I’m sorry, but to me this reeks of toying with the families of these men, and it does not possess the waft of true sincerity. Methinks this was a very last minute “oh, what the hell,” on the part of President Bush.
Granted, we must take what we can get with regard to the mistreatment of these two men — as contrasted to our treatment of Illegal Invaders to this country. Citizens vs. non-citizens.
However, I should care to define a commuted sentence, and executive clemency:
commutation n. the act of reducing a sentence resulting from a criminal conviction by the executive clemency of the Governor of the State, or President of the United States in the case of federal crimes. This is not the same as a pardon which wipes out the conviction or the actual or potential charge (as when President Gerald R. Ford pardoned ex-President Richard M. Nixon even without charges having been officially made–a rare instance). A pardon implies either that the conviction was wrong, that there has been complete rehabilitation of the party, or that he/she has lived an exemplary life for many years and deserves to have his/her name cleared in old age. Commutation implies the penalty was excessive or there has been rehabilitation, reform, or other circumstances such as good conduct or community service. Commutation is sometimes used when there is evidence that the defendant was not guilty but it would prove embarrassing to admit an outright error by the courts. (See: executive clemency, pardon)
executive clemency n. the power of a President in federal criminal cases, and the Governor in state convictions, to pardon a person convicted of a crime, commute the sentence (shorten it, often to time already served), or reduce it from death to another lesser sentence. There are many reasons for exercising this power, including real doubts about the guilt of the party, apparent excessive sentence, humanitarian concerns such as illness of an aged inmate, to clear the record of someone who has demonstrated rehabilitation or public service, or because the party is a political or personal friend of the Governor.
To me, the singular point is that President Bush believed the USBP agents were in fact guilty and deserving of their punishment. Many persons were rallying for Mr. Bush to become involved in commutation from the very first day of the sentences. Yet, he chose to wait until his very last day in office for commutations.
For a man who has heretofore shown much consideration and even love to the warriors who fight for this country, I think it shameful that he could not find it within his heart to lend more consideration to those who fight on our borders. The border forces, both civil and military, strive to accomplish the same set of goals as those who fight in far-off lands: to keep this country safe. The difference being, Ramos and Compean — oddly enough, both of Mexican stock themselves — were tasked with keeping our nation safe domestically. Does this make the task any less daunting, any less important? I think not.
While I will agree that, overall, Mr. Bush kept this country safe since 9/11, I am sorely conflicted about many of his works during the past two terms. I won’t rehash what many before me have done, some for a week or more. Nor will I stand up and stick a pin in his likeness. I will say, however, that when all the political prairie winds were convergent, when the stars were in alignment and the tides proper, today’s administration failed to take advantage of a power situation — and oh yes, Congress as well, they’ll not be excused! — and take this nation to an entirely higher level.
It hurts me to say and know that, in truth, when I rail against the recent massive and disporportionate and illogical spending of taxpayer dollars in bailouts and such, the GOP certainly can be said to have blazed that trail.
Good luck, America, come tomorrow.
We all shall certainly need it in every form of every blessing.
BZ
I would like to say *thank you* but the best I can muster is, IT’S ABOUT DAMNED TIME!!
He got his buddy *Scooter* out but left Ramos and Compean sitting?? Very good timing by Mr. Bush.
It took him long enough…
The precise point, indeed.
BZ
It is about time that Bush got these 2 heros out of jail. But he did a slap in the face to them by not pardoning them. They did their job and were wrongly convicted to begin with. He should have pardoned them the minute the sentence came out and not just commuted the sentence on the last day. Another poor execution of doing the right thing by Bush.
If you shot a drug smuggler in the butt, where I live, you wouldn’t get a prison sentence. One of your relatives would take you to a Cracker Barrel for a celebratory meal.
The Intellectual Redneck
It should have been done along time ago but better late than never I suppose. Too bad these guys had to suffer.
And it should have been a pardon.
Could Obama still pardon them? completely? I’d heard he was planning to commute to bring us to his side on SOMETHING..as IF.
I’m with you on Mr. Bush, BZ, as much as I like a lot of what he did, I think he didn’t quite pull it off. I also wonder how much of Iraq got in the way: letting the Dems walk all over him with big spending, etc., to get his way on the war, which he felt was more important to all the other stuff rolled into one? I don’t know. Maybe his book will tell us..he’s supposedly going to write one.
I’ll tell you one thing; I hope HE doesn’t read the Books on Tape! (HA!)
I have never been able to figure out WHY Ramos and Compean had to spend so much time in jail. The American people have been clamoring for their release. The Congress has been looking for their pardon also. What in Hell took Bush so long? And why just a commutation of sentence? Those men didn’t deserve this, they deserved a friggin MEDAL!
They defended this Nation against those seeking to weaken its laws.
And were put in prison for it.
That is injustice.
Presidents are supposed to stop that from happening, not put off giving the least recognition until the last moment.
Whatever did happen to ‘law and order’ Republicans after the 70’s? Went to tv, I guess…