Posted on 12/23/2008 12:36:59 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
WASHINGTON – Before leaving for the holidays, President Bush on Tuesday commuted the prison sentence of a drug offender and granted 19 pardons, including one to a man who helped the Jewish resistance in the 1940s.
With this latest batch, which includes forgiveness for convictions ranging from gun and drug violations to bank and mail fraud, Bush has granted a total of 191 pardons and nine commutations. That's fewer than half as many as Presidents Clinton or Reagan issued during their two terms.
Included in the latest list is Charles Winters, who is considered a hero in Israel.
Winters, who died in the 1980s in Florida, was in the airplane business after World War II. He bought up former military cargo planes and used them to transport fruit and other products. He later started helping his Jewish friends who were shipping arms to Jews trying to found their own state in the Middle East.
Winters, a Protestant from Boston, could fly his planes in and out of the region without interference from authorities. In 1948, three of his planes left Miami, picked up weapons in Azores and Czechoslovakia and then left the planes and arms in Palestine.
Winters was convicted of violating the Neutrality Act, fined $5,000 and sentenced to serve 18 months in prison. The act is designed to ensure that financial assistance and arms are not provided to parties in foreign conflicts where the U.S. has not taken sides.
Reginald Brown, an attorney who worked on the Winters pardon, said Bush's pardon "rights a historical wrong and honors Charlie's belief that the creation of the Jewish state was a moral imperative of his time. ... Charlie Winters helped shape human history for the better."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Comment line operators are busy but they give another number and say it’s direct - 202-456-1111.
called and emailed.. thanks!
If he’s so hip on pardoning drug dealers, why doesn’t he do something to end the failed war on drugs?
I think you should get ready for a plummet.
I gotta believe the Ramos and Compean will be pardoned. Bush will just wait until the last minute to avoid any aggravation.
A gun runner
At least he's consistent.
Screw Bush Screw repubs. I am done with em. Let them go the way of the Whigs. Too many RINOS.
I seem to remember Clinton pardoning people on the last day before Bush's inauguration. That's why the Mark Rich pardon wasn't known until after he left office --- it was a last minute deal.
It is really beyond reprehensible that he has not yet pardoned these men.
Be careful with Stepahie Mohr. Other accounts differ
George Walker Bush, one of the worst presidents in history, is aiming for the worst president in history.
Merry Christmas Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, please know that some people are still fighting for and supporting you.
Thanks, I will.
I wish someone would seriously explain to me why these scumbags get a pardon and Campeon & Ramos don’t?????
Are pardons up “For Sale” or what???
I mean if Bush is looking for a donation to his library then just say so and we’ll start donating now!
George Walker Bush, one of the worst presidents in history, is aiming for the worst president in history.
I had hopes for him, but I have to say that he intentionally did some things that disappointed me seriously.But to compare him unfavorably to any Democratic POTUS since Truman - certainly, since JFK - is not a serious proposition:
I'm not looking forward to the Obama Administration, let me tell you.
- Johnson? The "War on Poverty" catastrophe and Vietnam?
- Carter? Stagflation and stabbing the Shah of Iran in the back, helping Khomeni into power?
- Clinton? More scandals than you can remember at a single sitting and Black Hawk Down and the Gorelick Wall?
Bush instituted billions for Aids aid in Africa with no mention of abstinence education that I know of. He pushed for and got nearly half a trillion for drug subsidies. 40 billion for farmer subsidies. "Campaiagn finance reform", a direct assault on the first amendment, which hamstrung McCain, who ironically sponsored it. Sat idly by while the fifth amendment (eminent domain) was debated and destroyed by the Supreme Court. Harriet Miers. Pushed for amnesty for 20 million illegal aliens. Didn't say a word about Sandy Berger's theft of classified documents. Literally held hands with a Saudi prince (home of 19 of the players in the September 11th attack), Calls Islam a "religion of peace" (read the koran and hadith for a reality check), Refuses to pardon Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos or Jose Campean. Presided over, arguably, the worst bankng crisis in history. Wasn't concerned at all about the Dubai Ports deal. Signed off on nearly one TRILLION DOLLARS of bailouts-bailouts-bailouts.... That's just off the top of my head. I've changed my mind, he's the WORST president in history, thanks for helping me clarify that.
It wouldn't be fair of me to list a few of my greivances without listing my kudos: he let the assault weapons ban expire.
Merry Christmas, fellow FReeper.
Correction, the so-called "assault weapons" ban.
He can issue pardons until Obama is sworn in on Jan 20th. But he's not going to pardon the border guards. See you at the bill signing. Mission accomplished.
GW Bush couldn't care less what you or any other conservative thinks of him. Like his father he has contempt for Americans generally and conservative Americans in particular.
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