Cheney, Bush at odds over Libby
posted at 8:49 am on February 17, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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According to the New York Daily News, George Bush and Dick Cheney fought bitterly in the final days of the Bush presidency over the fate of Scooter Libby. Staffers describe the exasperation both men felt over the issue, with Bush finally so annoyed that he refused to discuss the matter any further. Cheney, though, would not take no for an answer:
In the waning days of the Bush administration, Vice President Dick Cheney launched a last-ditch campaign to persuade his boss to pardon Lewis (Scooter) Libby – and was furious when President George W. Bush wouldn’t budge.
Sources close to Cheney told the Daily News the former vice president repeatedly pressed Bush to pardon Libby, arguing his ex-chief of staff and longtime alter ego deserved a full exoneration – even though Bush had already kept Libby out of jail by commuting his 30-month prison sentence. …
In multiple conversations, both in person and over the telephone, Cheney tried to get Bush to change his mind. Libby was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in the federal probe of who leaked covert CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity to the press.
Several sources confirmed Cheney refused to take no for an answer. “He went to the mat and came back and back and back at Bush,” a Cheney defender said. “He was still trying the day before Obama was sworn in.”
Cheney hasn’t exactly been a retiring wallflower about this since then, either. He has spoken publicly about his frustration with Bush in not pardoning Libby when he had the opportunity. When Cheney writes his memoirs, and I’d bet he’ll have them ready long before Bush does, he will certainly expand his thoughts on this topic a great deal.
Why didn’t Bush pardon Libby? After all, as we saw at the end of the Clinton administration, such actions carry zero political or legal risk, even with fairly clear evidence of payoffs, which wouldn’t be the case with a Libby pardon. Bush may have had one of two reasons, one of which the Daily News hints at in the article:
About the same time, however, an official who has worked closely with both men mused that the relationship “isn’t what it was” when Bush tapped Cheney as his running mate in 2000.
“It’s been a long, long time since I’ve heard the President say, ‘Run that by the vice president’s office.’ You used to hear that all the time.”
Could Bush have been blindsided by Libby’s perjury and obstruction of justice, and by the connection of Cheney’s office to one of the leaks (the first being through Richard Armitage at State, no Cheney lover he)? Bush had promised to fire anyone who deliberately leaked Valerie Plame’s identity to the press, but had to parse that carefully when Libby’s name came up. His refusal to consider a pardon may be an expression of anger at the entire affair and at his Vice President for putting him in that position at all.
Or it simply could be that Bush really did respect the jury’s verdict and wanted to send a message about perjury and obstruction of justice. After all, Clinton got impeached on the same grounds, and Republicans had plenty to say then about the corrosive affects of those crimes on the justice system. Libby could have refused to cooperate, which would have cost him his job but would have saved him a quarter-million dollars and his law license. Instead, he chose to commit perjury and obstruction of justice, as a jury found. The commutation respected that verdict, just as the commutation did for border agents Ramos and Compean, while keeping Libby out of prison.
I’d lean towards the second explanation more than the first, but the two are not mutually exclusive, either.
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Bush had class and integrity, wait I thought he was Cheney’s puppet.
rob verdi on February 17, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Lesson:
Don’t go to work for your friend, & don’t hire your friend, especially if the jobs will last eight years.
jgapinoy on February 17, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Hey, he wouldn’t pardon Ramos and Compean, either. Why should Scooter luck out?
Frozen Tex on February 17, 2009 at 8:54 AM
I’m with Cheney on this one – Bush dumped on Libby and it’s a damn shame.
His was a political prosecution – and it deserved a political pardon.
jake-the-goose on February 17, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Bush was always a coward in the face of his domestic political enemies. That is what enabled the witch hunt that ensnared Libby in the first place. The non-pardon was just a continuation of that.
thirteen28 on February 17, 2009 at 8:59 AM
I lean toward your second explanation, too. Bush has a very well-developed sense of right and wrong, thanks to his faith. I’m not sure if Libby actually was guilty, or if he was railroaded by an overzealous prosecutor and a DC jury, but there were enough inconsistencies in Libby’s story that the affair did have the odor of scandal.
