issue and he needs someone to put a mirror in his face for him to face true and real life facts. He is only hurting the American people in no way is he helping on any issue. Why is it so hard for the American people to get together, stand up for what is right. Politicians can't take away our dignaty or our rights that were put in place before they were put in the hot seat.

Why didn't this blogger post the rest of todays polls. Apparently, a majority of voters now favor impeachment of Cheney according to the same polling firm. Nice to see the liberal media neglecting to publish this little factoid.

Libby was sentenced by a Bush appointed federal judge and convincted by a jury.

Obstruction of justice to protect his boss, Richard Cheney.

Yes Libby should be out...and replaced by Dick Cheney in jail instead.

Feels like Watergate and Nixon all over again – considering Cheney worked for Nixon himself.

Problem...misuse of the Presidential pardon. Misuse has been going on for many years and people just complain and do nothing. Abolish this privilege and this will stop any future abuse of this priviledge forever.

Waaaaah but Clinton did it tooooooooo waaaaaaaah!

Guess what? Bush I pardoned 6 officials in the Iran Contra Scandal.

http://www.bartcop.com/pardon.htm#article

"Six years after the arms-for-hostages scandal began to cast a shadow that would darken two Administrations, President Bush today granted full pardons to six former officials in Ronald Reagan's Administration, including former Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger."

So just to recap, for the partisan right wing hysterics out there:

Bush pardoning/commuting the sentence of his own underling who was lying to protect the white house: OK!

Bush Sr. pardoning political officials in Iran Contra: What's Iran Contra?? what he's a Republican?? – OK!

Clinton Pardoning a man whose EX-WIFE made contributions to the democratic party: Oh the HORROR!

Is this the best you guys can do? It's no wonder you all are in 28%ville.

A MAJORITY of Americans don't know who the heck Scooter Libby is for crying out loud. It's not even close. Please stop reporting the agenda polls, and go out into the field and do some actual journalism.

God help us when so many of our fellow Americans can not see the damage this administration has done to our constitiutional rights, out freedoms and our goverment. The smoke and mirrors of deception and point the finger at previous administrations to cover their own shame and guilt is getting old. Those of you that don't see that, shame. Those who still support the incompetence and corrupt practices that run through this administration from top to bottom are in fear of admitting the error of your ways. It is so sad that it will take more life than I have left to correct the damage done to our national reputation and I will never see America respected in the world as the leader it was before Bush, ever again.

To restore Honor and Dignity to the White House. These were the words used by President Bush in the 2000 election.
Scotter Libby lied to Federal Courts and little wonder that the American people as well as his own party has turned against the President.

You freakin' liberals are a hoot. No matter what action was taken by Bush, you coneheads would be bellyachin'. If he hadn't commuted the sentence then you would have said he wasn't loyal and abandoned one of his supporters. Give me and the president a break, how about it.

Comparing the number of pardons is, as the cliche goes, like comparing apples and oranges. If you want to make comparisons, look at time served. If I am not mistaken, those Clinton pardoned served at least part, most or all of their jail/prison term. Libby has served nothing.
Also, the most connection any of those Clinton pardoned was either they were friends, or his brother. They were not part of a crime possibly committed by the administration.
Libby was convicted on perjury and obstruction of justice charges because he was directly involved and helped to cover the criminality of those higher up in the administration.
Anyway, saying 'Clinton did it too' is one of the most childish positions which I thought our mothers always admonished us for. If Clinton jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?

If you really want to be honest with the readers about these polls, you must include the exact question and the sequence of questions you ask because you can easily frame the question in such a way to have a desired answer. All news outlets have their bias, CNN included. In order to remove that suspicion among people like myself you should include that additional information about the questions espcially in the political climate we are in these days. Otherwise such poll results have no meaning.

A majority disapproved of Pres. Clintons lying too but it didn't change anything

Hmmm.. Clinton pardoned three people with the same conviction. Where was all the screaming then?

I think it is an injustice whena person that has obviously broken the law (politician) and does not have to pay for it. If he were a common person, he would have to spend all of his time. What makes him SO SPECIAL that he gets away with his crime? Is this the justice system that we have come to know?

It is just simply tragic that the president can override a thoughtful jury's decision. I will look for a grass roots organization to join to work to limit the president's veto in the face of overwhelming objection to it. That office needs "checks and balances" too, not final authority.

It is amazing to me that people still support "W" no matter what! When will they awake and admit that our country is in distress. It is not a partisan issue it is an American issue.

"We THE PEOPLE"

Hey Mike, they never asked me either and I fully support Libby going to jail for his own crimes. No one FORCED Libby to lie under oath. Let me explain it to you like this:

Bush pardoned/commuted the sentence of a man whose crime was lying to defend the president. This is tantamount to the president pardoning himself. For future reference, the methodology of presidential lawbreaking goes like this: a) Commit crime. b) Compel underling to lie under oath defending you. c) If need be, pardon the underling. This is very different from other “pardons”. This is a systematic means by which the President can operate outside of the law.

