Libby liberated?
To the Editor:

Scooter's home free. His sentence has been commuted, as was comfortably within the purview of presidential prerogative. But is Libby really at liberty? I say 'Yes.' On the surface, 'home free' may not seem to coincide with liberty when we ponder the freedom of a $250,000 fine and a loss of his license to practice law, not to speak of a lifelong cloud of shame. But will that be the final chapter? I say 'No.' Naturally, he will appeal. His appeal will probably be rejected. Then before leaving office President Bush will most likely pardon the man. I think Scooter knew it from the start.

And did he lie? Probably. Did he obstruct justice? Since no known proof of the commission of a crime exists, how then could Scooter Libby have obstructed justice if the commission of a crime remains unproven? The prosecution has weighted their case on vague surmise, thus failing the test of incontrovertible proof.

And now, has President Bush failed of his mandate by commuting Libby's sentence? As is their job and their strategy, Democratic party-liners disagree with his judgment in the case, but they can't disagree with his presidential prerogative, provided for in the Constitution of the United States. So there stands the question: If in power, would the Democrats advocate promulgation of a constitutional amendment denying the prerogative of the president to commute sentences or pardon crimes?

Once upon a time, a president violated his oath of office, as he insisted he'd had no immoral relations with a White House intern, and it turned out to be a bit semantic doubletalk to mislead the Congress, and thus the American people. Once upon a time, the same president pardoned a generous number of law breakers as he exited office. And then, lo and behold, the families, friends and cohorts of the pardoned felons collectively provided millions in donations to Don Juan's presidential library. Such a mystery!

One day in the foreseeable future, the same Don Juan may once again in crepe soled shoes prowl the halls of our White House, to the playful melody of his harmonica of the moment, to the strains of that dear old tune, Nighttime in Havana. Will he fool a Hillary Ankle Brace by traipsing nightly through the White House chapel, airing a prerecorded prayer of thanksgiving, for the benefit of Secret Service hidden microphones?

And then there's that old fuddy duddy, George Bush, who does nothing for fun but rear a good family, practice a life founded on explicitly wholesome moral values, and retire early evenings, leaving Laura to watch Desperate Housewives. Yes, the Democrats must dedicate their intrepid efforts to restore - through any means available, licit or not - moral integrity in the White House. And then there's that desired after White House dinnerware to be considered. Some was inadvertently left behind when a distinguished collector first departed the house on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Tom McKevitt