My husband thinks it’s cute the way I always seem to be surprised by all the fairy tales, falsehoods and fabrications that emit from the White House; that I must somehow hold out hope that our elected (or not elected as the case may be) officials have some deep seated humanity that would cause them trouble sleeping at night should they lie to their constituents.

Odd, I always considered myself to be rather cynical and jaded about politicians.

Now we come to Bush commuting (not pardoning because after all, he still has to pay money and be on probation and he is still convicted — and we all know that convicted liars have no place in politics) Scooter Libby’s sentence.

You can read the entire pack of lies at:

www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070702-3.html

For your convenience, I have graciously copied the pertinent parts and noted the pants-on-fire-level whoppers for your enlightenment.

Statement by the President On Executive Clemency for Lewis Libby

The United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit today rejected Lewis Libby’s request to remain free on bail while pursuing his appeals for the serious convictions of perjury and obstruction of justice. As a result, Mr. Libby will be required to turn himself over to the Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his prison sentence.

Well, not so fast there, bucko. Define the word, “serve.”

From the very beginning of the investigation into the leaking of Valerie Plame’s name, I made it clear to the White House staff and anyone serving in my administration that I expected full cooperation with the Justice Department.

I assume “anyone serving in my administration” automatically exempts those in the executive branch.

This case has generated significant commentary and debate. Critics of the investigation have argued that a special counsel should not have been appointed, nor should the investigation have been pursued after the Justice Department learned who leaked Ms. Plame’s name to columnist Robert Novak. Furthermore, the critics point out that neither Mr. Libby nor anyone else has been charged with violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act or the Espionage Act, which were the original subjects of the investigation. Finally, critics say the punishment does not fit the crime: Mr. Libby was a first-time offender with years of exceptional public service and was handed a harsh sentence based in part on allegations never presented to the jury.

And by critics I mean, of course, me and Dick.

Others point out that a jury of citizens weighed all the evidence and listened to all the testimony and found Mr. Libby guilty of perjury and obstructing justice. They argue, correctly, that our entire system of justice relies on people telling the truth. And if a person does not tell the truth, particularly if he serves in government and holds the public trust, he must be held accountable. They say that had Mr. Libby only told the truth, he would have never been indicted in the first place.

And by others I mean, of course, the terrorists, Al Quada, and all the Godless minions of Satan.

I respect the jury’s verdict.

CoughBullshitCough

But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby’s sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison.

Oh JesusPleaseUs, even Paris-Fucking-Hilton served a few weeks for crying out loud!

My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby. The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged. His wife and young children have also suffered immensely.

Wow, they care about reputations? As far as his family suffering, I would venture to say most of your average folks that are convicted of felonies have family members who suffer; especially since the average convict has to actually serve time and be away from their families. Damn.

The Constitution gives the President the power of clemency to be used when he deems it to be warranted.

Used, not abused dumbass.

I guess what I find most egregious is that this President, while he was governor of Texas, was responsible for more executions than any other in modern times — in spite of investigations into shoddy lab results, ineffectual counsel in cases as well as death row inmates who were exonerated due to previously unavailable or denied evidence. How’s that for harsh punishment?

I’m tired of being lied to and I wonder what my mother, if she were still alive, would make of all this. She used to say, “I’d rather deal with a thief than a liar — a thief only takes your money, a liar takes your trust.”

I wonder how long I will be able to maintain my Pollyanna outlook on politics.

So you see, it’s really easy to tell if Bush is lying — his lips are moving.