But I think Bush made the wrong move. He needed to have issued numerous pardons, not only to protect Libby but also to protect members of his administration who were involved in the interrogations of terrorists at GTMO, warrantless wiretapping, and other controversial programs. The President has a duty to cover the rear-ends of those people who follow his orders. Because Bush refused to issue those pardons, now everyone involved in those programs must look behind their backs for YEARS: in the event the Messiah’s poll numbers go down, rest assured his appetite will pick up for “truth commissions” and special prosecutor investigations and so forth.
Outlander on February 17, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Bigger Lesson:
Don’t work for a Republican administration, because they’ll toss you under the bus to save face with their political enemies.
Lehosh on February 17, 2009 at 9:01 AM
Cheney is absolutely correct on this. Without any question.
progressoverpeace on February 17, 2009 at 9:03 AM
I am more disgusted by the fact that Libby was brought before prosecutors even though they ALREADY knew who the leak was, Armitage. They had it out for Cheney and his office, they wanted to dangle some bait and see if they could catch Libby in a lie. They violated Libby’s rights by bringing him there in the first place.
Jamewah on February 17, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Cheney should have dragged W. out on to the South Lawn and kicked his a**.
BigD on February 17, 2009 at 9:09 AM
Cheney is right on this. Bush should have pardoned Libby. He is an innocent guy who tried to protect the administration.
jencab on February 17, 2009 at 9:10 AM
I agree. Maybe the lesson is to always take the fifth when dealing with federal prosecutors. Some want blood at any price.
flyfisher on February 17, 2009 at 9:11 AM
At least Ramos and Compean were convicted of actually shooting a guy and covering it up. Scooter was convicted of covering up a crime that he didn’t actually commit.
MargaretMN on February 17, 2009 at 9:11 AM
That is absolutely incorrect. The phrase that the prosecution rested on, was Libby saying:
“because at that point in time I did not recall that I had ever known, and I thought this is something that he was telling me that I was first learning.”
The jury decided that, not only did Libby know, but that he recalled that he knew during that conversation. A weak case. I guess Libby should have concentrated on the definitions of ‘is’ …
The whole case was a travesty and Fitzgerald should have been brought up on charges of professional misconduct and lying to the court for pursuing a case that he knew was non-existent.
progressoverpeace on February 17, 2009 at 9:12 AM
So, what’s Armitage up to these days?
It’s funny that lying to the feds can land you in a heap of trouble. (see; Libby, Scooter and Stewart, Martha).
But lying to the entire country, (see; Clinton, Billy Jeff and Obama, The One) makes you wildly popular.
reaganaut on February 17, 2009 at 9:16 AM
I’ve got bigger fish to fry now, Bush is gone and more’s the pity.
Ogabe is committing a gigantic crime against the American people as we speak, soon to be signed into law by his evil hand.
Bishop on February 17, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Libby is a political prisoner…..plain and simple!
grapeknutz on February 17, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Cheney:
“Mr President, I’m sorry about complaining so much about Libby. To make it up to you, I’d like to take you out hunting…”
: P
jgapinoy on February 17, 2009 at 9:20 AM
Cheny’s memoirs should be interesting. My guess is that Cheney was disgisted with Bush’s progressive domestic policy, sans tax cuts, and his frustration with this boiled over into other aspect of their relationship (i.e., Scooter Libby was just one item in a bullet list).
WashJeff on February 17, 2009 at 9:22 AM
It’s politics. Every party does it. At one time the extreme left thought Ralph Nader was their savior. He became an impediment they had to throw under the bus every four years since 00.
hawkdriver on February 17, 2009 at 9:26 AM
also sans pro-life commitment.
jgapinoy on February 17, 2009 at 9:27 AM
If he had pardoned them, they’d still have the felony on their record. They have a chance through the appeals process to have it overturned, and removed from their records.
rightside on February 17, 2009 at 9:27 AM
I would go one step further, this is life. This stuff happens in business, in the home, etc.
