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Monday, January 19, 2009

Bush Commutes Agents' Sentences


WASHINGTON — President Bush on Monday commuted the sentences of two former border patrol agents who had been sentenced to more than a decade in prison for shooting and seriously wounding a Mexican drug dealer in Texas in 2005.

With a day left in his presidency, Mr. Bush exercised his constitutional power to grant clemency — for the last time, according to a senior White House official — in a case that has touched off fierce debate in the Southwest. The two former agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, had attracted considerable support among advocates of tougher border security, who argued that the agents were just doing their jobs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/washington/20sentence.html?hp

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why did he take so long? He demonstrates a very elitist attitude towards American People. He could have done this a long time ago.

Anonymous said...

I like George Bush but not sure what the deal was with this one.He should have given them a medal.

Anonymous said...

A great decision by Bush! Things like this are going on all over the country. This drug dealer got immunity and the officers trying to defend the country got the shaft. The deal should have been, if you testify, we'll let you live! If not, we'll sentence you to death for the lives you have ruined with your drug dealing. Instead, our laws made a drug dealer a hero! When are we going to wake up!

BossHogg said...

An outgoing President usually pardons a list of people on his last day in office.

The families have petitioned hard for this and as former Governor of Texas he should be commended for taking this action.

The press will crucify him for ANY pardons, yet Bill Clinton pardoned over 30-people on his last day in office.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad for the two families. Way to go....even if it had to take this long.

Anonymous said...

Clinton pardoned mostly his wifes white collar criminal buddies.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Why did he take so long? He demonstrates a very elitist attitude towards American People. He could have done this a long time ago.

3:50 PM

Must be an obama lover. I bet that obama wouldn't commute these hero's sentences.

BossHogg said...

Clinton pardoned mostly his wifes white collar criminal buddies.

President Clinto also pardoned his brother for an old Coke bust...

Which I thought was pretty cool, because he took care of his family.

Anonymous said...

Anon 3:50 Agreed, he's only about 24 plus months late. Maybe he can get his GED now that he has some extra time.

Anonymous said...

Now pardon Scooter Libby... He deserves more than a sentence commutation...

Anonymous said...

SayWhat? said...
Anon 3:50 Agreed, he's only about 24 plus months late. Maybe he can get his GED now that he has some extra time.

6:01 PM

Can you please explain?

Anonymous said...

5:44
I am not an Obama lover. I think he is going to be terrible for our Country.

I simply think it is obvious that these two guards were treated unfairly. They were told to protect the border. A drug dealer was given immunity to testify AGAINST them?????? Wow

Do you really have to be in love with a particular candidate to see injustice like this one?

Do you really have to assume I have a political slant?

So I repeat: What took him so long? Did he not understand the injustice of this prosecution?

Anonymous said...

I beleive if it werent for the democrats these two guys would of never been arrested in the first place. Just as the iraq war would not have lasted as long as it has. Or Veitnam as far as that goes. Bleeding heart liberals with their dont harm those just because they hurt us attitudes.

We need to qwash these socialist government expanding tax raising money hungry grubben idiots. They have been living in a fairey book land . And someone needs to just shake em all till they either wake up or go to sleep , it doesnt matter which. Get them out of LA LA land , thats all.

Anonymous said...

Anon 7:33 While I'm glad of the pardon I think these officers stayed behind bars much too long. They could have been set free a long time ago. The GED remark has more to do with my view of Bushs aptitude. I really don't think the man is very sharp. Some people in my circle would consider that remark humoress.Its just my opinion.

joe albero said...

"I really don't think the man is very sharp."

Now what gave you that impression? ROTFLMAO!

Anonymous said...

Thought you might like that one Joe!

Anonymous said...

I like the pic of him standing back, drinkin; a beer. It's tine for him to do that.

Chimera said...

Might be one of the few good things he has done in the past 8 years!These guys should have never been locked up in the first place-they were doing their job!You can be sure the new liberal Prez would not pardon them.They would have us throw open the border.

Anonymous said...

A pardon and a commuted sentence are two different things.
A commuted sentence cuts the "time" short. A pardon wipes the slate clean.

tedh said...

If you read the article they didn't get pardoned they got commuted. It is a big difference. This is still going to be on their criminal record and they still will be fined and monitored.

Anonymous said...

you mean like ford pardoned i'm not a crook nixon?