"Let the eeeeeeeeeagle soar..." Bush pardons man convicted of killing 3 bald eagles

[Amerigo Vespucci]

The immortal John Ashcroft classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woLQI8X2R6Y

WASHINGTON — President George W. Bush has granted pardons to 14 individuals and commuted the prison sentences of two others convicted of misdeeds including drug offenses, tax evasion, wildlife violations and bank embezzlement.

The new round of White House pardons announced Monday are Bush's first since March and come less than two months before he will end his presidency. The crimes committed by those on the list also include offenses involving hazardous waste, food stamps, and the theft of government property.

Bush has been stingy during his time in office about granting clemency, but more grants are expected.

Including these actions, he has granted a total of 171 pardons and eight commutations. That's less than half as many as Presidents Clinton or Reagan issued during their time in office. Both were two-term presidents, like Bush.

On the latest pardon list were:

- Leslie Owen Collier of Charleston, Mo., who pleaded guilty in 1995 to unlawfully killing three bald eagles in southeast Missouri. He improperly used pesticide in hamburger meat to kill coyotes, but ended up killing many other animals, including the bald eagles. Collier, who was convicted for unauthorized use of a pesticide and violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, was sentenced Feb. 2, 1996 in the Eastern District of Missouri.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/24/bush-pardons-14-commutes_n_146162.html

[GDAEx2]

1. I wonder how many of the victims were family pets,

bastard!

[deaniac21]

2. I'm guessing that if the pets were habitating an area with bald

eagles and coyotes they were going to get hammered one way or another.

[hlthe2b]

6. You've just described areas of Colorado, Wyoming and the rest

of the West that I've spent much of my adult life. Most people have dogs and they don't routinely nor inevitably "get hammered" simply because they live in areas that overlap coyotes, eagles, and other wildlife in the habitat. Tiny toy dogs and cats-- yes. They need to stay indoors. But, if my dog (or a child, for that matter) came across outlawed poisoned meat bait, I just might cease to be a pacifist. People that would seek to rid themselves of "nuisance" wildlife in such an indiscriminate way won't stop at such measures... So what if it is illegal-next they will put out similarly outlawed leg hold traps or hey, maybe landmines! Such an ass should never have been pardoned.

[hlthe2b]

3. Exactly...

I won't express what type of future I'd love for him to have but it involves some pretty intense nightmares...:eyes:

[goclark]

5. Thanks for my morning laugh

:fistbump:

[The Stranger]

4. Someone should give this guy a hamburger -- with special sauce.

[goddess40]

7. I bet the freepers will be upset about this one

NOT! They'll make excuses like they always do.

I hate this and wish the Constitution would be amended to eliminate this part of the Presidents role. At least to eliminate the fact that they can pardon those that worked in their administration. The only time a president should be allowed to pardon someone is if there are questions about the fairness of the trial.