Scooter Free!

In something of a sick paraphrase of Kevin Mitnick's famed bumper stickers and campaign slogan, Scooter Libby is now essentially a free man. He's still got that $250,000 fine and two years of probation, but that's worthless. He's not some drug dealer who's going to be back on the corner next week, so he's now off the hook.

Apparently, Bush has forgotten his pledge:

"I want to know who it is ... and if the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of." - George W. Bush - Sept. 30th, 2003

I suppose that Bush was using word play there, because he has certainly 'taken care of' Scooter Libby. He's made sure that he doesn't serve a real prison sentence for a crime that most people would be shot for, and will undoubtedly issue a full eleventh hour pardon for, come January 2009.

On a more resolute note, Sen. Joe Biden has asked Americans to flood the White House with calls today expressing our rage at this evasion of justice.

Senator Biden reacts to President Bush commuting Scooter Libby's Sentence

Hours after a federal appeals court ruled that I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby would have to begin serving his prison sentence while appealing his conviction for crimes of perjury, obstruction of justice and lying to investigators, President Bush commuted his sentence.

Last week Vice President Cheney asserted that he was beyond the reach of the law. Today, President Bush demonstrated the lengths he would go to, ensuring that even aides to Dick Cheney are beyond the judgment of the law.

It is time for the American people to be heard.

I call for all Americans to flood the White House with phone calls tomorrow expressing their outrage over this blatant disregard for the rule of law.

202-456-1414

Remind George Bush what he told staffers during a swearing in ceremony for White House staff back in January 2001:

"[We] must remember the high standards that come with high office. This begins with careful adherence to the rules. I expect every member of this administration to stay well within the boundaries that define legal and ethical conduct. This means avoiding even the appearance of problems. This means checking and, if need be, double- checking that the rules have been obeyed. This means never compromising those rules. No one in the White House should be afraid to confront the people they work for, for ethical concerns, and no one should hesitate to confront me as well. We are all accountable to one another. And above all, we are all accountable to the law and to the American people."

Click here to watch the video of George Bush addressing staff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjwLlfFKerU