Libby's Hope

This must have given The Scooter a woody today.

Or, at least, it may have turned his aspen.

Bush Awards Presidential Citizen Medal To Watergate Crook Chuck Colson

Established in 1969, the Presidential Citizens Medal is the second highest honor for a civilian, recognizing Americans “who have performed exemplary deeds of service for the nation.” Past recipients include boxer Muhammad Ali, baseball great Henry “Hank” Aaron, civil rights icon Dorothy Height, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Today, President Bush honored 24 recipients of this year’s award, including actor Gary Sinise and Teach for America founder Wendy Kopp. Also included in that mix was Chuck Colson, “the first member of the Nixon administration to serve prison time for Watergate-related offenses.” Colson was President Nixon’s counsel from 1969-1973 and pleaded guilty in 1974 to obstruction of justice. Colson received a one to three year sentence, but served just seven months.

Snip ...

On October 3, 2002, Colson was also one of the co-signers of a letter from prominent evangelical leaders supporting an invasion of Iraq. More recently he has spoken out in favor of California’s Prop. 8, accusing the LGBT community of “anti-religious bigotry.”

I mean, if The Commander Guy is going to go around duking the old Nixon cronies, it may very bode well for the convicted felon I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, and, perhaps, some of the other Bush Grindhouse cronies.

Christmas is just over two-weeks away ...

A pardon, or two, tucked under the tree?

Interestingly, the Grindhouse Press Office promulgated this info on Colson;

Charles W. Colson

For more than three decades, Chuck Colson has dedicated his life to sharing the message of God’s boundless love and mercy with prisoners, former prisoners, and their families. Through his strong faith and leadership, he has helped courageous men and women from around the world make successful transitions back into society. The United States honors Chuck Colson for his good heart and his compassionate efforts to renew a spirit of purpose in the lives of countless individuals.

Too bad they didn't use "The Google", or, they could have been a bit more descriptive;

Colson was known as President Nixon's hatchet man. Slate magazine writer David Plotz described Colson as "Richard Nixon's hard man, the 'evil genius' of an evil administration."[4] Colson has written that he was "valuable to the President ... because I was willing ... to be ruthless in getting things done".[5] This is perhaps complimentary when read in comparison to the descriptions of Colson which pepper the work of Rolling Stone National Affairs' Political Correspondent, Hunter S. Thompson during the period. Colson authored the 1971 memo listing Nixon's major political opponents, later known as Nixon's Enemies List. A quip that "Colson would walk over his own grandmother if necessary" mutated into claims in news stories that Colson had boasted that he would run over his own grandmother to re-elect Nixon.[5] Plotz reports that Colson sought to hire Teamsters thugs to beat up anti-war demonstrators.[4] John Dean maintains that Colson proposed firebombing the Brookings Institution and stealing politically damaging documents while firefighters put the fire out.[6][7]

Recognition delayed?


Bonus Riffs

David Plotz: Charles Colson - How a Watergate crook became America's greatest Christian conservative

Charles Colson - The Watergate Story

SourceWatch: Charles Colson

All I Want For Christmas Is My Presidential Pardon

Well, That Wasn't Much Of A Wait ...

Libby Trial Update - The Scooter and Cheney Show Theme Song

If Congress Does Take Up Impeachment, Here's A Piece of Evidence

Now, this was the Gridiron Club, so it's supposed, according to its' tradition, to be lively, jovial and have the ability to poke fun at oneself.

Humor and satire is, always, in the eyes and ears of the beholder.

So how are we to take this - The Commander Guy, singing off tune, a list of his failures, his Administration's failures, his corruption of the law (a line he sings about "Scooter escaping the prosecutor"), the corruption of the Office of the President?

As evidenced in the long, two-term presidency he heisted, it is a arrogant middle finger aimed at the media, the citizens, the world.

Here's the You Tube video of it (and it's choppy camera work, due to, primarily, media is banned from the event)



From Connie Singleton, who posted the video;

"President George W. Bush donned a cowboy hat and sang an early goodbye to Washington on Saturday night with a performance that lampooned White House journalists and Vice President Dick Cheney among others.

Bush surprised cabinet secretaries, diplomatic officials and journalists at the annual Gridiron dinner by taking the stage and giving the first public singing performance of his eight-year presidency, which ends in January 2009.

