Respect? Don't make me laugh.

So, Scooter's not going to jail. I'm not shocked, though I am a bit surprised, at the simple fact that the current president couldn't bear letting a loyal foot soldier - okay, maybe lieutenant - go to jail for doing his bidding.

But this?

I respect the jury's verdict. But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive.

That shocks me. (It's excessive? Okay, cut it down. Don't cut it out.) How dare he say he 'respect's the verdict while essentially rendering it meaningless. After all, Libby's raised $5 million in contributions, and now he can do book and talk shows.

Also, of course, commutation generally happens after the prison term is begun, not before.

I wish I knew why I still can be shocked by anything that man says or does.