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Mon. Jul 02, 2007

Off The Rack Irregulars For You, Tailor Made Justice For Scooter

Here in Georgia, many have been distressed by the case of Genarlow Wilson. The apparent injustice in his sentence actually motivated the legislature to change the law, but did not supply them with the cojones to make the law retroactive, i.e., let Genarlow out of jail.

So a few weeks back a judge struck down the sentence and ordered him released. He’s already served over two years for his “crime.” Our Georgia Attorney General (goodness, look who’s the number five search return for that phrase) decided to appeal that judgment, and keep him in jail. But he said he wouldn’t object to Genarlow being released on bond for appeal, so a hearing was set for July 5. Until that judge said, “don’t bother coming then, he’s not eligible for bond.” So Genarlow may well be in jail a total of two and a half years before that appeal hits the courtroom. Thirty months.

Meanwhile, in Washington, DC, Scooter goes scot-free. His thirty month term has been commuted by the President. Who has likely never even heard the name of Genarlow Wilson. But he did take time to claim “‘I respect the jury’s verdict,’ Mr. Bush said in a statement. ‘But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive.’”

Which is the same as disrespecting the jury’s verdict, because, in the president’s opinion, they clearly didn’t know what they were talking about. I mean, they are just the Constitutionally mandated jury of your peers, who spent weeks hearing the evidence. It’s not like they are a fourth branch of government or something. As in every arena, clearly executive power trumps all others here as well. Sticking to the harsh rules and judgments of the system is for common suckers like you and I. And Genarlow Wilson. But not the Vice President’s water boy and designated patsy, Scooter Libby. He gets such a walk it makes it look like Paris Hilton did hard time.

It seems to me that “justice” has become a very variable commodity in our culture today. In some places, there’s a thin papering that’s a sad excuse for justice; in others it’s so thick it borders on cruel and unusual. And in some places, it does not appear to exist at all.

It’s also clear to me that the Bush administration simply no longer gives a damn, about public opinion or the rule of law. The defeat of their immigration bill, when the President could not even get a dozen members of his own party to toe his line, made it obvious he’s the lamest of ducks. He has no capital left to push any kind of domestic agenda, and it ought to be obvious by now that the foreign policy agenda long ago left their control. Their car is out of gas … and they don’t even seem to care anymore.

So this is what’s he’s got left: free Scooter.

Can you just go home now, George? Pretty please? Before you break something else?