White House: Expect more pardons from Bush.
White House: Expect more pardons from Bush.
In today’s White House press briefing, a reporter noted to spokesman Tony Fratto that the “administration has indicated that the president is unlikely, at the last minute, to issue a batch of pardons.” Fratto, however, quickly took issue with that statement, saying, “I don’t think we’ve indicated that.” He then hinted that there will be more pardons coming soon:
FRATTO: We do expect additional — additional clemency requests. The president has been considering them. And, hopefully, soon we’ll have something for you on that.
I can’t tell you that — when exactly the next one will come — the next batch will come and whether there will be more after that. I think the president has maintained his authority to do that until — until his last day as president, so we’re not going to — I don’t think we’ll take that away from him. But I think we should have something soon on clemency petitions.
Watch it:
Some possible pardons to watch for: Ted Stevens, Donald Rumsfeld, Scooter Libby, and everyone who has participated in the administration’s torture and wiretapping programs.
Transcript:
QUESTION: The administration has indicated that the president is unlikely, at the last minute, to issue a batch of pardons. I’m wondering if…
FRATTO: I don’t know — no, I don’t think we’ve indicated that. I mean…
QUESTION: Well, I’ve been told that.
FRATTO: You have?
QUESTION: Yes. But the key there was…
FRATTO: One of those unnamed sources somewhere?
QUESTION: I think he was named.
FRATTO: OK.
QUESTION: The key was that at the last minute, on the way out the door. I’m curious if you expect another round of pardons or commutations before the president leaves office.
FRATTO: We do expect additional — additional clemency requests. The president has been considering them. And, hopefully, soon we’ll have something for you on that.
I can’t tell you that — when exactly the next one will come — the next batch will come and whether there will be more after that. I think the president has maintained his authority to do that until — until his last day as president, so we’re not going to — I don’t think we’ll take that away from him. But I think we should have something soon on clemency petitions.
QUESTION: Would you expect it this week, Tony?
FRATTO: I’m not going to put a point on that. The — the process is run from the Office of the Pardon Attorney over at the Department of Justice. Any announcement, as they all have, will — will come from the Department of Justice. I would just stay ready to look for that paper to come across.
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Criminals pardomning criminals…
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:13 pmOh, goody.
NOT.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:13 pmI’m sorry this is not part of the tread…
US to Fund Afghan Militias
The Wall Street Journal reports the United States is planning to start funding local Afghan militias to fight the Taliban in remote parts of Afghanistan. The first US-funded militias will be established in Wardak Province in eastern Afghanistan. The plan is based on a similar model used in Iraq. If the effort in Wardak is successful, US commanders hope to create more militias in other parts of Afghanistan in early 2009. The militia push is controversial. Afghan President Hamid Karzai vetoed an earlier American proposal to create local militias, because he feared they might one day fall under the sway of regional warlords. Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay has publicly opposed the initiative saying it would be counterproductive.
So they haven’t learned a thing! They finaced the Talibam when it was fighting Russia’s invasion… They financed in Nicaragua, paramilitary terrorists groups oposed to DEMOCRACY. Negroponte knows all about these crimes! He was also in Iraq not long ago…
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:15 pm…so we’re not going to — I don’t think we’ll take that away from him.
Geez, makes it sound like Bush is nothing but a spoiled little irresponsible, self absorbed child.
HEY, wait a minute…..
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:17 pmSo this is the era of accountibility that Bush crowed about??
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:17 pmMore criminals in the Bush administration = more pardons. Who didn’t see this train wreck coming? Do these pardons work in The Hague?
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:32 pmNooses, not pardons.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:37 pmAre we such an insipid society that we have allowed anyone to be pardoned before an indictment? How brainless and shameful that crooks, cheats and criminals can get away with anything, things that they do not even have to face incrimination’s over.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:38 pmThe Repukian Mafia takes care of their own…
…no morals, no ethics, nothing but corruption and greed.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:41 pmUncle Ho Says:
Nooses, not pardons.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
yeah, “mussolini” is italian for “Lamp-post.”
