Obstruction of Justice

Tie: Green
Worst Person: Our Commander in Chief, President George Bush, who in commuting Scooter Libby's sentence, has "...forfeited his claim to being president of anything larger than a small, privileged, elitist, undemocratic, anti-constitutional cabal."
Days since "Mission Accomplished": 1,524

As mentioned above, the President has tonight - without consulting the Department of Justice - commuted Scooter Libby's prison sentence. He has not pardoned Libby; a fine and probationary period remain levied upon the man.

John Dean thinks we can still expect to see a full pardon before Bush leaves office in January of 2009. Regarding this unbelievable turn of events, Dean can only compare it to a hypothetical, saying it's as if Nixon, on his way out of office, or Ford, on his way in, had pardoned John Ehrlichman, Bob Haldeman, or John Mitchell - forgiving their convictions following the Watergate scandal.

It is important to note, and it's brought up several times, that the president's actions this evening were well within his rights. Though no laws were broken by the president, Keith asks: "...did he break the spirit of the law?"

[By the way, following Countdown was MSNBC Live with Dan Abrams -- have all the little doggies moseyed out of Scarborough Country for good?]

Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson joined Keith earlier via phone. When asked for his reaction to the news, Wilson said: "There's nothing that this administration does that surprises us anymore; it's corrupt from top to bottom, and I think most Americans should understand that beyond a reasonable doubt now." He is, understandably, outraged.

Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has reacted to the news, reiterating the constitutionality of the president's actions but voicing concerns about fairness, saying in his brief statement: "It is fundamental to the rule of law that all citizens stand before the bar of justice as equals."

In lighter, if not less metaphorically delicious news, this weekend the President's machine was a dud, she got stuck in the mud ... somewhere off the coast of Kennebunkport.

Australian police have arrested an eighth suspect in last week's failed U.K. terror plots. The amount of suspects in this case who are doctors or other medical personnel is truly amazing.

No Oddball tonight, and I won't spoil the "other Olbermann" story Keith teased on the radio today in case he's saving it for another night this week.

Keeping Tabs: Michael Jackson's giant laser-eyed Vegas robot = not gonna' happen.

Tonight's top story is about US Weekly's decision not to put any Paris Hilton news in its latest issue. Are the mag's efforts a day late & a dollar short? Perhaps. But Paul F. Tompkins is there to talk about it, and I like him a whole lot, so it's all good.

Stay with us Tuesday for continuing coverage of whatever Dan Patrick's "Big Announcement" is, updated as information becomes available, and also ...

Be sure to tune in tomorrow night for a Special Comment calling for the resignations of the President and the Vice President.

We'll see you then.