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Coke dealers, Heroin pusher, Crack sellers: the Bush pardons

atlargely.com — On March 24, 2008, President George W. Bush granted pardons to 15 individuals and a commutation of sentence to one individual. I am not sure how Bush (more likely his handlers) selected the following people for the rare Bush pardon, but I find the crimes of those selected most interesting.

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  • DrDragun, on 03/27/2008, -21/+10Good lord. Clinton now Bush. I guess this will permanently be the status quo from now on. No respect for the law.
    • bill679, on 03/27/2008, -4/+29With the exception of James Garfield (1881) and William Harrison (1841), it's been the status quo for some time. Clinton and Bush are hardly the trailblazers.

      Source: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/pardonspres1.htm
      • victorypup, on 04/05/2008, -0/+1You mean that Garfield and Harrison are the only presidents who didn't pardon "Drug dealers"?
    • paperclipsNsoup, on 03/27/2008, -13/+4I hate to say it, but it doesn't surprise me since most of his presidency depended heavily on bad judgment (if thats what you wanna call it)
    • weeeezzll, on 03/27/2008, -5/+8We really need to do away with Presidential pardons. I have yet to see a president use this power in a responsible or reasonable way. Besides our (imperfect as it might be) has a means to correct and over turn the sentences of falsely imprisoned people. It's called the appeal process, and you effectively have unlimited appeals, as long as you have substantial new evidence.
    • thcobbs, on 03/27/2008, -7/+8Isn't he using powers given to him..... BY LAW?
      • lamiaconfitor, on 03/27/2008, -3/+4ummm, yeah. for once. a lot of the other stuff he does he just pretends like he has the powers. but this, he actually can do. not like when he writes laws and whatnot.
      • yakski, on 03/27/2008, -4/+4Absolutely what I want my president to do .... give pardons to coke and heroin dealers, bank fraud millionaires, and scammers.... wow that is exactly the things a president should care about! /sarcasm Political presidential pardons are one of the worst forms of injustice this country perpetuates.
        • thcobbs, on 03/27/2008, -1/+7Do you know any of the back history of the people that were pardoned? Or are you just making an assumption based on your dislike of Bush?
        • yakski, on 03/27/2008, -3/+1I would love to know why any president would ever pardon any drug dealer transporting or selling large quantities of drugs... the fact is that those caught transporting 2 tons of marijuana on a boat in order to sell it in the US should never be pardoned ever. And the large quantities of hard drugs smugglers... you've got to be kidding... these people should never be pardoned by any president. These are big time dealers/sellers, not your local small timers. They undoubtedly had the money to make large contributions to GW to buy their pardons. And the bank fraud people... what can you say .. the Bushes were intimately involved in the S&L scandal. Pardoning cronies in crime is apparently the Bush way.
        • aidave, on 03/27/2008, -2/+2Really? I think Bush should pardon everyone with a marijuana conviction. I might actually like him if he did that.
          • tech42er, on 03/27/2008, -1/+2Absolutely. Actually, I'd rather those unconstitutional laws were just repealed or the juries acquitted in all the cases, but a presidential pardon would be better than nothing.
        • victorypup, on 04/05/2008, -0/+1We know that Bush has ties to drug dealers and the importation of illegal drugs by his refusal to pardon BP agents wrongfully prosecuted by his close friend John Sutton. Johnny Sutton protected a drug dealer while he imported drugs to the USA from Mexico, then prosecuted the Border Patrol Agents for trying to stop him. This is the real George W Bush. This is part of his real legacy. The man has no conscience. The question is, does the Bush crime family profit from the importation of illegal drugs?
    • jdmacor, on 03/27/2008, -0/+2Why isn't anyone mentioning the reason a lot of these pardons happen? Those criminals may have ratted out someone else above them!!
  • itsthebrod, on 03/27/2008, -41/+11In an effort to prevent the first comment of this story being the obligatory "OMG 64 diggs how did this get to the front page?!" I'm declaring this as the first comment:
    ***** Bush.
    • itsthebrod, on 03/27/2008, -12/+3DrDragun, you bastard...
    • paperclipsNsoup, on 03/27/2008, -10/+7You failed being first, but I'll digg you up anyways because I agree with the last two words... Can't say if anyone else will follow suit, but that's how it is on digg
    • stevetrojanman, on 03/27/2008, -12/+6Second comment: ***** you
    • robinohio1, on 03/27/2008, -2/+2Bush is a ***** and with luck, he'll spend a long time in jail with no one pardoning him. But justice is for sale in this country. I am sure some money changed hands to make these pardons happen.
  • Tweekster, on 03/27/2008, -10/+31Did he charge them a million dollars like a certain recent president?
    • bubbadoo989, on 03/27/2008, -1/+4Hey, Klinton's got to make a living, right?
      • foxtrot25m, on 03/27/2008, -5/+1NO DRUG DEALER OF SERIOUS DRUGS LIKE THAT SHOULD BE PARDONED WITHOUT A COMPLETE EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THEY WHOULD HAVE AND A FULL CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE DRUG DEALERS ARE NOT THE ONES SELLING TO CONGRESS
      • victorypup, on 04/05/2008, -0/+1I would suspect that Judas George is profiting big time by the same token.
  • Neoanarchist, on 03/27/2008, -16/+3Ooo maybe he'll pardon me! *oh please oh please oh please*
    That'd be the first good thing he's ever done for me lol.
    • Noctem, on 03/27/2008, -2/+7You're posting on Digg from prison?
      • mcquitty, on 03/27/2008, -2/+6Umm, that's called commuting a sentence. A pardon can also be granted post-conviction and sentence. In fact, many are.
        • Noctem, on 03/27/2008, -3/+4Oh god I'm an idiot. That's what I get for posting when I'm sick as a dog after just waking up.
  • slvrbullet87, on 03/27/2008, -4/+42Look up the list of presidential pardons, this is nothing new. Clinton, old Bush, Regan, Carter... they all pardoned drug dealers
    • ProjectGSX, on 03/27/2008, -6/+9While true that this is not unusual, it also doesnt make it right.
      • mcquitty, on 03/27/2008, -6/+11Correct, but to single out Bush because he is Bush is to be naive.
      • victorypup, on 04/05/2008, -0/+1Bush not only pardons drug dealers, he lets his friends prosecute law enforcment personel, directing their efforts at stopping drug importation. This actually makes Bush a drug runner, his refusal to secure our borders that is.
    • CrazedLeper, on 03/27/2008, -3/+7Drug dealers are more necessary now than ever to support the sagging economy.
    • zantos420, on 03/27/2008, -3/+3they were probably presidential connects lol
    • sigg14, on 03/27/2008, -3/+2better drug offenders than people who committed crimes with actual victims
  • PacketScan, on 03/27/2008, -10/+5If these people were actually working for the government why were they ever in trouble? Why is the person that issued the orders not on this list? that's right he won't need a pardon cause he name was never used.
  • WilliamDavis, on 03/27/2008, -16/+42Drug pardons are an example of these political asses finally doing the right thing. Concentrate on real crimes, please.
    • kcdstudios, on 03/27/2008, -13/+16uh no. Maybe pardons for thousands of minor marijuana "convicts", or wrongly accused like the jena 6.

