Monday, July 02, 2007

Moonshine, Cocaine, Marijuana...Pardon me?

( Sounds like some of my best friends.)

George W. Bush has issued the fewest number of pardons of any president in history. Years after their convictions and having long finished serving their sentences, here are some of the people he has pardoned:

Stephen James Jackson, of Picayune, Mississippi, convicted in 1993 of odometer tampering, fined $500 and served three years on probation

Olgen Williams, of Indianapolis, Indiana, convicted in 1971 for stealing $10.90 from a postal employee's mail, served a one-year sentence.

Kenneth Franklin Copley, of Lyles, Tennessee, convicted in 1962 for the manufacture of untaxed whiskey, served two years probation

Douglas Harley Rogers, of Brookfield, Wisconsin, convicted in 1957 for failure to submit to induction into the Army, served a two-year sentence

Janet Theone Upton of Salinas, Calif., mail fraud. Sentenced May 23, 1975

Larry Gene Ross of Indio, Calif., making false statements in a bank loan application. Sentenced Aug. 15, 1989

George Thomas Harley of Albuquerque, N.M., aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine. Sentenced Nov. 30, 1984

Marie Georgette Ginette Briere of Gatineau, Quebec, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Sentenced July 9, 1982

William Sidney Baldwin Sr. of Green Pond, S.C., conspiracy to possess marijuana.

Clearly all people with whom Bush has much in common, although the personal connection with the draft dodger he pardoned eludes me, somehow. It isn't as readily apparent as ("I like speed") Bush's pardon for the Meth distributor.

How does Bush decide who gets a pardon? Here's what we are officially told...

" (a presidential spokesman) said that most weight is given to the seriousness of the crime, how long ago it was committed, acceptance of responsibility and remorse, an applicant’s conduct and contribution to society, and recommendations from the sentencing judge, probation officer and prosecutor."

So far, not one person has received a pardon from President Bush BEFORE serving his sentence, although I found some who were still on probation. Could Scooter be the first?

With all the yammering by the right wing press you would think that there is a cry across America for a pardon for Scooter Libby. Just for your information, the most recent poll found that 69% of Americans were opposed to a Libby pardon. So the cry for a pardon comes from 18% of Americans.

The other 13% were definitely mixed on whether Scooter or Paris should get out of jail first.

Peace,

Steve

*****

Fred Thompson is the guy in charge of the Free Scooter movement. One thing is becoming apparent about Fred...He can read his lines with a straight face. I think Karl Rove believes Fred is almost a perfect candidate...Sincerely dishonest, intellectually demotivated. It remains to be seen whether Fred can be molded into believing his own lies. That would be...perfect.
See what's free at AOL.com.

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