Posted by
arandomguy on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 11:59:58 PM
Scooter Libby, once the closest advisor to President Cheney, has been convicted of lying and obstructing an investigation, and has been convicted on four out of five counts in his trial. Though he could face up to 25 years in prison, federal sentencing guidelines will likely prescribe 1 to 3 years in prison for Scooter Libby.
I have not yet been convinced that this man did anything wrong. From what I gather, he is claiming his alleged lying was a faulty memory, about events that took place nearly 5 years ago. He claims he first learned about the Valerie Plame case from Tim Russert, who claims they never discussed the plame case. This is the egregious crime for which Scooter Libby has been sentenced.
So it comes down to a he-said, he-said, between Libby and Russert. Now, to make my point - please, tell me when you first heard about the Valerie plame case. What day was it, and who told you? If you read it in a news story, what paper? What internet site? What television reporter was on TV at the time, and what station did you first hear about this story from?
I haven't the foggiest idea to the answer of any of these questions - and neither does anybody else. So why exactly does Scooter Libby have to go to jail because he can't remember events of 5 years ago? Half the people in Washington can't remember their campaign promises - how can any of them be expected to remember events 5 years ago? How can any PERSON be expected to remember something like that?
Everyone remembers major events - 9/11, where they were when Kennedy died, etc. Yet the trivial things are forgotten with the passing of time, especially 5 years worth of it. At the time, the Plame ordeal was a trivial and very minor thing in Washington circles - I doubt Libby would have thought twice about it. So, it is understandable that he would forget a trivial conversation of 5 years ago.
Furthermore, Tim Russert's memory may be faulty, and Libby may be right. Regardless of who is correct and who is incorrect, it does not matter. Faulty memory should not be cause to go to jail, when the mistake was honest, and minor.
Or have I missed the ball completely here?