Posted on 12/22/2007 4:13:22 AM PST by Man50D
The White House apparently is so reluctant to discuss the issue of pardons or commutations for convicted U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean that a spokesman doesn't even want to allow questions about the issue to be finished.
The circumstances arose during a White House press gaggle with spokesman Tony Fratto, when Les Kinsolving, WND's correspondent at the White House, tried to raise the issue of the disparity in the treatment of the Border Patrol agents, compared to that given Scooter Libby, an aide to Vice President Dick Cheney who was convicted of lying during an investigation into the outing of the identity of a covert U.S. agent.
The agents were convicted and given prison sentences of 11 and 12 years for shooting after a self-confessed drug smuggler fleeing back into Mexico after leaving 750 pounds of marijuana in Texas, while Libby was excused from serving any of his prison sentence through President Bush's intervention.
The White House repeatedly has said there is a pardons request procedure available to the agents, even though Libby apparently did not go through the same process before Bush acted.
"A number of times here, when questions were raised about former U.S. Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean, we were told that there is a process for pardon. And I have a three-part question on this…" Kinsolving began.
"You have to make it quick, because they're calling for me," Fratto said.
"I will. Could you explain to us why the president refuses to commute these men who shot an escaping Mexican drug smuggler…" Kinsolving continued.
"No," interrupted Fratto.
"…as the president commuted the prison sentence of his friend, Scooter Libby," Kinsolving asked.
"No," Fratto responded.
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
This issue has drawn quite a bit of attention, particularly here on FR. There must be a hundred articles posted on it in the last year and threads go on for hundreds of posts. The pardon advocates are very vocal. They’ve organized or attended rallies, initiated letter writing campaigns, calls to congressional office, legal donation drives.
But not one of them has pressed for legislation either. Even though this legislation would effectively exonerate R&C the 10 year mandatory charge, set them free and have them “home with their families”.
Care to wonder why?
I’ll take a stab. Because that would end this issue and nobody wants that, really. Why kill off the golden media goose when it is so productive?
The politicians don’t want it to end, it is bringing so many supporters, votes and donations.
The border security people don’t want it ended, that would take it of the front pages.
The “one world order” people don’t want it to end, it gives them an ax on which to grind and gives them legitimacy they don’t often see, even around FR.
The “I hate Bush” crowd doesn’t want to see it end, it has been so productive in convincing people of some evil conspiracy involving Mexico.
A lot of people on FR have been snookered. The sincere out there might want to start asking the self appointed FR leaders of this scam...
“Why have there been no efforts from you to pass legislation to quickly get R&C out of prison? Why don't we refocus our efforts in this direction instead of banging our heads away on the heretofor unproductive "pardon" efforts? ”
U.S. Constitution, Article 4 Section 4:
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.
“One suspects Mexico has some damaging information that they are blackmailing the President with. Nothing else could explain his bizarre behavior in this matter.”
George is a globalist. He’s probably following the wishes of the corporate and financial, multinational elite. They’re his constituency not us.
R&C as well as the ongoing senseless court martials of troops in a time of war are the symptom of a very sick government. Time to give it an enema. It might stink a short time but all concerned will feel much better afterward.
“Time to give it an enema. It might stink a short time but all concerned will feel much better afterward.”
Pretty much sums it up. Giving someone, something an enema is more important than freeing Ramos and Compean.
Just as I thought.
BTW - How about all of you drop this feigned concern for R&C and tell people the truth...that your political agenda is what is most important here and if R&C have to play the patsie and spend some time in jail to help that out, that’s acceptable “collateral damage” for your group.
“Because there are laws on the books that do in fact cover them now.”
This is also a curious statement. You’re saying there is a “law on the books now” that may help out R&C”? What is it? First I heard of this.
Why haven’t the people screaming about the injustice of what is happening to R&C demanded it be utilized? How about the politicians so prominent in the media?
Are you telling me Ramos and Compean may not have needed to spend any time in jail at all?
