Could * pardon Delay?

[Sugarcoated]

My husband said he'd do that - I'm not so sure. I want to see that cockroach of a human do time.

[jbond56]

1. I don't think so

its not a federal crime. The trail will be in state Court. But Perry could.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

9. Isn't Rick Perry Bush's former Lieutenant Governor?

The Chimp could probably get Rick Perry to jump over a cliff for him.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

10. He'd still have to be tried and convicted first

I want it ON THE RECORD. Out there for the world to see. And then pardon be damned.

[kskiska]

15. Nixon wasn't tried and convicted

and he got pardoned.

[Texas_Kat]

27. Perry could only pardon Delay after he was found guilty

It would finish Delay politically and make all his little cronies run and hide.

[joanne]

2. According to some posts here

only the governor of Texas could do that.

Whether it is him or Chimp..... wouldnt surprise me at all if they pardoned.

Damage is already done though.

[alittlelark]

3. b*sh could indeed pardon him..... but he would carry that cockroach

around his neck forever.

[napi21]

Yes, Shrub can pardon anyone but himself.

I'd like to see him do time too, but I doubt it's going to happen. Think about many past political criminals. Sure some did go to jail, but most didn't. Actually most became talking heads! Look at Ollie North.

[rwheeler31]

YES

not now but if he is convicted.

[napi21]

4. Yes, Shrub can pardon anyone but himself.

I'd like to see him do time too, but I doubt it's going to happen. Think about many past political criminals. Sure some did go to jail, but most didn't. Actually most became talking heads! Look at Ollie North.

[Kenroy]

19. Actually

there's nothing that prevents a President from pardoning himself.

[hvn_nbr_2]

20. I think it's an open question whether he can pardon himself.

I don't think the constitution puts any limits on it. He can even make pre-emptive pardons, as Ford did for Nixon.

Sometimes I think that the only way this gang will come to justice is if the whole administration gets swept away so suddenly that they don't have time to even think about mass pardons. Something like this sequence: 1. About 15 Pug Congressmaggots look at the polls, say "Yikes!" and en mass become independents and make Pelosi Speaker. 2. Cheney's ticker goes tick tock ...tock....______ or maybe he eats a live puppy at halftime on Monday Night Football. 3. Dumbya panics, downs a fifth of Jack Daniels, snorts a three-foot line, and gets carried away in a straightjacket on a stretcher.

[Sugarcoated]

21. That's one WACKY scenario

but I like it

[hvn_nbr_2]

23. Hey, we live in wacky times!

I've actually thought, in sober moments, that something like that is possible. Not likely, but possible.

[liberaltrucker]

5. Nope.

He was indicted on TX state charges. * has no authority. However, the TX guv can.

[Roland99]

6. An interesting article from 2002

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/08/27/politics/main519918.shtml


And, keep in mind that * has only pardoned 58 people so far (Clinton did 396 in his eight years.)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/28/politics/main889049.shtml

[Sandpiper]

7. No, he was indicted on a violation of State law

The President cannot issue pardons for matters of State law.

To do so would violate State sovereignty.

[Sugarcoated]

12. Well, you'd think if the Texas gov did

it would put another nail in the box for repubs: more culture of corruption.

[Child_Of_Isis]

8. Pardon, smardon,

He is still a criminal and everyone knows it. :woohoo:

[lostpuppy]

11. It is just an indictment not a conviction.

Delay isn't convicted yet so a pardon isn't needed..We all know he is guilty but its not a conviction so he is still a free man and a congressman. :(

Pardon won't be in play until he is convicted.

[Sugarcoated]

13. I meant that, actually

[TomInTib]

16. I may be wrong but I don't think a pardon has...

conviction as a prerequisite.

Poppy pardoned a lot of his folks pretrial didn't he?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

17. I believe you are correct - it's called an "anticipatory pardon"

Poppy Bush pardoned Casper Weinberger after his indictment but before any conviction by the court. I don't know if this would be possible under Texas State law, but I think U.S. Presidents can exercise a pardon of any federal or military crime alleged or proven in court. Ford pardoned Nixon before a trial. Jimmy Carter pardoned Vietnam draft dodgers. And Poppy Bush's actions, as you mentioned.

[WhiteTara]

14. I'm hoping that * will be impeached first

and then he can't pardon anyone.

[EstimatedProphet]

18. Of course he will

[Oeditpus Rex]

22. A pardon is like forgiving the dog

for crapping on the carpet. The stain and the odor still hang around awhile.

When Ford pardoned Nixon, did we all go, "Gee, I guess he really wasn't a crook"?

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. Yes.. legally he could

problem is he does that... the I am not a crook, which is starting to stick to george, will get real sitcky

But first Delay needs to be indicted, and I will say it, he is INNOCENT until PROVEN Guilty, lets not jump the legal guns yet

Oh and my hubby, who used not to be this cynical said the same thing, Bush will pardon the Hammer

[charlie]

25. The nays have it

2. Federal convictions only

Under the Constitution, only federal criminal convictions, such as those obtained in the United States District Courts, may be pardoned by the President. In addition, the President's pardon power extends to convictions obtained in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and military court-martial proceedings. However, the President cannot pardon a state criminal offense...

http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/pardon_instructions.htm

[Mabus]

26. There is only one limitation to presidential pardons

The power for the president to pardon is granted under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution.

"The President...shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment."

No pardons for the impeached.

BTW, there is a "Pardon Attorney" that assists/vets/recommends pardons to the president. The guidelines for the Pardon Attorney are in the CFR (Title 28, I think). Here's some information on that office, which you can tell by the link, is part of the DOJ: http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/

The president doesn't have to listen or take advice from the Pardon Atty.