Chapter 63.45: Funny Meeting You Here

I find this interesting. Apparently, one of the lawyers for Marc Rich, whom President Clinton pardoned (controversially) on his final day in office, used to be represented (from 1985 to 2000) by a lawyer named Libby. Yes, Scooter Libby -- the same man whose sentence was just commuted by President Bush. Funny how things move around Washington, D.C.

Chapter 63.4: Albatross!

So, President Bush has commuted the sentence of Scooter Libby. I think that tells us that the president knows he has limited power and is in his lame duck period. And this will be one more nail in President Bush's legacy coffin.

The president's decision was praised by conservatives for his decision, and vilified by Democrats. But I'd like to know what other Republicans say about this. What's Arlen Specter's opinion in this matter? He's the former chair of the senate judicial committee, what does he think? I've not read enough stories to determine whether he's been interviewed, but he certainly wasn't the first of the Republicans to advance an opinion.

The president has another albatross around his neck. It's not as big as Iraq or Katrina, but in some ways it's a worse thing to be remembered for; it could be argued that he flouted judicial authority, thumbed his nose at the system. Does he even care anymore?

Chapter 56.65: The 'I Forgot' Defense

According to today's reports, Scooter Libby will not testify. Nor will Vice President Cheney. Some are speculating that it means they're confident the prosecution has not made its case. Others are writing that Libby's memory is notoriously bad.

Did Steve Martin write this? In his old stand-up routine, Steve Martin had a bit where he would say "I forgot" to explain any transgression. It was as pathetically amusing in the late 1970s as it is today, but today we've got political operatives up on perjury charges doing it.

This man -- Libby -- is ruined. Either he's completely full of it and is covering for someone higher (his former boss perhaps?) or he actually is that forgetful. Would you hire someone who doesn't have the mental capacity to remember his potential political imbroglios? How effective an advocate can he be? Add to that his significant legal bills and his only option would be to write a memoir of life in the Bush-Cheney administration. Best seller? Possibly. But by the time it comes out, this country will be so happy they are out of office that its sales might be less than stellar.