# Huckabee Pardoned Suspected Seattle Shooter. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 1, 2009, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577 "2009-12-01T12:58:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/101 "2009-12-02T21:32:34Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Almost correct - Huckabee was singled out as the person most to blame because he is a former _Republican_ Presidential candidate. If they could have figured out a way to blame Sarah Palin, they would have done that. We can see the truth in this just by observing the way the liberal media never mentioned controversial statements made by Obama’s pastor and how it ignored the extramarital affair of John Edwards. Yep, that old liberal media wouldn’t touch those stories. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/102 "2009-12-02T23:08:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, **Shodan** , name one other individual who played a bigger part in this guy’s eventual release than Huckabee. If he’s not on the top of the list, then surely there’s someone else who is. I’m the last person to think in terms of light sentencing but 108 years is a heavy sentence for robbery and theft, especially for a 17-year-old. Age and the nature of the crime are usually taken into consideration. I take issue with the methodology Huckabee used. If you’re going to weigh in on this as Governor then input from the prison should be included. At some point, when he’s constantly in and out of prison it’s time to start adding up his rap sheet and doubly so when it involves the charge of child rape. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/103 "2009-12-02T23:13:20Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’m the last person to think in terms of light sentencing but 108 years is a heavy sentence for robbery and theft, especially for a 17-year-old. Age and the nature of the crime are usually taken into consideration. I take issue with the methodology Huckabee used. If you’re going to weigh in on this as Governor then input from the prison should be included. He did. He got no objections from the prison, the prosecutor or the public, and the judge agreed with the commutation. He also only commuted the sentence down to 43 years, it wasn’t like he pardoned him or let him out. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/104 "2009-12-02T23:48:15Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I suspect you and I will disagree on what constitutes “editorializing”. If only you applied your “standard” on what constitutes editorializing to both sides equally. In any case, yes I do disagree that the article you and other (and myself) linked contained any editorializing or was anything besides fair. Among the people involved in the clemency granting, Huckabee is BY FAR the highest profile. I still am baffled that you have such a chip on your shoulder about this. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/105 "2009-12-02T23:58:29Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He did. He got no objections from the prison, the prosecutor or the public, and the judge agreed with the commutation. He also only commuted the sentence down to 43 years, it wasn’t like he pardoned him or let him out. Then I stand corrected but the article I read made it sound like he didn’t get any input from the people directly involved in the penal system. I would be interested to know if his last bail was in line with his past record. I have no way of rating it other than a personal desire to see career criminals accused of child rape held to the maximum amount. On a side note, I hope they crush the people who hid him from the law. If they can be charged with complicity in the murders that would be swell. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/106 "2009-12-03T04:03:08Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m the last person to think in terms of light sentencing but 108 years is a heavy sentence for robbery and theft, especially for a 17-year-old. I agree, actually. Given the information he had at the time, I think that Huckabee’s decision was probably reasonable. But the way it’s actually turned out, it’s led to bad consequences, and I think that those consequences, fairly or not, are going to hurt Huckabee pretty badly politically. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/107 "2009-12-03T04:31:45Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I agree, actually. Given the information he had at the time, I think that Huckabee’s decision was probably reasonable. But the way it’s actually turned out, it’s led to bad consequences, and I think that those consequences, fairly or not, are going to hurt Huckabee pretty badly politically. If it was reasonable then why is Huckabee claiming it was a paperwork issue and trying to dodge it? Personally I do not know the circumstances surrounding this and whether it was a reasonable decision or not. Presuming it was reasonable at the time I think it is wrong to hold Huckabee accountable. And I say that having little love for Huckabee personally and I would hate to see him as President. I thought Horton was bullshit and this smells the same (again admitting I am not well informed of the circumstances in this case). That said there does seem to be a bit of turnabout is fair play here. Conservatives hung Dukakis out to dry for Horton so I am hard pressed to see how they can say this one is totally different and Huckabee should be given a pass. If the circumstances in this case were not so tragic I’d be laughing. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/108 "2009-12-03T08:25:45Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > If it was reasonable then why is Huckabee claiming it was a paperwork issue and trying to dodge it? He’s not trying to dodge it by explaining what happened. He did not pardon this person and his sentence commutation is inline with the original crimes. The shooter was released in and went back in prison for 4 more years. Upon release he was again charged with crimes in another city where the charges were dropped because paperwork wasn’t filed. His rap sheet took him to Seattle where he again was charged with crimes (child rape) but was let out on bail. Recently he’d gone off the deep end thinking he was Jesus. Whether the current legal system realized he had gone crazy is the key factor to his recent ability to post bail. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/109 "2009-12-03T14:05:03Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > A parole board is not an individual. What do you think they are, robots? