Sir, you're going to have to give back your 'Decider' decoder ring...

Lord knows if you're not strong enough to actually stand up to a subordinate (and the Vice President is indeed a subordinate to the President), then you're not The Decider...no matter what your aids tell you while you're jogging and clearing brush...

Uncharacteristically, Bush himself delved into the details. He was especially keen to know if there was compelling evidence that might contradict the jury's verdict that Libby had lied to a federal grand jury about when—and from whom—he learned the identity of Valerie Plame Wilson, wife of Iraq War critic Joe Wilson. But Fielding, one of the advisers tells NEWSWEEK, reluctantly concluded that the jury had reached a reasonable verdict: the evidence was strong that Libby testified falsely about his role in the leak.

The president was conflicted. He hated the idea that a loyal aide would serve time. Hanging over his deliberations was Cheney, who had said he was "very disappointed" with the jury's verdict. Cheney did not directly weigh in with Fielding, but nobody involved had any doubt where he stood. "I'm not sure Bush had a choice," says one of the advisers. "If he didn't act, it would have caused a fracture with the vice president."

Nobody stands up to Darth Cheney, I guess...not even his 'boss'...and no, I don't think anybody is shocked by this...