WashJeff on February 17, 2009 at 9:27 AM
You forgot Powell.
hawkdriver on February 17, 2009 at 9:28 AM
What about Rove? He was also involved. Bush, and I love him dearly, should have pardoned Libby. He should have ordered the release of information that shows Plame was NOT a covert operative or should have insisted Armitage be prosecuted for revealing her identity. That Armitage, or UGO as I like to call him, slipped through this unscathed makes my blood boil. And don’t even get me started on Powell.
Sue on February 17, 2009 at 9:31 AM
While we may never hear Bush’s explanation as to why he didn’t pardon Libby, if he had done so it would be totally forgotten by now.
Regardless, Joseph Wilson outed Valerie Plame when he wrote his op-ed in the NY TIMES!
…and Valerie Plame could have prevented the whole thing by threatening to cut Wilson off. It’s really that simple isn’t it?
perroviejo on February 17, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Biggest lesson, lead by example. Regardless of the intent and what he thought he knew (or couldn’t remember) the jury believed he lied to try to cover up something while under oath. Trying to do a bad thing for self-perceived right reasons (protecting the office) should always be called on with either sitting party. I believe President Bush tried his best to walk the talk up to his last minute as President, much unlike our current one.
RedTiger62 on February 17, 2009 at 9:31 AM
I don’t think so. A pardon wipes the record clean.
Sue on February 17, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Business, extended family maybe…
But if you’re throwing your immediate family under the bus you have problems.
Wash (DC or State) ?
hawkdriver on February 17, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Impossible, Bush only did what Cheney wanted, Bush was just a facade in front of the real person running the government…Isn’t that what you think lefties???
right2bright on February 17, 2009 at 9:33 AM
I think it is as simple as convictions. Regardless of whether Libby outed Plame, he lied to a grand jury. He can’t take that back. I think keeping him out of jail was the extent to which President Bush could bend his sense of whats right.
But Bishop is right, this means nothing now. Bigger fish to fry and this is nothing more than moonbat feed.
hawkdriver on February 17, 2009 at 9:38 AM
My user name? I blended Washington and Jefferson. I from Illinois.
Serious problems!!!
WashJeff on February 17, 2009 at 9:39 AM
This reminds me of the time when I was about 23 and someone pulled out into traffic, made the car in front of me come to a stop, then I hit that car in the back. I was looking in the other lane at the time and didn’t react quickly enough. The guy who caused it–but wasn’t a part of the accident–apologized profusely. The cop heard my explanation and set the hooks when I said “looked back in front of me…” That was it. He said I was following too closely and gave me the ticket. Since them I’ve been very careful talking to cops.
perroviejo on February 17, 2009 at 9:41 AM
The members of the Northern VA jury were steeped in media inspired conspiracy theories and BDS. That’s my view, and given that perspective, Scooter Libby got a raw deal and president Bush should have pardoned him. But from his position of involvement, Bush felt the need to respect the objectivity of the jury, so he could not justify a pardon.
Clinton (corruptly) judged correctly that the financial gain for his pardons was much greater than political price. Mr. Bush’s character is quite different. If principle had urged him toward the pardon, he would have endured the resulting political price.
He has made it clear that he respects the jury’s verdict. He is less clear about whether he personally disagrees with it; and on that narrow point he has significantly disappointed me. He could and should vigorously defend Scooter Libby even if he does not pardon him out of deference to the jury.
John E. on February 17, 2009 at 9:41 AM
My impression is that Bush has this ‘high road – low road’ worldview regarding politics and gets ‘wobbly’ as Thatcher would say regarding political jousting and refused to engage in his defense or his staff on numerous nasty political fronts during his admin.
