Huck Out of Luck: Give his Career the Chair

Union Leader ^ | Dec. 2, 2009 | Staff

[BarnacleCenturion]

The Mike Huckabee body count continues to rise.

During his 10 years as Arkansas governor, Huckabee commuted the sentences of 1,033 convicted criminals. He knowingly released more than a few rapists and murderers and sometimes mocked or attacked prosecutors who pleaded with him to keep violent offenders behind bars.

While Huckabee was governor, the parole board released convicted rapist Wayne Dumont. Huckabee had publicly argued for Dumont's release, and parole board members said he pressured them to let the rapist out. Eleven months after his release, Dumont raped and killed a woman.

In 2000, Huckabee granted clemency to Maurice Clemmons, who was sentenced to nearly a century behind bars for multiple felony convictions. Clemmons, suspected of murdering four Lakewood, Wash., police officers Monday morning, was shot dead on Tuesday by a Seattle officer. He was found with a gun stolen from one of the murdered officers and a gunshot wound consistent with the wound witnesses said the killer suffered while fleeing.

Those are just two of the 1,033 convicts Huckabee released. How many other victims, present and future, are out there?

[behzinlea]

That old letter was from 2004, not 2001. It had nothing to do with the Clemmons case.

It has EVERYTHING to do with the Clemmons case. The self-righteous arrogant stupidity and hubris behind the 2004 letter is the same self-righteous arrogant stupidity and hubris behind the Clemmons release.

[dforest]

Huckabee will guarantee a third party and an Obama win. The rats aleady have a file on Hucks commutations, clemencies etc. It ain’t pretty.

He is out there showing no remorse for his folly. He is selfish to think he can do the fast talking spinorama. He has even used the race card.

His arrogance in thinking he can get by this with no consequences is disgusting.

And no, I don’t hate him. I am just disappointed in his behavior and lack of sound thinking.

[Maelstorm]

I don’t understand people who line up behind Romney or Huckabee. Both men are fatally flawed politically to be a Republican Presidential candidate. We need candidates that are committed to conservative principles and nothing is more conservative than the idea that violent criminals should not be released ever. It isn’t a hard issue to decide politically. Even many Democrats have come around on it. Huckabee needs to say simply that he was wrong and made a grave mistake. That he can not do that simple thing compounds his problem.

[pillut48]

“read you letter”? This wasn’t copied at a Kinko’s, was it?

[GreyMountainReagan]

1,033??? Did Huckabee pardon every felon in Arkansas?

[GLDNGUN]

That old letter was from 2004, not 2001. It had nothing to do with the Clemmons case.

You are right. It's more recent and it wasn't over an isolated incident. Huckabee had a very disturbing record of setting hardened criminals free.

Since we don’t know the details about the correspondence it’s useless to keep putting this on Free Republic threads over and over again, at length, ad nauseum.

On the contrary, it shows Huckabee's lack of respect for prosecutors, judges, and juries, and we should NEVER allow that to be forgotten.

[GLDNGUN]

Hogwash. It just shows he has a sense of humor, something more politicians could benefit from. Probably several letters went back and forth and perhaps the guy was being being snotty and so the funny letter rounded out the conversation. Without any details about what transpired in full this really has no effect at all on the debate, since it has nothing to do with Clemmons.

*GAG* Such a suck-up apologist. Rationalize, excuse, rationalize, excuse.

Everyone else seems to understand that the Huckster's response was juvenile at best.

You think releasing hardened criminals is something to joke about when asked about it?

Again, this was NOT an isolated incident. He did OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. Another person he let out early raped and killed. What part of this don't you get? Huckabee is not fit to be President. Period. Get over it and move on. The sun will still rise tomorrow.

[Cowgirl]

Huckabee should have remembered he’s a “republican”. Democrats can kill (Kennedy), be a traitor (clinton), lie cheat and steal (all of them), be a pimp provider (Frank), etc. and survive. Democrats love it when republicans screw up and make them pay. Media’s response is “gotcha”.

[AnAmericanMother]

Well, I can sure tell that YOU don't have anything to do with any part of the justice system. But your rationalization is an extreme stretch even for somebody who doesn't know anything about the system.

I do, and believe me, ANY governor that would allow such a letter on such a topic to go out to a State Prosecutor is an unprofessional, lazy, pigheaded fool.

And he can't spell, either.

[budwiesest]

nothing is more conservative than the idea that violent criminals should not be released ever.

Great post. If one is dedicated to 'conservative' ideals, one must go with facts- as they lead to the truth (as defined by Free people who embrace Liberty). The moment one goes with one's 'heart' and emotionally makes a decision, it will eventually come back to bite them. Huck's been bit.

It takes work to deny your 'soft' side, but you'll notice those who do remain consistent with conservative principles, though it may cost them supporters. Some moderates are not willing to take that risk, hence the RINO stampede over the years.

[GLDNGUN]

Huckabee should have remembered he’s a “republican”. Democrats can kill (Kennedy), be a traitor (clinton), lie cheat and steal (all of them), be a pimp provider (Frank), etc. and survive. Democrats love it when republicans screw up and make them pay. Media’s response is “gotcha”.

IF it was an isolated incident that would be one thing; however, Huckabee has a horrible track record as a "conservative". He's credited with destroying conservatism in Arkansas. He was pro-life and pro-gun, which are both very important; however, he was a liberal on every other issue including government growth, taxes, illegal immigration, and, of course, what we're discussing here - his deplorable clemency record.

As governor, he often double-crossed republican legislators and sided with the democrats.

There is also a side to him that is pretty creepy. I can't quite put my finger on it, but sometimes he can't help it from bubbling to the surface. Some of the things he did in the 2008 GOP primary were cringe-worthy. His letter to the prosecutor blowing him off is an example. Also, his little trick to avoid breaking the law in accepting expensive gifts when he left governorship was simply sleazy.

Does Huckabee deserve a "gotcha"?

YOU BETCHA.

[Lancey Howard]

Actually no, those letters were posted here several times. The first time I saw them was last Wednesday.

[dandiegirl]

I agree. Good riddance to Huck.

[DontTreadOnMe2009]

I read very carefully both letters and

found the first to be very well thought out, very carefully crafted, very polite, strikingly positioned with good ideas and suggestions.

Anyone, and I do mean anyone, would find the second letter to be rude, puerile, insulting ....... sorry I can’t go on.

Who are these people? How do they get into office?