Though many conservatives believe last-minute presidential pardons began with Clinton, there is a long tradition of executive clemency that is extended just as the incumbent slinks out of town. Bush Daddy pardoned a heroin trafficker, a bank fraud perpetrator and an illlegal campaign contributor; Reagan pardoned a convicted racketeer, liquor law offender, and, most heinously, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.
Who will Dubya pardon before he leaves office on January 20, 2005? I am betting on Ken Lay; who else?
I know this is a poll, but because of the political content, I opted for GD. Mods, move as deemed necessary.
When Bush leaves office in January 2008, I expect a large number of pardons for relatively unknown figures. No high-profile pardons - his popularity rating can’t withstand a Clintonesque flood.
He’ll probably pardon Martha Stewart, the CEO of Enron, the CEO of Worldcom, his ill-advised advisors, and of course, Osama bin Laden of whom Bush DID say was no longer a concern - in a news conference in 2002 - as shown by NBC after the third debate during the fact-finding portion of the broadcast. - Jinx
My fear is that he will follow in his daddy’s footsteps and pardon anyone (convicted or not) who might be able to link him to administration malfeasance (Iran-Contra for Bush 41., take your pick for Bush 43. Pundits and 9/11 pictures can ensure his popularity in posterity, provided he doesn’t facing legal music.
If any member of the House of Saud or other wealthy or high-ranking person from Saudi Arabia ever was brought to trial in the United States for their terrorist-related activities, Bush would pardon them. He might not even wait till the day before leaving office.
Add my vote to the “pardon for Ken(ny Boy) Lay” camp.
There are also rumblings that Bush will settle with the tobacco companies if he is a lame duck or if he is re-elected, so either way, tobacco should get off the hook.
Ken Lay has become a symbol of corporate misdeeds, pardoning him would seriously hurt the repub party and whoever runs for pres in 2008 by tying the repubs even closer in the public mind to corporate greed. Also, do you have to be convicted of a crime before you can be pardoned? I don’t think Ken Lay has been convicted yet, and his trial seems likely to extend past Jan.
I think the most obvious one is that whoever outed Plame will come forward and confess, and then be pardoned.
Also, has anyone been convicted in Texas for the Bill Frist PAC scandel. If Bush leaves, Frist will be the most powerful Repub, as well as someone who has been involved in politics in Bush’s home state. Thus if Bush can pardon this scandal away, I think that he’ll do it
That’s an interesting question. I always thought that you had to actually be charged with something before you could be pardoned. I don’t think a “blanket pardon in advance” is possible. Maybe one of the laywers can enlighten us.
Perhaps I’m mistaken, but my recollection of the Ford pardon of Nixon was that Nixon as of that moment was not indicted. If that is the case, he may pardon the Swifties who perjured themselves on his behalf.