To the tune of country song "Green Green Grass of Home," Bush sang of longing for his ranch in Crawford, Texas and his dog Barney.

"And there to meet me is my mama and my papa, down the lane I look and here comes Barney, heart of gold and breath like honey; it's good to touch the brown brown grass of home."

Bush, singing only slightly off key, then turned to some of the long-term members of his team including Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"For there's Condi and Dick, my old compadre, talking to me about some oil rich Saudi, but soon I'll touch the brown brown grass of home."

"That old White house is behind me, I am once again carefree, don't have to worry 'bout a crisis in Pyongyang. Down the lane I look, Dick Cheney is strolling with documents he'd been withholding, it's good to touch the brown brown grass of home."

Bush told the audience, which erupted in applause and gave him a standing ovation, that they had witnessed "the first and final performance of George Bush and the Busharoos."

The Gridiron Club holds an annual dinner at which journalists put on songs and skits lampooning Democrats and Republicans alike.

Bonus Riffs

View Keith Olbermann's take on it

Greg Mitchell, on The Huffington Post with "Bush at Gridiron Dinner -- No Jokes About Missing WMD This Time!"

Mark Silva, on Swamp Politics with "Bush's Texan farewell: Brown, brown grass of home"

Retro Garlic ... We Told You So!

Well, things have been moving along this week like an Alberta Clipper.

'Tis the season, and in our world that means a bevy of Bush Grindhouse scandals (and if you are having a hard time keeping track of them all, Keith Olbermann has started a new feature - Bushed - on his 'Countdown' program ).

And today, we have the opportunity to go Retro Garlic, and a short Retro it is.

With a prolonged drumroll earlier this week, breath was held to see if I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby would be on the list for a Presidential Pardon, being he - hint, hint - announced he was dropping the appeal of his trial, and would ride as a convicted felon, until ...

This had many-a-pundit, as well as a good chunk of the blogosphere, salivating that the Bush Grindhouse's brick wall would come down, and The Commander Guy would have to comment on the treasonous scandal his staff engaged in - the exposure of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame.

Alas, it didn't come.

Ahh, but The Garlic held on to its' skin, kept our powder dry, not seeing this as a condition the Bush Grindhouse would break its' pattern of lying, stonewalling, and obfuscation.

From The Garlic, on Monday;

"And, for all of you waiting to hear The Scooter, or The Bush Grindhouse, spill their guts, now that the appeal process is over, think again.

There's still the matter of Valerie Plame's possible lawsuit and, no doubt, they will continue to clam-up, citing that "litigation", if the Wilson's can revive their case, after it was thrown out last summer."

From Think Progress today;

What did Perino say in the gaggle? The Washington Post reports Perino found another convenient excuse to punt on answering about the White House’s involvement in the Plame leak. Perino said that she hadn’t spoken to Bush yet, but she cited the Wilson’s ongoing civil case as a reason not to comment:

I did talk to our counsel’s office because I forgot that there is a civil case that is pending on this issue. I did forget. The Wilsons have filed a case in civil court, it was dismissed, and they are on appeal."

And, even if the Wilson's announce they are dropping their appeal, the Bush Grindhouse will mow through legal cases, as many as they have to (and don't rule out the Hauptmann Case) to find something they can hid behind and stay silent.

That means, it's time to Cue up Que Sera Sera...

Links

Al Karmen: Being There

The Democratic Party: White House Still Won't Answer Libby Questions

Think Progress: White House Offers Convenient New Excuse For Not Talking About Plame Leak

Associated Press: Bush Pardons, Commuted Sentence

Well, That Wasn't Much Of A Wait ...

If Scooter Libby leaves that Christmas stocking hung, it may end up with not much more that a piece of coal in it.

'Cuz that Christmas Presidential Pardon sure ain't flying down the chimney this year!

The Department of Injustice released their 2007 List of Pardons today, and I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was not among the 29 names getting their holiday orgasm, their golden "I Got Away With It" certificate.

No doubt, the holiday eggnog in the Libby abode must be heavily rummed-up, and, perhaps, tasting a bit clumpy this evening.

What's an ass-kissing, law-breaking, CIA-covert-agent-exposing convicted felon have to do around this place to get a little love from his Compassionate Commander Guy ex-boss?

Like Tessio, in 'The Godfather", The Scooter must have been thinking "Hell, he can't do that ... It screws up all my plans ..."