Unfortunately, while admirable in the abstact, his worldview was naive. Politics is guerilla warfare and allowing the enemy to attack you with impunity with no response simply allows the enemy to frame the lie and perpetuate it. McCain had the same worldview and both felt like they would be more ‘liked’ by being passive. As we know now, the enemy saw it as weakness and exploited the silence.
Bottom line is politics is a very rough career and don’t get in the ring if you are not willing to take and throw a punch. Both men should have known better.
Starlink on February 17, 2009 at 9:43 AM
I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.
hawkdriver on February 17, 2009 at 9:43 AM
That peanut butter company executive learned from Scooter Libby. If in front of congress or a prosecuter, say nothing (even if you want to be helpful). It will be harder to prosecute crimes if the people innocent of the crime feel they can be charged for lapses in memory.
WashJeff on February 17, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Now Cheney decides to come out of the bunker he has been in for the past year and be a media highlight? We really haven’t heard much from him in quite some time, perhaps he should go back to where he has been and retire with his heart medication.
workingforpigs on February 17, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Once you are pardoned, your record is clear as the driven snow. The only thing the President can’t erase is sin. And state crimes, of course.
factoid on February 17, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Bush should have pardoned Libby. Miscarriage of justice.
cjs1943 on February 17, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Let’s remember that he was found guilty by a D.C. jury. That is not necessiarily a non-partisian jury of your peers. D.C. has NEVER voted for a Republian candidate since its first got the right to vote in Presidential elections. And it has never been close. In most elections, D.C. has the highest percentage of voters who vote for Democracts. So, it is no surprise that Libby got convicted based on suspect charges. The whole case boiled down to whether Tim Russert or Scooter Libby properly remembered a converstaion.
This was an injustice.
And let’s also remember that there was no chance that Clinton lied under oath. While Libby may have forgotten exactly what he told Russert, there is no chance that Clinton forgot his “conversation” with Monica…
Bush let his party down on this issue.
RedSoxNation on February 17, 2009 at 10:04 AM
I would take one Cheney over 5 Bushes.
The Wall on February 17, 2009 at 10:06 AM
You are right. If I counsel a potential witness, I tell him or her: Don’t say anything unless you are certain it is the truth. And even then, you have to be careful because it may still be inconsistent with others who may testify (in good faith) differently….
RedSoxNation on February 17, 2009 at 10:06 AM
+1 The prosecution was a joke; Fitz knew from the beginning that the leak (of the well-known fact) that Joe Wilson’s wife worked a desk at CIA came from Colin Powell’s right hand mand Richard Armitage. Bush stood by while Fitz tore through Cheney’s staff setting up perjury traps, and never once made a public statement defending Libby or asking why the “leak” prosecution continued (at taxpayer expense) once that information was known.
And the Bush justice department had zero interest in all of the leaks of actual national security secrets….and no interest in ACORN and funding illegalities in Obama’s campaign.
And Bush ran on the promise that he would fix the damage that Clinton did to the military. He followed the Clinton pattern of cutting active duty troop levels through 2006, even while running around saying he “supports the troops.”
Look up Gordon England and F-22. He was Bush’s # 2 guy at the pentagon, and tried repeatedly to kill the program.
Obama is just GW Bush II in many ways.
funky chicken on February 17, 2009 at 10:08 AM
I did not think Scooter should have gone to jail, but he was not entirely innocent either. I give Cheney credit for pulling for his boy, but stuff happens.
Mr. Joe on February 17, 2009 at 10:27 AM
I wanted a full pardon for Scooter too. But in the end it really is the president’s decision and his alone. I do hope he will one day more fully explain the decision.
If any of us ever happen to be elected president, I hope we’ll go ahead and get that pardon taken care of.
t.ferg on February 17, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Remember Cheney’s inaugural wheel chair? I guess that back injury was from being body slammed too many times by Dubya on the Libby pardon.
