Arkansas clemencies outpace other states

The Arkansas Leader ^ | 2004 | Garrick Feldman

[SUSSA]

If you're wondering how Gov. Huckabee's hundreds of clemencies compare with neighboring states, get ready for a shocker.

___ Huckabee leads the pack.

___ He has issued more commutations and pardons than all of the six neighboring states combined.

(snip)

Governors seldom reduce sentences in other states – and almost never for murderers serving life without parole or for rapists or for habitual drunk drivers, while in Arkansas it's a regular habit with Huckabee.

___ Other governors use their clemency power only rarely, while Huckabee has made it routine. As we've told you before, he has issued more than 700 pardons and commutations during his eight years in office – more than 137 this year alone – and more than his three predecessors combined.

___ Here are the figures for neighboring states since 1996, when Huckabee took office (and keep in mind the population of these states is nearly 20 times ours):
___ >> Louisiana – 213.
___ >> Mississippi – 24.
___ >> Missouri – 79.
___ >> Oklahoma – 178.
___ >> Tennessee – 32.
___ >> Texas – 98 (in-cludes 36 inmates released because they were convicted on drug charges with planted evidence).
___ Total: 624 vs. Huckabee's 703.

http://www.arkansasleader.com/frontstories/st_08_11_04/huckabee8.html

[SUSSA]

Read the whole article. It's very interesting.

[burzum]

Is there a list of what the pardons and clemencies were for (broken down by type)? If not, this article is worse than useless.

[traderrob6]

“Is there a list of what the pardons and clemencies were for (broken down by type)? If not, this article is worse than useless.”

Why?

[the_Watchman]

Dumond was the target of what certainly appears to be corrupt prosecution. Note that the arresting “peace” officer later died in prison based on charges of corruption. If Huckabee’s predecessors were generally corrupt, then it wouldn’t be surprising to have an inordinate number of cases which needed to be overturned.

Remember that Bill Clinton was AG of this state prior to his tenure as Governor. It would be interesting to find out how many of these cases of clemency go back that far.

[ishabibble]

Here is an excellent breakdown of the Dumond case. Huckabee is a worm and a fraud because he is twisting the facts now that he is running for POTUS. He was all that before this case came to light, and now he’s a bona fide liar, too.

http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=154e1aad-fd18-4efd-8d80-b5dab8559419

[burzum]

That should be obvious. It is the first question that I wanted answered when I started to read the article. The fact that it wasn’t is extremely disappointing. It defeats the entire purpose of the article. If you didn’t ask this question when you started to read this article, then you are way too gullible about political claims. As far as we know 698 of the pardons or commutations could be for parking tickets.

[TomGuy]

Huckabee's 703

The opposition are probably filtering through those 703 to see what they can find.

It could be interesting.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Dumond was the target of what certainly appears to be corrupt prosecution. Note that the arresting “peace” officer later died in prison based on charges of corruption.

Bovine excrement. Link to prove your assertion please?

Also — if Dumond was innocent and convicted due only to corruption — why, pray tell, did he kill again shortly after his release? His DNA was under the victims fingernails this time — are you going to chalk that up to corrupt prosecution? Oh yeah, and it was in a different state.

Dumond was bad seed — and Huckabee ignored those who tried to tell him that, and bent his pick to get Dumond released from jail!

HUCKABEE is soft on crime, incompetent to govern — and a liar. Here’s a couple of articles you might want to read, so you have the FACTS and don’t need to make up BS out of thin air:

http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=154e1aad-fd18-4efd-8d80-b5dab8559419

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NTcyMTM5YzRiMzVjMjA3MGEwMjUwM2Y3NGJiMzM1YWY=&w=MA==

[Nervous Tick]

>> If you didn’t ask this question when you started to read this article, then you are way too gullible about political claims... As far as we know 698 of the pardons or commutations could be for parking tickets.

If you didn’t note that about a DOZEN of the criminals Huckster released were CONVICTED MURDERERS...

then you didn’t read the article at all.

[traderrob6]

“If you didn’t ask this question when you started to read this article, then you are way too gullible about political claims. As far as we know 698 of the pardons or commutations could be for parking tickets.”

Parking tickets? That supposition is as dubious as your logic. We know that he issued far more clemencies and pardons that any of the surrounding Governors for a host of different reasons.

That in and of itself should give one at least pause to scrutinize his motivations and question his record on crime and punishment.

[SUSSA]

There isn’t a list, but there is this quote in the article:
“Governors in neighboring states almost never grant killers clemency, while Huckabee has commuted the sentences of a dozen murderers.”

[TomGuy]

Some additional links regarding Huckabee's clemencies/pardons:

Huckabee extends mercy to 9 inmates April 14, 2006.

Mike Huckabee: Pardon Me references several other questionable pardons.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

I think that sentence, you pointed out, tells it all.

