Howard Dean says Bush should not pardon Libby.

[madfloridian]

He also spoke powerfully on MSNBC a few minutes ago. He said they needed to let the truth come out.

http://www.dnc.org/a/2007/03/dean_on_libby_v.php

With the multiple guilty verdicts in the case of Scooter Libby and the outing of a covert CIA agent, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:

"Today the American legal system did something the Bush Administration hasn't, by holding Scooter Libby accountable for his illegal actions. Many unanswered questions remain about the other key Bush advisors who participated in the Administration's efforts to mislead the American people and smear its critics who have yet to be held accountable. Ultimately, the buck stops with President Bush. While he failed to keep his promise to fire the leaker, he should pledge not to pardon Scooter Libby.

"It's appalling to think that while President Bush had a high level team in place to sell the Iraq War and viciously smear its critics, it has not given that same attention to plan for postwar Iraq, providing the proper equipment for our troops or ensuring that our troops and veterans receive the care they deserve."

On MSNBC he also said Bush did not give a damn about the soldiers or about Walter Reed. I am waiting on some attacks on him for that. He will also be on Situation Room later.

[KansDem]

1. Excellent strategy, but this should go "mainstream" as soon as possible!

Put the Repubs on the defensive, for once. Make them have to defend the notion that Bush just might pardon Libby. Make them explain why Bush should/should not pardon Libby. Make them consume time and energy explaining this...

Good move, Howard! :thumbsup:

[BOSSHOG]

2. Dean is proven true by bush's actions

bush, lying, drug addicted, corporate criminal military deserting "christian" does not give one flying dog fuck about the troops or the hospital mess except they are the source of the truth about him and his kind. I hope the right wing hate machine pounces on Dean, because I think our side is finally pouncing back. How can anything bush has done in 7+ years be defended?

[calimary]

3. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I LOVE HOWARD DEAN!!!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE him! And YES, I'm SHOUTING!!!

He made me so proud, all over again, while watching that. He hit all the best notes and all the proper points. Howard, :yourock: - now and forevermore, AMEN!!!

[madfloridian]

5. He was very critical of the way the admin had attacked critics.

Funny thing, though. I am not seeing much about it yet. I figured when he said Bush had not given a damn about the soldiers or Walter Reed that he would be attacked at once.

I am watching for a video or something. He said a lot of stuff about how Bush and Cheney went after their critics instead of worrying about more important things.

[Jax]

4. Shout it Howard

never shut up.

Thanks for this and your as always outstanding efforts at DU mad, you rock!

[madfloridian]

6. He also said we need to get out of Iraq.

and thanks for the kind words. :hi:

[calimary]

11. Yes, he did indeed.

He said ALL the good things. Plus mentioning that what has happened to our wounded warrior outpatients makes him sick. A doctor would know, certainly. I'll bet when his only title was Doctor, he NEVER allowed any patients to get such a short end of a short stick as these guys did. Dead roaches and BLACK MOLD. While they're recovering from some of the most ungodly injuries imaginable. They get dead roaches and BLACK MOLD. And mice running amok all over the place spreading their fleas and their germs and their droppings everywhere. Nice. Or maybe Building 18 was just trying to live up to what's often said about hospitals - that they're among the best places to contract an infection.

What's such a tragedy here is what that actually made me think: that it might just be better to be killed in this war instead of limping back with lifelong injuries only to have your government and your VA and your commanders cheap out on you and break all the promises that were made to you about how you'd be taken care of. JUST AN ABSOLUTE, RED-WHITE-AND-BLUE DISGRACE. Oh yeah, I forgot. Those are the colors that don't run - unless it's from responsibility.

[madfloridian]

7. Dean said a pardon of Libby would be to "shut him up."

He said one of the reasons Bush would have to pardon him is to shut him up. Waiting on the transcript.

[Snellius]

8. The pardon was probably pre-promised long ago

The fix is in on this one. When you heard that neither Libby or Cheney weren't going to testify, knowing that Libby lacked any real defense, you knew that they had already blown off the verdict in favor of appealing to a higher authority.

[madfloridian]

9. Of course, but by all of them publicly saying it...they call attention.

That's the point. The point is that they are getting it before the public that pardoning Libby is covering up stuff.

[Snellius]

10. And force them to reveal their back-dealing hand

I wonder how long it will be into the Hardball special tonight before they start speculating on whether a pardon had already been promised. Shades of Watergate.