      Not cocaine dealers. It's a hell of a drug.
      • Wargalas, on 03/27/2008, -4/+10Wrongly accused? Got any proof to back that up? Or are you just going to jump on the Al Sharpton bandwagon?
    • Myonosken, on 03/27/2008, -0/+12Dealers but not the users? *****, these aren't even weed dealers but heroin and crack dealers.
    • lamiaconfitor, on 03/27/2008, -4/+6no, dealers are the bad guys, not the users. people who sell weed can be ignored, but everything else? f those a holes.
      • Disfnord, on 03/27/2008, -3/+2Yeah, those acid dealers are reeeeal evil.
      • TheUnlearn, on 03/27/2008, -2/+5people obviously want to buy the drugs. The dealers aren't holding guns to people's heads, telling them to buy it. It's capitalism at work. if nobody wanted the drugs then the dealers would be out of business. And since the drugs aren't directly harming anyone other than the user it isn't really anyone else's business. I don't see why you have a problem with the dealer when the individuals buying the product chose to do so willing. Tobacco and Alcohol can be just as hazardous to your health as cocaine and heroin but Budweiser and Marlboro execs aren't getting thrown in jail for selling their products.
    • veloscaper, on 03/27/2008, -1/+3these convictions are 20-30 years old and have nothing to do with focusing on real crimes. more like Bush&Co grunts needing pardons to get access and privileges they normally wouldn't be able to get.
    • EmperorAwesome, on 03/27/2008, -1/+1And yet they don't have the balls to change the laws? Bailing out water won't fix the hole in the boat.
  • rmason, on 03/27/2008, -6/+28That's true, Bush has a long way to go before he could equal the number of sleazy pardons that Bill Clinton gave out to the well heeled criminal community.
    • chrisatwork, on 03/27/2008, -1/+2Its ok because the last guy did it! Oh and the guy before him.
    • victorypup, on 04/05/2008, -0/+1Judas George has a few months left to out do sleazy Bill. Give him time.
  • pvcrisp, on 03/27/2008, -11/+7From the article, Not a clue why someone who served a two year sentence 28 years ago needs a pardon now.

