Bush Pardons: Gun runners, Bootleggers, Thieves, and Drug Dealers

[bigtree]

8/16/2006 11:19:00 AM

Bush Granted Pardons

Contact: U.S. Department of Justice, 202-514-2007 or 202-514-1888 (TDD)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Justice announced today President George W. Bush granted pardons to the following 17 individuals:


http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=70815

[hobbit709]

1. How much did they give

to the GOP?

[bluerum]

2. ru series?

[Rosemary2205]

3. From the 1960's and 70's??

They served their time. Paid their prices - many of these were fairly minor punishments from 20-40 years ago. They want the right to vote back or maybe they need their vet benefits. Let them have it.

[bigtree]

5. I can think of more than 17 individuals who deserve pardons

who have 'paid their prices'; many who didn't actually owe.

can you? Why these folks and not others?

[Jed Dilligan]

9. What about the meth cook from 1994

Did she deserve a pardon when so many with older, less serious drug crimes rot in jail?

[WI_DEM]

4. In other words members of his inner circle

[bigtree]

6. republican core

getting their vote back

[SeattleVet]

7. Looks like he's just shoring up his base.

Sounds like a bunch of typical freepazoid/rethug types.

[elehhhhna]

8. Earlier pardons concentrated on bank fraudsters and other white collarers

No need to warm up on pardons for fraud anymore. Lay died.

[Jed Dilligan]

10. Here's the good one--remember and repeat this name:

Victoria Diane Frost, Medina, Ohio

Offense: Conspiracy to possess and distribute L-Ephedrine Hydrochloride, 21 U.S.C. Section 846

Date: April 25, 1994; Western District of New York; three years probation, including six months' home confinement; $3,000 fine



in layman's terms: Bush pardons meth cook. Bush pardons METH COOK!

[bigtree]

11. oooh, good one!

new Bush/republican voter

[Jed Dilligan]

12. Pardoning meth cooks is not going to play well in rural America

The Dems should make big heaps of hay out of this one.

[High Plains]

13. No, please, no. Bush should have pardoned the 100,000 people

currently doing federal time for non-violent drug crimes.

For Democrats to try to play the "tough on drugs" card is just a bad idea. The drug war creates untold injustice and, frankly, I don't care how well it plays in the sticks. Criticizing Bush for pardoning a drug offender is the wrong thing to do.

[bigtree]

14. It's the hypocricy that's at issue here

republican 'values', priorities

[Jed Dilligan]

15. I agree that the War on Drugs is crap,

Half of my "1000+ posts" are probably on that topic.

However, being "tough on drugs" and shouting, "Bush pardoned a meth cook!" are two completely different activities.

[bigtree]

17. At a ceremony in the East Room of the White House,

At a ceremony in the East Room of the WH, Bush embraced the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act, which he signed as an amendment to the USA Patriot Act.

"Our nation is committed to protecting our citizens and our young people from the scourge of methamphetamine," Bush said. ". . . It is ruining too many lives across our country."

Less than an hour after Bush signed the new law, the House attempted again to prod Walters. It voted 403-3 to pass an amendment from Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore., requiring Walters' office to produce a strategy to control precursor chemicals, rein in meth traffic and treat addicts.

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1141962918124450.xml&coll=7

[bigtree]

20. Bush was concerned about the appearance of his anti-meth commitment

Gonzales, Other Top Officials Sent To Show Seriousness Of Threat

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Seeking to defuse a growing confrontation with members of Congress and local officials over drug policy, the Bush administration dispatched the attorney general and two other top officials here on Thursday to pledge that the government is committed to battling methamphetamine.

"You can tell President Bush considers it a serious threat that he had three of his Cabinet members here today," Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said in a speech to judges, anti-drug advocates, and graduates at a drug court here. The administration also pledged to make $16.2 million available in grants for treatment.

The administration sparked a political furor when officials with the drug policy office seemed to downplay the results of a National Association of Counties survey, released in early July, in which 500 local law enforcement officials nationwide called meth their No. 1 scourge.

When administration officials doubted the officials' characterization of meth as an epidemic, the 100-member bipartisan Meth Caucus in Congress, as well as the rural caucus and members of districts hard hit by the drug sent angry letters.

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1352/a04.html

[stepnw1f]

18. Hot Damn... Hello? GOP? November....

this issue should be pressed, big time! I'm sure fly-over country will be very interested to know how the GOP's "Golden Boy" is letting such people off the hook.

[MyNameGoesHere]

16. I am not trying to

fan the tin hat flames. But i have googled most these names in quotes and get 0 returns. I just find that odd.

[ShaneGR]

19. I really wish both sides wouldn't politicize pardons....

It's why only 17 people out of millions get pardons for bad decisions they made in the past.

[bigtree]

21. Everything the Executive does is political. Pardons are used politically

No criticism means no accountability of this extraordinary power the president alone posesses.

Better for those on the outside to judge or defend the individual criticisms of specific pardons (not the system of pardons itself) as the Executive should be obliged to defend its choices.