Posted on 01/19/2009 9:58:40 AM PST by E.G.C.
Edited on 01/19/2009 10:46:59 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
WASHINGTON – In his final acts of clemency, President George W. Bush on Monday commuted the prison sentences of two former U.S. Border Patrol agents whose convictions for shooting a Mexican drug dealer ignited fierce debate about illegal immigration.
Bush's decision to commute the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who tried to cover up the shooting, was welcomed by both Republican and Democratic members of Congress. They had long argued that the agents were merely doing their jobs, defending the American border against criminals. They also maintained that the more than 10-year prison sentences the pair was given were too harsh.
Rancor over their convictions, sentencing and firings has simmered ever since the shooting occurred in 2005.
Ramos and Compean became a rallying point among conservatives and on talk shows where their supporters called them heroes. Nearly the entire bipartisan congressional delegation from Texas and other lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle pleaded with Bush to grant them clemency.
Bush didn't pardon the men for their crimes, but decided instead to commute their prison sentences because he believed they were excessive and that they had already suffered the loss of their jobs, freedom and reputations, a senior administration official said.
The action by the president, who believes the border agents received fair trials and that the verdicts were just, does not diminish the seriousness of their crimes, the official said...................."
Amen, sister.
Hey, it’s never too late to do something good!
Putridly so.
They committed a crime.
Thus, they went to jail. However, the crime was not malicious, but well-intentioned.
The sentence was way overkill. I can see why some are made he didn’t flat pardon them, but he did the right thing by at least commuting them.
As for the Ramos and Compean case, I’m VERY glad they’re free but there is much we don’t know about the circumstances surrounding their case and trial. It’s best not to try to put the puzzle together without having all the pieces just as it’s better not to form an opinion without all the facts.
As for Bush being a disgrace, I’d like to see you or anyone else for that matter handle the difficulties he’s faced over the last eight years and not completely lose it, much less handle it with the grace and dignity he has.
Hell, he has more dignity after being trashed relentlessly by people like you and the media than Obama does while they are collectively kissing his arse.
The Congress is a disgrace. Everytime military funding came up they held this President hostage for BS domestic programs and earmarks. In the end he caved to protect and fund his military as their CIC, and to protect the U.S.
President Bush a disgrace? Not even close.
These 2 guys are still marked for life...they are still considered felons..never will they be able to get a good job ,own a gun to protect their families..so mr bush what did you do that was so good????....how many pardons were drug related???
Remember, there's a subargument in all the threads on this case that irrespective of what Ramos and Compeon may or may not have done, the reports that served as the basis of the central part of the prosecution were NOT their responsibility. Maybe they were supposed to correct the supervisor or something.
Ain't every day a government supervisor can send one of his subordinates to jail for his own screwups, but to send two? Wow! He'll be in line for promotion to SES now that this is settled.
Obama will find him a good job Fur Shur.
In the meantime, Ramos and Campeon are going to have to figure out where to live and what to do for a living. Maybe they can stop by "W"'s ranch ~ ain't far. Get a job on a neighboring ranch maybe. Bet "W"'d like that.
Agreed. And what of the drug dealer...?
Most awesome. Two more months of prison time and then freedom for the two brave officers.
libs won’t like el capitan “defaced”
they wouldn’t have a problem though, starting the excavation for the 5th head at mt. rushmore, and i don’t mean W’s.
regan’s gonna get that 5th spot before bambi, if i have anything to say about it.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you Mr. President.
Great parting shot! Thank you, Mr President.
Nothing yet. Not gonna call it either. Day ain’t done.
“Better late than never”
W’s legacy slogan.
It's probably because he was afraid Texans wouldn't let him back in the state if he didn't let them go.
Thank God............
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