March 15, 2007

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

Last week, Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff, Louis “Scooter” Libby was convicted of lying to a grand jury regarding CIA agent Valerie Plame. Were the charges appropriate? Do you feel he took the fall for someone else in the Bush administration—who and why? What should his punishment be?
(Asked at Starbucks at Almaden Center)

“Yes, you need to be held accountable for lying particularly when you are in public life. I don’t know if he did [take the fall], although it would be convenient. I think if he did, he did it for Cheney; there’s almost always a fall guy in these things. I think he ought to do time, about three to five years would be OK.”

Doug Nelson, 48
Almaden
Trades options


“Yes, because there was enough evidence to properly convict him and his convenient lack of memory. Yes and no, I think he was guilty whether or not he’s taking a fall and there are others involved. It doesn’t matter; they should all be brought to justice. I believe [he should do] community service; I don’t think that whatever he did was worthy of jail time. But I do think it should be lots of community service. Let him do something good.”

Patty Nelson, 49
Almaden
Retired


“I think he was used as a scapegoat by the president and vice president and they will end up pardoning him before they leave office. I think the whole administration is in on it, the president and the vice president had lots to do with it, and Libby obviously got used as the scapegoat. He was found guilty, and he should pay like anyone else. It’s sad, the poor guy is caught in the middle, but it really won’t matter, whatever sentence he gets, he’ll end up getting pardoned.”

Mark Henrichsen, 33
South San Jose
Auto body


“Yes I do think the charges were appropriate. In my opinion, yes, without a doubt he took the fall for others, at the very least he took the fall for Dick Cheney. I think his punishment should be dictated by the judicial system. Whatever the system wills in a prescribed way—the law will determine that.”

Dan Perez, 52
Almaden
Media production


“Yes and no. I read all about it and I think he should be held accountable for it [lying]. But I think he deserves a short sentence, just teach him a lesson, nothing major, just to set an example."

Joanne Bejar, 38
Almaden
Executive administrator


“Yes, they were appropriate. He probably did take a fall for Vice President Cheney, but it seems like he’ll get pardoned now. He shouldn’t get off scot-free—that would be circumventing the legal system. I think he should get at least five or six years—breaking rocks!”

Rick Guido
Almaden
Owner, Computer Business Service


"Yes, because he lied to the grand jury and he was revealing the name of a CIA operative. He definitely is taking the fall for Cheney. I think his punishment should be whatever the system feels worthy of a white-collar crime.”

Ramin Ela, 43
Almaden
Computer teacher at Hewlett-Packard