“There are items which should not be on the bidding floor.  There’s lits of money to be made elsewhere, we don’t need to throw the widows and orphans to the wolves!”

Skruff,
Yes you are right, only cowards, crooks, and the criminally insane would derive pleasure from profiting by stealing from the old, poor, sick, and weak—-now that explains the character and mentality of Bush, Cheney and their cohorts.

Cheney says we might not prevail in Iraq because the American public doesn’t have “the stomach” to fight:  “No matter how you carve it--you can call it anything you want--but basically, it is packing it in, going home, persuading and convincing and validating the theory that the Americans don’t have the stomach for this fight.”

What the American public NO LONGER have is a stomach for crooks like Halliburton and Bechtel and all those other corporate creeps that profited from the casualties and death of innocent blood.

Ok, you gotta read the Constitution.  Article II, sect. 2 contains this power of the Presidency:
“he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.”

That means, like it or not, Bush can pardon anyone he wants, just as Clinton did.  There is NO appeal on clause, unless he tries to pardon somebody being impeached.

I’m SURE he’ll grant blanket pardons to every one of the SOBs involved in getting us into this illegal war, and all the rest of his corruption.  There isn’t thing one we can do about that.  Sometimes you’re the dog, sometimes you’re the johnny-pump.

HOWEVER, it does NOT prevent us from charging any of these people as war criminals and turning them over to the International Court.  There, Bush’s pardon power does not exist.

Comment #47605 by malcolmartin on 1/14 at 7:20 pm

“,,,, capitalism has created the only force capable of halting this slide to Armageddon—the working class. There is a race in progress. Working people will become conscious of themselves as a force, identify the ruling class as the enemy and attack them, or capitalism will drag us all into the grave with it.

We swing left and right on whims… There is NOTHING wrong with “working capitalism” the problem comes when greedy folks in high positions are left to mind the proverbial cookie jar.  It is like watching 9-year-olds play Monopoly.  When one gets far ahead of his mates, he becomes “all powerful” loaning money at high intrest, allowing people to land on property with no consequences, and with my brother and I a rules change that allowed players to buy the Bank, Jail, and community chest, and finally take over the Go space and the bank.

If we are to have capitalism, it needs limits.  Do we really want people making money on the sick, the old, and the disabled? 

There are items which should not be on the bidding floor.  There’s lits of money to be made elsewhere, we don’t need to throw the widows and orphans to the wolves!

It would take a team of psychoanalysts to catalogue the many and varied mental pathologies of George W. Bush and his henchmen in the U.S. government. The point to keep in mind is that in this time and in this place the capitalist system needed people in power capable of carrying out insane and grotesquely inhumane policies, up to and including nuclear warfare. Capitalism, like the HAL 9000 computer onboard the spaceship Discovery in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, is out of the control of its makers. The system now has only human sentinels, best represented by the so-called Neo-Conservatives in ruling circles.

So the problem humanity faces is that capitalism in its last throes, rotting internally, irrational and increasingly insane, is now armed with doomsday weapons. It creates a supportive culture and controls the mass media and education across a growing part of the world, places its servants in seats of political and military power, and creates philosophy and myth to glorify its own existence. A bitter truth of capitalism is it’s complete amorality. It is a system. It is without heart or conscience and will not pause before killing every single human being on the planet. In the near term, capitalism will take increasing advantage of war, disaster, disease, terror, and slavery to feed itself. Wholesale destruction and regime change will be visited on the oil producing states like Iraq, Iran and Venezuela and other resource-rich areas. Left unchecked, eventually the United States, China, India and the European Union will fight wars for control of world markets and access to resources.

At the same time capitalism has created the only force capable of halting this slide to Armageddon—the working class. There is a race in progress. Working people will become conscious of themselves as a force, identify the ruling class as the enemy and attack them, or capitalism will drag us all into the grave with it.

Cholo--Que onda?

The topic is pardons not blow jobs. The issues are way more complex than that. GW is vulernable in many areas but pardons is not one of them. It’s also amazing a liberal can talk about pardons with a straight face while embracing Bills wife. I soooo hope she is the dem’s choice…

“Would all of you liberals prefer that Bush sell pardons for money like Clinton did?”

