Fletcher (KY) declares pardons for aides ...

[jarab]

"Noodling season ends at sundown tomorrow".
Link to follow
...O..

Edit:
http://www.wkyt.com/Global/story.asp?S=3778971

"In a bid to stop the Attorney General's investigation into his administration's merit hiring practices, Governor Ernie Fletcher will announce pardons for those involved in the investigation , according to 27 NEWSFIRST Political Reporter Bill Bryant.

Bryant reports those sources would not confirm if Fletcher is pardoning everyone associated with the hiring investigation or if he will pardon himself.

Fletcher has scheduled a 6 pm speech from the State Capitol Rotunda...."

The 6pm telecast indicated that Fletcher would not pardon himself, although he could have.

[catnhatnh]

1. You are a ....

naughty,naughty, little moderator...link to follow indeed!

[jarab]

2. Hey, I was catching it off the television at the time.

And, I am naughty at times. Link's up!
...O...

[catnhatnh]

6. Bless you,oh Annoited one...

...you command, and hence I shall go...Thanks

[MADem]

3. They need to find a way to bring FEDERAL charges against these bastards

The Guv has no authority to pardon someone for a federal crime...the chimp will have to do that.

[alfredo]

24. Remember Mitch McConnell is Ernie's Mentor. Everything Ernie

knows, he learned from Mitch.

Let's make Ernie Mitch's Albatross next time he's up for reelection.

[Roland99]

4. A bit of history on this situation

WHAS Radio reported earlier today that 3 in DoT have been indicted
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=154x573

Merit system inquiry expands
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=154x619

Fletcher Admin must give Dem Atty-Gen records ...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=154x559

Fletcher denies role in hirings
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=154x549

Personnel investigation leading outside of Transportation
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=154x547

Fletcher aides' offices searched
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=154x546

Office governor created helped with state hires
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=154x545

[Roland99]

5. Rough (very rough) transcript of speech

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2044243

A brief summary of the first part of his speech:


Bloviating about cutting spending instead of raising taxes to lower $1billion deficit into $214 million surplus.

Dismisses illegal hiring practices as "management mistakes"

Says, "The buck stops here" and gets applause.

Justifying the illegal hiring practices saying Dems did it but used phone while they used email and got caught.

"I never knowingly violated any laws"...more applause.

Obviously a stacked crowd.


"My conscience is clear..."

"This appears to be a political investigation"

"Statute...has been described as...being vague and confusing. In fact, it has never been used to indict any employee of Kentucky State government."

Dismissing the indictments as mere misdemeanors

more applause


Comparing indictments to something called "noodling" (catching fish with your bare hands.)


WTF?


"Greg Stumbo is wasting your tax dollars."

Bloviating about healthcare being more important than the investigation and, I think this was what he said, something about Stumbo should investigate fraud in Medicare.

Asking "what's the best way to spend your Kentucky tax dollars?"

"I cannot allow state government to be consumed by political gotcha...it may not be good politics but I believe, after long nights of prayers...to use the power you invested in me"


Here it comes...pardon... I bet

Says he will appear tomorrow before the grand jury but won't speak



pleading the 5th? Hunh? I don't know for sure what he meant.


"2nd, in order to bring closure...to grant amnesty to all persons who might otherwise be charged with violating merit system laws."


"I will not pardon myself"



"I therefore call upon the Attorney General to honor this amnesty...these folks charged by Greg Stumbo are good people...No one will avoid accountability."

[Roland99]

8. Kick for update with synopsis of speech

[rrrevolution]

15. You Cannot Invoke the 5th Amend Privileg Unless You Committed a Crime

and your speech would constitute the giving of evidence against yourself which could be used in a criminal prosecution, or in other words "incriminate" yourself.

An elected public official who invokes his 5th Amendment Right Against Self-Incrimination SHOULD BE IMPEACHED. His taking the 5th is proof that he was involved in the commission of a crime and not worthy of the public trust the position requires.

[alfredo]

25. With David Williams in control of the state Senate, impeachment

will fail.

anyway, I think he is just going to stay silent, not answer anything.

[MaineDem]

7. "In a bid to stop the Attorney General's investigation.."

Isn't that a crime in itself??

[catnhatnh]

9. Oddly enough...

as an outlander, I thought that "Noodling' season" MUST have interesting conotations....later someone said, "Nah, just naked FISH"...

[Roy]

10. DAMN!!!! this 'HUGH'

The MSM tear this guy a new one, they'll be talking about this for 2 months.

Well????? won't they?????

Oh well...... forget it!!

[chaumont58]

13. I think he could be reelected

Regardless of the what the media does, I just don't think his republican supporters give a rat's ass. I'm like the man from Missouri on this: show me.
Repukes have a tolerance for every god damn thing except a Democrat's sex life.

[Judi Lynn]

16. Add "paying their fair share!" n/t

[alfredo]

11. The Dems are jumping for joy. Ernie has just given them a

gift that keeps on giving.


Impeach!!!!!

[alfredo]

12. A word from an insider: One of his aides was going to turn

states evidence. That's why he granted blanket amnesty.

[RobertSeattle]

14. Wow - During a Hurricane to boot

Amazing. Another Top 10 Idiots Candiate.