    exactly, so why does it matter?
    • chriskzoo, on 03/27/2008, -0/+16Felony comes off your records - easier for getting a job, removes stigma, etc.
    • dood, on 03/27/2008, -1/+10It's probably to get the conviction off his record. What is with lifetime records for drug crimes, anyway?
    • prophet5, on 03/27/2008, -4/+11You can't get a carry permit with a felony conviction on your record.

      Oh wait, now I'll get the anti-gun crowd in a tizzy.
    • airburst, on 03/27/2008, -1/+9Maybe they want to vote?
      • HellifIno, on 03/28/2008, -2/+1They already can. The rights suspended when you become a felon are returned once you've completed your sentence and paid any associated fines.
      • victorypup, on 04/05/2008, -1/+1Nope, you don't even have to be a citizen now to vote. Just go into any DNC office they will sign you up.
    • mcquitty, on 03/27/2008, -0/+5It is not that you can say that you've never had a felony. It does restore your rights, with petition, to own weapons.

      What it allows is a level of being involved in the community that might not otherwise be there. For example, many states have expungement as an option to exclude disclosing convictions for things such as employment. At the Federal level, there's nothing like it. The Presidential Pardon is the closest thing to it. HR662 (The Second Chance Act) is trying to address this issue, but hasn't gotten any traction. Even with a Pardon, you still must disclose the conviction, but you can also say that you've been pardoned.
  • monospaced, on 03/27/2008, -13/+29He's probably pardoning his drug dealers.
    • jp12380, on 03/27/2008, -4/+3Yeah man, those are his peepz. They hooked him up.
  • Persian5Life, on 03/27/2008, -16/+5so much for the rule of law. i guess if you have the right connections you can do anything now.
  • winnestow, on 03/27/2008, -19/+5if you love obama, you love bush. obama and president bush are 10th cousins, linked by Samuel Hinkley of Cape Cod, who died in 1662.
    • monospaced, on 03/27/2008, -4/+10Even if they are linked, which sounds like complete ***** anyways, your rationalization that "if you love obama, you love bush" is absolutely retarded.
    • mooseofshadows, on 03/27/2008, -3/+5What does geneology have to do with a person? The fact that he is distantly related to bush has probably had absolutely no impact on his viewpoints or lifestyle.
      • stevetrojanman, on 03/27/2008, -9/+2Did someone say gynecology?
      • dk911, on 03/27/2008, -3/+1Exactly... what DOES geneology have to do with a person... Oh, *****... wait a second... This TOTALLY shoots our argument that Bush is a Nazi in the foot because he's linked to his great grandfather. Redact... REDACT!!!
    • lamiaconfitor, on 03/27/2008, -2/+5are you posting this everywhere? I am afraid that you are a complete idiot, stop being proud of it.
    • tech42er, on 03/27/2008, -2/+2Everyone's related if you go back far enough, troll.
    • papipablo, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1That must mean Bush has ties with radical Islam.
      • victorypup, on 04/05/2008, -0/+1This we know to be true. Just look at his support for Palestinian terrorist. Well, but he could have picked that up from Jimmy Carter.
  • Delphium226, on 03/27/2008, -11/+4Drug abuse does kind of explain his diminishing mental agility...
    "Bush Ten Years Ago - And Now!"
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvVilAlCBYc
  • joerod, on 03/27/2008, -11/+6only 298 more days
  • SwedishNinja, on 03/27/2008, -11/+24Sure, it's okay to argue for lighter sentences for crack dealers and for the decriminalization of marijuana, but when Bush releases a few drug offenders on these grounds... well he's clearly uh.... a fascist.

