GW: A Sith Lord?

Now let's be clear. I don't like the President's politics. I think he has done great damage to our reputation abroad, serious damage to our own nation as an open democracy and generally makes poor choices on who to take his counsel from. Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bremer, Wolfowitz, Perle et al. are part of the cabal that has taken America backwards in the name of national security.

However, I always thought he was probably a decent guy, unlike many of my progressive brethren, I understand why people voted for him, the old "who would you like to have a beer with" and perhaps a little less tongue in cheek particularly in the 2004 election, voted out of fear for the tougher commander in chief. The spin was how would a guy "who looks French" and likes the finer things in life be able to defend the nation. Even if Senator Kerry killed a lot more commies than President Bush (or Reagan) for that matter ever did. But he probably is good to his wife and kids, loves his hideously evil mother and likes to fish and cut brush.

Today however the President crossed the line, now I'll say that he did it legally and within his Executive Privilege, but in a serious crossing of the line of separation of powers, if not by law, definitely by spirit. Today, President Bush commuted Scooter Libby's prison sentence. In our new reality show, an all new, "A Different Kind of American Justice", Scooter has walked away with the grand prize. A reward for not turning in his boss(es) for keeping his mouth shut, a gift for his dedication to neo-conservative omerta.

Now it appears, even to someone who doesn't buy into many conspiracy theories at this age , that, where Mr. Libby assumed that the President had authorized him to disclose information within the intelligence reporting, that the President himself or at the very least his boss Dick Cheney, that his crimes were commuted by a very person who may have been part and parcel of the conspiracy. Yes, even as Dick Cheney continues to scold Americans for their commitment to old school, pre-9/11 American democracy, there should be a separation of powers and certainly the founding fathers may not have been able to foresee a case where a President would be able to commute those who may have committed a crime for them. Perhaps the same power should be given to Mafia dons.

So does this make G.W. Emperor now? Will RFK Stadium soon host gladiatorial matches with the President's thumb up or down deciding cases? It seems the President has become the Suge Knight of the American government, expressing total control over everything. Did his weekend of fishing with Vladmir Putin push off a "dictator-off", if so watch out Moscow! These are strange, strange times.