Posted on 11/25/2008 7:47:57 AM PST by SmithL
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President George W. Bush's latest list of pardons does not include some high-profile criminals who still hope the president will grant them clemency in his final weeks in office.
On Monday, Bush granted pardons to 14 individuals and commuted the prison sentences of two others whose misdeeds included dealing drugs, evading taxes, killing bald eagles or mishandling hazardous waste.
The most recent batch, however, did not include any well-known convicts like junk bond dealer Michael Milken, who is seeking a pardon on securities fraud charges, or two politicians convicted of public corruption — former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., and four-term Democratic Louisiana Gov. Edwin W. Edwards — who want Bush to shorten their prison terms.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., noted that the list also did not include former Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who were convicted of shooting a drug smuggler and trying to cover it up. Ramos and Compean are each serving sentences of more than 10 years for shooting Osvaldo Aldrete Davila in the buttocks while he was fleeing from an abandoned marijuana load in 2005.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I’m glad you did, but we have to face the fact that President Bush cares more about the illegals than he does about his own citizens. That will be his legacy.
We are not debating that. That’s a given...but there’s more than that. I am sick of him, sorry. He’s been a HUGE disappointment in alot of areas. But on the war on terror. , he did alot right. The court appointments? That was expected from a Republican President and even then we had a hard time. But we are where we are in large part because of the stubborness and tin ear of GW Bush.
I know that. But I call all of my congresscritters several times each week to let them know what I think of their performance, and I do the same for the president.
To me, Ramos and Compean have always been the “canary in the mine shaft” that signals something is horribly wrong. Bush can visit the netherworld for all I care.
You are right. We have to at least keep trying.
The two agents were made examples of, deliberately, so others similarly employed to defend our country against invasion will think twice before actually trying to do their jobs.
“Compassionate conservatism” does not extend to patriots.
Dog-eared for later reading
Ok enjoy the Obama presidency, I am sure that you will feel much better (extreme sarcasm).
Usually pardons go to people who have redeemed themselves by living good lives after serving their sentences. Often they go to people in their 40s who had a felony conviction in their teens.
I can see that - so explain George’s good buddy banker who cheated and lied and committed fraud in Midland. I’m sure he was really sorry AFTER he was convicted.
Why not? Jail is for violent criminals.
He does seem to favor the druggies, which is kind of weird.
Jail is for violent criminals. Druggies are not violent criminals, and the ones who are deserve to be in jail.
All drug possession/paraphernalia charges resulting in jail time should be pardoned.
Boo Hoo. What has a drug dealer done that is so wrong that he should not receive a pardon.? Hold a gun to someones head and force them to buy his drugs? Honestly.
He obviously isn't a violent criminal ... Jail is for violent criminals.
The War on Drugs is a joke. The right to put whatever I want into my body WILL be given back someday ... for now I just have to hope people will soon realize Government does NOT know best.
Before you say one other word ....
Ramos and Compean deserve to be pardoned.
Filling a false report warrants being fired. It does not warrant imprisonment. This case is pretty disgusting.
Would you feel the same way if this banker had swindled you out of money? Or how about the drug dealer who sold to a family member?
You seem pretty sympathetic to drug dealers. Since many are gang bangers I guess you think beating or threatening someone for selling on your turf is ok too? And how about the way they enlist young kids to be look outs for them, is that ok too since it doesn’t “hurt” anyone? They also tend to ruin neighborhoods with the thugs they have standing around on the streets selling drugs. Guess that is ok too, huh?
Jail is for violent people. The banker, no matter how wrong he was, does not deserve to be incarcerated with scum bags for one. We seem to enjoy locking up more and more non-violent crime offenders than violent criminals. Unbelievable.
How is the banker who did something stupid worst than a child molester? He is not and does not deserve to be treated as such.
Ramos and Compean did something stupid. They falsified a report. Stupid yes, does it give the Government the right to throw them behind bars. ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Humans are responsible people. We need to take responsibility for our own actions. Enough of this blaming drug dealers for drug addicts. Enough of this Americans can not make the correct decisions involving substances in their bodies. Enough of this thinking that Government knows whats best.
Or how about the drug dealer who sold to a family member?
The drug dealer did not force the family to buy drugs. He did not hold a gun to their head and say buy this. It is in some humans nature to want to take something that alters their mind.
All results of the War on Drugs. When you force something to go underground (think Prohibition) you invite a whole cast of sleazy characters to come run the show.
DRUGS WERE NOT ILLEGAL for the majority of human existence. They were made illegal in recent times and now we have a host of problems.
Argue all you want, but buying into propaganda does not escape one from the reality: The War on Drugs is a failure. The Drugs are still flowing, humans are still consuming, and the criminals now control the show.
I disagree. Cops who file false reports, falsify evidence, and shoot at unarmed men in the back (as these two did) deserve jail time. They appeared to have acted with impunity and felt their badges gave them the right to behave like the criminals we hire them to arrest. I don’t want those kinds of cops, and firing them is not punishment enough, nor is firing them deterrent enough for other cops. Prosecutions and jail time is appropriate and a good deterrent for other cops who may think they can walk on the other side of the street.
Excellent Post. The so called “Compassionate Conservatism” has unfolded as neither Compassionate nor Conservative at all!! CO
Okay, what would President XR7 do?
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