Now, Little Scooter has to sit around, probably with Mary Matalin getting all in his face, constantly badgering him with drafts of new fundraising letters, listening to publishers tell him his previous books suck, but "if you write about what you did", which has to tempt the Mrs. Scooter to be barking in his ears, "Screw them, take the money!", keeping his steely pluck, relying on all his experience as a dedicated civil servant, and wait until next year to get his freedom.

Maybe Fred Thompson will drop out of the race (rather than waiting, about another two months, to be booted out of it, embarrassingly, with numbers that would only look good on a golf card) so he can be by his buddy's side, putting the arm on all those neocons to kick up a few bucks for the Little Scooter.

Wouldn't be surprised either, to hear news that Cheney was brought into the hospital -again - with a broken defibrillator.

Cheney has to be sitting around, stewing, the picture of a Looney Tune cartoon, his oversized head throwing off buckets of sweat, thinking about is this the time to say 'fuck it", and just issue the pardon himself.

Fox News will have to file away all that B-Roll, tape over the sappy soundtrack, book new talking heads for all the appearances they had the Little Scooter pegged for - across their Freakshow line-up (but, they will put him on with Chris Wallace anyway, lest they have to listen to him piss-and-moan about not getting anyone to come on his show).

Boy, sure wouldn't mind being the package of Sweet'N Low on the table, the next time Scooter and Judy get together for coffee

Bonus Scooter Links

Jane Hamsher: Poor Scooter, Always a Bridesmaid…

Breaking News! Fox Bounces The Juice and Brings In The Scooter; OJ Out, Libby In, As Fox Looks To Make Lemonade Out Of Their Lemons; Reagan Snares Cheney Aide For “If I Leaked ...” Special; No Hush Money But Donation Made To Defense Fund

Top Ten Cloves: Things Overheard Last Night At Scooter Libby Fundraiser


Scooter, you'll need to keep that pondering pose for, about, another year ...

All I Want For Christmas Is My Presidential Pardon

It would appear the I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby is placing his chips on "Presidential Pardon", with the news today that, despite continuing to claim his innocence, he is ending the appeal of his trial, leaving him, for the time being, a convicted felon.

In all likelihood, that was the deal from the beginning, but, considering the mental capacity of The Decider Guy, does he even remember The Scooter Guy?

Especially after, earlier this summer, he offered "I'm aware of the fact that perhaps somebody in the administration did disclose the name of that person ..."

Did Cheney have those CIA guys erase his memory as well?

Does Scooter get his Christmas stocking stuffed with a Presidential Pardon?

Is this Scooter's powerplay, to force the hand that will sign the pardon?

With the blizzard of new scandals that whacked the Bush Grindhouse in the past week - take your pick; A) the still-growing CIA Videotape erasure, B) The Iran NIE Report C) Sheldon Whitehouse's yeoman work in exposing the self-appointed rulings, declaring The Decider Guy, well, the real Decider Guy, as whatever he says is the law, is the law - is The Scooter getting nervous that something could happen - yes, the "I" word - comes down, before January 20th, 2009, killing off his going-out-the-door pardon?

Is this pressure from Darth Vader, that, perhaps, the device inside his chest is in it's last throes and he wants to see his little Robin (Ehhh, scratch that - the thought of Cheney and Libby in tights ... Nasty), free-and-clear while he's still ticking?

This oughta' put a few talking heads to work over the next few weeks.

Everybody can synchronize their watches, for the Libby Pardon Clock is, officially, set today.

Mary Matalin must be busy, drafting up those new fundraising letters, and urging all those Friends of Scooter, to start badgering The Decider Guy to make the only decision they know in their hearts should be made - Pardon our Little Scooter!

And, for all of you waiting to hear The Scooter, or The Bush Grindhouse, spill their guts, now that the appeal process is over, think again.

There's still the matter of Valerie Plame's possible lawsuit and, no doubt, they will continue to clam-up, citing that "litigation", if the Wilson's can revive their case, after it was thrown out last summer.

Still, it would make for entertaining viewing, to see a subpoenaed Scooter, sitting in front a Congressional Committee, displaying his deep dedication to public service, by taking the 5th, over-and-over. A veritable civics lesson for the cable news and C-Span viewers.

Scooter must be banking on that The Commander Guy has a Santa suit hanging in the closet, perhaps, right next to his Mission Accomplished" flightsuit.

