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EagleViewDC

(4 posts)

143. Pardon/commutation are unrealistic without informed public outrage far greater than now

Thu Oct 31, 2013, 09:18 PM

Oct 2013

I covered a Heritage Foundation panel last December on the pardon/commutation power. All panelists (who included former Obama White House Counsel Greg Craig) were sympathetic to much more in the way of such clemency actions by presidents and governors, but agreed that it has become almost politically impossible these days. The full details, including legal obstacles, would be on the Heritage site and can also be found on the Justice Integrity Project site (www.justice-integrity.org). I attended with the hope of finding something encouraging for those like Siegelman. It did not seem visible, for reasons explained. What's needed is a bipartisan commission to take such actions outside of party politics. PS sorry for a couple of typos in previous post.

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Why Did Obama Administration Ask Judge To Increase Gov. Siegelman's Prison Sentence? [View all] red dog 1 Oct 2013 OP

Has anyone ever asked DOJ pscot Oct 2013 #1

Last May, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) "Queried Eric Holder About the Siegelman Case" red dog 1 Oct 2013 #4

This thread needs a TOTAL BULLSHIT ALERT at the top. Coyotl Oct 2013 #51

About what is the OP misleading us? Maedhros Oct 2013 #60

Is the claim that this DOJ is responsibe for Siegelman sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #63

potus should of fired all the us attorneys first day questionseverything Oct 2013 #68

Yes, I read early on in the Obama admin. that the Bushies left moles behind in several brush Oct 2013 #154

firing the bushie us attorney would of been fine questionseverything Oct 2013 #156

+1... SidDithers Oct 2013 #72

What part of the claim is untrue? Marr Oct 2013 #82

If you don't know, where have you been on this issue all this time. Coyotl Oct 2013 #99

I don't know, and I have been following this case since it began so sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #147

I don't see an answer there, and Jesus-- talk about projection. Marr Oct 2013 #158

See your own post #51 n/t cui bono Nov 2013 #192

Why are you attacking people just for asking questions? Ken Burch Nov 2013 #218

So then rebut it. n/t cui bono Nov 2013 #191

Rsther than acting like a seagull dixiegrrrrl Nov 2013 #199

WTF? Blue Owl Oct 2013 #2

My reaction too! arthritisR_US Oct 2013 #3

It was clearly and indubitably the right-wing thingy to do, indepat Oct 2013 #5

And, if you check the facts, you will find it was a right-winger doing it. Coyotl Oct 2013 #47

I never bash the President and rarely ever bash anything not right wingy. indepat Oct 2013 #65

why not direct us to those facts? frylock Oct 2013 #73

Who fucking put that RWer in the position to make this decision? It's Obama's choice to have all of Chakab Oct 2013 #127

Sickening that loyalty to a politician would blind someone to sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #145

Still no facts from you. n/t cui bono Nov 2013 #194

THIS IS THE CORRUPTION WE FACE. woo me with science Oct 2013 #6

A sad fact. Doremus Oct 2013 #7

Like a drumbeat... woo me with science Oct 2013 #9

No kidding. jsr Oct 2013 #22

Let me amend to "so called" Democratic complicity lark Oct 2013 #25

That may be the "topic" but it's devoid of fact. George II Oct 2013 #77

So provide a rebuttal. cui bono Nov 2013 #195

It's impossible to provide a rebuttal for something that didn't happen. George II Nov 2013 #200

Are we allowed to say that? I think that we're not supposed to notice. Or otherwise have an excuse. AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #12

+1 This man will spend YEARS of his life in a cage woo me with science Oct 2013 #27

Why? Why was this done? pscot Oct 2013 #118

+1 for the 1st Amendment. Laelth Nov 2013 #178

Even in the face of such corruption Puzzledtraveller Oct 2013 #18

Since you view this as official corruption, do you think impeachment proceedings geek tragedy Oct 2013 #36

I do not "think impeachment proceedings for Holder & Obama are appropriate" red dog 1 Oct 2013 #59

