Comments on: Does W Do Pardons in Pencil?

By: james

james — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 00:25:05 +0000

I look at it another way.

When Bush found out how little this thug had contributed he was outraged that he got so much for so little money. I mean, no contribution to the Shrub Libary, no new Weber grill for thenew digs that Bush is borrowing from a friend of his, nothing but a measly $40,000.

Screw him. Bush pardons come with a price: Either commit treason and destroy the fabric of our society or fork over some REAL money.

By: Synoia

Synoia — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 22:38:56 +0000

Cheney’s Halliburton stock options were under water (worthless) in Jan 2000. The war in Iraq, not compete contracts for Halliburton, and the general run up in the stock market after 2001 made the gain.

It was reported a couple of years ago that his portfolio was moved overseas before the big decline in the US.

Cheney’s portfolio is supposed to be in a “blind trust” and one could trust Cheney’s integrity and not influence the DoD to give Halliburton no-bid contracts to support the Iraq war.

By: Mauimom

Mauimom — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 22:20:37 +0000

How do you like all the fanciness implemented in your absence? Quite the multi-venue plex, ain’t it?

No one asked me, but since I like dodging snowballs, I’ll respond.

Actually I don’t like some things. The top “toolbar” is entirely too crowded for my taste. Have clicked on Laura Flanders 5 or 6 times and didn’t like a one. La Figa - meh.

I really prefer the simpler, starker “oldies.” Use a post with links to the newer add-ons.

Just my 2 cents.

By: Teddy Partridge

Teddy Partridge — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 21:27:08 +0000

Fred Fielding is the legal genius who’s outfoxed Capitol Hill denizens seeking Rove, Miers, and Bolten’s testimony, of course. Duh.

By: bobh

bobh — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 21:23:48 +0000

I understand the why — like everything else the man touches, the pardon was a complete and total fuckup from start to finish, by all accounts.

According to the Harper’s Index, Bush has spent fully 33% of his time going to or actually on vacation. If he had put in a little more time on the job, actually taken the job seriously, he might have been able to protect the American people from all enemies, as he pledged twice under oath to do.

By: ThingsComeUndone

ThingsComeUndone — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 21:02:36 +0000

Cheney’s portfolio has risen 400%

Link please how does anyone get $400 % in this market the DOJ should investigate. I suspect insider trading.

By: PJEvans

PJEvans — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 20:59:11 +0000

Elsewhere it was pointed out that the information about Toussie’s father and the political donations was findable on the web with about five minutes work. Sounds like there are a lot of people in this maladmininistration who have yet to master the fine art of Googling.

By: SunnyNobility

SunnyNobility — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 20:49:11 +0000

Wondering how long it took Dana to master the passive voice..

By: cinnamonape

cinnamonape — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 20:41:14 +0000

For those interested in what Isaac R. Toussie did to get convicted here is a very good summary.

Toussie’s Housing Scam

In essence he recruited low income victims and offered them over-appraised, low quality housing promising them deceptive mortgages and loans. Most of the victims didn’t qualify for the mortgages, but the infalted housing prices lured the banks to make the loans based on the equity. So he ripped off the lenders and the buyers and kept the mark-up.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 20:36:49 +0000

Although announced I do not know if the pardon was actually delivered. It also was not prospective or affected a current court process or sentence so its being rescinded although unusual had no immediate effects. But I agree that the pardon process wasn’t followed and the result was a prize screw up. Boy, am I surprised.