Talking Point

I know it's not necessary to prove that Bush is a hypocritical pr#@K, but this will help you when you get into the inevitable argument with some nutbar friend:

The LAT takes a look at the numbers and says that the Justice Department "frequently has sought sentences that are long, or longer, in cases similar to Libby's." The average sentence for those found guilty of obstruction of justice was 70 months. Everyone mentions the case decided two weeks ago by the Supreme Court, who sided with the administration in maintaining a 33-month sentence in a case similar to Libby's, even though the defendant argued for leniency based on his 25 years of service in the armed forces.

You can also add this to the mixture:

The NYT talks to legal experts who say that Bush may have inadvertently sparked a debate about sentencing guidelines, which wouldn't have happened if he had simply chosen to pardon Libby. Many defense lawyers are likely to begin using Bush's rationale for commutation in arguing cases across the country. "I anticipate that we're going to get a new motion called 'the Libby motion'," a professor tells the NYT. In Slate, Harlan J. Protass makes a similar argument and says that although the tactic "probably won't work" defense attorneys won't be able to help themselves because "the administration's inconsistency is so glaring."

Kinda goes with the funny Supreme Court decision back in 2000.