Hang onto your lunch. Here’s the official statement from the quote unquote vice president about his crony Scooter Libby’s sentencing to 30 years in prison for his role in outing one of our own country’s covert agents:

Statement from Vice President Cheney on Scooter Libby

WASHINGTON, June 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following is a
statement by Vice President Cheney:
“Scooter has dedicated much of his life to public service at the State
Department, the Department of Defense and the White House. In each of these
assignments he has served the nation tirelessly and with great distinction.
I relied on him heavily in my capacity as Secretary of Defense and as Vice
President. I have always considered him to be a man of the highest
intellect, judgment and personal integrity — a man fully committed to
protecting the vital security interests of the United States and its
citizens. Scooter is also a friend, and on a personal level Lynne and I
remain deeply saddened by this tragedy and its effect on his wife, Harriet,
and their young children. The defense has indicated it plans to appeal the
conviction in the case. Speaking as friends, we hope that our system will
return a final result consistent with what we know of this fine man.”

Too incredible to believe? Here’s the link.

Here’s a little perspective, courtesy me:

1. Thirty months is not long enough. The U.S. Constitution calls for a sentence of either death, or a prison term of “not less than five years.” Thirty months isn’t long enough, but I’ll take it.
2.  If there is anyone the quote unquote vice president should be “saddened” for, it is Valerie Plame, and her husband, and the citizens of the United States, including other CIA agents who have to wonder when it might become convenient for this administration to out them as well and place their lives in jeopardy.
3. Cheney does not understand the definition of “tragedy.” Historically it is a fall from a great height, and I can only hope for more tragedy of that sort, perhaps involving Mr. Cheney himself. Arthur Miller tried to adapt it to adhere to the common man as well, as in “Death of a Salesman,” and insofar as that seemed to carry over the notion of hubris (Willy Loman, like Scooter Libby, being guilty of said mistake), then this is indeed a tragedy. I do not however believe that either definition is what the nefarious Mr. Cheney means. Rather, I think he means it is an “injustice” — which is laughable. It is not enough justice. But I’ll take it.

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