President Bush rescues Scooter Libby from prison: your thoughts?

[Delfos]

  i guess

[Eientei]

Actually, I'm inclined to applaud Libby for his actions.  After all, any harm done to the CIA is good for the rest of the world...right?

You have to consider the fact that this action was taken by the Vice President's office as a method of embarrassing an official who was speaking out about, as he saw it, the mistaken policies of the government.  It was also about attempting to shut up future vocal opposition (and they pretty much failed.)  The CIA has done some shady things in the past, to say the least, but Libby and his cohorts are the kinds of people using these agencies to carry out their agendas anyway, and they probably didn't consider the sacrifice of one agent a huge problem.

[Eluvatar]

I very strongly disapproved of this presidential action; however I will note that I am satisfied it is perfectly legal. It's not an amendment either; it's part of a lengthy sentence (Article 2, Section 2, Paragraph 1)-- "and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment." (Referring to the President). That paragraph appears to be the 'misc' box of Presidential Powers put in by the framers-- its preceding clause is the rather eccentric "he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices," which seems a touch dull and passé.