So, you accept everything you read in every Daily Kos diary geek tragedy Oct 2013 #61

he does not need any1s permission to fire us attorneys questionseverything Oct 2013 #70

+1. n/t Laelth Nov 2013 #179

What do you think of the Siegelman Case, considering all sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #71

re: Siegelman, first thing I do is pretend he's a Republican geek tragedy Oct 2013 #74

Guilty of what? sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #80

Making an explicit quid pro quo by trading a $500K donation geek tragedy Oct 2013 #83

Could you link to that, that he 'made an explicit quid pro quo' sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #84

$500K donation to his re-election campaign. That's what the conviction was for, nt geek tragedy Oct 2013 #88

the 500k was to a campaign to encourage the lottery questionseverything Oct 2013 #116

The contribution was to an ISSUES campaign... ljm2002 Oct 2013 #120

+ 1 red dog 1 Nov 2013 #196

I didn't think you knew much about this case. See the responses sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #144

Please provide proof. Buddha_of_Wisdom Oct 2013 #129

That would imply that politics trumps justice. zeemike Oct 2013 #90

the distinction between politics and law is a fuzzy one at best geek tragedy Oct 2013 #92

Well that is the point is it not? zeemike Oct 2013 #93

The constitution was not set up to insure justice, not at all. geek tragedy Oct 2013 #94

Holey shit, it is right there in the first sentence and you missed it. zeemike Oct 2013 #95

Followed by the part where slaves are 3/5 of a human being, right? nt geek tragedy Oct 2013 #96

That was an amendment to the constitution. zeemike Oct 2013 #97

Derp. geek tragedy Oct 2013 #98

Your 'facts' are all over the place today. former9thward Oct 2013 #104

Oh, that's right, there was no right to vote back then. geek tragedy Oct 2013 #107

It was an Obama appointee that defended the heavier sentence. former9thward Oct 2013 #125

what date were oral arguments? nt geek tragedy Oct 2013 #157

Link to her brief below. former9thward Nov 2013 #176

Are you aware that without the Southern states there would be sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #150

And perfect is the enemy of the good. zeemike Oct 2013 #110

I'm saying just because the packaging says justice geek tragedy Oct 2013 #112

The independent judiciary died decades ago. zeemike Oct 2013 #115

Where are you getting this stuff from? Have you read any of the sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #169

What? The prosecution was tainted because he was railroaded. He did rhett o rick Oct 2013 #119

do you no longer support Obama arely staircase Nov 2013 #225

This just spoiled my day. beerandjesus Oct 2013 #8

The editorial (article) isn't correct. Please read the excerpts I posted later in the thread. nt okaawhatever Oct 2013 #16

I Know Better than BillyRibs Oct 2013 #26

Somehow, I think that we need a different Democrat in the White House. AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #10

And there isn't a damn thing you can do about it. Ha ha. nt geek tragedy Oct 2013 #23

These two agree with you, AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #33

No, I voted for Obama twice, so more likely geek tragedy Oct 2013 #35

Sure you did. I believe you. AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #43

You have every reason to. Given your wish that Obama geek tragedy Oct 2013 #48

Your false words are your own. AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #49

You said we need to replace Obama with a different Democrat. geek tragedy Oct 2013 #50

1) I did not say that. 2) There will be an election in 2016. AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #52

What role do you think Obama had in the decision to prosecute Blagojevich? nt geek tragedy Oct 2013 #56

I've never understood why people like you think any of this is funny. Gravitycollapse Nov 2013 #203

people who cry and fret because Obama is president make me laugh. geek tragedy Nov 2013 #204

You know who reminds me of teapartiers? People who are so politically deluded... Gravitycollapse Nov 2013 #207

kind of like people who gloat when US servicepeople get traumatic brain injuries geek tragedy Nov 2013 #208

Even after all this time you still can't figure out what I meant. Gravitycollapse Nov 2013 #210

