Bill Kristol: "Many of us used to respect President Bush. Can one respect him still?"

[sabra]

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/734azcei.asp

Who, Me?
Bush evades his responsibility with respect to Libby.
by William Kristol


I FEEL TERRIBLE for Scooter Libby's family. Millions of Americans feel terrible for Scooter Libby's family. But we can't do anything about the injustice that has been done. Nor can we do anything to avert a further injustice looming on the horizon--Judge Reggie Walton seems inclined not to let Libby remain free pending appeal.

Unlike the rest of us, however, George W. Bush is president. Article II, Section Two of the Constitution gives him the pardon power. George W. Bush can do something to begin to make up for the injustice a prosecutor appointed by his own administration brought down on Scooter Libby. And he can do something to avert the further injustice of a prison term.

Will Bush pardon Libby? Apparently not--even if it means a man who worked closely with him and sought tirelessly to do what was right for the country goes to prison. Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino, noting that the appeals process was underway, said, "Given that and in keeping with what we have said in the past, the president has not intervened so far in any other criminal matter and he is going to decline to do so now."

So much for loyalty, or decency, or courage. For President Bush, loyalty is apparently a one-way street; decency is something he's for as long as he doesn't have to take any
risks in its behalf; and courage--well, that's nowhere to be seen. Many of us used to respect President Bush. Can one respect him still?

[Philosoraptor]

1. Uh, eat shit and die willy.

[SpiralHawk]

3. GigaGulps, willy

The republicons love to think that they are "special" above the ordinary citizens of the USA

Totally Monarchist and AntiAmerican attitude

Republicon motto: "All PIGS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME PIGS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS -- SMIRK, SMIRK, SMIRK"

[Philosoraptor]

4. HE calls w disloyal, indecent, & cowardly, but we already knew that.

And so did he, the revolting gas bag.

[BOSSHOG]

2. libby committed a crime against the country not the party

therefore krystol and his fellow travelers see an injustice because to krystol and his kind the party is much more important then the country, just like it was in the good ole USSofR.

[Philosoraptor]

5. So did kkkristol, one of the PNAC signers & war designers.

Fuck him again.

[noamnety]

6. Finally someone has the courage to say what needs to be said

It is a horrible injustice to hold someone accountable when they cover up federal crimes.

The president is supposed to use his powers to pardon those who have been loyal to his party and those who have done him personal favors. Anything less is indecent.


William Kristol is truly a beacon of truth and honor in these dark times.

[DFW]

7. "many of us?" us WHO?

What do you mean "we," white man?

[librechik]

8. Kristol has whirled himself into the "Bush is a liberal--that's why he failed" crowd

good god I hate these people.

[Philosoraptor]

10. willy is the slimiest of them all, yeah, you willy, talkin' bout choo.

[ComerPerro]

21. Yeah, thats a big selling point of a lot of recent conservative books

Bush is liberal, that's what went wrong. Or "Bush caves in to liberals too often"

[Jim__]

9. Many of us never respected president bush - n/t

[xultar]

11. Basically he admitted that Scooter lied to save Bush's administration.

What I see here is evidence that they have been stacking the courts so their people don't get in trouble.

Thanks Billy for proving the fuckin point.

[TlalocW]

12. Wow

It took Scooter going to jail for Kristol to realize what the rest of America has known for years - loyalty is one-way with Bush; he lacks decency and courage. Well, whatever it takes to get someone to join the rest of us in what I like to call, "Reality."

Unfortunately, he's not quite there yet considering what he's advocating (pardon), and if millions of Americans feel terrible for Scooter's family, millions more feel justice was served.

TlalocW

[stanwyck]

13. Question for Bill: will Kissinger, Rumsfeld, Cheney

and all the other who wrote the drippy letters on Scooter's behalf, full of adulation, write letters for the Marines who will be judged for their actions in Haditha? And, if not, why not? This group sent the Marines to Iraq. This group claims to support the troops - whole-heartedly. So, Scooter committed a treasonous act by outing a CIA agent (which is, under our Constitution, an act of treason). He still gets unqualified support and fawning letters. Bush is being pressured to pardon Libby, a man who committed treason.
So. What about the Marines who killed civilians in Haditha? Will there be letters for them, also?
Just wondering which accused/indicted/convicted have to be "in the club" before this group of neo-cons takes the time to write a letter.
I guess its not the guys doing their wet work.
Not really surprising, is it, given the elitist chickenhawk mentality.
No doubt Cheney and Kissinger won't be able to put pen to paper for the Marines. "Other priorities" you know.

[Norquist Nemesis]

14. Do these people pushing a pardon realize that it Scooter accepts it

then he is admitting guilt? Have they even considered that? Scooter won't be able to run around saying he's innocent if he accepts a pardon.

[City Lights]

15. And many of us have always thought of him as a POS-frat-boy-major

fuck up who would be living on the streets or in jail if he wasn't a bush.

[DinahMoeHum]

16. Hey, Kristol: Fuck off, white monkey. You made your bed. . .

now you can sleep in it.

:rant:

[Bitwit1234]

17. Why is he jumping on bush NOW....

bush...as we all know is a liar, a cheat, and a reprehensible excuse for a person. BUT for the last going on seven years, all these republicans who now find it politically correct to slam it, in the past kissed his ass. Since the tide is turning, they are jumping ship. Thank goodness they are but again, if the liars, cheats and crooks had jumped ship seven years ago we wouldn't be in the fix we are in now...IT IS AS MUCH THEIR FAULT AS BUSH.

[Solly Mack]

18. Whatever, Kristol

He's your huckleberry

[noamnety]

19. I submitted a comment

those seem to go nowhere?

I said that his was certainly a unique perspective, and that I've seen many synonyms for croneyism, but decency was never one of them.

[seemslikeadream]

20. Oh he's just mad bush hasn't bombed Iran yet

:eyes:

[ComerPerro]

22. So why should they support Bush at all? He is obviously a coward, right?

After all, he won't stand up for the rights of a person like Libby, a victim of mean-spirited Dems looking for a scapegoat to persecute.

And he certainly won't get the courage to start asking rich Republicans, his base, to do their patriotic duty, to start enlisting to help his surge in Iraq.

Where is the leadership?

[Swamp Rat]

23. What a spineless goon you are, Bill Kristol.

[EstimatedProphet]

24. However, no one respects Bill Kristol

The reason? He doesn't deserve any.

[ljm2002]

25. Oh, that's rich!

I especially like this part: "For President Bush, loyalty is apparently a one-way street."

So Mr. Kristol just figured this out? BWAHAHAHAHAHA

[L. Coyote]

26. Bush and Cheney cannot admit to the crime. It is an impeachable offense, DuuuH, Billy!

Talk about misplaced disrespect. If they would just admit their crimes, they could earn your respect anew, right?

The choice is now simple, do the right thing for Libby by admittig an impeachable crime,
or let Libby accept his punisment for his perjury and obstruction of justice.

Libby must have been thinking about the "do the crime, do the time" axiom, perhaps in
consultation with Bush and Cheney. 30 months is a very small price to forestall the
consequences of telling the truth, and they knew that and made their decisions. So be it.

Now, that is deserving of disrespect, or misplaced respect, Billy.

[underpants]

27. Ooops kinda stepped all over this one (my bad)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3303820&mesg_id=3303820

[BikeWriter]

28. Libby is a traitor!