# 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:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/61 "2009-01-20T22:53:24Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > 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. The issue with this whole sorry scenario is that, at best (worst) they were guilty of breaking BP regulations which should have been dealt with administratively. Instead, they were thrown to the political wolves as sacrifices, which makes it harder now for the remaining officers on the line. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/62 "2009-01-20T23:02:31Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > The issue with this whole sorry scenario is that, at best (worst) they were guilty of breaking BP regulations which should have been dealt with administratively. Instead, they were thrown to the political wolves as sacrifices, which makes it harder now for the remaining officers on the line. Shooting someone is only against Border Patrol regulations? News to me. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/63 "2009-01-21T09:08:11Z")
Well? So who did he pardon? Do we know yet? ---
**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 21, 2009, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/64 "2009-01-21T09:52:27Z")
Yep. We did a week and a half or so ago, and without a hint of the pardon-for-pay (or payback) stink that accompanied certain of Clinton’s last-minute pardons. Do an advanced Google search for 'Bush" and “pardons”, then click ‘News’ at the top left of the page, and you’ll find plenty of information about them. ---
**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 21, 2009, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/65 "2009-01-21T10:16:08Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Shooting someone is only against Border Patrol regulations? News to me. Depends on the circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/66 "2009-01-21T13:35:00Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Yep. We did a week and a half or so ago, and without a hint of the pardon-for-pay (or payback) stink that accompanied certain of Clinton’s last-minute pardons. Do an advanced Google search for 'Bush" and “pardons”, then click ‘News’ at the top left of the page, and you’ll find plenty of information about them. Thank you **Starving Artist**! Here’s a quote from an article at > **[Client Challenge](https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2009%2F01%2F19%2FED4815D4SF.DTL)** "The downside: Bush was stingy with the gift of mercy. He withheld from the worthy and unworthy alike. He issued a mere 189 pardons and 11 commutations. He failed the families of unknown convicts who, like Ramos and Compean, were sentenced to draconian prison time, thanks to federal mandatory minimum sentences. Last month, I have just learned, Bush denied the commutation application of Clarence Aaron, who was sentenced in 1993 to life without parole for a first-time nonviolent drug offense. Reread that - life without parole for a first-time nonviolent offense." And to all of you who said Bush wouldn’t issue a blanket pardon of himself or any one else in his administration, the CIA, etc., were right. Congratulations on your perspicaciousness. (You were so smart you deserve a $10 word. :D) ---
**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 21, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/67 "2009-01-21T13:55:07Z")
Pardons for himself or members of his administration would require him to admit that his adminstration has done illegal things, which won’t happen. Also, someone who’s been pardoned cannot invoke the 5th Amendment to avoid testifying. There’s probably a little corner of Bush’s mind that’s thinking it’s best to give everyone wiggle room if it’ll keep them from flipping on him. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798/68 "2009-01-21T14:03:15Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Yep. We did a week and a half or so ago, and without a hint of the pardon-for-pay (or payback) stink that accompanied certain of Clinton’s last-minute pardons. Do an advanced Google search for 'Bush" and “pardons”, then click ‘News’ at the top left of the page, and you’ll find plenty of information about them. Yes, there were plenty of “hints” about the Clinton pardons. But nothing concrete was ever proven. Bush II’s pardons are neither newsworthy nor historic. In fact, he could have shown a bit more compassion towards unimportant people in bad situations. But we’ve known all that “kind & gentler” stuff just another lie for some time now. Bush I is still The Champion Pardoner. For the self-serving pardons that prevented some of the pending Iran-Contra trials. Which might have implicated him… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-we-see-bushs-pardons/481798.md?page=3)