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...................."
You are putting up a straw man or red herring argument. Its no wonder you think I make no sense. You don’t use logic.
IMHO, they did not deserve a pardon. They did not deserve to be locked up for 10 years, either. By simply comuting their sentences, Bush got it about right.
TAB
Glad he went out with something good.
And rightly so. Shooting at an unarmed suspect, tampering with a crime scene, and filing a false report are serious crimes. They deserved to be punished for it, but ten years was excessive. Bush did the right thing for a change.
Exactly right. If Bush had the balls I thought he had 8 years ago, he would have pardoned them a long time ago.
You’re not considering the ridiculous ‘rules of engagement’ that Ramos and Campeon were hamstrung by. Yes they shot an SOB that richly deserved it. Too bad their aim was low. They realized the pukes in suits would crucify them for doing the right thing and tried to cover it up.
30 day suspension maximum.
Wake the eff up!
In TX, they have to wait two years after finishing the sentence to regain voting rights. I don’t think law enforcement officers can ever again work in that field under these circumstances. So that would be two years after the fines, which must be $10,000 or more. I’m sure FL people would bend over backwards to keep Hastings there “fighting for them”.
The proof of the matter is that GWB believes in only GWB! He even disdains his own party by placing it in permanent jeopardy of survival.
Not necessarily. Bush most likely believes (as do I) that they deserved some jail time, just not 10 years. He let them serve the time he felt as just and then commuted their sentences. That is perfectly reasonable.
“Go screw yourself, BushBot.”
That would be infinitely more fun than having to continue to sort through Bush bashing posts from knowitall simpletons. People like you that think they know more than those who are in the heat of battle.
You had your day in the sun. Your hatred of everything Bush is no longer a current event.
So please, let’s not talk about BDS on this thread, because there are a lot of very solid reasons why I and many, many others are pleased not to have to defend this President any longer.
My feelings exacty. And I’m not going to argue with anyone about it. George W Bush lost this election for the GOP. Period.
“That alone, ought to bring about widespread revulsion, for GWBs failure to finish the job he started, and horror, in anticipation of what Comrade 0bama is likely to do once sworn in as President (legal or not).”
THANK GOD, President Bush never listened to recliner presidents! Nor did he think he was GOD and capable of bringing peace to all of the middle east!
There will be only one who will be able to bring peace and that will not be the little one. BUT the true Son of God.
LOL
;)
Amen. And every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. I cannot wait until the little one is on his knees before the great I AM.
What was ridiculous about them?
Yes they shot an SOB that richly deserved it.
I don't think a unamrmed man deserves to die for trying to smuggle pot.
30 day suspension maximum.
IMHO, Beating a guy who's trying to surrender, and then shooting at him as he tries to flee, and covering up the crime scene merits punishment that is a little more serious than that.
I support honest border patrol agents. I don't support macho SOB's like R&C who like to abuse suspects for their own amusement.
Good. These guys proved that they are unworthy to wear any badge. Bush, for a change, did the right thing.
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