Biggest surprise within the last half-hour --Libby moves to delay prison term (AP)

[Lobster Martini]

"Yesterday was a very sad day for Scooter and his family...My heart goes out to his family..." George W. B.

Being convicted is always so sad…that’s why Hallmark has a special section of condolence cards:

“We hope that your jail time is limited, and
we hope that a pardon is imminent.
You didn’t flip Cheney
for outing Ms. Plamey
For that you were irredeemably incriminated."

From AP:

Attorneys for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby are preparing a last-ditch effort to delay the former White House aide's 2 1/2-year prison sentence, even as President Bush declined to say Wednesday whether he was considering a pardon.

<snip>

He requested leniency but a federal judge said he would not reward someone who hindered the investigation into the exposure of a CIA operative, Valerie Plame. Her husband had accused the administration of twisting intelligence to justify the Iraq war.

"Mr. Libby failed to meet the bar. For whatever reason, he got off course," said U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton, adding that the evidence of Libby's guilt was overwhelming.

Libby's attorneys immediately sought to put the prison term on hold until his appeals have run out. Walton said he saw no reason to do so but reluctantly gave Libby's attorneys until Thursday to submit legal papers on the issue.

Bush, traveling in Europe, declined to say Wednesday whether he may pardon Libby.

"Yesterday was a very sad day for Scooter and his family," Bush told reporters. "But there's an ongoing process and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to discuss it while the process is going forward."

"My heart goes out to his family," the president added.

<snip>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070606/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak_trial

[Major Hogwash]

1. If Libby goes to jail, he can still give state's evidence - many wiseguys did just that.

Wiseguys always believe right up until the last minute, that the head man, either the capo or the President, will not ever let them go to jail.

But, then, on their first day in jail, it suddenly hits them - they are the sap.
They were the one played for a fool, they were used.
And now they're in the can, while the others are still running around scot-free.
Jail is not a fun place to be.

Jail is one of the worst experiences a person can go through other than death of a close loved one.
Jail is especially hard on a wealthy person, someone accustomed to all of life's amenities.
Jail is the great equalizer.
It changes everything, sometimes it even changes their minds.

I've heard of men who changed their minds about talking to the prosecutor while they were being processed in to jail!
That's how fast it can happen.
Oh, sure, they were big, bold, and brave as hell on the outside.
But, once they cross the gates into the house, perceptions suddenly change.
Caterpillars suddenly decide they want to be butterflies, like all their old buddies, and there is a metamorphosis that takes place when that jail cell door slams shut.

[sueh]

2. Scooter has only one decision to make now...

who is he going to give to Fitz? Cheney...or Bush?

[guruoo]

3. IMHO, Chances are slim to none that he'll turn...

He'll be placed in cushy fed country club detention, and be promised the world
as long as he keeps his mouth shut for 30 months.
And, of course, we all know what the flip side to that will be should he decide to talk.

[Delphinus]

6. Unfortunately,

I tend to agree with you. Scooter's going to be mum.

[guruoo]

7. Country's in deep shit, and

the shit's getting deeper every day these neofascists
remain in power.

[MindMatter]

4. Don't worry 'bout Scooter

A charming guy like that will find a nice boyfriend in no time. The days will fly by.

[Norrin Radd]

9. Perhaps his cellmate will be a bear?

[MGKrebs]

5. "My heart goes out to his family," . Scooter should have thought about his family

before he decided to commit a crime.

Or maybe he DID think of his family and decided to commit the crime anyway.

And maybe Bush's statement is a coded message that the family will be taken care of.

[robcon]

8. Why was it a "surprise" to ask for a delay of sentence?

That's boilerplate lawyering, IMO.