If my fulminations, both here and on Truthdig, about the futility of righteous indignation need any reinforcement, we have only to shift our attention from Rupert Murdoch to George W. Bush. Less than an hour ago, the following appeared on the BBC NEWS Web site:
US President George W Bush has intervened to prevent Lewis Libby, a convicted former vice-presidential aide, from serving a prison term.
President Bush described as "excessive" the 30-month prison sentence Libby was facing for having obstructed an inquiry into the leaking of a CIA agent's name.
Though no longer required to go to jail, Libby is still due to serve a period of probation and pay a fine.
An appeals court had earlier told Libby he could no longer delay going to jail.
Among those who would make Boss Tweed their role model, Murdoch has been reduced to a side show by Bush, who is probably second only to Cheney in this particular capacity. Bush has taken yet another opportunity to demonstrate his wanton disregard for the very concept of due process of law, perhaps for no reason better than his conviction that he can do so. No amount of righteous indignation will change either this act or the motives behind it.
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