Kristol: Bush Timed Clemency To Get Political Cover By Attacking Clinton

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/08/kristol-machiavellian/

Kristol: Bush Timed Clemency To Get Political Cover By Attacking Clinton

This morning, the Weekly Standard’s Bill Kristol — who accurately predicted the President’s decision to commute Libby’s sentence — suggested the order was timed to provide political cover for the decision by attacking President Clinton.

“Here’s why the president acted the way he did. He knew Bill Clinton was joining Hillary in Iowa on July 4th. No, I’m serious,” Kristol said. “So on July 2d, Ed Gillespie, who’s a very canny Republican operator, said, Let’s pardon Libby. Clinton will rise to the bait, and we could spend the last half of the week debating the unbelievable Clinton pardons against the defensible Bush pardon.”

Kristol concluded, “I regard this as an extremely clever Machiavellian move by the president. It cheers me up about the Bush White House, and I’m really heartened.”

Watch it/read transcript at link~

The Libby case is not comparable to anything President Clinton ever did. Libby was spared prison time because he was “charged with activities that involve knowledge of what his superiors in the White House did.” House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers said this kind of relationship in a commutation has “never existed before.”

If Kristol’s theory is correct that politics played a large role in the timing of Libby’s commutation, that provides yet another issue for Congress to delve into when it begins hearings on Bush’s abuse of clemency powers this week.

[DURHAM D]

1. I didn't need Kristol to tell me in order

to figure that one out. Thought it was obvious from the get go. Obviously the msm missed it - they love the script they are given, no questions or re-writes.

[Toots]

2. Kristol made the statement on the Daily Show " I am not in Washington now so I can be truthful"

Pretty much said it all IMO.

[Rex]

3. Machiavelli would probably look at Bill and his rag as proof that

he was right about society.

[madrchsod]

4. billyboy...

“I regard this as an extremely clever Machiavellian move by the president. It cheers me up about the Bush White House, and I’m really heartened.”

you are completely out of your fucking mind if you think bush is even close to big mac...

billyboy..the bus is here to take you back to the home

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Sounds like Mayberry Machiavellianism to me.

OK, many of Clinton's pardons were unbelievable. In spite of Mr. Kristol's characterization to the contrary, the Libby commutation is still indefensible.

They have simply raised a red herring. The fact that Bush, his staff and their apologists think this is a great achievement is indicative that they have nothing to say.

[William769]

6. Bush is jealous to say the least.

He hates the fact the President Clinton is revered more than he could ever hope to be.

[pwb]

7. bill kristol of the.. weakling ..standard???

one of the last guys picked in a pick up game. who cares what that neocon says.?