# When will we see Bush's pardons? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 18, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798 "2009-01-18T00:43:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/41 "2009-01-19T20:58:54Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Yeah, looks like. The “breaking news” banner was a bit misleading. It’s still good news. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/42 "2009-01-19T21:02:48Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > Nonsense. Ford was quite capable. Just didn’t have a chance in 1976, because his administration was seen too much as a continuation of Nixon’s (and a lot of people were upset about the pardon). > > Less than 24 hours to go. I guess I was a little harsh. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/43 "2009-01-19T21:32:52Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > [QUOTE=Oslo Ostrogoth] > :rolleyes: Would you care to explain? [/QUOTE] Would you care to give a cite for this statement: [QUOTE=BarnOwl] Be assured the two talked and Ford promised Nixon a pardon. Nixon was in deep shit, but no one would accuse him of being stupid. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/44 "2009-01-19T21:57:13Z")
So is Bush president right up to the time Obama is sworn in tomorrow? Can he wake up in the middle of the night and think “Dammit. I forgot about Scooter” and issue him a pardon? I’m curious as to the exact moment or transition. Is Bush off at 6pm tonight and there is no president until noon tomorrow? Is there some kind of formal statement Bush has to make to step down? Or is it basically when the Chief Justice swears Obama in, he’s The Prez? I think most likely the swearing in. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/45 "2009-01-19T22:22:38Z")
> [@Rack-a-Bones](#): > > So is Bush president right up to the time Obama is sworn in tomorrow? Can he wake up in the middle of the night and think “Dammit. I forgot about Scooter” and issue him a pardon? > > I’m curious as to the exact moment or transition. Is Bush off at 6pm tonight and there is no president until noon tomorrow? Is there some kind of formal statement Bush has to make to step down? Or is it basically when the Chief Justice swears Obama in, he’s The Prez? I think most likely the swearing in. Bush is president, with full powers thereof, until 11:59:59AM EDT on January 20th. After that, its on Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/46 "2009-01-19T22:27:53Z")
> [@Rack-a-Bones](#): > > So is Bush president right up to the time Obama is sworn in tomorrow? Can he wake up in the middle of the night and think “Dammit. I forgot about Scooter” and issue him a pardon? This from Wiki: _On July 2, 2007, when Libby’s appeal of Judge Walton’s order failed, President Bush commuted Libby’s 30-month prison sentence, leaving the other parts of his sentence intact._ [Link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooter_Libby) ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/47 "2009-01-19T22:44:13Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Would you care to give a cite for this statement: No. I don’t have one. But if you know anything about Nixon, you would bet the farm he and Ford talked. Can you imagine Nixon betting his ass on someone else telling him that Ford promised a pardon—giving the presidency of the U.S. away without a prid quo pro in person? Would you? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/48 "2009-01-19T22:50:02Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > Nixon was in deep shit, but no one would accuse him of being stupid. Remember that Nixon was stupid enough not to burn the tapes, so I’m willing to accept the possibility that he resigned without knowing in advance that he would get a pardon. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/49 "2009-01-19T22:53:34Z")
Color me astounded the Bush bothered with Compean and Ramos. He’s shown no inclination even to discuss their situation over the past few years. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/50 "2009-01-19T22:54:47Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Remember that Nixon was stupid enough not to burn the tapes, so I’m willing to accept the possibility that he resigned without knowing in advance that he would get a pardon. Being stupid or being out of touch with reality? You and Piper can have it your way. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/51 "2009-01-20T01:07:43Z")
See, this is GQ, where we you know, try to answer questions with facts. You’re giving your opinion, apparently without any facts to support it. IMHO is three forums down. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/52 "2009-01-20T02:50:33Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > See, this is GQ, where we you know, try to answer questions with facts. Uh oh… ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/53 "2009-01-20T03:41:30Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > See, this is GQ, where we you know, try to answer questions with facts. > > You’re giving your opinion, apparently without any facts to support it. IMHO is three forums down. Uh Piper, Are you delusional? Look again. This thread is in IMHO. Apologize, please. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/54 "2009-01-20T03:50:27Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Bush is president, with full powers thereof, until 11:59:59AM EDT on January 20th. After that, its on Obama. Eastern Standard Time, not Daylight. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/55 "2009-01-20T04:22:00Z")
Quite right. Unreserved apology to **BarnOwl.** ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/56 "2009-01-20T04:24:46Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Quite right. Unreserved apology to **BarnOwl.** Accepted, and thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/57 "2009-01-20T09:54:09Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I predict there will be relatively few. A lot less than Clinton. Maybe those two Border Patrol guys. I hate being right all the time. 😃 But it wasn’t a pardon, he commuted the sentences to basically time served. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/58 "2009-01-20T14:44:14Z")
And Bush’s non-addressing of the ridiculous persecution of them adds the final log to my fire of despising-ness of Bush. The people who follow at a lower level are the ones who defend him at every turn because he’s “our guy” (Republican). I have a friend who does this, and we basically can’t talk about the subject (and I’m pretty much Republican, if you can wash the Bush off it). ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/59 "2009-01-20T14:54:21Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > \*\*And Bush’s non-addressing of the ridiculous persecution of them adds the final log to my fire of despising-ness of Bush. > \*\* I did feel the original sentences were excessive but they did fire their weapons on duty, wounded a suspect(though I do believe it’s possible they didn’t know he was hit, as they claimed) _ **and covered up the shooting.** _ I expect LEOs to take responsibility for all actions they take on duty. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/60 "2009-01-20T16:10:55Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > Nonsense. Ford was quite capable. Just didn’t have a chance in 1976, because his administration was seen too much as a continuation of Nixon’s (and a lot of people were upset about the pardon). > > Less than 24 hours to go. And the economy was not doing so well - Ford’s campaign slogan was WIN (Whip Inflation Now). Of course it just got worse under Carter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798.md?page=4)