Pardon Me

With the daily rush of events (Gaza, Burris, Richardson, job losses, etc.) now occurring, it is difficult for Barack Obama to continue to function in the "one President at a time" mode. But for 13 more days, George W. Bush ("forgotten but not yet gone" in the apt words of Frank Rich) is still the President. The Dick Cheney coup feared by TNB hasn't happened. So it appears that W. will have a chance as did all his predecessors to issue a slew of pardons on the way out of office. Bill Clinton managed to have a few humdingers--especially Marc Rich, whose pardon may be a factor in the upcoming confirmation hearings for Eric Holder as attorney general.

The presumptive pardonees (is this a real word?)can be grouped in 3 main categories.
Keep this list handy (sort of like the Oscar nominees) so you can follow the last minute news just prior to the inauguration. Remember you don't have to be convicted or even indicted to be pardoned (see Gerald Ford pardon of Richard Nixon in 1974).

MORE LIKELY THAN NOT:

Ex White House Aide Scooter Libby (previously convicted but jail sentence commuted)
Ex Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (convicted but not yet sentenced)
Ex Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez (still facing Federal inquiries)
Ex Lobbyist/Fixer Jack Abramoff (in jail but not yet singing soprano)

MORE NOT THAN LIKELY:

Ex Enron CEO Jeff Skilling (serving time for accounting fraud)
Ex WorldCom CEO Bernard Ebbers (serving time for accounting fraud)
Ex Illinois Governor George Ryan (in jail at age 75)

NOT A CHANCE IN HELL:

Present Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (apparently soon to be indicted)
Super Swindler Bernard Madoff (apparently soon to be indicted)


Watch for a few surprises as the lame duck utters his final quacks.