Handicapping Last-Minute Bush Pardons

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

(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. More»

Supporters look to Cheney to sway Bush in final week

(NEWSER) - President Bush has less than a week to pardon Lewis “Scooter” Libby for his role in the CIA leak case, and at this point it’s unclear if he will, writes Byron York for the National Review. Dick Cheney's former chief of staff hasn't applied for one through the Justice Department. Supporters of Libby say they are relying on Cheney to convince the president. More»

White House cites new information in halting process for developer Isaac Toussie

(NEWSER) - President Bush withdrew a presidential pardon today after it emerged that the father of a convicted Brooklyn developer donated $28,500 to the Republican Party, CNN reports. The president’s counsel approved clemency for Isaac Toussie on charges of mail fraud and false statements to federal officials, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said, but given the new information, “the pardon might create an appearance of impropriety.” More»

Slate runs down the Bush team's most dubious legal claims

(NEWSER) - In her second annual roundup of the Bush administration's most egregious legal arguments, Dahlia Lithwick of Slate offers her top 10 doozies:

1. The United States does not torture
2. State-secrets privilege used to shield almost anything.
3. Almost anything Alberto Gonzales said.
4. The nine US attorneys were fired for cause.
5. Anyone who talks to the president is barred from congressional testimony by executive privilege.

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

(NEWSER) - George Bush seriously considered ditching Dick Cheney for the 2004 election, he writes in his memoir, Decision Points. Cheney offered to step aside and Bush—seeking "to demonstrate I was in charge"—explored the possibility of replacing him with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist before deciding to ask Cheney to stay, he writes in a copy of the memoir obtained by the New York Times . More»