None of the neighboring governors pardoned murderers, while Huckabee pardoned a dozen

That is a major judgement problem.

Huckabee is an embarrassment. I cannot believe people who call themselves “Christian” are supporting this guy. The Values Voters crowd surely is lacking in any “values”

[TomGuy]

Is there a list of what the pardons and clemencies were for (broken down by type)?

This article lists some of the pardons:

Huckabee let lots more criminals off the hook and contains this statement:

9 Percent of Prisoners Whom Huckabee Gave Clemencies Ended Up Back in Prison. According to state records, at least 9 percent of the prisoners who benefited from Huckabee's clemencies ended up in prison again. [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 8/1/04]

[the_Watchman]

Your debating style needs some work. I did not make up BS out of thin air. Furthermore, I made no assertions as to Dumond’s guilt in the crimes which were committed after his release. Don’t make up straw men.

Dumond’s case was discussed at great detail on FR during Clinton’s presidency. He was castrated prior to his arrest in an act which the local sheriff seemed to be in collusion. Dumond won a civil case based on his treatment by this sheriff.

I know this is going to be hard for you, but focus on the original case. Can you say “railroaded”? That was certainly the conclusion of the FR community during the ‘90s.

[Nervous Tick]

>> I did not make up BS out of thin air.

I asked you for links. I don’t see any. Provide some to support your position, or my charge of BS stands.

...or does your preferred debate style involve you asserting facts that you can’t prove?

[SUSSA]

Good articles. I think this quote from the second article sums it up nicely.

“Bottom Line

According to an opposition Research Paper given to Ameriblog, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette concluded that 9% of those receiving pardons or commutations from Huckabee ended up back in prison. It’s a very high percentage for commutations. You rarely hear of this type of thing happening when Governors are cautious about clemency, because clemency is rarely given. The high number of errors here seems to be definitely against the people of Arkansas, and this does raise legitimate questions about Huck’s judgment as President.”

[the_Watchman]

Actually, your behaving in a very similar fashion to the sheriff; i.e., guilty until proven innocent. Will you give me an apology if I were to provide you with said link?

[Nervous Tick]

>> Actually, your behaving in a very similar fashion to the sheriff; i.e., guilty until proven innocent. Will you give me an apology if I were to provide you with said link?

Oh, nonsense. And you think MY debate style needs improvement?

I didn’t accuse you of a crime; we’re having a debate (your choice of words, not mine).

The topic “in the large” is whether or not Mike Huckabee’s competence and character are worthy of a POTUS.

The particular issue we’re discussing on this thread is whether or not Mike Huckabee a) unwisely influenced pardons or offered clemency to criminals, and b) whether or not he is failing to take responsibility and accountability for his actions.

Now, you step in with unsubstantiated statements that give “excuse” to Huckabee.

Precisely, here is what you said in post 4; the words are exact, but I have reformatted it into points.

1) Dumond was the target of what certainly appears to be corrupt prosecution.

2) Note that the arresting “peace” officer later died in prison based on charges of corruption.

3) If Huckabee’s predecessors were generally corrupt, then

4) it wouldn’t be surprising to have an inordinate number of cases which needed to be overturned.

5) Remember that Bill Clinton was AG of this state prior to his tenure as Governor. It would be interesting to find out how many of these cases of clemency go back that far.

So:

1) is a claim on your part, which you may be able to substantiate based on some evidence, but YOU DID NOT PROVIDE THE EVIDENCE NOR DID YOU SUPPORT HOW YOU REACHED THIS CONCLUSION;

2) is interesting, IF true, but again IF it’s true you should be able to provide some substantiation and YOU DID NOT;

3) this is a completely unsubstantiated claim; if you want me to consider it, YOU NEED TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE;

4) follows from 3), IF you can prove 3;

5) This is nothing but innuendo. It relies on the fact that pretty much everyone here thinks Clinton is a slimeball, which is arguably true (I won’t argue with it) but in no way adds substantiation to your case.

Do you know why I’m taking the trouble to spell this out?

Because it’s IMPORTANT to get to the bottom of Huckabee! He wants to be POTUS, for goodness’ sake. MY LIFE may depend on who runs for POTUS and who wins.

So, hell no I won’t apologize for insisting that you back up your FUD-style of “debate” with FACTS. Provide them and I’ll definitely consider your position. If it’s compelling, I’ll even help you argue it. I want the TRUTH about Huckabee, not the spin.

I WILL accept YOUR apology for being sloppy and wasting my time, however.

[the_Watchman]

Well since you demand my apology and refuse to apologize for your behavior, I will let you find the link to the Dumond information yourself. BTW: It was posted yesterday.

How many times in a “face to face” setting do you respond to someone’s statement of facts by stating “bovine excrement”. I doubt that you are that rude in person. Perhaps civility 101 would be a good class for you to take.