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:41 pmI don’t think George yelling “olly olly oxen free” is going to work.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:43 pmI have treated at some length with the matter of Justice for the Busheviks. Summary: Nagahapun…
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:44 pmNews Flash:
AP is reporting that President George Bush has issued a full pardon to Osama bin Laden. Well, not really…not yet anyway
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:45 pmIf there were less corruption on both side’s of the isle we might of been able to get some of this administration charged with their crime’s..Palosi taking impeachment off the table was a big loss to all of us and huge gain for all the evil doer’s…Reid and all the rest of the spinless are guilty as well…Long after I’m gone all this junk will be exposed and no one will be alive to prosacute…That’s how they play the game, hide it untill every one die’s off…Exxon come’s to mind…Just wait 20 year’s spend million’s on attorney’s to stall and then the pay off is one tenth or nothing…Blessings
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:51 pmIf a person is pardoned, it necessarily means thay are guilty of a crime. It means that, more than likely, a court of competent jurisdiction would find them guilty using the evidence at hand. If Bush wants to polish his image, pardoning will not help at all. It will simply mean that Bush thinks his gang will be indicted and convicted.
Pardoning these people will also open the floodgates to civil proceedings, which I don’t believe are protected by a pardon.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:54 pmGeorge W. Bush is one of the most hilarious men on the face of the planet! Why does everyone hate him so much? Think of all of the art, culture, and emotions that his presidency has inspired! If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have a QUARTER of the politically-oriented comedy and satire that we do today! Distrust in government and the establishment inspires great art, and the Bush-era has seen so much of that that we’ve got art up the wazooooooooo! And to be fair, we’ve been the global superpower long enough…why not let someone else have a turn? Russia? China? Its the natural order of things….our turn is over…..deal with it.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:55 pm#17 = the political equivalent to telling a rape victim to lie back and enjoy it. NO!
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:04 pmWhy do we HAVE presidential pardons anymore? What purpose do they serve, pragmatically?
It seems that every single one is used to pardon political allies who got caught. That, or it is used to score political points. It seems to serve no purpose but to allow (mostly) rich criminals to wander free in our society AFTER they have been convicted of a crime.
Anyone care to explain the useful purpose and relevance to ANY president giving out these free pardons? Anyone? Help a brudda’ out, ‘cuz i don’t see it.
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:15 pmWe NEED to eliminate presidential pardons (and possibly question past ones, to boot).
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:16 pmTouche, PatrioticLiberalChristian, but you have to admit my man G.W.B. dodged those shoes like a ninja!
Regarding the presidential pardons, everyone will have forgotten about these goons within a couple of years. Let ‘em roam the streets and they’ll probably turn to crack/cocaine/prostitution (Scooter Libby would make a good working girl in particular) and mess themselves up without OUR tax dollars having to fund their prison cells! BEEERMP!
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:17 pmSo lemme guess: He’s gonna pardon anyone and everyone that served in his administration right? Who’s going to pardon him?
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:25 pmNot so fast please read the rules and guidelines for a pardon. The problem for the current list of criminals listed is the five years term period. Now Clemency isn’t getting away with being charged. All the arguments can’t change that law. The current Attorney General will have to change the law which isn’t possible. Remember even dumb AG Lisa Madigan filed a request to the Illinois Supreme Court that was tossed out because she didn’t know the law. These cronnie of the White House will have to go to the Supreme Court to argue their case for not being charged. Libby is hosed and so is Uncle Ted. Now Ted can get clemency but few current jails birds time must be on their side. For those not charged yet like Karl Rove he can get clemency. No matter what these legal Bush attorney said it is clearly written and that wont change.
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:38 pmJackie, could you clarify what you have written at 23. Thank you.
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:49 pmWell this is why Cheney has been happily admitting that he signed off and initiated torture. He knows he is getting a pardon. I look for Christmas or New Years eve for those pardons.
If Bush could pardon himself he would. With this horrible fiasco called Bush, I could almost feel sorry for him. History will judge these people harshly. And Bush is so dumb. And he is so damaged as a human being he still has no clue. Cheney played this yahoo like a violin.
How I detest Cheney and Bush. Just a few weeks more.
