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Bush pardons 14 and commutes 2 prison sentences
Yahoo News ^ | 24 Nov 2008 | Deb Riechmann

Posted on 11/24/2008 3:48:08 PM PST by vikingd00d

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To: mysterio
If he’s concerned about drug offenses, he could have done something about the failed war on some drugs while in office. Something besides arresting dying cancer patients for consuming a plant, I mean.

I'm actually hoping that Obama addresses this. It might just be the one area where he could make some positive changes.

41 posted on 11/24/2008 5:05:53 PM PST by Drew68
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To: vikingd00d

At least we know Bush won’t be selling pardons a la Clinton.


42 posted on 11/24/2008 5:07:49 PM PST by GQuagmire (Giggety,Giggety,Giggety)
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To: SunkenCiv
I’ll make a wild guess that Obama will at some point issue a pardon to the cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal.

FYI: The President's pardon powers extend only to federal crimes. Persons convicted of a state offense have to look to the governor for a pardon.

43 posted on 11/24/2008 5:09:27 PM PST by Procyon (To the global warming fanatics the problem is too many people and the solution is genocide.)
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To: mouse1

sent....praying


44 posted on 11/24/2008 5:10:01 PM PST by pollywog (I will lift mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help. My help comes from the Lord...Ps 121)
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To: Drew68
I doubt he'll do much besides not continuing raids on medical marijuana facilities. Maybe in his last days in office he'll pull a slick Willie and say, "huh, yeah, ya know, maybe we should think about stopping putting people in jail for pot" after doing nothing about it during his term.

Every president since 1992 has been a former illegal drug user. Kind of makes the failed drug war look like even more of a farce.
45 posted on 11/24/2008 5:12:52 PM PST by mysterio
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To: SunkenCiv

I’ll make a wild guess that Obama will at some point issue a pardon to the cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal.


Isn’t he in prison on a PA state murder conviction? Now that doesn’t mean that Obama wouldn’t try to have some influence over a state issue.


46 posted on 11/24/2008 5:16:06 PM PST by deport ( ----Cue Spooky Music---)
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To: nmh

Okay, what is “unlawful use of a telephone” in connection with a drug offense? Did the guy slam the FBI agent alongside his head with an old style dial telephone?


47 posted on 11/24/2008 5:25:06 PM PST by MIchaelTArchangel
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To: nmh

I don’t see Scooter Libby’s name either.

If he leaves office without pardoning Ramos and Compean he’ll lose what little respect I have left for him.


48 posted on 11/24/2008 5:26:57 PM PST by diverteach (http://www.slapobama.com/)
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To: nmh
Bush also commuted the prison sentences of John Edward Forte of North Brunswick, N.J., and James Russell Harris of Detroit, Mich. Both were convicted of cocaine offenses.

A little background on James Russell Harris (Detroit News):

A former Detroit police sergeant convicted in a cocaine case arising from an FBI sting operation was among two people granted clemency Monday by President George W. Bush.

James Russell "Jimmie" Harrris, now 62 and serving a 30-year prison sentence that was expected to keep him locked up until 2019, is to be released soon from a federal prison in North Carolina under the president's order.

Harris of Detroit was convicted of providing protection to FBI agents posing as drug lords and money launderers.

"I'm very happy to hear that," said Detroit attorney Mark Kriger, who at one time represented Harris. "That was a very long sentence. He's very ill (with diabetes), is my understanding."

Paul Byers, a Cincinnati, Ohio, attorney who unsuccessfully appealed Harris' sentence to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, was surprised to hear about the clemency Monday.

"It was a very sad case, that's for sure," Byers said. "I sure felt bad for he and his family."

Sentenced in 1993, Harris was convicted in 1992 after a federal trial in Flint. An earlier trial ended in a hung jury.

49 posted on 11/24/2008 5:32:50 PM PST by Azzurri
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To: mouse1
Forget Christmas! They need to be home

TOMORROW!!!


50 posted on 11/24/2008 5:34:27 PM PST by pillut48 (CJ in TX --"God help us all, and God help America!!" --my new mantra for the next 4 years)
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To: vikingd00d

Bush is disloyal to those who support(ed) him.

Like his daddy, he wants to be loved by his detractors.

This makes for a poor Presidency.


51 posted on 11/24/2008 5:41:40 PM PST by Finalapproach29er (Democrats still want to get Pres. Bush and/or VP Cheney; there might be show trials in Feb09)
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To: skeeter
Thats a nice generalization, but why one person and not another?

That's for the pardon's board to figure out. I believe in redemption. The scarlet letter of a criminal history greatly hampers people who might otherwise be reformed. I'd like to see people contributing to society, not sucking off it.

52 posted on 11/24/2008 5:44:17 PM PST by MovementConservative (In 4 years GW Bush and the free-spending republicans have almost completely destroyed the GOP.)
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To: deport

So maybe there’s a jurisdiction problem? Or to put it another way, it’s not in Obama’s pay grade?


53 posted on 11/24/2008 5:50:53 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______Profile finally updated Saturday, October 11, 2008 !!!)
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To: skeeter

I disagree. It can help mitigate the harsh and often cruel effects of the Judicial system, which often makes mistakes. If used “properly” it can make past wrongs right.


54 posted on 11/24/2008 5:52:40 PM PST by PghBaldy (I shall call him President Little Squirt...)
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To: nmh
convicted of making false statements to the federal government.

How bitterly ironic. The lying, stinking, thieving swine that run our country lie to us on a daily basis, including one very prominent case of perjury I can think of about 10 years ago or so, and yet WE go to jail for lying to the government. The world is completely upside down.

55 posted on 11/24/2008 5:54:15 PM PST by Hardastarboard (America is so "twenty minutes ago")
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To: Redbob; vikingd00d

Ramos and Compean are political prisoners. They won’t be getting pardoned. (And I hope very much that I’m proven wrong...)


56 posted on 11/24/2008 5:55:55 PM PST by teawithmisswilliams (Basta, already!)
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To: genxer

It is not going to happen.


57 posted on 11/24/2008 6:00:00 PM PST by sport
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To: SunkenCiv

That would not surprise me in the least.


58 posted on 11/24/2008 6:02:53 PM PST by sport
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To: diverteach

Once he leaves office he is going to have more than enough problems of his own.

One way or another the socialists a/k/a democrats are going to put him in prison.

Whether they do it with one of their Stalin type show trials or turn him over to the international criminal court remains to be seen.


59 posted on 11/24/2008 6:07:50 PM PST by sport
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To: Finalapproach29er
Bush is disloyal to those who support(ed) him.

Don't tell that to those that worship him like some kind of celebrity, as they suggest he has protected Americans since 911.

When in fact tens of thousands of Americans have been murdered, robbed, raped, and injured at the hands of illegal aliens....This is not to mention that tens of thousands of other Americans that have been victims of fraud and property crimes at the hands of illegal aliens.

Those that suggest this BS, need to be exposed.

60 posted on 11/24/2008 6:10:10 PM PST by dragnet2
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