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Scooter Won't Need to Beg for Pardon

Slate's political wiz doesn't see Libby landing behind bars

By Dustin Lushing, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 15, 2007 2:28 PM CDT

(Newser) – President Bush will step in and save Scooter Libby for two reasons, argues Slate's John Dickerson. First, to repay Dick Cheney for not throwing Karl Rove under the bus. And second, pardoning Libby could help Bush regain Republican support by appeasing conservatives who opposed the CIA leak investigation from the get-go and are riled up by immigration reform.

"The number of people who would be angered by a pardon who haven't already abandoned the president could fit in an airport shuttle bus," argues Dickerson, who goes on to counsel the GOP presidential candidates on staffing any future administration. If they truly believe he's been wronged, he says, they'd do well to "welcome Libby, if not actively court him."

(FILES)Former Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, I... (Getty Images)

Former White House aide I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, right, is escorted to a waiting vehicle with his attorney, Theodore Well, left, outside federal Court in Washington, Thursday, June 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Pablo... (Associated Press)

Former White House aide I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, right, is escorted to a waiting vehicle with his attorney, Theodore Well, center, outside federal Court in Washington, Thursday, June 13, 2007 after a... (Associated Press)

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Scooter Won't Need to Beg for Pardon

Slate's political wiz doesn't see Libby landing behind bars

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GOP to Obama: Step Up Immigration Raids

And they oppose any path to legal status for illegals

Cheney, Bush Reunite at Library Groundbreaking

Former VP says public perception of his old boss is improving

Bush Considered Dumping Cheney in '04

President 'wanted to show who was in charge,' he writes in 'Decision Points'

Republicans Are 'Addicted to Bush'

GOP is trying to return to 43rd president's policies

Bush Didn't Lie About Iraq

Rove says he should have told president to fight

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Scooter Won't Need to Beg for Pardon

Slate's political wiz doesn't see Libby landing behind bars

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Bush administration • Dick Cheney • Valerie Plame • Karl Rove • Republican • CIA leak investigation • presidential pardon • John Dickerson • Lewis Scooter Libby • pardon • George W. Bush

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

GOP to Obama: Step Up Immigration Raids

And they oppose any path to legal status for illegals

Cheney, Bush Reunite at Library Groundbreaking

Former VP says public perception of his old boss is improving

Bush Considered Dumping Cheney in '04

President 'wanted to show who was in charge,' he writes in 'Decision Points'

Republicans Are 'Addicted to Bush'

GOP is trying to return to 43rd president's policies

Bush Didn't Lie About Iraq

Rove says he should have told president to fight

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?