Via the Washington Monthly, my absolute favorite bit of info from the Libby commutation:
Bush said Tuesday that in reaching the decision on Libby, “I considered his background, his service to the country, as well as the jury verdict.” While vacating the prison sentence, he did not disturb other portions of the sentence, including a $250,000 fine and two years of a form of probation known as supervised release.
“But I felt like the 30-month sentencing was severe; made a judgment, a considered judgment that I believe is the right decision to make in this case, and I stand by it,” the president said.
Whether Libby would have to serve probation was in some doubt Tuesday. The sentencing judge in the case, U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton, said in court papers that it was unclear whether a defendant who had not done jail time could still be subject to supervisory release. He asked the lawyers to advise him on the issue.
Bwahaha. The judge doesn’t know how to enforce the standards set forth in the commutation because there is no precedent.
A lot of ink has been spilled detailing the evils of this administration, yet there may be anothr explanation for their behavior-
Maybe they are just stupid?
There is ample evidence for this, ranging from No Child Left Behind, the way they tried to sell the Immigration Bill, the handling of Iraq. Maybe we are dealing with an administration that is 2 parts evil, 3 parts stupid. Not quite wholly evil, but a mess nonetheless?