    Hypocrites.
    • stevetrojanman, on 03/27/2008, -6/+12Sad and true...

      For all of those liberals that like to call conservatives "sheep", right back atcha, fools.
    • alkajazz, on 03/27/2008, -3/+3I think another pressing question is why he commuted these sentences when they were convicted 20 years ago.
      • mcquitty, on 03/27/2008, -1/+6How about... they were sentenced 20 years ago and have led productive lives since?
      • mcquitty, on 03/27/2008, -1/+4For those that have dugg me down, here's the text from the DOJ page:

        3. Five-year waiting period required

        Under the Department's rules governing petitions for executive clemency, 28 C.F.R. ยงยง 1.1 et seq., a minimum waiting period of five years after completion of sentence is required before anyone convicted of a federal offense becomes eligible to apply for a presidential pardon. The waiting period, which is designed to afford the petitioner a reasonable period of time in which to demonstrate an ability to lead a responsible, productive and law-abiding life, begins on the date of the petitioner's release from confinement. Alternatively, if the conviction resulted in a sentence other than a term of imprisonment, such as probation or a fine, the waiting period begins on the date of sentencing. In addition, the petitioner should have satisfied the penalty imposed, including all probation, parole, or supervised release. Moreover, the waiting period begins upon release from confinement for your most recent c onviction, whether or not this is the offense for which pardon is sought. You may make a written request for a waiver of this requirement. However, waiver of any portion of the waiting period is rarely granted and then only in the most exceptional circumstances. In order to request a waiver, you must complete the pardon application form and submit it with a cover letter explaining why you believe the waiting period should be waived in your case.
      • alkajazz, on 03/27/2008, -1/+1Just curious is all.
    • inthe80s, on 03/27/2008, -4/+5no, he's clearly picking favorites. Punishment for most, pardons for some. It has nothing to do with whether the laws they were convicted of were wrong and right, and everything to do with why he picked these individuals for a pardon.
      • SwedishNinja, on 03/27/2008, -3/+5Oh. Well they're all clearly part of the 9/11 Mossad Zegeist Rosthchild Stealth Jew Dale Earnhart conspiracy.
    • mnocket, on 03/27/2008, -0/+4 They were not released. They were convicted years ago and served their sentences. These pardons simply removed the convictions from their records.
    • bonedead, on 03/27/2008, -2/+2Are you kidding me? Please never compare crack and weed as the same thing. Weed is nothing compared to coke, crack, heroin, meth, etc, etc
      • SwedishNinja, on 03/27/2008, -1/+1True, but you can't deny that the law is biased against people convicted of crack possession than it is for those caught with cocaine.
    • dk911, on 03/27/2008, -2/+1And it's okay to decry the harmless effects of daily marijuana use, or how petty the war on drugs is. But... wait a second... this doesn't jive with the Digg mantra! We're against anything and everything Bush. Even if he WOULD smoke a doobie with us, it's wrong for HIM to do it -- so he must be impeached!
  • Sogui, on 03/27/2008, -5/+45Amazing, a better title for this submission would be:

    "I blindly speculate about the Bush pardons"
  • chriskzoo, on 03/27/2008, -13/+45Digg wonders why drugs are illegal. Bush pardons drug dealers. "Impeach Bush!"

