To Our Democratic Leaders: Say The Fucking Word!

The Libby commutation was the modern day equivalent of the Saturday Night Massacre. Even though that, too, was technically legal, it was the final outrage epitomizing an entire climate of criminality. The Democrats, then, knew how to respond. The Democrats, now, need to. I've read their statements. They're all pissed and outraged and blah blah blah. I have one answer:

Say the fucking word!

You really think your expressions of outrage matter? You think Bush cares? You think the Republicans care? You think we care?

Speaker Pelosi said this:

The President’s commutation of Scooter Libby’s prison sentence does not serve justice, condones criminal conduct, and is a betrayal of trust of the American people.

The President said he would hold accountable anyone involved in the Valerie Plame leak case. By his action today, the President shows his word is not to be believed. He has abandoned all sense of fairness when it comes to justice, he has failed to uphold the rule of law, and he has failed to hold his Administration accountable.

Wow. Sounds bad. Anything you want to do about it?

Say the fucking word!

Majority Leader Reid said this:

The President's decision to commute Mr. Libby’s sentence is disgraceful. Libby’s conviction was the one faint glimmer of accountability for White House efforts to manipulate intelligence and silence critics of the Iraq War. Now, even that small bit of justice has been undone. Judge Walton correctly determined that Libby deserved to be imprisoned for lying about a matter of national security. The Constitution gives President Bush the power to commute sentences, but history will judge him harshly for using that power to benefit his own Vice President’s Chief of Staff who was convicted of such a serious violation of law.”

History? Ouch. I'm sure that will hurt. I'm sure that will restore our Constitution. How do you think history will judge this Democratic Congress?

Say the fucking word!

Chairman Conyers said:

Until now, it appeared that the President merely turned a blind eye to a high ranking Administration official leaking classified information. The President’s action today makes it clear that he condones such activity. This decision is inconsistent with the rule of law and sends a horrible signal to the American people and our intelligence operatives who place their lives at risk everyday. Now that the White House can no longer argue that there is a pending criminal investigation, I expect them to be fully forthcoming with the American people about the circumstances that led to this leak and the President’s decision today.

Really? You expect that? Seriously? What in Bush's entire record of behavior would lead you to believe he will be forthcoming about anything?

Say the fucking word!

And how about our plausible presidential candidates?

Senator Biden said:

It is time for the American people to be heard.

I call for all Americans to flood the White House with phone calls tomorrow expressing their outrage over this blatant disregard for the rule of law.

Oh, gosh. That'll teach them! You know what? We send people to Congress to ensure the rule of law. To express our outrage with actual actions. Actions that have consequences. People like you, Senator. You want my vote?

Say the fucking word!

Senator Clinton said:

Today's decision is yet another example that this Administration simply considers itself above the law. This case arose from the Administration's politicization of national security intelligence and its efforts to punish those who spoke out against its policies. Four years into the Iraq war, Americans are still living with the consequences of this White House's efforts to quell dissent. This commutation sends the clear signal that in this Administration, cronyism and ideology trump competence and justice.

A clear signal? Glad you figured that out. As if they haven't been sending that clear signal since day one. Since before day one. Yes, we're still living with the consequences. Any consequences you'd like them to have to live with? You want my vote?

Say the fucking word!

Senator Edwards said:

Only a president clinically incapable of understanding that mistakes have consequences could take the action he did today. President Bush has just sent exactly the wrong signal to the country and the world. In George Bush's America, it is apparently okay to misuse intelligence for political gain, mislead prosecutors and lie to the FBI. George Bush and his cronies think they are above the law and the rest of us live with the consequences. The cause of equal justice in America took a serious blow today.

A serious blow? You think? Anything you think your former Congressional colleagues ought to do about it? And you want my vote?

Say the fucking word!

Senator Obama said:

This decision to commute the sentence of a man who compromised our national security cements the legacy of an Administration characterized by a politics of cynicism and division, one that has consistently placed itself and its ideology above the law. This is exactly the kind of politics we must change so we can begin restoring the American people’s faith in a government that puts the country’s progress ahead of the bitter partisanship of recent years.

Yes. Let's change the kind of politics. By letting it stand, by moving on, and by waiting for grave breaches. And you want my vote?

Say the fucking word!

Governor Richardson said:

This administration clearly believes its officials are above the law, from ignoring FISA laws when eavesdropping on US citizens, to the abuse of classified material, to ignoring the Geneva Conventions and international law with secret prisons and torturing prisoners.

There is a reason we have laws and why we expect our Presidents to obey them. Institutions have a collective wisdom greater than that of any one individual. The arrogance of this administration's disdain for the law and its belief it operates with impunity are breathtaking.

My breath is taken. Anything you care to suggest actually doing when officials behave as if they are above the law? Or are they above the law? Certainly, if they are allowed to get away with this kind of criminal activity, their belief is actually justified. Is it? Do you want my vote?

Say the fucking word!

I respect every one of our Democratic leaders. I don't respect everything they do. I don't respect what they're not doing. I don't respect what they're not even saying! It's time. It's long past being time! Senator Sam Ervin, Congressman Peter Rodino, and the Democrats of the 93rd Congress knew what they had to do to save our nation from Constitutional collapse. They dared public opinion and the judgment of history. They did what had to be done. They were heroes. I respect the Democrats of the 110th Congress. We need a Congress that is more than respectable. We need heroes.

Say the fucking word!

And then do something!