Posted on 01/19/2009 2:31:21 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY
In a move that has keenly disappointed some of his strongest conservative allies, President Bush has decided not to pardon Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, for his 2007 conviction in the CIA leak case, two White House officials said Monday.
On Bush's last full day as president, Bush did commute the sentence of two former Border Patrol agents—Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos—for shooting a Mexican drug dealer and then lying about it. But White House press spokesman Tony Fratto told NEWSWEEK "you should not expect any more" pardons and commutations from Bush before he leaves office Tuesday. Another senior official, who requested anonymity discussing sensitive matters, confirmed that no more pardons would be granted.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
We shall see. I still think the CIA/DIA agents who engaged in interrogations should be pardoned for their safety.
That is just plain wrong.
Marc Rich got his.
Ridiculous!
Bush league!
I expected a lot less, so I'm fairly pleased.
Using that Clintonian logic, Bush should pardon Bernie Madoff...
So now the Dems who begin their witch hunts will have a prize witness to use.
In addition to Libby, I would have expected Bush to pardon Duke Cunningham who did nothing more than just about 100% of the Democrats, only he has genuine patriotic credentials, having served his country well. Prior to his political career, he was an officer in the United States Navy for 21 years during which time he became a flying ace for actions during the Vietnam War. This is a very sad state of affairs that clearly shows the stark differences between the corrupt Democrats and misguided Republicans.
However, I am happy that Ramos and Compean will soon be able to join their families.
both President Bushes have had a career of rewarding their enemies and punishing their friends.
A pardon is tantamount to admitting guilt - and you have no further recourse for legal action to get your name cleared completely.
Libby wants that legal option.
Don't blame President Bush.
Libby didn’t ask for one.
I absolutely disagree with the notion that “just because the Dems are corrupt” Republicans like Cunningham should be pardoned. It’s ludicrous to even think of it.
Bush already dealt with Libby by commuting his prison sentence. Libby deserves what he got.
Libby was Marc Rich's lawyer who pushed for that pardon. Libby got his sentence commuted and thats good enough.
He is a coward for not doing it.
“A pardon is tantamount to admitting guilt”
That is incorrect.
One of the reasons people are pardoned because they were wrongly convicted.
In addition to Libby, I would have expected Bush to pardon Duke Cunningham who did nothing more than just about 100% of the Democrats
I agree. Also, Pres Bush should pardon Senator Ted Stevens and any other Republican convicted of corruption or any other crimes. Why should Republicans have to follow the rules when Democrats don’t?
Pres Bush should also give pre-emptive pardons to himself and all members of his Administration for any crimes they have committed or may have committed during his Administration. That’ll show Pelosi and all the other Rabid Dems screaming for prosecutions.
Michael Savage was correct that liberalism is a mental disorder. Pelosi and other rabid Democrats have disordered minds (are insane) in that their actions are based on assumptions that are clearly untrue, unsupportable scientifically, and questionable by anybody with common sense. Yet they continue to implement proven failed policies that do nothing but waste money.
The Bush haters around here will never listen.
Why I like Cunningham:
from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Cunningham
During his service, Cunningham and his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) "Irish" Driscoll became the only Navy aces in the Vietnam War, flying an F-4 Phantom from aboard aircraft carriers, and recording five confirmed kills. He was one of the early graduates of the Navy's TOPGUN school that taught dogfighting techniques to F-4 Phantom pilots and RIOs.
It has been alleged that Cunningham downed a MiG-17 piloted by North Vietnam Air Force fighter ace Col. Nguyen Toon, aka, "Colonel Tomb". Although "Col. Toon" was an American-manufactured myth, several Vietnamese pilots were superb dogfighters, and the North Vietnamese Air Force helped perpetuate the myth of "Colonel Toon", or "Tomb".[8] "Colonel Toon" was not only skilled but unorthodox, as Cunningham found out, when the Navy pilot made an elementary tactical error engaging him. The resulting dogfight became extended. Cunningham climbed steeply, and the MiG pilot surprised Cunningham by climbing as well. Remembering his TOPGUN training, Cunningham finally forced the MiG out ahead of him and destroyed it with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile.
Cunningham was reportedly almost court-martialed while still in flight school for breaking into an office to compare his records with those of his colleagues — a charge denied by Cunningham, but supported by two of his superior officers at the time.[9] Regardless of the controversy, there was little doubt about Cunningham's piloting abilities. He was one of the most highly decorated United States Navy pilots in the Vietnam War, receiving the Navy Cross once, the Silver Star twice, the Air Medal 15 times, and the Purple Heart for wounds he received under enemy fire.
After returning from Vietnam in 1972, he became an instructor at the Navy's TOPGUN school for fighter pilots at Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego. It has been stated that many of his real-life experiences in combat and as an instructor were depicted in the popular 1986 movie Top Gun.[10] Though the movie's producer says the film was not based on any specific aviator,[11] one particularly memorable scene was indeed inspired by Cunningham's own combat experience. The technique Cunningham and Driscoll used to defeat "Colonel Tomb", deploying the aircraft's speed brakes and causing "Tomb" to overshoot, inspired the scenes in Top Gun, where Maverick defeats Jester, and later, an enemy MiG by deploying the brakes and forcing his opponent to overshoot his aircraft.
Libby has not requested one, why is it even a topic of conversation?
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