Libby's fate remains unclear. He faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced June 5, but his federal sentencing guidelines are much lower. His lawyers promised to ask for a new trial and said they'll ask that Libby remain free while any appeals are fought.

Bush is an “out of sight, out of mind” kind of guy. He has a track record of being loyal to his people only for as long as they work for him (or until he dumps them). So why would he exactly care what happens to Libby? Scooter is long gone from the White House and Scooter was never Bush’s man anyway. His master was Dick Cheney. The trial made this especially clear.

Libby’s defense team only envisioned calling Cheney as long as they thought this would help Scooter’s case, and by extension continue his protection of the Vice President. This was not the same tack they took with the President’s office where they claimed they were going to throw Rove under the bus. They never made good on the claim but they did make it. So somehow I don’t think Libby’s “protect the Vice President but not the President” strategy is going to persuade Bush into a pardon. Nor do I think that there is any blackmail out there to coerce Bush into granting such a pardon. He after all gets advice from a “higher father” and believes that history, not Scooter Libby, will vindicate him.