    The hypocrisy astounds me.
    • knetworx, on 03/27/2008, -9/+8Marijuana: harmless
      Cocaine, Heroin, etc: deadly
      See the difference?
      • MofugginPaulrus, on 03/27/2008, -2/+8God forbid you do something to harm yourself! I guess you never touch fast food and get a perfect 8 hours of sleep every night?
      • dk911, on 03/27/2008, -3/+1No... don't see a difference. Both alter the state of mind which renders the user either incapable of the same thought of someone who is NOT using the drug. Show me the evidence.. the EVIDENCE otherwise. That's right -- you can't. Any drug that alters your mind affects you in a way that is harmful to yourself or others. Soooooo... original point? Yeah, um... They are both not good for you.
        • itsthebrod, on 03/27/2008, -1/+2Just because something "alters your mind" so that you think a little differently still doesn't make it harmful. Marijuana is ridiculously safer than alcohol any day of the week.
        • tech42er, on 03/27/2008, -1/+3And they should both be legal! People have a right to hurt themselves if they want. I shouldn't get 4 hours of sleep a night and have fast food for every other meal, but I do. I have that right; the nanny-state has no authority to tell me how to live my life.
    • dafragsta, on 03/27/2008, -4/+4I guess booze-hounds liked Al Capone, by that logic. What ***** morons.
    • quandrum, on 03/27/2008, -2/+2I don't know that anyone is saying "Impeach Bush" for this. His actual crimes sure. But to expect us not to have a little intellectual curiosity when a President that basically never pardons anyone decides to pardon drug dealers who served light sentences 20 years ago is foolish. It's random and out of character, hence making it newsworthy.
      • dk911, on 03/27/2008, -0/+1Dude... don't you get it. Here on Digg people are spending hours upon hours looking for ways to impeach Bush. If they can even find one shred of evidence that might be conceivably something that could possibly used for impeachment -- they'll use it. Sooooo... long story short, you're missing the point.
        • clyde2801, on 03/27/2008, -1/+1Sort of like all of the people who watched Fox news and listened to Rush during the Clinton presidency. Hypocrites, indeed.
    • Adamande, on 03/27/2008, -1/+3Drugs don't become legal if Bush pardons a handful of drug dealers. Yes, it's ridiculous that some drugs should be illegal while others that are just as deadly are legal. Everything should be legal. That you hold this opinion doesn't mean you should throw a party if Bush pardons a criminal drug dealer. He hasn't changed any laws. And even if you support the legalization of all drugs, you are free to think the pardoning is wrong under the current law (it should apply to everyone alike right?) and that Bush is running a protection program for a select few while the rest are left to fight for themselves. It's the same issues people have with Bush on most topics, isn't it?
  • jetboyterp, on 03/27/2008, -3/+18Whoever wrote this even admits at the beginning: That it's all pure speculation. There's no facts here...as usual, only what the Bush-deranged want to see.

    If you truly want to see pardons bought, pardons for druggies, pardons for terrorists....one simply has to look at Bubba's last day in office.
  • eatkitten, on 03/27/2008, -10/+3FTA- "On a side note, two guys selling bird parts were pardoned as well."
    Wow. Well done, sir. Well done. I can imagine how that was decided upon. Bush sitting in the White House, "Hey, how bout we pardon those good ol' boys who sold them bird parts. That'd be hillaryiarous. Oh boy!"
  • noots, on 03/27/2008, -12/+5i get the impression each of the people pardoned must have some information that implicates someone in a high place.

    it would make sense that a drug dealer gets pardoned if they have evidence they sold drugs to someone in the whitehouse etc.
    • airburst, on 03/27/2008, -4/+7Your post should have said "I have no idea how Presidental pardons work but I'm going to talk out of my ass anyway."
    • tech42er, on 03/27/2008, -2/+1"I watch Law and Order and think these Bush pardons must be part of some sort of conspiracy!"
  • StolenLamp, on 03/27/2008, -10/+5Where else is he supposed to get his supply from? People who owe him hook him up with the finest *****.
  • schwallman, on 03/27/2008, -0/+7if anyone needed to be pardoned, this seems like a good reason

    http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/27/earlysho ...
    • wishninja, on 03/28/2008, -2/+1***** damn the drug war assholes to hell! I am so sick of hearing this *****! End the ***** drug war!
  • okeemike, on 03/27/2008, -5/+24Before everyone starts on a "F Bush" rampage, keep in mind that Clinton's pardons were no better:

    This is just a PARTIAL list.... Full list is here: http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a94a2736a14.ht ...
    (and I'm not even bringing up Marc Rich....)

