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10 Bush pardons to watch for
The Politico ^ | January 19, 2009 | JOSH GERSTEIN

Posted on 01/19/2009 4:46:13 AM PST by rightwingintelligentsia

As the clock ticks down on his presidency, George W. Bush has shown few signs he plans to indulge in the frenzy of last-minute pardons that marked Bill Clinton’s final hours in the Oval Office.

But Bush could quickly leap back into the spotlight in the next two days if he issues a blanket pardon immunizing CIA and military interrogators, as well as their bosses, from criminal prosecution over harsh treatment of prisoners from the war on terror.

“I’m sure he’s under pressure from some people to issue blanket pardons,” Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) told Politico. “I don’t think it’s fevered imagination. I think it’s reasonable speculation.”

Bush is also facing pressure from conservative allies, who see pardons of former Bush administration officials and some others as a more realistic possibility. At the top of their lists: Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, still under investigation for his role in a series of U.S. attorney firings.

Here is a list of 10 cases that could come under review by Bush, and Politico’s look at the odds Bush will wield his pardon pen:

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: albertogonzales; bush; pardons; scooterlibby; term2
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1 posted on 01/19/2009 4:46:14 AM PST by rightwingintelligentsia
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
I hope there is honor enough left to do the right thing.

May God help those unjustly accused & imprisoned.

2 posted on 01/19/2009 4:52:20 AM PST by Guenevere
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, please, Mr. President.

Do the right thing.


3 posted on 01/19/2009 4:53:51 AM PST by Vaquero ( "an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

If Bush issues “pardons” for the CIA and military doing their jobs, he should include in those pardons BY NAME every democrat congresswoman (hint) and senator who authorized or WHO WAS BRIEFED AND MADE AWARE OF those activities. BY NAME.

We certainly wouldn’t want to see Hillary, Feinstein, or Red Nancy up on the witness stand, would we?


4 posted on 01/19/2009 4:54:44 AM PST by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

With all the nastiness of calling for hearings on the Bush Administration, I would just tell the President to do it, cover everyone for anything and everything. Then the liberals can have their little hissy fit for a reason and get over it.


5 posted on 01/19/2009 4:55:13 AM PST by maxter (Give today a chance. Enjoy.)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
I wish he'd issue a blanket pardon for all us who owe back Federal Taxes. That would true improve his ratings in the polls and enable him to have a great legacy. It would also boost the economy.

However, I don't think Bush is going to pardon anyone!

I suspect he has an agreement in principal with Obama that if they don't pursue war crimes against him and Cheney, he'll let them go after the “Colonels”.

Its going to be an interesting 24.

6 posted on 01/19/2009 5:08:52 AM PST by cyberslave (The time has come to talk of many things.)
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To: cyberslave
I wish he'd issue a blanket pardon for all us who owe back Federal Taxes

BS...yes there should be NO TAXES but you're wanting a pardon for YOU because you don't pay your taxes while those that do pay taxes, get to fund you, is stealing MY MONEY.

7 posted on 01/19/2009 5:13:54 AM PST by Vaquero ( "an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: cyberslave
I suspect he has an agreement in principal with Obama that if they don't pursue war crimes against him and Cheney, he'll let them go after the “Colonels”.

That thought says more about you than Bush.

8 posted on 01/19/2009 5:15:14 AM PST by lonestar
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To: lonestar

Sorry to disagree but Bush has shown little loyalty to those who serve under his administration.

Border agents, Marines falsely accused, Libby, and who knows still to come. But Colin Powell and his sidekick can withhold information that would have protected Libby and they get off scot free.


9 posted on 01/19/2009 5:21:52 AM PST by american_ranger (Never ever use DirecTV)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

He’s going to commute the sentence of the border guards. The stage has been set by the article about the prosecutor believing the sentence was too long.

He will not pardon anyone in his administration for the way the war was prosecuted.

He will not issue any pardon of Libby.

The rest of the pardons will be of obscure people unknown to us.

Just my opinion.


10 posted on 01/19/2009 5:53:00 AM PST by Carley (Remember when we had a real President)
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To: american_ranger
So you think Bush should have been all things to all people, ignoring the chains of command?

Fitsgerald knew Libby didn't spill the beans.

Having said that, I think they all should get a pardon...and hope it happens.

11 posted on 01/19/2009 6:19:49 AM PST by lonestar
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To: Carley

After watching him govern Texas I think he is generally opposed to pardons for those who have been convicted. I agree that he won’t issue any blanket pardons for “war crimes” as I’m sure he is convinced that there were none at least as concerns the prosecution of the war effort.
To issue such a blanket pardon would acknowledge that there was wrong-doing and bolster those who have been opposed to him for 8 years.
He certainly should pardon the border patrol agents, but I do not think that is in the works. I’m afraid he is looking at legacy and is much more concerned about the liberals opinion of him than he is worrying about the wishes of the conservatives who put him in the White House - and that is just plain sad !! I hope I’m wrong!


12 posted on 01/19/2009 6:31:22 AM PST by Froggie
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Two questions:

Didn’t Clinton pardon hundreds just before he left office?

When will we find out who President Bush pardons, today, or later on in the week?


13 posted on 01/19/2009 6:46:19 AM PST by siamesecats
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To: siamesecats

When will we find out who President Bush pardons, today, or later on in the week?


You may have already found out all who President Bush plans to pardon. It’s only speculation that he’ll pardon others but it may happen. I just don’t see a lot of pardons being issued like Clinton did in his last days but if it happens they should be announced between now and noon tomorrow.


14 posted on 01/19/2009 6:53:27 AM PST by deport
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

bttt


15 posted on 01/19/2009 7:40:28 AM PST by Matchett-PI (Obama fully intends to tear down our Constitution. So no, I do not want Obama to succeed.)
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To: Matchett-PI

bttt


16 posted on 01/19/2009 9:17:53 AM PST by Guenevere ("If I can't win, I won't run"..........".If you don't run, you won't win"......I WILL RUN!)
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To: Guenevere

bttt


17 posted on 01/19/2009 9:18:44 AM PST by ConservativeMan55
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
Michael Milken: Pros: Out of prison for 16 years; extensive philanthropy since leaving prison
Cons: Tough time to pardon anyone with Wall Street ties

He may have Wall Street ties, but unlike the present gaggle of money grabbers, he has actually served his time, and done good things since having done so.

It might also open a new round of discussion on 'junk bonds', with folks pointing out that high risk ventures like Turner Broadcasting System, might never have made it out of the blocks, without the funding provided by 'junk bonds'.

18 posted on 01/19/2009 9:50:30 AM PST by SuziQ
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To: Vaquero; All
I've been disabled since 9/11 and have been denied Social Security Disability benefits even though, all the doctor's including the governments agree that I am total disabled and unable to work, the original Social Security Judge found in my favor, the Social Security Appeals council has ruled twice that the lower court should give me my benefits, and the nation's largest Social Security Disability law firm (Binder & Binder) has ceaselessly advocated my case for me and continues to pursue the matter.

Should I be required to pay taxes to a government that doesn't provide me with the care that it claimed it would give for the forty years in which I was a contributor to its tax funds?

Whose is the crook?

More importantly, who is the fool?

I am no longer foolish, but I think that you qualify for that categorization.

You may wish to be patriotic by paying taxes unflinchingly, but I suspect that you're more idiotic.

19 posted on 01/25/2009 8:14:43 AM PST by cyberslave (The time has come to talk of many things.)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Oh for ten.


20 posted on 01/25/2009 8:21:38 AM PST by Non-Sequitur
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