Why haven't we fixed the pardon system - after the Nixion scam

[goddess40]

It should have been done after Ford paid for his presidential appointment with is pardon of Nixon.

What incentive does the law hold against treasonous traitors like those squatting in our White House right now if they know they can pardon their way out of any legal trouble they create for themselves? If we have to rely on honor and ethical values to stop these people we have a government that is ripe for a fascist take-over.

[Demeter]

1. We Need to Fix a Lot of Things

But given the footdragging over the most simple steps, it may take a civil war to get anywhere. That would be expensive, and not certain of good results, either.

[Jim__]

2. If assholes can become president - then the problem isn't with ...

... pardons. Either people aren't qualified to elect presidents; or, we need to fix the system so that only an elected person can become president.

[Zensea]

3. Because it requires a constitutional amendment

and because it is a grey area regarding pardons.
When you are dealing with grey areas in situations it's very hard to get a majority let alone two-thirds of people to agree.

[trotsky]

4. We shoulda called the Repukes on their faux outrage over the Marc Rich pardon.

"We totally agree - Clinton misused the presidential pardon power. How about we amend the constitution so any future president would have some checks on that power?"

I guarantee the Marc Rich "outrage" would have stopped before it began.

[blm]

7. Marc Rich was an IranContra-BCCI player. The outrage for many of us was that he

was being pardoned for Poppy Bush's ongoing crimes and NOT the 'tax evader' charges trumpeted by Clinton WH or the RW corporate press who were protecting Rich's ACTUAL involvement with Poppy Bush.

[Throwing Stones]

5. The power of the pardon is in the Constitution

The Constitution isn't something to "fixed" in a reactionary way. Is the power abused? yes, but if we're going to tinker with the Constitution, I can think of several other pieces that require more immediate attention, such as the Electoral College and recess appointments.

[lojasmo]

6. Should have fixed it after Clinton pardoned Rich too. EOM

[Bake]

8. What exactly do you propose to "fix" the pardon situation?

Eliminate it altogether? Limit it to people who have actually served their time? Limit it to people who belong to a particular political party?

Seriously, what's your proposal? Because changing it requires a Costitutional amendment, and frankly, I don't like the idea of tinkering with the Constitution.

Let's take the Libby case. The Libby prosecution affected the entire nation - it was ongoing news, it uncovered and made public facts that the public needed to know, and it resulted in a conviction that ought to send chills up the back of every administration staffer (of this or future administrations) who is part of any criminal investigation. If Libby is pardoned, those chills will be no less present, because if a future staffer lies and gets caught, there's no guarantee he or she will get the same pardon that Libby is surely going to get.

On top of that, if Bush DOES pardon Libby, that's just one person, but the Bush administration and, by extension, the Repuke party, are going to pay a political price for it.

Bottom line, I don't think the "system" needs fixing at this point. We're talking about PARDONS, not exonerations.

Bake

[Demeter]

9. First, No President Should Be Allowed To Pardon Anyone Who Worked For Him

Either before, during or after his term in office.