Jail for Libby? Others? Who Cares?

I hear progressives and people from the left complain these days that our fearless leader, the President of the United States, might have the audacity to pardon Scooter Libby and anyone else who might be charged with crimes related to Plamegate. Well, better get ready, he might just well do that. But really that is not all bad. In fact, it can be better than letting them spend a few years at some minimum security federal prison raking sand traps. Think I'm kidding? I'm not. I have an acquaintance who had the misfortune of doing eighteen months of hard time doing just that, raking sand traps at a really nice golf course. But people often forget something. Justice comes in many flavors.

For those old enough to remember Watergate, let's take a look at Richard Nixon. For those who don't recall Watergate, you need to read up on the subject. Plamegate is beginning to look every bit as scandalous as Watergate. Stripping then President Nixon of power did him more harm than prison could have done. He lived for power, had to have it, power was his lifeblood. Once that was gone, he essentially was in prison. Prison in his own, twisted mind. He was not seen in public for many years. He was simply too ashamed to go out. He isolated himself in a condo in New York City, reportedly having little contact with anyone other than his wife, Pat, and a few immediate family members.

I would venture to say that the Nixon model would represent 90%, if not more, of those in any Presidential Administration. They would RATHER go to prison than be faced with the shame of seeing their neighbors in the yard or at the grocery store. They will be looked at and talked about everywhere they go, or at least believe that they will. They, like the elite athlete, have been the center of attention for so long that they cannot believe that they may go unnoticed, anywhere. The life that they have always known is over, and they suffer.

Naturally, there are exceptions to this type of person of power. A couple come readily to mind. One is G. Gordon Liddy, of the Watergate era. He was willing to go to prison rather than give up the secrets of a corrupt White House. He spent eight years in prison, came out a gun toting-prison guard hating-right wing nut who has made a fortune writing, making speeches to masochists, and having a successful syndicated radio program. He is praised by the Far Right.

The other example is much more troubling, and will take longer to discuss. As it should, given the state of current affairs. That person is George W. Boosh. (I will use the moniker Boosh from now on when referring to 43) If he were booted from power tomorrow, it would likely not bother him much. He has such serious mental issues that a loss of power would be the least of his worries. He hasn't a clue, living like an alien among humans. He is that out of touch with reality. Let's look at the totally irrational things he has done, just recently.

Vacationing during Katrina, running away from Cindy Sheehan, making up reasons for war without thinking about nor caring that people might actually die, announcing that major combat operations were over in 2003. These are but a few. Perhaps most astounding of all, was spending the day and evening before the Libby indictments in Florida instead of Washington. On the very eve of the implosion of HIS White House, he was standing in gas lines with pissed off Floridian's, hugging them and telling them that "things don't happen over night, but they would be okay soon." At least he's good at that. A normal reaction from a president, one would hope, would be having him present in the White House, ordering his entire staff against a wall, pulling out fingernails if necessary. Trying to find out what the hell had happened to create this political and credibility nightmare. But not from this Boosh.

Immediately after the indictment, Boosh scurried off with Harriet Miers, YES that Harriet Miers. The very woman who caused him so much humiliation. Off they went to Camp David. In case you've forgotten, with the crack staff of Boosh momentarily distracted, the stealth Harry Ried planted in the Boosh burned out brain what a great and uniting choice Harriet would be to the Supreme Court. And the nimwit bit, hook-line-and sinker. Harriet was then allowed, between playing checkers with Boosh, or whatever it is these people do when behind closed doors, to choose her own successor. Or something like that. Who knows for sure in bizarro land, where he most definately resides?

Would prison do him any good? I have no earthly idea. I can say this. I have represented over 30 people on Death Row, dozens of others accused of horrible crimes, many mentally ill, and I have yet to encounter as bizarre a creature as this one I call Boosh.

Back to the original point. Prison Vs. Pardon. For Libby, and the vast majority of people that reach that level of power, sending them to prison is probably doing them a favor. They can serve their time, pay their debt to society, and rightfully reclaim their place amongst the rest of us. On the other hand, if they are pardoned, they don't get that opportunity to pay the debt nor be rehabilitated, as if there were such a thing as rehabilitation in our prison system. Thus, they will always live in shame, never having paid the public price for what they have done. They pay a private price, and it is far greater than one any jail sentence could hope to extract. They can never put their misdeeds behind them.

I don't know about you, but if it were me, I would take prison for 5 or 10 years every time.

Cyclone