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:50 pmRumsfeld hasn’t been charged with anything nor has there been an active investigation into his activities so Bush can’t pardon Rumsfeld. The Ford/Nixon pardon is different in that Nixon was being investigated and was on the brink of impeachment. Ford made a gesture of pardoning Nixon but really, Nixon had not completed the process so the Ford/Nixon pardon was “fluff”. Ford basically took impeachment off the table is what he did and no one challenged him.
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:23 pmCheney claims that he didn’t commit a crime so if he didn’t commit a crime then he can’t be pardoned. I still think a person needs to be charged with some crime before obtaining a pardon.
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:31 pmSome possible pardons to watch for: Ted Stevens, Donald Rumsfeld, Scooter Libby, and everyone who has participated in the administration’s torture and wiretapping programs.
That would include Little Georgie himself. I hope he doesn’t forget to sign that pardon for himself while he’s still President.
I have been saying it for about six years now: George W. Bush will become the first President to pardon himself. Either that, or Dick Cheney pardoned him while George was under the ether getting his colon examined.
Either way, world class criminals like these guys leave nothing to chance. Every angle is covered–except ICC war crimes charges, and lampposts.
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:22 pmMr. Fratto added that he did not need a pardon for himself as he had recently moved to Dubai. “Cheney gave me a deal on a five bedroom condo,” he bragged.
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:25 pmCheck back day after tomorrow. His daddy did a fat batch of very questionable pardons on Christmas eve, apparently hoping nobody would notice.
December 23rd, 2008 at 6:20 pmProposed Amendment to the United States Constitution:
The president shall not have the authority to pardon him or herself from any crime; the president shall not have the authority to pardon any member of any administration in which the president serves or has served from any crime; the president’s authority to issue a pardon to any man or woman shall arise only after that person has been convicted of a crime and the pardon shall be specific as to the crime for which it is issued, prospective and blanket pardons not being allowed.
Granting of any pardon for purposes of, or with the intent to, cover up or keep hidden the facts surrounding any crime committed by the president or member of the president’s administration is likewise illegal and shall be a crime punishable by not less than ten (10) years in prison, whenever discovered; all illegal pardons issued as herein described shall be without effect and are void.
December 24th, 2008 at 3:18 am“Bush has granted 190 pardons and nine commutations during his two terms. That’s fewer than half as many as Presidents Clinton or Ronald Reagan issued during their eight years in office.”
December 24th, 2008 at 5:51 am
“Bush has granted 190 pardons and nine commutations during his two terms. That’s fewer than half as many as Presidents Clinton or Ronald Reagan issued during their eight years in office.”
Right. I dont think anyone has ever seriously accused W Bush of actually having a compassionate bone in his body. It’d be quite interesting to see they accusations against those pardoned by Bush and his predecessors. I’d imagine the only empathy Bush has is for people like him, so drug dealers probably got a lot of pardons, rich people probably got a lot of pardons and the remainder were probably pardons that sent a big “FU” to some group he despises (for example, the recent pardon to the guy who poisoned eagles with pesticides was a FU to environmentalists and/or anyone wanting to regulate the use of toxins).
I dont know this, I just think it’d be interesting to see a comparason of the types of people Bush pardoned, with those of Clinton, Reagan, and Bush the First
December 24th, 2008 at 8:54 amThen it’s up to us lowly citizens to hunt them down and see that justice is served.
Whatever it takes.
This country is so full of shit, and we are viewed as the turds by the power elite.
Pardons for the Kings and Queens, and we get stuck with the bill from the 8 year power party – AS USUAL.
There is no American Dream. It’s a crock of shit sold to quiet the “lower class” in order to keep them away from the actual pot of gold.
But keep thinking all this matters and will effect positive change… I’m out of the worthless “faith” currency needed to believe the lie any longer.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:32 amWait till the Criminal Bush is out of office, then arrest the whole gang of RepubliCon traitors.
December 24th, 2008 at 6:50 pmI have never read so many comments from so many perfect people. Perhaps you all should be running this country. What ever happened to respect? First, he is the president. Second, I would bet that none of you have had a member of your family slam dunked by the system. I believe there are many people deserving pardons. YOU GO PRESIDENT BUSH!
December 29th, 2008 at 9:59 pm