July 9, 2007

Scooter Libby Commutation Brings New Low for the Low-Trust Administration

 

The commutation of Scooter Libby’s sentence has re-focused attention on the issue of trust, a weaker aspect of this weak administration. Are these folks using their enormous power in the interests of our country? I’m afraid the answer continues to be a resounding “No”. This latest example underlines this reality and adds a dose of disrespect. Do they think we won’t notice, or perhaps that it just doesn’t matter if we do?

 

Trust is the cornerstone of effective leadership of teams, organizations, governments and societies. Trust comes from consistency, congruence between word and deed, transparency and dedication to widely shared goals. Do your own rating for any of these criteria.

 

The vice president’s chief-of-staff lies to federal investigators – to prevent the incrimination of Rove and Cheney in the outing of our own covert CIA agent for political advantage. The plan succeeds.

 

The Scooter takes the fall for the team. Not limited to taking care of the family, as were the Corleones and Sopranos, these bosses have the power to make it all go away – a commutation now, a full pardon later. Bet on it. Bet also that the Scooter won’t have any more to say about what really happened.

 

So the Scooter is off the hook, protecting the Rover, the VP and probably the Bush-leaguer-in-chief himself. By the way, for convicted felons outside his personal circle, this president (and Texas governor) has been one of the stingiest commuters in history. It’s easier to feel compassion for a close friend, especially one with stories to tell.

 

Eight U.S. Attorneys, the first-line guardians of our system of justice, are fired under suspicious circumstances. The perpetrators scramble self-consciously to explain, never taking the time to coordinate their stories. Almost humorous if the stakes weren’t so high.

 

Several Justice Department officials plead the Fifth and resign, again to keep from incriminating Rove and Cheney. The president pleads executive privilege, using powers granted to him to protect our country to instead protect himself from the truth. Attorney General Gonzales stays around to take the heat as attention shifts to yet another scandal.

 

The administration has pushed the limits of executive power to, and over, the edge. Shouldn’t the government have the power to monitor telephone calls between U.S. residents and suspected terrorists? It might prevent another attack. Who could imagine that they might use the information for other purposes? About everyone at this point.

 

They claim powers a trustworthy administration might need to confront difficult situations, while people resist largely because they don’t trust this administration to use those powers appropriately. We constantly wonder – are they telling us the truth? Are they using the assumed powers for protecting friends and supporters, or ideological agendas? Does integrity matter at all?

 

The lead-up to the Iraq War used similar arguments. Shouldn’t the president have the power to threaten force in negotiations with an evil dictator? Many voting senators couldn’t imagine them using that power to subvert the inspections and negotiations that might have made the war unnecessary.

 

This administration assumes any powers they deem expedient, leaving it to Tony Snow, et al, to create the explanations. The checks and balances we are fighting for in Iraq are certainly not for us.

 

People volunteer for our armed forces assuming, if our government says a war is necessary, that indeed it must be so. I recall people saying during some tragic Vietnam years, “The government must know something we don’t.” We want to trust those in power.

 

Living in Israel in 1970, I remember people’s bags being searched while entering public settings. It was a nuisance, but everyone submitted graciously, usually thanking the inspector. Specific policies aside, people assumed the inspections were for saving lives. They trusted the government to be administering them for that purpose. I remember the days in these United States when people by and large, if perhaps naively, trusted our government officials in the same way.

 

Even in these skeptical times, when the British put up video cameras around London, people seem more relieved than offended. Of course, there are civil liberties issues in Europe also, but it seems that by and large, “Old Europeans” trust their governments to do what they are supposed to do, at least regarding security.

 

I hope the administration will leave behind enough faith in our government for us to return to more trusting times in our own country. The sooner, the better.