Rush hour commute

On the same day that a federal appeals court unanimously ordered Lewis Libby to serve jail time while his appeal was in process, President Bush stepped to the plate and cracked one out of the park, delivering the venal home run that almost everyone expected would come one day or another.

President Bush commuted the sentence of former aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby Monday, sparing him from a 2 1/2-year prison term in the CIA leak case. Bush left intact a $250,000 fine and two years probation for Libby, according to a senior White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been announced.

Bush’s move came hours after a federal appeals panel ruled Libby could not delay his prison term in the CIA leak case. That decision put the pressure on the president, who had been sidestepping calls by Libby’s allies to pardon the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.

Happy Fourth of July, the day this country will celebrate its independence from tyranny and arbitrary rule. It was the day, so long celebrated, as that upon which these United States would be administered by the rule of law and not the rule of men. And there would be equality of justice under law.

If ever one wanted to make a mockery of that sentiment, this would be a fine way to do it.