US News is reporting today on Fred Thompson's public advocacy for Scooter Libby:
In a move that suggests he's not worried that backing convicted perjurer Lewis "Scooter" Libby will hurt his presidential chances, former Sen. Fred Thompson is planning to host several fundraisers to help the former Cheney aide pay his legal fees.That's one way to put it. You might also say that Fred Thompson isn't actually running for president although he is the focus of an intense draft movement. One might also note that many many Republicans are in favor of a pardon and that this position actually helps Thompson's chances if he were running.
But it's also clear that Fred Thompson is closely connected to Libby and considers the whole thing a travesty from top to bottom. and has gone on record for a pardon of Libby. So whether or not he runs for president is clearly incidental. The previous AP report makes it clear that no decision will come sooner than this summer in any case.
What I wonder is that if Fred Thompson, with his newfound popularity and threat to enter the race, can move the other GOP candidates toward his position on a pardon for Libby. Giuliani is reportedly cool to the idea of a pardon and McCain has stayed mum.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 6)
1. Fred Thompson has been a political hack as seen by his injected idology on Law and Order. What he is now doing is at Bush's beconning.
If Libby receives a pardon it is due to protecting Chaney and Rowe and higher ups..
The imprisoned border guards should be pardoned before Libby....
walt at 2:30PM on Mar 14th 2007
2. With all the bad press that Rudy is getting -- http://www.solidpolitics.com -- on draq queen and Hugo Chavez issues, Thompson probably figures he can rally the base with this.
Bill at 2:17PM on Mar 14th 2007
3. A pardon for Scooter Libby seems to be moving up high on the GOP agenda. Is it possible he has something else to say and needs to be kept quiet? Or was he really railroaded by a prosecution trying to make a name for themselves? Up to twenty six years in prison for lying to the government? What's the penalty when the government lies to us?
Steve Bonomo at 2:20PM on Mar 14th 2007
4. obviously to Republican's the 'law" is only for the little people.
HE OBSTRUCTED JUSTICE AND WAS CONVICTED.
But then, when the Bush regime legalizes TORTURE
it all makes sense that laws for the highter ups can be dismissed.
America has gone to hell.
Neuticles at 4:26PM on Mar 14th 2007
5. If Fred Thompson continues with this, he can kiss his nomination 'good-bye' for President. Also, why did the US Citizen pay for all these court costs to have a trial against Libby, if he is only going to get a "pardon" from the President? What a big waste of money & time. Our government has its value all wrong!
wearyamerican at 4:37PM on Mar 14th 2007
6. Thompson is an actor. I don't want him as the President of the United States.
g. donaldson at 4:30PM on Mar 14th 2007
7. People seem to forget or don't realize that Mr. Libby's lies endangered many CIA operatives not to mention the fact that it cost the goverment taxpayers millions of dollars in wasted investment in a covert shell company that was involved in intellegence pertaining to nuclear weapons. No excuse for Libby when you consider he is an attorney and knew better.
Gary at 4:31PM on Mar 14th 2007
8. What does Fred Thompson's position on Scooter Libby mean to the 2008 race? Thompson isn't serious. If you think perjury is acceptable by Libby or Clinton, then you just don't get "We the People". We trust these politicians to lead us and lying destroys the public trust. The 2008 election is all about finding someone we can trust and someone who gets what America is all about! Fred Thompson can read a Hollywood script or pull at our heart strings, but his actions must match the tone. He's not in the race and he shouldn't get in if this is what's truly in his heart.
Cecil Jones at 4:35PM on Mar 14th 2007
9. Scooter Libby is just a pawn in a very nasty game of destroy the "enemies". The White House surely has an "enemies list" just like Nixon did. The VP has no concept of what it means to be American because he has no respect for law or for our form of government. He feels that the Congress is an inconvenient group which needs to be manipulated and the courts and the justice system are tools to further any goal that an imperial presidency decides it wants to do whether the goals are legal or not. Not only should Libby pay the full price for his perjury (which subverts our entire system) but the VP should pay for his many crimes against our government as well.
Tom
Tom at 4:36PM on Mar 14th 2007
10. Unfortunately, the avuncular Fred Thompson is more actor than politician, or vice versa. Nonetheless, actor Fred Thompson turns out to be yet another lackey for the supremely corrupt Bush misadministration and its growing list of indicted and yet to be indicted traitors, felons and career carpetbaggers on the public dole. Fred Thompson finally showed his true colors, brown for what comes out of George W. Bush's mouth every time he moves his lips and red for all the blood Bush and his fellow war criminals have shed in their quest for pure power and greed while hijacking the United States Presidency and Government. Ta da!
Gus at 4:41PM on Mar 14th 2007
11. I'm so sick of people saying it's the republicans ...blah blah blah. Clinton committed perjury and you don't see him doing jail time. Hillary stands and lives with a liar, but yet... democrats love her.
Personally, I don't think any of us know what it's REALLY like to be a part of the big picture in government or what it's like to try to protect a bunch of ungrateful spoiled citizens that never have to worry about war on our own soil due to the fact that we have those that are WILLING to go wherever the threat IS to fight and try to elimenate it. God help us all if our men are forced to come home before the job is finished and the war follows them here.
Dee at 4:49PM on Mar 14th 2007
12. I will no longer watch "Law and Order" and will boycott any thing that Fred Thompson supports.
Bobby at 4:48PM on Mar 14th 2007
13. I DO NOR LIKE FRED THOMPSON, NEVER DID AND HE CARRIES THE EHOMPSON NAME WHICH WAS MY NAME VEFORE MARRIAGE. fRED T. IS JUST LIKE ALL THE REST OF THE LIEING POLITICIANS. tHEY TRY TO RUN THINGS TO SUIT THEMSELVES AND MAKE SO MANY BOO BOO'S THEY GET ALL OF US IN TROUBLE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD. NAMELY THE REPUBLICANS.
IT IS TIME TO ROOT OUT WASHINGTON DC. gET RID OF BUSH, CHENEY, ROVE, LOTT, GUILIANI, AND ANYONE ELSE WORKING TO PLAIN SCREW THE AVERAGE FAMILY IN THIS WONDERFUL USA. IF THIS DOESNT BRING ON A REVOLUTION I WILL BE REALLY SURPRISED. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF BEING LED BY A BUNCH OF CROOKS. L. ECK
a. lorene eck at 4:48PM on Mar 14th 2007
14. When Bill Clinton was manipulated into perjuring himself over a personal affair the GOP were ready to have him beheaded! They called what he did disgraceful and grounds for impeachment. When Scooter Libby perjured himself it actually affected the American people (a good undercover CIA op can't be easy to find or cheap to train) and was most likely to protect corrupt politicians who feel they are above the very laws that they are supposed to be preserving.
Never in the history of this country has there been as disgraceful, corrupt, dishonest, greedy, heartless and soul-less an administration as the one that currently resides. The next election day can't come fast enough!
purplechef at 4:53PM on Mar 14th 2007
15. Once again, people with very little information have a lot to say. Valery Plame reported to the CIA office each and every day. What is covert about that? Her husband referred to her as his spy wife? What about the documents stolen from the archives by Sandy Berger? Is that covert too. Give me a break! If Libby lied he is wrong and should be punished for lying not for outing 007. No one was prosecuted for that America.
Pepe Taule at 5:13PM on Mar 14th 2007