Mark30339 on February 17, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Lets face it, the Justice Department was a mess in the second Bush Admin. If only the Plame investigation was the worst of the problems of Bush II. Had he run a flawless Admin up until last Fall, Bush’s Panic Bailout Palooza has hurt the country immeasurably.
james23 on February 17, 2009 at 10:52 AM
The Bush second term was a mess. That’s when he really veered left on so many issues, though he started just before, kicked out all the quality people, and stopped listening to Cheney. Condi was in the ascendancy, and she’s a moron and a left-leaning boob. And, that was that.
progressoverpeace on February 17, 2009 at 10:56 AM
I agree with your analysis. It appears that Cheney lost more and more influence with Bush. I think that had some bad consequences, because I think Cheney was more realistic.
One thing that is pertinent is the way in which Bush’s loyalty to people clouded his decisions. I wonder to what extent a cooling relationship with Cheney influenced the decision about Libby.
INC on February 17, 2009 at 10:58 AM
No one is talking about it, but Ramos and Compean have been released.
flyfisher on February 17, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Finally. No one got as screwed as those two. Their situation represents one of the real low points in the history of US sovereignty.
When these morons in Congress try to push the amnesty again (with McCain and his gang jumping on board) this country is going to go ballistic. I don’t think they know it, either.
progressoverpeace on February 17, 2009 at 11:07 AM
I strongly side with V.P. Cheney on this. Bush wimped out on this and on Ramos & Compean.He should have pardon all 3 with full pardons.Also the Just.dept should investgate U.S. Att. Johnny Sutton. for his strange actions in this case.
thmcbb on February 17, 2009 at 11:11 AM
First, let’s remember that Bush was known for issuing fewer pardons than most when he was Governor of Texas. He seems to prefer to stick with the jury’s verdict in general.
And I think some of the other commenters hit it on the head when they said that Bush is very much a right-and-wrong kind of guy. Like all presidents, he sincerely wanted to have a scandal-free presidency. He saw Libby’s actions as a taint on his presidency, and he was not happy about that. He wanted to be spotless, and Libby was a spot. So he wasnt going to do any favors for Libby.
orange on February 17, 2009 at 11:33 AM
I hope Dick Cheney tells it exactly as he sees it, without any gloss or whitewash. He owes Bush nothing. His debt of loyalty ended January 20, 2009. I will read Cheney’s book if I perceive it as an honest portrayal of events, warts and all. As for Bush…I don’t read pop-up books and political fiction requires dead bodies and/or naked babes or it’s not worth the effort.
SKYFOX on February 17, 2009 at 11:43 AM
You know what is going to be so twisted and sorry about this? The special persecutor, Fitzgerald,who trumped up charges against Libby and railroaded him to prison will give Governor Blago, Obamba’s pal, a pass with no charges filed. Wait and see.
kens on February 17, 2009 at 11:55 AM
If there was Hell, which there isn’t, I would hope Cheney would rot there. That being said…
We obviously have a problem when attorneys with extraordinary powers turn up nothing as far as what they were actually assigned to investigate. While at the same time they go onto fishing expeditions trying not to investigate a crime that’s already occurred but to force somebody to commit it during the investigation.
This is not why we have special prosecutors, and this problem needs to be addressed. Clinton’s case was a disgrace, so was Libby’s.
radiofreevillage on February 17, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Revenge is a dish best served cold. I hope one day old Scooter gets his pound of flesh.
kens on February 17, 2009 at 12:07 PM
I’m sorry–I just don’t believe this story.
The NY Daily News isn’t exactly a friend of the Bush Adminstration or any member of it.
I’ve never known Cheney to criticize his former boss like this (through “unnamed sources”) and I’ve never known him to leak to the press to get his message out.
President Bush chose to commute Libby’s sentence because a pardon implies guilt and Libby wasn’t guilty of anything.
Libby did not commit perjury: it was his “memory” against that of Tim Russert and in the jury’s mind, Russert was more truthful.