Of course that might mean years of “positive” media coverage and photo ops as this thing winds its way through the appeal process will be missed.
Don’t want kill the golden goose while it still laying eggs.
If the Court of Appeals finds that the Congressmen are right and the statute was misapplied it will overturn/vacate the convictions and that will effectively take care of other prosecutors attempting to exploit that statute in a similar fashion.
They have also sent signed letters to new AG Mukasey explaining why other USA's should not seek to exploit the particular statute the way the Sutton did. Hopefully Mukasey has a little more common sense than Gonzales.
Still don't get it do ya? Ramose and Compean being in jail or a symptom of a larger problem called now pay close attention POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. This is fed by a "LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY OF OUR ELECTED TO WE THE PEOPLE and a GROSS UNILLINGNESS TO ABIDE BY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. The oath they took when they took office which was to protect the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic.
Sir we have laws to cover that. Yet you want us to demand more? We have an elective process to cover it as well. That should be the next course of action which is to replace those in office who refuse to do their job with those who will. Are you against that as well especially if it cost the GOP a few seats?
IF/WHEN that one fails we have a final option the same as the ones the founders took against the crown. They wrote in in paper and signed their names for the world to see. How much plainer do you wnat it to be?
These men can not legally be free'd until either a U.S. Federal Judge orders there release {the most likely to happen} or Bush obtains a brain and releases them. Which is most likely not to happen as Bush would have to admit he and his administration were wrong to start with. His ego has always stood in the way of his judgments.
My agenda is for our government to do it's duty and secure our borders. My other agenda is for our troops to stop facing PC court martial by what are insane ROE's the POTUS can rescind thus ending the mounting prosecutions.
Yes it is called stopping someone in the commission of a felony. You want to volunteer for BP duty? Or how about a tour in Iraq where foreign nationals word gets you in the hot seat and a stint in Levenworth? Gee funny isn’t it? Contractors are protected from this. Armed service members and our BP are not it seems.
The answer that makes the most sense to me is that the Mexican government has incriminating pictures of Bush from his drinking days.
It doesn't seem like too big a stretch to think Bush did some heavy partying in Mexico and if Bush attracted attention to himself on a heavy drinking outing, the Mexicans would love to have some leverage over his politician father and luckily for them now Bush himself as President.
“If the Court of Appeals finds that the Congressmen are right and the statute was misapplied it will overturn/vacate the convictions and that will effectively take care of other prosecutors attempting to exploit that statute in a similar fashion.”
It will do no such thing. The law as it is written clearly dos not exclude LEO’s if in the performance of their duties they committ a felony. Judges as a rule, and there are exceptione when it comes to left wingers, do not try read into laws additions or conclusions they do not contain.
The judges in the appeal stated the Justice Dept. might have “overreached”, they didn’t say the law in question did not apply to LEO’s and as a matter of fact, they do. We all know there are “dirty cops” out there and they want this law to apply if they abuse their priviliges under the color of authority.
R&C were convicted of assault which brings this law into play.
Name one thing Bush has EVER done that the Mexican Oligarchy would not like.
[crickets]
We used to JOKE around here that maybe Mexico had a photo of Bush with lines of cocaine in front of him in a Mexican whorehouse.
“Yes it is called stopping someone in the commission of a felony.”
I’m, not familiar with that law. Does it allow LEO’s to shoot to kill suspects?
It breaks my heart that these good agents have been in jail nearly a year, in solitary, with their three children (and wife) each at home crying for them! They were doing their JOB! I wish they had shot that Davila a little higher up on his torso!
Oh my gosh, if that is not a hideous photo... Tell me he was not President when it was taken.
Duncan Hunter tried very hard to get to the President to get Ramos and Compean pardoned before Thanksgiving.
(On knees) I AM FREAKING SORRY!!!! To the rest of my whole state. I was owned and fooled and I blew it. I regret my vote. Ugh. I believed Arnold because he sounded sincere when he understood the difference between freedom and the socialism he grew up with. Really. I apologize most sincerely.
bump
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