Bush commutes one sentence, pardons 19

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: MSNBC

WASHINGTON - Before leaving for the holidays, President Bush commuted one prison sentence and granted 19 pardons, including one to a man who helped the Jewish resistance in the 1940s.

With this latest batch, Bush has granted a total of 191 pardons and nine commutations. That's fewer than half as many as Presidents Clinton or Reagan issued during their two terms.

Included in the latest list is Charles Winters, who died in the 1980s in Florida. Winters helped ship arms and aircraft to Jews trying to found their own state in the Middle East. He was convicted of violating the Neutrality Act and served 18 months in prison.

Two others, Herman Greenspun and Al Schwimmer, also were convicted but did not serve time. They were later granted presidential pardons.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28368672/

[Shardik]

1. Here's a link that includes the charges of the 19

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/12/23/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4684514.shtml

[rasputin1952]

4. Most of them are minor prison terms, and all but one are long

over.

Some are dead, and one from 1949 was missing a ship movement Court Martial offense. With one exception, other than putting out some paper, no one is released from any obligations.

bush is trying to make himself look like he has a heart...no chance of that.

[Donnachaidh]

2. WHY pardon dead people? They have no use for a pardon now.

WTF is UP with this list? What is the point of pardoning dead people? Could this be a payback for a contributor? I'd like to know WHO is connected to this Winters guy, and asked for a pardon.

[chucktaylor]

5. Plenty of people would want their dead relatives names cleared.

[No Elephants]

8. A pardon does not clear your name. They still did what they did and they still were convicted. A

pardon just gets you off the hook for jail time and criminal fines. Not much good to people who are long gone.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. A pardon also recognises that the original conviction or sentence was unjust

President Clinton pardoned Henry Flipper posthumously - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Ossian_Flipper . See http://www.indianalawjournal.org/downloadattachment.php?aId=11851f120d5fd9a1b0ae7178ba9b86b8&articleId=98 for a long legal argument why a posthumous pardon can be appropriate, if it is 'in the public interest', talking about the Flipper case.

[Alcibiades]

3. Bush has to pardon some folks who are regular Americans

Before he can issue mass pardons to members of his administration.

[tom_paine]

7. I think you probably have this right. The Criminal Atrocities are yet to be pardoned.

This is 100% in keeping with Bushigandistic behaviors.

I think you pegged it. We shall soon find out.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Wanna see all the Pardons of the Pres.??

http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/recipients.htm


fun reading.
You can also link back to previous Presidents.

[eppur_se_muova]

9. Scooter Libby NOT on that list ...

list: http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/December/08-crm-1148.html

ETA link

[BrotherBuzz]

10. Is John Walker Lynn on the list?

I thought not. The kid man did nothing beyond being in the wrong place at the wrong time.