Hondo,
Bush & Cheney profited quite nicely, and sold this country down the “proverbial tubes” to the likes of Halliburton, Bechtel, and every company imaginable--those two shouldn’t be granting pardons--both of them should be indicted for looting the treasury.

Skruff is absolutely correct (Comment #47219). Would all of you liberals prefer that Bush sell pardons for money like Clinton did?

Excuse me Patrick M. but it’s been a while so, please repeat after me:

Blow job
Blow innocent people up

Can you hear me now?

The central government is limited in power and ability and its venue is restricted by the Constitution to the 10 MILES SQUARE district now called “Washington, D.C.” and its enclaves for forts and arsenals.

Lets see should we question why some get pardons and others spend years in jail? Could it be that ALL our rights were given to the ‘United Nations’ unknown by the free persons of this U.S.?

Could the UCC ‘Uniform Commercial Code’ of “Bankruptcy” have anything to do with it? Did our ‘Three Branches of Government sell us out? Hmm! I could be wrong but I think not.

Here is a ‘Question’ people “What does the word ‘BAR’ mean in the title “American Bar Association”? Is there a Secret Oath outside of the average american’s knowledge that our education system fails to teach us?

Whats with the ‘YELLOW’ trim on the U.S. Flags we see on the military uniforms and our county, state, and federal courts? Hmm!

The Republican party should be outlawed as a subversive organization and every leading Republican should be tried and sentenced top death for their many acts of high treason since Nixon sabotaged the 1968 Peace Talks.

In lieu of that, every one of the traitors should be sentenced to Leavenworth for life.  Their accomodations should be comfortable, but they should be kept under constant net surveillance so that Americans can be reminded about just how ordinary the appearance of traitors is.

The criminals can take care of their legacy from behind bars where they are required to talk to any historian or citizen who comes along.

Well now he certainly does not rise to the moral level of Clinton now does he? His pardons are no more remarkable than most presidents. With what is going on in the world such as IRAN getting a nuke let’s focus people… Or just hope it all goes away if we are just nice enough, that really is what the problem is.

Michelle writes “I sure hope what goes around, comes around when Georgie’s daddy pleads for his son to be pardoned…”

Unfortunately, that won’t be necessary.

Unless I’m missing something from reading Article II Sec 2 on pardon power,

“ ...and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.”

there is nothing preventing the sonuvabitch from pardoning himself, unless he’s first impeached, and we all know THAT ain’t gonna happen.

Anyone really think he wouldn’t do that one last self-serving act before dumping his mess on the next Administration?

I guess those who intend to continue to get rich or richer and benefit themselves found it acceptable to re-elect someone proven to be coronated by his party because he was named Bush.  He will leave both parties and the country in a mess when he leaves and someone will still claim he was a great president.  I wonder how small his Presidential Library will be?  I am sure he’ll have plenty of room in it for articles on Big Oil.

the United States Constitution, Article II, Section 2: “The President ... shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.”

Explain to me how Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon in direct contradiction to the Constitution?

Don’t throw down that stupid, “Nixon hadn’t been impeached yet” argument. The clear intent of the Constitution signers was to mean any person who might be going through the process of impeachment, or might be subject to the process of impeachment.

I hate the amoral profession of lawyers. What do you have when you find two lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? You have a good start!

He was a treasonous scoundrel acting in consort with an equally treasonous Congress.

His name, and theirs should go down in infamy.

Boy what a surprise… I never thought I’d find a subject on which GWB and I would agree.

Pardon’s may have started out as a good idea to give some dirt-farmer who stole a mule a second chance, or to let secondaries, such as followers of Jeff Davis, off the hook so they could rejoin the country after a very divisive war.

Lately, they have been used as a political tool (as with Mark Rich above) Oh, yeah, you forgot the Clinton pardon of the FALN terrorists who bombed Fraunces Tavern, and the Mobil Oil building in the 1970’s. At the time of the Clinton pardon Hill-the-shill was planning a run for the New York Senate seat.... she needed Puerto Rican votes.. What is amazing is that fairly knowledgable New Yorkers gave them a pass on this…

No, I believe that the judges and juries worked hard on a just decision… Presidents should not interfere. We need to end the pardon provision.