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/110 "2009-12-03T14:41:16Z")
> [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](#): > > The person hurt by this, I think is Romney. He is kind of the opposite of Huck; weak with the Xtians and strong with the moneyed voters. Most of the votes that would have gone to Huck before will go to candidates not named “Romney” now. Huck’s exit would also leave a southern-shaped hole in the field. This could add an extra incentive to Gingrich or Barbour to jump into the race. Yesterday I caught the end of an interview on the local public radio. The upshot was some guy saying, “Look, if all these Republicans were so hot and heavy for the Iraqi surge they’d be hypocrites to oppose Obama strictly for political reasons. I think they should think pretty hard about that before making any statements.” And it was GINGRICH! Surprised the hell out of me. He’s definitely positioning himself for a run, but the fact of the matter is I think the man is far too sane and moderate for today’s Republican party. And holy shit I never thought I’d type THAT. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/111 "2009-12-03T14:58:46Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He did. He got no objections from the prison, the prosecutor or the public, and the judge agreed with the commutation. He also only commuted the sentence down to 43 years, it wasn’t like he pardoned him or let him out. Commuting someone’s sentence down to the point where it immediately makes them eligible for parole isn’t a pardon - but it is as close as you can get without actually crossing that line. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > If it was reasonable then why is Huckabee claiming it was a paperwork issue and trying to dodge it? Politics in America, baby. Three rules to follow in all cases: 1. Admit nothing 2. Deny everything 3. Deflect the blame -Joe ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/112 "2009-12-03T15:02:09Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > … The upshot was some guy saying, "Look, if all these Republicans were so hot and heavy for the Iraqi surge they’d be hypocrites to oppose Obama strictly for political reasons. … [Jon Stewart](http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-december-2-2009/30-000) says the right is down on him more for style than politics. It’s the libs who are politically outraged. ---
**Author:** ![haymarketmartyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@haymarketmartyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/haymarketmartyr)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/113 "2009-12-03T15:24:01Z")
from Whack-a-mole > [@](#): > > That said there does seem to be a bit of turnabout is fair play here. Conservatives hung Dukakis out to dry for Horton so I am hard pressed to see how they can say this one is totally different and Huckabee should be given a pass. If the circumstances in this case were not so tragic I’d be laughing. Exactly. The hypocrisy in right wing circles on this issue is amazing. Can you imagine what Drudge Report would do if the shoe was on a Democratic governors foot? Fool O’Rielly rips into two judges for their role but wipes the behind of Huckabee clean on his shoe because he is a FOX fellow traveler. It is sickening. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/114 "2009-12-03T15:52:31Z")
> [@adhay](#): > > [Jon Stewart](http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-december-2-2009/30-000) says the right is down on him more for style than politics. It’s the libs who are politically outraged. The right is down on him out of fucking habit. The left is down on him because they weren’t paying attention to what he has been saying. I, personally, am down on him because McChrystal should have been sacked about 30 seconds after his demand for more troops was “leaked”. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/115 "2009-12-03T15:55:45Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > The right is down on him out of fucking habit. The left is down on him because they weren’t paying attention to what he has been saying. I was paying attention to what he was saying. I just hoped he’d be as consistent at following through on that issue as he has been on torture. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/116 "2009-12-03T20:48:24Z")
> [@](#): > > What do you think they are, robots? No, individual **s** , plural. The parole board is a group of people, and so any individual member of the parole board only has a fractional share of any decision made by the board, but Governor Huckabee is a single individual, and so he bears the full responsibility for any decision he makes. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/117 "2009-12-04T04:40:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > No, individual **s** , plural. The parole board is a group of people, and so any individual member of the parole board only has a fractional share of any decision made by the board, but Governor Huckabee is a single individual, and so he bears the full responsibility for any decision he makes. True, but he is not being blamed for _his_ decision, he is being blamed for the cumulative affect of _all_ their decisions. Reducing the sentence to 40-something years was only a bad decision in the sense that it gave the parole board an excuse to fuck up. Unless Huckabee had specific reasons to believe the parole board was incompetent, expecting that they were going to actually do their jobs doesn’t seem unreasonable. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577/118 "2009-12-04T13:42:27Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > True, but he is not being blamed for _his_ decision, he is being blamed for the cumulative affect of _all_ their decisions. Reducing the sentence to 40-something years was only a bad decision in the sense that it gave the parole board an excuse to fuck up. Unless Huckabee had specific reasons to believe the parole board was incompetent, expecting that they were going to actually do their jobs doesn’t seem unreasonable. Right. And just like handing a loaded firearm to a toddler doesn’t actually kill someone… I don’t think he deserves all the blame. However, the fact of the matter is that he is the person with the largest individual share of culpability, and he is the biggest name of those on that list. If Bill Clinton’s brother had been on that parole board? I’ll bet he’d be the second most-often mentioned person “at fault”. How about you? Fame is great, but at times like this it can certainly have a negative affect don’t you think? -Joe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-pardoned-suspected-seattle-shooter/519577.md?page=5)