The abysmal Charles Krauthammer sets out the wingnut position on Libbygate in in today's Washington Post. He says, and I quote:
This is a case that never should have been brought, originating in the scandal that never was, in search of a crime -- violation of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act -- that even the prosecutor never alleged. That's the basis for a presidential pardon. It should have been granted long before this egregious case came to trial. It should be granted now without any further delay.
Now, while I disagree with Krauthammer about whether the case should have "ever been brought", I will agree that the Preznit should pardon Libby,and do it soon.
I'm serious. Oh, sure, Libby lied to the Justice Department, he lied to the grand jury, he was part of a White House conspiracy to discredit critics of the Iraq War. But he's a minor player. A spear carrier. Let's look at the big picture here. Let's keep our eyes on the prize, as the saying goes. A Libby pardon would turn him into something much more than just a perjurer. A pardon would make Libby a symbol.
How many of us remember the days of the Nixon pardon? Nixon was undeniably guilty as well, guilty of using the massive machinery of government for petty political revenge in ways that Scooter and his puppet masters only wish they had the sack to pull off. But Nixon walked, because Gerald Ford pardoned him. And what was the result?
Ford got his ass kicked. By Jimmy Carter. Jimmy CARTER, for godsakes...a good man, to be sure, but a man who didn't even come close to hitting his stride until years after he left the White House.
So please, Mister President, pardon Scooter Libby. Give him a pass for his perjury and his lying to federal investigators. It'll guarantee that no Republican will be elected to anything above the level of dogcatcher for the next ten years. It'll brand Republicans as what they are-- the party of corruption and cronyism-- like nothing else could.
Do it, Mr. President. I really wish you would. The damage you'd do to your gang of thugs far outweighs any satisfaction I'd get from seeing some guy named Scooter get marched into some country club prison.
C'mon, Dubbya, I dare you.