Of course this would make me a foaming "liberal" in your eyes. I wonder what happened in the past 6 years that made the concept of adhering to the law a strictly liberal concept.

Also, for all you people talking about Clinton's pardon of Mark Rich, that can be debated on it's own merits if you want. Rich was not a member of Clinton's white house who got busted for covering up for Clinton. A conflict of interest, yes – a continued obstruction of justice? No way.

As long as we're talking about pardons, want to explain why Bush's pappy pardoned the those involved in the Iran Contra scandal?

Outting a spy is treason and should be charged as such. This man betrayed his own government only to get a slap on the wrist and will get a full pardon.

I always love the "Clinton did almost the same thing it so that makes it OK" rationale. Yes Clinton pardened 392 people, some very controversial during his presidency, inclusding 140 on the last day. That is a standard pracice for a president. Bush #1 pardened 389 (in 4 years, not 8), Ford pardened over 300 including Richard Nixon, which cost him the election against Carter (don't have the figures on Carter). Nixon pardoned over 800 people.
The point that most thinking Americans are upset about is that this action is that the "Law and Order" president who is known for enforcing some of the harshest sentences and lowest level of amnesty ever towards normal people is blatantly thumbing his nose one more time at the rest of America with this action. Favoritism and political priviledge.

Why does anyone give a rat's a** what Paul Simon has to say???

Lol some of the comments are laughable . Libby LIED LIED

A majority of Americans disapproved sir...can you understand the concept? You are now a part of a minority and that is why you do not like it.
The fact remains that most of us see thru the Whitehouse shenanigans. We had Enough!!!

Clinton pardoned around 700 people, over one hundered his LAST DAY ALONE.

Bush is well under 20 pardons.

This is hypocracy at it's finest, that Clinton can pardon people and get paid for it an bush hardly touches his pardoning power and is lynched.

We've also got a lot of posts about how Bush is hated around the world. Good. Who are these shallow idoits that want the world to like us, not realizing that the world is in competiion with us. Globally popular Presidents rarely accomplish anything for the country that they serve.

Personally I think President Bush should be tried for war crimes & should be impeached.

The issue is not comparing it to Clinton or Carter or the importance of the story. Pardoning Libby was wrong regardless of your party affiliation.

No wonder they call him Scooter.

How many people did Clinton pardon? Once again the media show their bias against Bush by blowing this Libby story out of proportion. MOVE ON – there's more important news to cover than this.

You WISH that this story would go away, but it won't.

Even 1/2 of Republicans polled felt this was wrong.

Of course a Cons. would look at these stats - 64% total, 47% Repubs, 76% Dems and 80% independents - and think that they polled more liberals than Cons. DO THE MATH! They had to have polled alot more Repubs than Dems and independents because the only of those three percentages that is lower than the total is the Repub number. In order to bring numbers like 76% and 80% down to the low or mid 60s, you have to poll alot of Repubs.

But wait, I forgot, all media that isn't Faux News is liberally biased.

Maybe if all you dubya lovers out there attended a few classes, you wouldn't be such idiots.

To all the conversatives, who keep repeating that a crime was never committed in the first place:

Isn't it wrong to lie to a grand jury, and isn't it the biggest lie of all when you are lying about things in the 2nd most important office in the entire government!!!

Yes, maybe liberal thinkers who don't see the world as just black and white do think there is a hierarchy when it comes to lies. Lies by important people at the top of our government, yeah, that's kind of a big one.

Because this man was not elected, the public has no way to hold anyone accountable, but you can pretty much gaurantee that the current administration is writing the ad for democratic campaign commercials in 2007.

Nobody cares about the Libby situation excpet those who already hate Bush. Move on dot nuts!

I'm sure Mr.Libby lied about something between the he said she said mentality of DC politics but the point is there was no cover broken since the 5 year period had expired on Ms. Plame's covert position. Once again politics at its best and the President was correct in commuting his sentence and I hope he gets a full pardon because this whole process has been a waste of time......

YAAAWN!!!

Is there anything more meaningless that we could be discussing??
Like:
TERRORIST ATTACKS BY DOCTORS IN THE UK!!

Only a leftist controled media would deem this a topic of unimportance in a political setting.

WHO DID YOU POLL,ALL LIBERALS?
I HAVE NEVER BEEN POLLED.
CLINTON PARDONED MORE PEOPLE THAN
BUSH,AND HE GOT MONEY IN RETURN.

How disgusting it is that there are no morals to our president.
He is the worst president we have had since Jimmy Carter.
He is a loser as a human being.
I see very clearly why he is hated around the world. He cannot be trusted as a leader.

G.W.Bullsh is a national disaster and he still thinks he's right!