    Haig Ardash Arakelian, California, 1975, possession of marijuana.
    Vincent Anthony Burgio, California, 1972, possession of counterfeit government documents.
    Thomas Earl Burton, Virginia, 1982, attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
    James William Gardner, Wyoming, 1983, conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
    Alejandro Cruz Guedca, Army court-martial, location unavailable, 1949, theft of government property.
    Sebraien Michael Haygood, New York, importing cocaine.
    Warren Curtis Hultgren Jr., Texas, 1982, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
    Sharon Sue Johnson, Arkansas, 1986, bank embezzlement.
    Ronald Ray Kelly, Marine Corps court-martial, location unavailable, 1969, unlawful absences and escape.
    Michael Ray Krukar, Alaska, 1988, distribution of marijuana.
    Michael Francis Larkin, Massachusetts, 1984, making false statements to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    Leslie Jan McCall, Oklahoma, 1988, using telephone in cocaine distribution.
    Bobby Joe Miller, Texas, 1982, failing to report or concealing a felony.
    Billy Wayne Reynolds, Texas, 1981, mail fraud.
    Benito Maldonado Sanchez Jr., Texas, 1960, possession of marijuana.
    Lewis Craig Seymour, Oklahoma, 1979, distribution of PCP.
    Darrin Paul Sobin, California, 1987, conspiracy to produce marijuana.
    John Timothy Thompson, Oklahoma, 1986, using telephone in cocaine distribution.
    Paul Loy Tobin, Alabama, 1968, interstate transport of a stolen car.
    • JimmySpaza, on 03/27/2008, -5/+14How dare you interject actual facts into the liberals' whinefest against Bush!
    • dafragsta, on 03/27/2008, -7/+7Who says that Clinton is right if Bush is wrong. That's what's wrong with the neo-con mentality. You think correlation is causality. Just because people would slam Bush for buddy pardons doesn't mean they wouldn't also slam Clinton.
      • okeemike, on 03/27/2008, -4/+11Actually, that's a good point, and I agree. However, I'm willing to bet that the majority of the argument here is based on just an opportunity to bash W.
        • mnocket, on 03/27/2008, -4/+3Wow! You said "correlation is causality". Very impressive use of a big words! The only problem is, that logical fallacy has nothing to do with the point you are trying to make. Very impressive non the less.
      • victorypup, on 04/05/2008, -0/+1Bush's liberal supporters still havn't realized that George and Bill are joined at the hip. It's kind of like watching Obomers supporters bash Hitlery.
    • Diderotten, on 03/27/2008, -1/+2The four people charged with possession, distribution, and conspiracy to produce marijuana crack me up for some reason.
    • Metman, on 03/27/2008, -0/+1 I think the most notable aspect of the Clinton Administration was they took control over clemency cases from the Attorney Generals Office (which was a presidential first). In addition, there was no schedule or frequency to the pending clemency revues. Ultimately when Clinton left office there were over 3000 pending cases that became the responsibility of the Attorney Generals Office once again and back logged the office for several years. If that wasn't enough, the Clinton Administration did not advise any other sources in many of the clemency cases that were pardoned, which is highly questionable if you consider he was the only president to ever NOT use the judicial branch in advisement. That said, I do not support any presidential pardon by any president that is not issued to correct a conceptual 'wrong'.
  • dentalpirate, on 03/27/2008, -11/+3he an jeb are harboring actual cuban terrorists in Florida cause they're friends of the fam, why wouldn't he pardon a few people for firearms or drugs for the same reason?
  • nastronomical, on 03/27/2008, -10/+12Arent these the idiots that liberals love? Gimmie a break and keep your hypocrisy to yourself.
    • dafragsta, on 03/27/2008, -3/+6Stop having one-way conversations with yourself. No one wants violent drug dealers to go free. Anti-prohibitionists want a removal of prohibition because it makes these guys powerless in a market where their product is now no longer exclusive. Making drugs illegal only gives drug dealers power and money to subvert the law.
    • Delphium226, on 03/27/2008, -4/+7I thought you guys hated these drug pushers, now your king pardons them and you say nothing. Shove YOUR hypocrisy up yer ass.
      • t3rmv3locity, on 03/27/2008, -1/+2I think we lost our train of thought about the pardons. Lets get back to 'WTF happened here?'
  • stevetrojanman, on 03/27/2008, -9/+8Is it too late to be making Ron Paul references?