Oh, I understood exactly what you meant. geek tragedy Nov 2013 #211

Because Obama. cui bono Nov 2013 #209

Certain people have only shut up because of the new 5 hidden posts no posting rule. Gravitycollapse Nov 2013 #212

Yep. And because the rules are too specific and juries get caught up in the details cui bono Nov 2013 #214

Unbelievable leftstreet Oct 2013 #11

Yet Tom Delay walks around smiling and laughing Rex Oct 2013 #13

I call b.s. on that story. I'll reprint what I posted earlier, but Obama didn't ask for anything. okaawhatever Oct 2013 #14

+1 B Calm Oct 2013 #19

I call b.s. on the Obama admin for letting Sigelmann rot in jail. avaistheone1 Oct 2013 #20

I wonder if Siegelman wants a pardon, or wants a new trial. If he's granted a new trial (Obama's okaawhatever Oct 2013 #37

Good comment on the case and the possibility of a new US Attorney sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #149

Took awhile but finally someone made a lot of sense.. busterbrown Oct 2013 #39

Yes we don't have a king. JEdwards8th Oct 2013 #168

Please repost as an OP n/t Flying Squirrel Oct 2013 #46

Why are you introducing sense... SidDithers Oct 2013 #58

What Seigelman continues to endure pisses me off to no end but I really appreciate arthritisR_US Oct 2013 #62

I've been reading a lot today to catch up on what is going on w/Seigelman's case and I've found okaawhatever Oct 2013 #114

Thank you so much! I look forward to your OP :) arthritisR_US Oct 2013 #136

There are a lot of people here who have no understanding of the difference between grantcart Oct 2013 #66

They can fire the Federal Prosecutor zipplewrath Oct 2013 #79

Thanks for providing People's Exhibit #1 grantcart Oct 2013 #109

Uh oh. You're in trouble. You've introduced facts into a year old smear campaign. Tarheel_Dem Oct 2013 #101

Thanks. redqueen Oct 2013 #106

i have a lot of updating to do and will post an op later tonight. There have been some changes and I okaawhatever Oct 2013 #108

No, the article YOU cited is hardly a reliable account of what has transpired since 5/12/09 red dog 1 Oct 2013 #121

Fuck the Alabamanian Republicans. Buddha_of_Wisdom Oct 2013 #130

Um...Buddha of Wisdom? truebluegreen Oct 2013 #170

Just frustrated... Buddha_of_Wisdom Nov 2013 #173

Yeah, I get it. truebluegreen Nov 2013 #183

****THX FOR THE TRUTH***** uponit7771 Nov 2013 #187

I thinks something stinks to high heavens here. avaistheone1 Oct 2013 #15

It's not the Obama administration, this article/editorial is full of crap. Obama didn't ask for okaawhatever Oct 2013 #21

One should read all the posts before coming to any conclusion.. busterbrown Oct 2013 #40

Can you provide some proof of this, along with names of who did it? Coyotl Oct 2013 #17

Pfft. That would get in the way of the Obama bashing! jeff47 Oct 2013 #29

Why? Is there some quid pro quo about which we don't know? Deny and Shred Oct 2013 #24

There is a lot of history to this case.....a lot. Big time gop operatives were behind this from the okaawhatever Oct 2013 #146

this is a real piece of shit article that deliberately misleads cali Oct 2013 #28

Yup and so many suck it up around here...N/t busterbrown Oct 2013 #34

Yes, yes, yes. Thank you for mentioning. nt okaawhatever Oct 2013 #38

You are a breath of fresh air on this link today.... busterbrown Oct 2013 #41

Op-Ed News is a domain that allows anyone to post anything, basically. Coyotl Oct 2013 #44

I agree. it's a particularly bad source. cali Oct 2013 #57

not true heaven05 Oct 2013 #30

Anyone got a mainstream source for this? KY5 Oct 2013 #31

How about Mimi Kennedy's article from the Huffington Post?.. Is it not "Well-sourced"? red dog 1 Oct 2013 #126

