Presidential pardons

[OldJourno]

I see Blagoyevich has requested a get out of prison free card from President Obama.

I'd just as soon Blago, served his full term, but I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who deserve to be pardoned or have sentences commuted.
Who would you want the president to release before he leaves office.
If such a person or persons exists, I would favor the release of all convicted of simple possession of marijuana.

 

[OldJourno]

Should have said: I don't believe Obama will surprise us or repulse us with a questionable pardon.
One of Bill Clinton's final acts was pardoning Mark Rich, a move so absolutely sleazy it even seemed to repulse Dan Rather.

 

[Conager]

I see Blagoyevich has requested a get out of prison free card from President Obama.

I'd just as soon Blago, served his full term, but I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who deserve to be pardoned or have sentences commuted.
Who would you want the president to release before he leaves office.
If such a person or persons exists, I would favor the release of all convicted of simple possession of marijuana.

40,000 mj prisoners. About 20,000 were in for only mj offense. 1/2 were also concurrently serving on other charges. Of the 20,000, many are distribution (maybe valid) or "intent" (which I find specious) charges.

Actual simple possession charges though are less than a percent. Reported at .7%

 

[OldJourno]

40,000 mj prisoners. About 20,000 were in for only mj offense. 1/2 were also concurrently serving on other charges. Of the 20,000, many are distribution (maybe valid) or "intent" (which I find specious) charges.

Actual simple possession charges though are less than a percent. Reported at .7%

Yeah, let the .7% out.

 

[Conager]

Yeah, let the .7% out.

I think a bigger deal though would be decriminalizing it. It's just one more thing for people to be hassled about, pay a fine, enrich soneone's nephew in a bullshit diversion program.

I'm starting to be anti-DUI laws. .10 seemed arbitrary, but easy to understand and administer. .08 was to enhance revenue. Now the standard is any substance and the cops say-so that you were impaired is a $10,000 nightmare.

I basically am a teetotaler, but think it is about revenue, not safety.

 

[OldJourno]

And don't get me started on checkpoints ...

 

[Ms_Ann]

Obama and Blago have history. It won't happen. If Blago had anything incriminating he would have been shivved by now.

 

[Conager]

And don't get me started on checkpoints ...

Papers, please. . .

Had this whole thing one time, when I basically found myself in what it was more or less a stop-and-not-actually-frisk situation ended up involving about four cop cars a helicopter and me standing there calmly explaining to them that I am very much aware of my civil liberties and I don't have any intention of relinquishing any of them.

 

[Disgustipated]

40,000 mj prisoners. About 20,000 were in for only mj offense. 1/2 were also concurrently serving on other charges. Of the 20,000, many are distribution (maybe valid) or "intent" (which I find specious) charges.

Actual simple possession charges though are less than a percent. Reported at .7%

http://media.istockphoto.com/photos/old-metal-numbers-picture-id483302642?k=6&m=483302642&s=170667a&w=0&h=-J_B0E4v5OTyU6Y-U9uCh0Axxqz6OSh5QALBtHyaKes=

 

[Conager]

http://media.istockphoto.com/photos/old-metal-numbers-picture-id483302642?k=6&m=483302642&s=170667a&w=0&h=-J_B0E4v5OTyU6Y-U9uCh0Axxqz6OSh5QALBtHyaKes=

Did you need some help getting them back in their proper order?

 

[Disgustipated]

Did you need some help getting them back in their proper order?

Not any more than you do with your jumbled number pist.

 

[Ms_Ann]

These exchanges are getting better than Netflix.

 

[Conager]

Given the free and easy use of prosecutorial discretion by this particular Administration and the president's admitted past, and probable present, use of marijuana it does seem like at a minimum there should not be any federal prisoners already.

I don't think Obama could have gotten a change to the drug schedule laws through the Republican Congress so I don't really fault him for not working with the decriminalization side but just from a dollars and cents perspective it just makes sense to not spend the money chasing it.

When you have states where it is 100% legal at the state level there's no way the federal government has a constitutional charter to make it illegal in that state. The only reason they can is because of prohibition which was repealed.

I suspect the reason that the feds won't knuckle under on this obvious issue is they do not want the camel's nose of State's supremacy back under the tent.

At this point the average American citizen assumes that anything that the federal government passes into law is the law of the land. Most people assume that the federal 55 mile an hour speed limit was somehow valid without the States' acquiescence to stave off the threat of withholding Federal Highway funds.

 

[Disgustipated]

A black pothead became President. You poor conflicted bastards don't know how or what to be mad at anymore.


Lawlz.

 

[Conager]

A black pothead became President. You poor conflicted bastards don't know how or what to be mad at anymore.


Lawlz.

You obviously are feeling neglected. Ok, I'll bite.

Who's mad about what?

What does his race have to do with what is being discussed?

Feel free to elaborate on your thesis.

 

[phrodeau]

I think a bigger deal though would be decriminalizing it. It's just one more thing for people to be hassled about, pay a fine, enrich soneone's nephew in a bullshit diversion program.

I'm starting to be anti-DUI laws. .10 seemed arbitrary, but easy to understand and administer. .08 was to enhance revenue. Now the standard is any substance and the cops say-so that you were impaired is a $10,000 nightmare.

I basically am a teetotaler, but think it is about revenue, not safety.

No, no and damn no. Alcohol directly causes impairment and leads to reduced judgment and reaction time. Nobody with alcohol in their system should be driving such a deadly missile as a car. They should not be allowed to have a gun, either.

 

[Ms_Ann]

No, no and damn no. Alcohol directly causes impairment and leads to reduced judgment and reaction time. Nobody with alcohol in their system should be driving such a deadly missile as a car. They should not be allowed to have a gun, either.

Or own a penis.

 

[Liar]

Hey, Bob McDonnell didn't get prison time. That makes a lot of corrupt polis behind bars rightfully hopeful.

 

[about_average]

He should pardon everyone who's in prison for drug offenses, provided they haven't also committed other crimes against people or property or selling/giving drugs to minors.

 

[Sean]

Snowden.

 

[Conager]

Snowden.

That would send a great message to whistle blowers. Agree.

 

[renard_ruse]

He should pardon everyone who's in prison for drug offenses, provided they haven't also committed other crimes against people or property or selling/giving drugs to minors.

Note, you say "drug offenses" NOT mere possession of small quantitites. So, in other words drug DEALERS is what we are primarily talking about. The truth is there are almost no cases of mere casual drug users who have committed no other crimes and don't deal the substances who go to prison. Its a BIG LIE.

That is the kind of lies and double talk the pro-drug abuse crowd have engaged in for the past 20 years.

 

[srgreene]

I wonder what Ladbrokes would call the odds on a pardon for Maj Hassan. Probably not that high, but I would bet that Obama has some sympathy for the "poor cripple".

Blago, I suspect, is much more likely.

 

[Ms_Ann]

I wonder what Ladbrokes would call the odds on a pardon for Maj Hassan. Probably not that high, but I would bet that Obama has some sympathy for the "poor cripple".

Blago, I suspect, is much more likely.

Snowball's chance in hell.

 

[ifrtbttrflys]

Anyone take notice of all the weapons convictions also covered by the President's blanket pardons/commutations?