GW is obviously not a “I can feel your pain” kind of guy....

jon eden

Connecting the Dots: From human behaviors to Ecosystem decline
http://StudentsForTheEarth.org

Don’t be fooled.  You watch..come end of 2008 and up to Jan 19th 2009, the man will pardon all of the republicans that have recently been convicted.  And also those between now and then.  Then he will proceed to live out his damned existance in riches.  Bastard!

Headless

“Conservative” means that “I’m GOD, you have to follow my order, if not you’ll be killed”.

“Conservative” means that “I’m always right, absolutely right”.

“Conservative” means that “When I make a fart, you have to say IT’S GOOD SMELL”.

“Conservative” means that “When I make any mistake you have to cheer fervently and say this was a big success”.

“Conservative” means that “This world belongs to us and GOD and Emperor are buddies buddies”.

“Conservative” means that “Only my wife is gorgeous and nobody can be compared”.

Would you rather he issue pardons pell-mell like his predecessor, in secret and for money or sexual favors?

I wouldn’t worry about a lack of pardons.  Wait till you see the assortment of liars, cheaters, war profiteers, etc. he pardons on his way out the door in 2009.

There is no greater example of the admonition to be speptical of what a person declares themselves to be
as George Bush defining himself as a “compassionate conservative”.  For whom does he feel compassion?  I have watched him feel irritated.  I have watched him feel uncomfortable.  I have watched him feel pleased with himself, but I have never watched him feel compassion.

HMMMM...I sure hope what goes around, comes around when Georgie’s daddy pleads for his son to be pardoned…

Oh, that’s right, that would mean first our legislatures would have to attend to their DUTY to hold NO ONE above the law, or ANY high-crime available to be off the table… like war crimes.. torture.. etc, etc, etc..

And THAT, my friends and fellow citizens, would require a SPINE.

Are you surprised that Mad King George doesn’t see fit to pardon people who make mistakes in their life?  Expect him to pardon all the grafters like Abrahamoff, the Enron guys, and the Halliburton guys just before he leaves office.

Of course, he had his drug and alcohol violation expunged, got away with going AWOL, and refusing a physical, not to mention avoiding actually FIGHITING in a war he “supported”.

This man is cynically sending 21,000 more men and women into harm’s way totally to postpone in the next administration the decision to accept Iraq as a total failure and withdraw.

Heck, he had no qualms about 3,000 Americans killed simply to protect oil barron interests in Iraq--and lying about it.

Notice he NEVER risks his own.  Nobody around him has served or has children serving. He’s never lost anyone dear to him--even Mother and Dad are still alive for him.

It’s SO easy to be brave and strong and resolute when the butts on the line aren’t yours, your family’s or your friends’ or your friends’ families’ butts.  It’s easy to demand sacrife when it’s not coming from you.

Mad King George ALWAYS expects others to suffer what he avoids--and in this case it’s prison.

At least it’s easy for a hypocrite.  It’s tough for an honest person..

Perhaps, there would be more people to pardon, if investigations were now in progress looking at war profiteering and the billions that cannot be accounted for in Iraq, as well as the mismanagement of funds sent to Louisiana, and Mississippi after Katrina.

Today the Senate is having “ethics” hearings, and it’s interesting that Senators and Representatives can only lose their pensions if they commit acts of treason—-but if someone uses taxpayers funds to enhance their own personal interests, isn’t that treasonous.  When no bid contracts are awarded and the government is over-charged, and then are given inferior products, isn’t that treason.  If the military is sold overpriced body armor, and then it does not provide protection for the troops, isn’t that treasonous.

If the House and the Senate would aggressively investigate the corruption that is occurring under this administration—-Bush would be granting a lot more pardons, but then if the House and Senate were doing their job, we would also see Bush’s impeachment.

no honor amongst thieves.

