Trumping the rule of law

Take a look at what the San Francisco Chronicle has to say:

In commuting the sentence of former White House aide Lewis “Scooter” Libby, President Bush sent the message that perjury and obstruction of justice in the service of the president of the United States are not serious crimes.

Never mind the president’s words about our system of justice relying on “people telling the truth” — and that those who don’t “must be held accountable.” His bottom-line action speaks louder than all the platitudes and caveats in the president’s statement.

Libby was sentenced to 30 months in prison after being convicted by a jury for his part in trying to stymie an investigation into the 2003 leak of a CIA operative’s identity. The sentencing judge seemed determined to see that the vice president’s former chief of staff serve time for his felony convictions.

Now, thanks to Bush’s intervention, Libby will not spend a day behind bars.

The president’s rationalization that Libby has suffered immensely with the damage to his reputation, the hefty fines — and the resulting strain on his wife and children — could be said of just about anyone with a previously clean record who is about to enter a federal prison.
...
Perhaps the underlying message here is that Bush feels his administration has suffered enough for its manipulation of intelligence before the Iraq war and its attempts to chill voices of dissent.

I guess I'm so cynical about all this that I don't even have any energy for outrage. This turn of events was utterly predictable.