And now, he’s deceased and can never take back framing Libby.
Jenfidel on February 17, 2009 at 12:08 PM
In the end,
Bush disappoints,
simple as that.
Sir Napsalot on February 17, 2009 at 12:10 PM
It will now be a priority for the MSM to cause a catfight between Bush and Cheney. Sadly, and w/o any real evidence except drinker’s intuition, I believe the latter is prolly much more willing and able than the former to do some serious damage incorporated.
Mike D. on February 17, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Is that why he pushed for TARP?
Libertarian Joseph on February 17, 2009 at 12:13 PM
I still don’t get why Joseph Wilson and Valeria Plame escaped jail time.
Sending a known agent of a foreign power (Saudi Arabia) on a secret mission the real intent of which is to try and undercut American foreign policy seems to meet the threshold for treason to me.
18-1 on February 17, 2009 at 12:24 PM
I’m with Cheney on this one. A shameful lack of loyalty on Bush’s part, given that Libby fell on his sword. Or at least fell off his scooter.
dick on February 17, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Kens, let’s say you’re correct that Fitzgerald doesnt file charges on Blago. If that happens, it’s because he doesnt have a solid case on him. It’s not as if Fitzgerald let him off the hook. Blago is no longer governor of Illinois – his political career is over – as a direct result of Fitzgerald’s actions.
If you’re trying to claim that Fitzgerald is going easy on Blago, it just doesnt wash. I mean, consider the language Fitzgerald used in his initial press conference. He took the gloves off. He instantly made Blago a nationally infamous person; Rod became the most hated sitting politician in America overnight. As a prosecutor, he’s going to want to nail the criminal whom he made famous.
orange on February 17, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Agree totally. Bush should have pardoned Libby.
Maxx on February 17, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Bush doesn’t listen to Cheney? Shockah.
That is why we have had 8 years of liberal windup. Obama is just following through with the pitch.
At least we stopped him on Miers and amnesty. Otherwise, he is our Jimmy Carter.
Valiant on February 17, 2009 at 3:28 PM
yea boyee
booyah on February 17, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Cheney is an evil torture artist who enjoys being bound and gagged by his wife. He is Ted Haggard’s model Christian.
booyah on February 17, 2009 at 6:50 PM
And Cheney is terrified of being held accountable for the crimes he committed in office. He needs a prison jumpsuit and a number to go along with that wheelchair.
booyah on February 17, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Bush looks good in comparison to BHO (but then again so does Charles Manson). But his refusal to confront Congress especially Christopher Dodd and Barney Frank when they forced cowardly bankers to make bad loans to terribly bad risk (mostly minority) loan candidates, makes him an enabler in the fiscal mess we’re in. Also, he showed no loyalty to Libby or the Border Guards. Therefore he is gutless. Go Cheney.
MaiDee on February 17, 2009 at 7:19 PM
HAHAHAHAHA! And they say Democrats smoke weed.
What are you doing, Meth? Come back down to earth there, killer.
booyah on February 17, 2009 at 7:44 PM
It is funny, I think everyone presumed that Bush’s nods to bipartisanship and reaching across the aisle were mere campaign rhetoric like they are for Barack “I won” Obama. But he really meant it, and by not putting the clamps on Frank and his mortgage meltdown we are now all paying the price.
18-1 on February 17, 2009 at 8:23 PM
I wish I had seen this earlier in the day to post this information:
Please donate to the Libby Legal Defense Trust, PO Box 96418, Washington, DC 20090
Every time Mary Matalin sends me a fund raising letter, I send in some money. I have put a few hundred toward this cause. He still has MASSIVE legal bills to payoff.
This man was SO SCREWED
Please send in even $25 if you can.
karenhasfreedom on February 17, 2009 at 11:47 PM
To his great credit as a man, and our country’s great detriment….
ThereGoesTheNeighborhood on February 18, 2009 at 12:00 AM
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