Unfair. I’ve been wondering for a while now at how disgusting the list of pardons will be when this president is finally on his way out of town (i.e. DeLay, Skilling, etc.). Pardoning criminals because they are friends of the president, or well connected enough to get to the president, is an outrage no matter who’s in power. I hope W’s miserly ways will continue but suspect he’ll make up for lost pardoning when it’s his last chance. But to take him to task for not favoring his privileged minions is a bit insincere, especially by a liberal-minded publication.

The only pardon Bu$h is concerned about is the one he’ll want when he’s convicted of war crimes. It can’t happen soon enough.

The things and people Bush doesn’t concern himself with boggles the mind. It is so apparent that he just doesn’t give a rip. Remember Katrina? New Orleans is still a freaking mess. Does he care? No. I just read an article that was one of the most descriptive portrayals of the upfuckery of this white house. I’m including one of the more bizarre moments captured for eternity.

http://welcome-to-pottersville.blogspot.com/2007/01/co ndoleezza-rice-secretary-of-stasis.html

Condoleezza Rice: Secretary of Stasis.

In my mind, the defining moment of Condi’s utter unsuitability was last summer when she could’ve pressured Israel for a cease-fire on southern Lebanon and she studiously refused. So what did she do while Lebanese infants were literally getting their heads blown off and the Israelis cheerfully strafed minivans and Red Cross ambulances full of fleeing civilians? She expressed her sadness at the bloodshed on innocent Lebanese civilians by playing a sad song on the piano in Malaysia, providing the American public with a Phantom of the Opera-esque moment of bizarreness. Shame no one came up behind her and ripped off her mask so the world could see what a complete, clueless boob she is.

‘US reinforcements will go home in coffins’: Sadr aide
Jan 12
A spokesman for radical Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has warned that US President George W. Bush’s new Iraq strategy risks sending thousands of American troops to their deaths.

“The American people have to prevent their sons from coming to Iraq or they may return in coffins,” said Sheikh Abdel Razzaq al-Nadawi, a senior official in Sadr’s movement in the Shiite holy city of Najaf.

On Wednesday, Bush announced a plan to reinforce the 130,000-strong US force in Iraq with 21,500 extra troops to help Iraqi forces take on illegal militias such as Sadr’s feared Mahdi Army.

“The problem of Iraq is the US presence and the increasing this presence will double the problem,” Nadawi told AFP on Friday.

“This is not the first plan announced by Bush. All plans have failed and this plan will not be any better. We do not welcome this strategy and moreover we do not welcome the US soldiers,” he said.

Nadawi accused Bush of taking decisions about Iraq’s security without consulting Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s government, who owes his job to the votes of 32 Sadrist deputies.

Another Sadr movement mouthpiece, Hamdalla al-Rikabi of the group’s office in western Baghdad, accused the United States of wanting to spread chaos in Iraq rather than to contain it.

“Now we know that the occupation forces the supporters of terrorism. They don’t want stability of this country, they want to divide it,” he said.

“Increasing the number of foreign troops is a stab in the heart for the sovereignty of the elected government,” he told AFP. “We support all efforts to stop violence but these efforts should be Iraqi. We reject the interference of any state in Iraq’s affairs.”

Sadr is one of the strongest opponents of the US presence in Iraq and his Mahdi Army has been branded by the Pentagon as the most dangerous faction in Iraq’s bloody sectarian war.

The Iraqi government has given a grudging welcome to Bush’s new strategy, but insists that it must take the lead role in future security operations.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/01/12/070112104812. pj86j9a7.html

I don’t agree with continuing to compare the great idiot to any human political position, like king. By doing so, you continue to give him a semblance of respectability and humanity. Maybe even some degree of intelligence.

We need to expend with the niceties and call him for what he is, an astonishing idiot of unimaginable incompetence. If we do this, maybe the message will eventually filter into the vacuum between his ears and perhaps he will be shamed into some positive constructive action. Sort of like my dog does after he has pissed inside the house. After the scolding he sort of looks at you with guilty eyes and you are certain that he will not do it again.

The relatively few number of pardons may be true, but it seems to me that this is just a “pick on Bush” article.  I feel that its inclusion weakens the genuinely substantive things this site normally has to offer.

not surprising

worst prez ever on every imaginable front

Obviously he’s saving them up for when he really needs them!