It appears as if the goal of the White House has been to send a clear message to the American people. And it certainly has: The Bush administration is above the law.

That much was made crystal clear earlier this week when the president commuted the 30-month prison sentence for Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Yes, his $250,000 fine and two years' probation are still in place, but Libby will never have to do time.

Never mind that he was convicted for perjury and obstruction of justice in the investigation of a leak identifying CIA agent Valerie Plame. Considering the severity of the crimes, Libby may have done time if it weren't for one thing: cronyism.

Libby, of course, was the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.

At a time when national security is top priority, the leaking of a CIA agent's identity by any American, let alone a high-ranking White House official, is beyond reprehensible. But let's remember the root of this whole scandal: Plame is the wife of Joe Wilson, who had publicly accused the Bush administration of twisting the evidence to justify the war in Iraq.

Even though Bush political adviser Karl Rove was named as a source in that leak, no one has yet been charged in the case.

Surprising? Maybe not, considering other actions by the administration — Alberto Gonzales, Guantanamo Bay and Cheney's recent refusal to comply with an executive order governing classified information. According to the vice president, his office is not obligated to comply because it is not under the executive branch.

Interesting rationale. Who, then, holds his office accountable?

Ah yes, the message: They're above the law.