[Roland99]

17. We get the remnants tomorrow afternoon

30-40mph winds...3-6" of rain...flash flooding...power outages.

[ridgerunner]

18. this could go federal after all

Aug 29, 9:56 PM EDT

Governor pardons all but himself in personnel investigation

By MARK R. CHELLGREN
Associated Press Writer

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Gov. Ernie Fletcher and his supporters say they want his pardons for everyone who has been or might be charged in the investigation of personnel practices in his administration to be the end of the matter.

Instead, it could just open several new fronts on the legal battleground.

Attorney General Greg Stumbo said he intends to question whether Fletcher can grant amnesty to people who have not yet been charged, as he attempted to do in the pardon documents filed Monday.

And Stumbo said the special grand jury has uncovered evidence that federal laws may have been violated in state hiring practices and the FBI has been contacted. In addition, Stumbo said evidence compiled by the grand jury will eventually be turned over to the Personnel Board and the Executive Branch Ethics Commission, which are also investigating the hiring practices of the administration.

more:http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KY_POLITICAL_PERSONNEL_KYOL-?SITE=KYLOU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-08-29-15-28-17

[Roland99]

23. Thought I heard something on WFPL that Stumbo was recusing himself

on this case?

Any word on that?

[craychek]

19. Republican Governor pardons all but himself in personnel investigation

Gov. Ernie Fletcher and his supporters say they want his pardons for everyone who has been or might be charged in the investigation of personnel practices in his administration to be the end of the matter.

Instead, it could just open several new fronts on the legal battleground.

Attorney General Greg Stumbo said he intends to question whether Fletcher can grant amnesty to people who have not yet been charged, as he attempted to do in the pardon documents filed Monday.

And Stumbo said the special grand jury has uncovered evidence that federal laws may have been violated in state hiring practices and the FBI has been contacted. In addition, Stumbo said evidence compiled by the grand jury will eventually be turned over to the Personnel Board and the Executive Branch Ethics Commission, which are also investigating the hiring practices of the administration.

Fletcher repeated his accusation that Stumbo, a Democrat, has used the investigation as a "political tool." He compared most of the charges to minor violations of fishing laws.

Fletcher's pardons grant amnesty to the people already charged as well as anyone else who might come to the attention of the special grand jury for violation of any section of the penal code, not just the personnel laws. The pardon extends to any crimes that may have been committed up to Monday.


More...




http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KY_POLITICAL_PERSONNEL_KYOL-?SITE=KYLOU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-08-29-15-28-17

[Wilms]

20. Well, pardon me. n/t

:)

[anitar1]

21. Monkey see, monkey do, a friend of the Chimpster. n/t

[Tace]

22. Since I Don't Believe In The Death Penalty...

I won't suggest that Fletcher and crew be shot by firing squad, or strung up. Life in prison will be sufficient.

[maddezmom]

26. Kentucky Gov. Issues Staff Pardons

AP) Ernie Fletcher on Monday granted blanket pardons to current and former members of his administration who have been charged in an investigation into alleged improper hiring.

The move came on the eve of Fletcher's appearance before a grand jury investigating his administration's hiring practices.

"I cannot allow state government to continue to be consumed by this game of political 'gotcha,' paralyzing our ability to serve you, the people of Kentucky," Fletcher said at the Capitol Rotunda.

Fletcher said he would appear before the grand jury but would not testify. The grand jury was impaneled in June and has charged nine current and former members of Fletcher's administration with misdemeanor violations of the state's personnel law for allegedly basing hirings on political considerations rather than merit.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/29/national/main802470.shtml

[Judi Lynn]

28. I'd like to know more about this. Stumbo is leaving.

After reading your post, I checked google, and found this:

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

By Elisabeth J. Beardsley
[e-mail]
The Courier-Journal

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Attorney General Greg Stumbo resigned yesterday from Gov. Ernie Fletcher's merit system task force, saying it "cannot deliver meaningful results."

"I have grave concerns about the actions and legitimacy of the task force," Stumbo wrote in a four-page letter to Fletcher before the governor's announcement of pardons yesterday afternoon.

Stumbo said state lawmakers likely would give "little weight" to the panel's eventual recommendations.

Erwin Roberts, Fletcher's personnel secretary and chairman of the task force, fired back that Stumbo was a "disruptive" presence who "can't be trusted."
(snip/...)

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050830/NEWS0104/508300398/1008

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is there any hope that the task force can carry this off honorably now, without Stumbo? It looks like the Governor caught a break, unfortunately.

[salin]

29. Interesting blog post questions the legality of the pardons

via Josh Marshall link to the BluegrassReport.org http://www.bluegrassreport.org/bluegrass_politics/2005/08/legal_problems_.html

[Judi Lynn]

30. Reason for hope again! That's very interesting. Thanks. n/t

[LynneSin]

27. Is this a hint of things to come with the Bush administration

because you know he's going to forgive everyone associated with his administration

:grr:

[Roland99]

31. In a 2:18 session, Gov. Ernie Fletcher pled the 5th.

Fucking piece of shit!


IMPEACH!!!

[alfredo]

32. Local news (abc) framed it as "refused to answer questions."

Will Kentucky become a blue state once again?

Download and paste around your town.