Scooter Does No Time, Won't Pay a Dime

NO TIME FOR LITTLE SCOOTER. President Bush's announcement that he's commuting Scooter Libby's prison sentence is hardly surprising. The chances of Libby ever doing prison time were always somewhere between none and zero. In Bush's narrow world view, Libby is a "good man." Libby has the right views, is loyal to a fault, and was willing to sacrifice everything to serve Dick Cheney and the Bush administration. As a tiny tiny man, Scooter Libby probably shares George Bush's "weenie boy" insecurities and predilection for exaggerated macho posturing as well. Likewise, I'm Bush didn't view Libby as having obstructed justice or committed a crime at all. When Bush said he respected the jury's verdict, he was lying.

THE MEANINGLESS FINE. Despite what President Bush claims about Libby's fine, Libby in fact is getting off completely without punishment. That's because little Libby isn't going to be paying a single dime of that fine. The money will all be handled by the Scooter Libby defense fund and I'm sure that the money's going to be pouring in now that Libby's sentence has been committed. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if some right-winger with a lot of money might give Libby the whole sum in one donation.

LIBBY'S GREAT CAREER. Don't cry about Scooter's career either. Now that Scooter Libby is a full fledged conservative martyr, he'll be getting a plumb gig at the American Enterprise Institute (where conservative martyrs like to meet) and big speaking fees if he wants to talk to conservative or business groups. Given the extent to which the Republican elite has been discredited by the Bush administration, there's a good chance that Libby would get a nice appointment in the next Republican administration. Elliot Abrams, who was convicted of a felony during the Iran-Contra scandal, has an influential position in the Bush administration. I doubt Libby wants to write a book, but he would get a big six-figure advance if he did.

Far from suffering as a result of his conviction, Scooter Libby is going to find himself more wealthy and influential than he probably ever dreamed.

Who says crime doesn't pay in the Bush White House.