Bush Won't Rule Out Libby Pardon

President George W. Bush today refused to rule out an eventual pardon for former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. "As to the future, I rule nothing in and nothing out," the conservative Republican president said a day after commuting Libby's 2 1/2-year prison term for perjury and conspiracy in the CIA leak case.

President Bush said he had weighed his decision carefully to erase prison time for Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff. He said the jury's conviction of Libby should stand but that the 30-month prison term was too severe. President Bush's decision was roundly criticized by Democrats. Republicans were more subdued, with some welcoming the decision and but some conservatives saying he should have gone further and issued a full pardon.

Tony Snow, spokesman for the Bush administration, said that even with President Bush's decision, Libby remains with a felony conviction on his record, two years' probation, a $250,000 fine and probable loss of his legal career. President Bush's move came just five hours after a federal appeals court panel ruled that Libby could not delay his prison term.

My response: I'm not keen on pardons, unless the person did no wrong. Dubya should've let the jury verdict stand.