No, it isn't. Because it's wrong. jeff47 Oct 2013 #163

You have GOT to be fucking kidding me! MynameisBlarney Oct 2013 #32

This is consistent with the selective prosecution of Gov Blago after he took issue with the B of A. AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #42

LMAO. geek tragedy Oct 2013 #55

What is it? Healthy living? Red Bull? great white snark Oct 2013 #122

The Google and a nose for bullshit. nt geek tragedy Oct 2013 #123

Oh please. Blago was a cheap crook pscot Oct 2013 #152

Huh? Blago was the only crook in Illinois politics? Or the only "cheap" crook in Illinois politics? AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #159

Blago was a grifter, in the best Chicago style pscot Oct 2013 #162

In the "best Chicago style," even well-liked politicians don't tick off the big-money people. AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #165

You need to back up this pile of BS with some facts. Coyotl Oct 2013 #45

OpEdNews.com eh? Capt. Obvious Oct 2013 #53

You won the thread. nt msanthrope Nov 2013 #175

Yes! Capt. Obvious Nov 2013 #180

I hate Libertarians more than Republicans. stonecutter357 Oct 2013 #54

Yep, Repubs have grown up warped and Libertarians just refuse to grow up.. arthritisR_US Oct 2013 #67

The date on the tp link is June 2012. lostincalifornia Oct 2013 #64

isn`t that like over a year ago? madrchsod Oct 2013 #69

My goodness, you are right lostincalifornia Oct 2013 #81

Was there a shortage of Anti-Obama talking points this morning so you dredged this.... George II Oct 2013 #75

Author Andrew Kreig alert to new Alabama injustice and response to thread EagleViewDC Oct 2013 #76

Thanks for joining the thread. I don't think the Siegelman case can ever Autumn Oct 2013 #100

I have a question concerning the June 4th article cited in this thread. grantcart Oct 2013 #111

brad says 20 years questionseverything Oct 2013 #132

From 2009, a few weeks after Holder took office grantcart Oct 2013 #135

i can not speak for the op itself questionseverything Oct 2013 #142

The OP is highly misleading, quiting a recent DailyKos article about an action grantcart Oct 2013 #148

serving 20 years is misleading questionseverything Oct 2013 #151

I didn't respond to the treatment of Seigleman compared to Governor ultra sound grantcart Oct 2013 #153

fair enough questionseverything Oct 2013 #155

Just really unfortunate that he appointed Scrushy after he had faced Medicaid fraud charges grantcart Oct 2013 #160

link on the medicaid fraud charges pls questionseverything Nov 2013 #186

While he was acquitted on criminal charges he paid massive fines to the SEC and had to repay grantcart Nov 2013 #219

looks like all the same players questionseverything Nov 2013 #223

I applaud you for your enthusiastic and highly speculative defense of Scrushy grantcart Nov 2013 #224

posting a link looking at the "other" side is not enthusiastic questionseverything Nov 2013 #226

best documented race theft in country questionseverything Nov 2013 #189

Welcome to DU. zeemike Oct 2013 #113

Thanks for your reply, Andrew. red dog 1 Oct 2013 #131

Just another disappointment from Obama BlueJac Oct 2013 #78

It's worse than that to me. Does the punishment fit this crime??? tblue Oct 2013 #85

Because the machine grinds on, regardless of who holds office n/t me b zola Oct 2013 #86

So we are SOL, huh? tblue Oct 2013 #87

Somethings got to give for us to move out of where we are me b zola Oct 2013 #89

Obama sucks!!!111!1one Dr Hobbitstein Oct 2013 #91

How cool is it that the author of this piece is in your thread. Autumn Oct 2013 #102

Way cool! red dog 1 Oct 2013 #137

The responses in this thread are hilarious. "Fire the prosecutor". Anyone remember the DOJ purge.. Tarheel_Dem Oct 2013 #103

new presidents are expected to fire the last questionseverything Oct 2013 #124

"new presidents are expected to fire the last admins attorneys". LINK????? Tarheel_Dem Oct 2013 #128

