Justice in George W. Bush's America

So the news that Scooter Libby has had his prison sentence commuted- 30 months, for multiple federal felonies serving concurrently- already has created quite a stir. For all the latest, take a look at firedoglake if you haven't already. They've been there since the beginning. Nothing like waiting till the end of the business day, on the week of a major summer holiday no less, for Commander BunnyPants to make such an annoucement. And then turning on the answering machine at home so he doesn't have to take any calls. Not that I'm surprised. This is supposed to be justice under the American legal system?

While in England I saw an excellent program on BBC Two about race relations in the US. The story was from Jena, LA; and one that I hadn't heard much about in the States. A handful of African American high school students, who as targets of escalating racial tension in their small town, reacted and started a fight with a white student at their school. Not that I condone violence of any kind among students, in schools. However, the outcome of their situation is appalling. In response to the fight, which injured but did not permanently harm the victim, the DA is seeking maximum sentence for these children. We're talking 30-50 years in prison on attempted murder charges for a school fight.

So Scooter's sentecing is excessive, Mr. Bush? What do you say to the families of these African Amercian students in Jena?