Amnesty for Scooter

Steve Benen picks up on something I mentioned a couple weeks ago: this is amnesty for Scooter Libby. Considering that, to the wingnut right, George Bush was for amnesty for illegal immigrants, I guess he's being consistent. But watch them say that Scooter Libby is being forced to meet the laws of justice because he has to pay a hefty fine. Hopefully, whoever is sitting next to them from the left will make the explicit argument that telling the public that immigrants would have to pay a fine to come out of the shadows was met with cries of "I don't care about a fine, that's amnesty."

Really this is completely tribal. Wingnuts win, liberals lose. That's all that matters to these people. Logic is not part of the consideration.

Also, you would hear that immigrants illegally in the country would be getting "special treatment" by cutting to the front of the line. Ahem...

Section 1-2.113 Standards for Considering Commutation Petitions

A commutation of sentence reduces the period of incarceration; it does not imply forgiveness of the underlying offense, but simply remits a portion of the punishment. It has no effect upon the underlying conviction and does not necessarily reflect upon the fairness of the sentence originally imposed. Requests for commutation generally are not accepted unless and until a person has begun serving that sentence. Nor are commutation requests generally accepted from persons who are presently challenging their convictions or sentences through appeal or other court proceeding.

Completely, utterly hypocritical. Rich and powerful friends have a different set of laws. So-called independents will be running away from this Grand Old Police Blotter of a party in droves.

UPDATE: Absolutely, free Siegelman.

If 30 months of prison time was too stiff a sentence for Scooter Libby, then seven years is far too long for former Gov. Don Siegelman (D-AL), according to one of his lawyers.

Montgomery-based attorney Susan James, who handled Siegelman's sentencing hearing, predicts that President Bush's decision to commute Libby's sentence will be referenced in briefs across the country soon -- including her own.

"[Bush] has basically come in and said the sentence is too harsh," James said. "I'll find some way to weave that into our argument."

Don Siegelman was railroaded by Karl Rove for doing something that previous Republican governors in the state did (appointing Richard Scrushy to a state board) and something ever GOP legislator does in their sleep. If Scooter can't take one day in jail, nobody should. Right?