    Ron Paul '08? anyone? anyone?
  • paperclipsNsoup, on 03/27/2008, -4/+4How do I apply for a get out of jail free card?
  • prophet5, on 03/27/2008, -13/+10Aren't all you Ron Paul sheep for legalizing drugs and pardoning drug users? Make up your stoned little minds!
    • dafragsta, on 03/27/2008, -4/+11Legalizing drugs and pardoning GANGSTERS (not drug users) who use violence and black market leverage to fleece people are two different things. The biggest reason most non-recreational drug people have for legalizing drugs is that ALL of the crime related to bootlegging alcohol went away after prohibition. It doesn't take a crystal ball to assume that all drug related crimes would go away if they were legal. There will always be dealers and users. Adjusting the legality is only adjusting the violence associated with them.
    • jrskblx125, on 03/27/2008, -1/+1what he said!
  • ciaran036, on 03/27/2008, -11/+7I'm currently reading 'The Biggest Secret' by David Icke, which was written in 1998. I didn't know what to think when he started saying that the biggest drug pushers in the country are the likes of Bush and friends. This evidence helps to prove once again that David Icke is right.
    • razzmataz, on 03/27/2008, -0/+3yes, but then you have to remember that Icke also thinks that bush and friends are half lizard... Have you read any of the forums on Icke's site?
    • TinternAbbot, on 03/27/2008, -1/+2david icke is ***** nuts
    • Metman, on 03/27/2008, -1/+1Keep reading, but remember...
      "Baaaaaaaah" means NO.
    • RationalXubrnce, on 03/27/2008, -1/+3 This is why David Icke is such an effective disinformation artist. He tells the whole truth about the nature of the financial world conspiracy and then mixes it with his Alien Lizard ***** thus making it easy to ridicule by association anyone who also believes the true part of the banking/drug dealing conspiracy. He should be punched right in his stupid ***** face.
    • victorypup, on 04/05/2008, -0/+1I havn't read any of Ickes, but if he see's Bush as a drug runner, he has that much right.
  • rhbama13, on 03/27/2008, -14/+8can we please stop being surprised when bush does something stupid.
  • weeeezzll, on 03/27/2008, -3/+10Nothing to see here folks. Move along now...
  • dondada619, on 03/27/2008, -1/+15Don't be so quick to judge these people. I just read this article about one of these guys and he truly deserves a pardon.
    http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080326- ...
    • ondoi, on 03/27/2008, -3/+1while the dude in that article is probabaly full of crap, (pffft, religion, come on) it would still seem there are much better reasons to pardon someone..
  • radiopayola, on 03/27/2008, -12/+7Pardoning the dealers he purchased coke from in his youth to keep 'em quiet, perhaps?
  • chrissku, on 03/27/2008, -7/+3This is not what the founding fathers had in mind when giving the President pardon powers. This is the most abused executive privilege that exists.
    • gr00vy, on 03/27/2008, -0/+3You're right, no civilization has treated average folk with such vivid criminalization before. All of the evil folk that we have seen the last couple of decades would have been simply killed. The rest, would have not been ostracized & isolated for anywhere near the time frames that we put people in prison. No civilization has treated its people this way.

      Pardons historically have not been used as a way to met justice, but as a way to end the punishment. This had to do with the person that committed the crime, and not the crime itself. It has a very long, and very solemn tradition, and those that would question it, ought to spend some time thinking about the "do not judge, lest thee be judged" philosophical lament.
  • LoveYouSomeEric, on 03/27/2008, -10/+5I think that come January we can expect to see a list of pardons featuring names like Cheney, Rumsfeld, Gonzales, Rice, and Rove.
    • phoenixshard, on 03/27/2008, -1/+2Last time I checked, you had to be convicted of a crime to receive a pardon. Last time I checked, none of those people had been convicted of anything. Please use your head for something besides a place to scratch.
      • t3rmv3locity, on 03/27/2008, -1/+4Well we better goddamn start convicting them then, now shouldn't we.
      • LoveYouSomeEric, on 03/27/2008, -1/+2Ford pardoned Nixon. Nixon had never been convicted of anything.
  • petebert, on 03/27/2008, -4/+7arent we all about drugs being legal on digg?
    • CrazyDave303, on 03/27/2008, -2/+2Only the good ones.
    • tech42er, on 03/27/2008, -1/+2Many Diggers believe the government has no right to tell citizens what they may and may not consume. As a result, many believe the government's current criminalization is wrong and are fighting to make possession and sale of cannabis legal.
  • willskillz, on 03/27/2008, -10/+2It's a sad day when you wake up and realize Americans continue to vote for and empower these Monsters over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. But always expect change? Welcome to Retard'ica! Land of the fees and home of the gays.
  • OriginalLucid1, on 03/27/2008, -4/+1BDS is alive and well!
  • Ostizzle, on 03/27/2008, -2/+7But wait a second. I thought most diggers were all for the legalization of illicit substances because, like hey man, it's our own bodies and stuff.