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500486_162-2571144-500486.html questionseverything Oct 2013 #134

You said they were "expected" to. Is there a law? Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #184

Since when are politician's choice of actions such as this legislated? cui bono Nov 2013 #201

Per usual, you didn't answer the question. SHOCKED!!!! Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #202

I did answer it, but I guess all you can understand and absorb are simple yes/no cui bono Nov 2013 #205

"Are you ever polite in discussions?" There's no rule saying we have to interact. Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #206

Track you down? Yeah, like that's what I live for. cui bono Nov 2013 #213

"He is a huge disappointment and has moved the country farther to the right" Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #215

I'm not talking about elections, I'm talking about party stances/policies. cui bono Nov 2013 #220

"Put simply, Democrats are largely content with their own party" Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #227

Well when you just put a link to an OP that has a heading that isn't about our topic cui bono Nov 2013 #229

First of all, you can stop putting words in my mouth for a start. Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #230

I'm not. You said you haved moved on from liberals. You stated in a post above you don't think of cui bono Nov 2013 #231

I did not say that I've "moved on". I said, perhaps "the party" has moved.... Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #232

You said "we've moved past you". Exact quote is in my post. cui bono Nov 2013 #233

OOO Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #235

So after all that we end up where we started. You not being able to have a mature discussion. cui bono Nov 2013 #236

Further proof that the acorn doesn't fall far from the Old Elm. Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #237

US Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president. tritsofme Nov 2013 #234

It's been going on since Reagan MannyGoldstein Oct 2013 #138

That can only happen when a new US Attorney can be confirmed jeff47 Oct 2013 #164

incorrect questionseverything Nov 2013 #185

Nope. She resigned. jeff47 Nov 2013 #188

us attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president questionseverything Nov 2013 #190

Nope, they don't. jeff47 Nov 2013 #193

link pls questionseverything Nov 2013 #197

Yes, they do. US Attorneys can be removed at will by the President. eomer Nov 2013 #221

That changed with Obama. We'll see what the next President does. Coyotl Nov 2013 #216

what will happen then is rove will permanently stay questionseverything Nov 2013 #217

So, you edited the OP. Now edit the Obama bashing. Bash those who deserve it. Coyotl Oct 2013 #105

I didn't "edit" the OP...I ADDED to it. red dog 1 Oct 2013 #140

Well... jeff47 Oct 2013 #166

Something is extremely wrong here. What could possibly be the justification for this? nm rhett o rick Oct 2013 #117

This is a story about something that happened in 2009 a few weeks after Holder was grantcart Oct 2013 #161

Why is Gov Siegelman still in prison? Cant the President get him out? This is clearly rhett o rick Oct 2013 #167

The question of a pardon for Siegelman would be a reasonable premise for an OP. grantcart Nov 2013 #171

Maybe the President will pardon Gov Siegelman at the same time he pardons Bush rhett o rick Nov 2013 #181

Why not just pardon him? madville Oct 2013 #133

Pardon/commutation are unrealistic without informed public outrage far greater than now EagleViewDC Oct 2013 #143

Like when Smirko pardoned Scooter Libby for outting Valerie Plame? Octafish Nov 2013 #222

Author Andrew Kreig again EagleViewDC Oct 2013 #139

+ 1000 red dog 1 Oct 2013 #141

Please clarify who requested the sentence increase. It's pretty sloppy journalism msanthrope Nov 2013 #177

The fan club is now defending Karl Rove. Doctor_J Nov 2013 #172

The rank and file at justice are all still Bush people DefenseLawyer Nov 2013 #174

Thanks for this info red dog 1 Nov 2013 #198

Unrec...nt SidDithers Nov 2013 #182

Because a right-wing Bush appointee named Alexander of the NSA puppets the president Jeffersons Ghost Nov 2013 #228