Comments on: Obama Pardon Tally: Flightless Fowl 1, Human Beings 0

By: Worried that the Iranians might soon lead the world in throwing its citizens behind bars, thus taking America’s crown, Obama declares: Let their people go! « Throatpunch

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:45:27 +0000

[...] In spite of their busy schedule of upholding the Bush administration’s abysmal civil liberties policies, Obama’s Justice Department has found time to issue clemency to exactly one living person thing: a Thanksgiving turkey. [...]

By: Let’s Have This Debate « The Why and Wherefore

Let’s Have This Debate « The Why and Wherefore — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:43:49 +0000

[...] 2009 December 1 by Matthew Zach noted last week that President Obama has, thus far, pardoned one turkey but no humans. The horrific murders of four police officers in Washington has brought the issue of executive [...]

By: Nando

Nando — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:11:20 +0000

Aaron,

If possession-only cases were an automatic pardon, the thugs that enforce those laws and arrest and prosecute people under them would just tack on additional charges, so as to make sure these people go to jail. You know, because they’re criminals and they’re bad!

Instead of making an automatic pardon, why not just tell his peeps to pass a law decriminalizing (or, better yet, legalizing) the possession, sale, and growth of MJ?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:50:21 +0000

> If the president considered every pardon request from someone arrested 20 or 30 years for smoking a joint it would be his sole job.

Well (a) he had staff, and (b), there should be no need to consider those cases. If he actually cared about justice, possession-only cases would be automatic pardon grants.

By: Z

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:01:06 +0000

“Radley, maybe you should call up Ronald L. Rodgers who holds the office of Pardon Attorney in the DOJ and ask him what he does all day.”

Will do. Just because I like not having my messages returned.

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:49:09 +0000

Obama pardons a turkey.

I call that professional courtesy. ;)

By: Larry Roberts

Larry Roberts — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:52:48 +0000

FDR gave out 3,687 pardons in his 12 years in office. Obama has a long way to go to catch up. He could follow JFK’s example of pardoning people convicted under the Narcotics Act of 1956 and free prisoners of the drug war. Radley, maybe you should call up Ronald L. Rodgers who holds the office of Pardon Attorney in the DOJ and ask him what he does all day.

By: InMD

InMD — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:36:45 +0000

I don’t blame Obama (in particular that is). The reality is that in our current political climate pardoning someone, even if it is the right thing to do, is not going to win you any votes and in some situations could probably cost you votes. That doesn’t make it a good thing but it’s hardly novel.

By: Aresen

Aresen — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:03:55 +0000

Whim | November 25th, 2009 at 5:33 pm

Anyone else except me getting an idea that Obama has a hard time reaching a decision……

I’m getting that impression myself. Not sure if it’s inexperience or simply JimmyCarterism.

By: hamburglar007

hamburglar007 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:43:49 +0000

I honestly don’t have a problem with the lack of pardons at the moment. My personal opinion is that the power should be used to correct a grave injustice, not give out a political handjob. If the president considered every pardon request from someone arrested 20 or 30 years for smoking a joint it would be his sole job.

By: Whim

Whim — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:33:48 +0000

Anyone else except me getting an idea that Obama has a hard time reaching a decision……

Is his Executive inexperience showing?

By: kahr40

kahr40 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:01:46 +0000

Any humans he eventually pardons will most likely be turkeys as well.

By: pegr

pegr — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:37:51 +0000

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that the power of the pardon should not be used in cases where the criminal is merely repentent and reformed? I don’t care that about that in the least! So he/she is a reformed criminal. So what? The power is such that it should not be used casually or for purely political reasons.

By: John Jenkins

John Jenkins — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:52:15 +0000

Pardon me. I meant to post in another thread.

By: Aresen

Aresen — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:45:40 +0000

Turkeys are nasty, stupid birds. They deserve to be whacked and eaten.

By: ?

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:31:10 +0000

Libby had his sentence commuted, not pardoned, no?