Bush pardons 14 and commutes 2 prison sentences

Yahoo News ^ | 24 Nov 2008 | Deb Riechmann

[vikingd00d]

WASHINGTON – President George W. Bush has granted pardons to 14 individuals and commuted the prison sentences of two others convicted of misdeeds ranging from drug offenses to tax evasion, from wildlife violations to bank embezzlement, The Associated Press learned Monday. The new round of White House pardons are Bush's first since March and come less than two months before he will end his presidency. The crimes committed by those on the list also include offenses involving hazardous waste, food stamps, and the theft of government property. Bush has been stingy during his time in office about handing out such reprieves. Including these actions, he has granted a total of 171 and eight commutations. That's less than half as many as Presidents Clinton or Reagan issued during their time in office. Both were two-term presidents.

[La Enchiladita]

I could tell you without looking that two names are missing.

[MovementConservative]

I think it’s a good thing. People do deserve a chance to redeem themselves and move forward. I wish a lot more of the people doing time for drug offenses and other crimes who have shown they can be productive law abiding tax payers could be out of the system.

[tennmountainman]

ramos and compean that they wil be home for thanksgiving

I would not hold my breath waiting on Bush to pardon these two great americans.

[Diogenesis]

What you say.

[csmusaret]

If they have been sufficiently punished as you say then their sentences should be commuted, but they should not be pardoned.

[skeeter]

Thats a nice generalization, but why one person and not another?

[La Enchiladita]

One hot topic of discussion related to pardons is whether Bush might decide to issue pre-emptive pardons before he leaves office to government employees who authorized or engaged in harsh interrogations of suspected terrorists in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Some constitutional scholars and human rights groups want the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama to investigate possible war crimes.

If Bush were to pardon anyone involved, it would provide protection against criminal charges, particularly for people who were following orders or trying to protect the nation with their actions. But it would also be highly controversial.

Do it, President Bush, do it!!

[SunkenCiv]

I’ll make a wild guess that Obama will at some point issue a pardon to the cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Bush Says Citigroup Deal Needed to Protect System
AP via Yahoo News | 11/24/08 | Jennifer Loven
Posted on 11/24/2008 3:07:33 PM PST by marshmallow
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2137689/posts

[tennmountainman]

Keep it nice.

R U out of your mind?

From This PRESIDENT, and Karl Rove along with the spineless GOP house and senate...they are why we now have a socialist President and possibly a fillibuster senate.

Be nice! You live in another reality dude.

[SunkenCiv]

wow, turned this up in the search, no longer available.

[mouse1]

‘Be nice! You live in another reality dude.’

When you are asking a request, such as pardon, yes, keep it nice.

[unkus]

Will do. Thanks very much for posting.

[plain talk]

I wonder who will be on Obama’s Pardon list???? Hmmmmm ........

President Bush. :-)

[Purrcival]

I want to see the Border Patrol pardons AND Scooter Libby.

[dragnet2]

Mr. President, you have done an exceptional job of protecting us for the past 7 years.

Gag...

Tell that to the tens of thousands that have been raped, robbed, murdered, maimed, and have been victims of fraud and property crimes at the hands of illegal aliens.

Think man, think!

[omega4179]

All the more despicable that he pardons some drug dealers while not the border patrol that tried to stop them.

[SiVisPacemParaBellum]

"Please contact President Bush.. Compean & Ramos need to be home for Christmas!!" comments@whitehouse.gov 202-456-1111

An excellent idea that I hope we all get involved in!!!!

[SmithL]

I would be very surprised to see any noteworthy pardons until the Georgia Senate Runoff has been decided.

[Redbob]

Campean?
Ramos?

I thought not.

Why is it so hard for Dubya to admit he screwed up?
Why is it so hard for him to admit his “friends” are idiots, crooks, or worse?

[ApplegateRanch]

Not pardoning the border guards is criminal in itself.

He'll pardon the drug-scum they shot, now that he was convicted of a later drug crime.