Valerie Plame, covert CIA agent exposed, to punish her Iraq War-critical, Op-Ed-writing husband, and no one goes to jail for treason?

Sounds like another Bush Grindhouse "Mission Accomplished" to me.

It's Another Scooterpalooza!

Let's Hear It For The Quid Pro Quo ... New Garlic Song - Hush Little Libby

Jane Hamsher: Scooter Libby Drops Appeal, Ready To Testify Before Congress?

Shaun Mullen: A Fall Guy’s Final Fall

EmptyWheel: Scooter Libby, Still a Felon; the Unitary Executive, Still a Dubious Theory

The Carpetbagger Report: Libby drops appeal — and gives the White House a chance to divulge?

Sidney Blumenthal: Bush and Cheney walk, too; Even as the president confesses that Scooter Libby engaged in a cover-up -- after all, that was the verdict -- he completes the ultimate obstruction of justice in the Plame affair.

Libby Trial Update - The Scooter and Cheney Show Theme Song

Left Off Medal of Freedom Recipient List, Libby Said To Be "Crushed"

Cheney Said To Be Furious, Threatens To Expose Shadow Presidency If Pardon Doesn't Come Through

Sources tell The Garlic this morning that there are new, hostile divisions deep inside the White House.

I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, commuted from his felony conviction in the Plame Leak Case, was said to be "despondent and crushed" after seeing the list of Medal of Freedom recipients released by the President yesterday.

Libby, according to a West Wing staffer, called Vice President Dick Cheney, and in tears, expressed his disappointment to his former boss, of not being awarded one.

Cheney was said to be furious, reacting angrily and threatened to expose the Shadow Presidency he has been conducting.

Cheney reportedly called the President, "barking at him" and demanded to know, if Libby was not receiving a Medal of Freedom award, when was his pardon coming through.

"We were sure Scooter was going to get one." whined Mary Matalin (Editor's Note: Whining is Ms. Matalins' natural way of speaking), a Libby friend and former colleague, as well as one of the chief fundraisers for Libby's defense.

"I mean, he gave one to Tenet, for God sakes!"

When asked for comment, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino indicated she didn't know anything about the Medal of Freedom awards, or how the list was developed.

"However," she added, "I believe that there are certain health benefits to not receiving one."

Libby is, reportedly, in talks with the Fox News Network as to developing a new show, tentatively titled "Are You Smarter Than a Convicted, But Commuted, Former White House Official?"

Bonus Scooter Links

Libby Trial Update - The Scooter and Cheney Show Theme Song

Top Ten Cloves: Reasons Tim Russert Didn't Ask Scooter Libby About Joe Wilson and His Wife

Miller To Leave 'Times' With Movie Deal In Hand; Signs On To Star In Memento Sequel; Not Sure If She Will Continue Freelancing For Bush Admn.

Letters Cast Light on Cheney's Inner Circle; Dozens of Prominent Figures and Insiders Praise Libby as Fundamentally Decent








"We were sure Scooter was going to get one,." whined Mary Matalin. "I mean, he gave one to Tenet, for Godsakes!"

Appellate Court Playing Our Song - Libby Denied Bond Pending Appeal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit must have been humming The Garlic's latest Scooter tune - "Let's Jail Libby" - this morning, as they denied Cheney's little henchman time to romp around in the aspens while he awaits the appeal of his conviction.

Now, the big question - Does Libby follow the lead of his puppet master and declare that he is neither part of the Executive or Legislative Branch, therefore the court does not have jurisdiction over him and he can ignore the demands it makes?

Does The Commander Guy, yet again, transform himself, this time into The Pardon Guy?

Holy Constitutionally-Questionable Special Prosecutors, Batman!

Stay Tuned Bat Fans!

Links

BREAKING: Libby Motion For Release On Bond Pending Appeal — DENIED

Court won't delay Libby prison sentence

Right-wing noise machine: Plame not covert

More Libby, Libby, Libby ... Bill Moyers' Begging His Pardon

Too tired tonight to write anything new on The Scooter ... You can visit yesterday's Libby, Libby, Libby ... It's A Scooterpalooza! to get a good hit on All Things Scooter.

Instead, we turn it over to a much better voice, and it's a good read

Bill Moyers: Begging His Pardon

Well worth clicking through and checking it out