I've GOT to start donating $$$ to a major political party!

Okay I'll be first

Brian,

I'm sure you understand what the word Pardon means.

You pardon someone who has committed a crime. You don't pardon someone who hasn't committed a crime.

Right?

Its the presidents prerogative to pardon anyone he wants. Its a perk of being president.

Why are people giving Clinton such a hard time over this? Its not like he's pardoning a convicted killer.

------------------
Everything you do, effects everything that is.

 

I like how you qualified "killer" with "convicted."

Even for a staunch Democrat, I'm sure you don't want to go too far out on a limb when sticking up for 'ol Billy Boy.

------------------
stop posting my damn signature

 

BK....want to donate to a political party?

Get out your checkbook!

http://www.lp.org/

------------------
"Blues is a Healer"
--John Lee Hooker

 

Why are people giving Clinton such a hard time over this? Its not like he's pardoning a convicted killer.

Because we hold our Presidents to relatively high standards. We'd like to believe that the pardon is used to help correct injustices, not to benefit people who've donated money. It just doesn't seem like many of these pardons are based on merit, but on personal taste.

I didn't pay enough attention to politics in 1988 or 1992 to know if Reagan/Bush did the same type of thing, but I'm guessing so. It's just that they weren't tainted with scandal throughout their Presidency already. For someone who seems so desperate for a great legacy, I think it was a really silly thing to do.

------------------
Is it any coincidence that the Cato is the only Rocket with a temperature scale named after him?

I didnt think so!!!!

 

I'm actually looking forward to Bush's second year into his term because MAYBE, just MAYBE, once Bush is fully in office we can stop hearing people pound on Clinton. My god the man isn't even in office anymore and people are just all over him!

------------------
Dream a deadly Dream. . .

 

I dont understand the hwole pardon system in the first place. Why does a president get to pardon a certain number of people?
Why even have the legislative branch if we are just going to let the executive branch overturn them. Maybe there are some injustices out there, but that shouldnt be reason for pardons (well not just at one particular point in time, such as when a president leaves office--if there is an injustice done, it shoud be pardoned regardless), it should be reason for us to look at the problems with the legal system.

------------------

 

Hell The Iran Contra Scandal didn't get this much press

And they sold weapons to our enemies
that eventually end up being used against us

Undermined national security . .. sheesh

Rocket River

------------------

 

BK, that's what I was wondering.

------------------
RealGM
Rockets Draft Obligations Summary
Gafford Art
Artisan

 

Old enough . . .but the whole Iran contra
thing disappear rather quickly IMO

No heads really rolled on this.

Rocket River
Be 29 on Saturday

------------------

 

That's not the Iran-Contra story I remember. The story dragged on for years, even after Reagan left office, there were still stories about it, and some of the issues reemerged as late as 1993 (and Walsh's report was released in 1993, so there were stories about it then, too). That's about six years of Iran-Contra stories. I doubt people will still be talking about Mark Rich and the pardons in 2007.

And some heads did roll. People were put on trial, some convicted (some convictions later overturned and some folks were pardoned in 1992/93).

------------------
Houston Sports Board
The Anti-Bud Adams Page

[This message has been edited by mrpaige (edited February 13, 2001).]

 

BK,

You wish we were France, too!?!

Wow, I thought I was all alone.

Over there, they have this idot "conservative" Chirac who nobody likes and everyone makes fun of and leaders of the Socialist party drive Ferraris!

Isn't that cool?

------------------
Big A, little a bouncing B,
The System might have got you, but it won't get me.

[This message has been edited by rimbaud (edited February 13, 2001).]

 

Silly me...

And I thought France was all about red wine and women.



------------------
Everything you do, effects everything that is.

 

The pardoning power is in the constitution, and was set up as one of the checks and balances -- As JuanValdez said, to allow the President to override injustices that might occur in the justice system. There is no set number; he can pardon as many people as he wants, whenever he wants.

The idea though, is that this power is meant to be used sparingly, and with caution. Normally, pardons are given in the most extreme cases, and only after seeking the advice and consent of the justice department.

Personally, I like Texas's system, which gives the governor the power commute or grant pardons only witht the consent of the state board of paroles.

This round of pardons probably isn't that unusual -- Presidents do things all the time on their way out the door that they feel are good things, but wouldn't be possible at any other times due to politics. (Clinton took full advantage of this principle.)

The problem is, he didn't really consult the justice department, and at least two of the pardons are very tainted by being unusual AND tied to political contributions.


------------------
Stay Cool...

 

Well I'll be danged...

http://www.nandotimes.com/nation/story/0,1038,500309558-500497351-503495191-0,00.html

------------------
Everything you do, effects everything that is.

 

Damn I'm in the wrong business.

Guys, we have to remember this one this time. In 20 years, this guy's father is going to be the president. In 30 years, he's going to be the president.

------------------
Good night everyone, Canadian or American. Just remember that we're all bound together by basketball, the internet and the mullet.

(My attempts at trying to sooth over an international incident).

 

I'm not surprised. I think Bush is trying to make himself look like he's above the fray and doesn't hate Democrats. He's got no role in this anyway, so what has he got to lose by being magnanimous?


------------------
RealGM</A>
Rockets Draft Obligations Summary
Gafford Art
Artisan


[This message has been edited by JuanValdez (edited February 13, 2001).]

 

You edited that Juan? LOL.

------------------
Good night everyone, Canadian or American. Just remember that we're all bound together by basketball, the internet and the mullet.

(My attempts at trying to sooth over an international incident).

 

hey bri. WHO CARES!!!!! what difference does it make, rich didnt murder anyone. does it really bother you that much?

------------------
http://www.democrats.com