    These guys aren't criminals, they're merely victims of a discriminatory society who were just trying to provide for their families. They had no doubt tried on many occasions to obtain honest jobs like the rest of society but were oppressed and forced into this lifestyle but the uber-rich elite class.
    • Ostizzle, on 03/27/2008, -1/+5Oops, I guess I forgot that Bush was involved.

      It's so hard to keep the contradicting popular positions of the hive-mind straight!
    • dbz253, on 03/27/2008, -1/+3the problem is that he is lambasting drugs and supporting the war on drugs while at the same time, pardoning drug dealers.
    • tech42er, on 03/27/2008, -1/+1I think the problem is in the conflation of violent drug dealers and people who consume substances the government deems harmful and illicit. Look, Prohibition in the 20's was terrible and a wrongheaded move. Most people continued to drink anyway and eventually it was repealed. So we can agree that Prohibition was wrong and alcohol should not be criminalized. Does that also mean we think Capone and his colleagues were doing nothing wrong?

      I don't personally care about the pardons, but it's intellectually dishonest to blur the distinction between violent drug dealers and the legalization of drugs.
  • FearFactory, on 03/27/2008, -2/+4One day we want to legalize drugs, next day we scrutinize Bush for pardoning people who got into trouble with drugs. Come on people he is helping "you all" out.
    • CrazyDave303, on 03/27/2008, -0/+1no, not all of us. Some are pro-drug, and still think this is non-issue with Bush. Some people have pointed out the there is a difference between a simple user and violent gangster. And other have different stands on the issue. Why polarize people opinions Digg?
  • Gregbertt, on 03/27/2008, -0/+0Maybe next he can pardon Hillary...
    http://www.usjf.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Ne ...
  • thedogfatherx, on 03/27/2008, -1/+3Bush is the devil....Bush is evil........*yawn
  • justjoehere, on 03/27/2008, -2/+0What I don't understand is that it seems these guys already served their sentences. Why pardon them now? Also, there is no consistency, Food Stamp Fraud, Drugs, Fight, Lying, Bird Smuggling... It is as if we're all being punk'd with this list.
    • mnocket, on 03/27/2008, -0/+3Perhaps there are some extenuating circumstances. I don't know. Of course not knowing the facts doesn't seem to keep people from expressing strong opinions here.
  • NelsonR, on 03/27/2008, -0/+3Now I despise Bush but lets be fair. Bill Clinton and his brother assisted in more pardons along with many Presidents who abused the privilege while we all know bribes, corruption and cronyism were part of the process. It's call Democracy, well hell that's wrong, all systems of government have these aspects of misbehavior, that's life deal with it.
    • RationalXubrnce, on 03/27/2008, -0/+1 No one saying Bill CLinton wasn't worse, he was. Although many Diggers seem to have some silly notion that Democrats are the good guys, so I can see your point there.
  • PresRob, on 03/27/2008, -1/+1From the dates it looks like people who he or his staff knew when they were younger. Perhaps as usual, it is payback for someone taking the rap for a more important party.
  • Backstab, on 03/27/2008, -0/+1pardon ed norris
  • mixxo, on 03/27/2008, -1/+0I don't see how pardons & legalizing drugs relate - drugs are & were illegal at the time of said arrests/convictions. End of story. If they go ahead and legalize them then the youth of America can look forward to a prison-free future, well, some of them anyway :p
  • atbnet, on 03/27/2008, -0/+3I don't like Bush, but this is really nitpicking. All presidents pardon people, who cares.
  • CrazyDave303, on 03/27/2008, -0/+2Well some one is needing to help the CIA sell all those drugs.


    I'm shocked that I'm the first to say it here.
  • DemsFTW, on 03/27/2008, -0/+4The Bush family is a family of drug dealers. Why the hell do you think they had governors in Texas and Florida? Those are hot spots for drug trafficking.
    • patpl22391, on 03/27/2008, -1/+1Well since you said something negative about Republicans, you obviously aren't required to provide proof...Idiot
      • wynja, on 03/27/2008, -0/+1You don't pay attention to the news at all do you. Yes, there have been allegations of drug trafficking in W's past. Most notably during his disservice as a National Guard Airman. During the years that he never showed up to National Guard service, daddy Bush was running the CIA that has always been accused of using cocaine money to finance wars around the world.
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