I have no problem with bush's commutation of the sentences of Ramos and Compean

[cali]

the two ex-border patrol agents. They shot an unarmed drug smuggler in the butt as he was fleeing. They tried to cover up what they did. It was criminal, and they lost their jobs over it. They've spent two years in prison. That's about right. Their sentences were harsh. I have no objection to this commutation, and politicians from both sides lobbied for it. They're both still convicted felons. Bush didn't pardon them.

[underpants]

1. Information is power. This is the epitome of the RW noise machine and willful MSM compliance

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3697110&mesg_id=3697132

[Raskolnik]

2. Agreed.

They deserved to be convicted, but their sentences were excessive.

[bowens43]

3. their sentences were far to lenient.

THey should be in jail for a very long time. They are criminals.

[Raskolnik]

4. Do you think they should have been in jail for more than a decade?

[Winterblues]

9. Do you think Senator Stevens should go to jail for 35 years?

These men attempted cold blooded murder. Fired fifteen shots at fleeing men, yet some here think their jail time was too harsh and yet scream for Stevens to go to jail for each of his five counts of false statements on his Senate disclosure form..

[Raskolnik]

10. I think one has nothing to do with the other (except for you trying to change the subject)

But, to answer your question, I don't think Stevens should get 35 years. That would be an excessive sentence, even though I believe that public corruption should be punished relatively harshly.

[roguevalley]

15. Stevens should. He sold out our state for personal gain and who

knows how many people he hurt by his actions, how many people's lives were changed for the worse. Using Stevens here is amazing. He deserves
fifty years.

[Rebubula]

5. Please....

....elaborate on why they should be in jail for longer than 10 years?

Criminal is a state sponsored definition. I am a criminal because I smoke marijuana.

Please...other than cover up a shooting (for which no one died) of a drug smuggler in the desert(for which they deserved some punishment to be sure) , what is their crime? Rapists get less time than these two did.

[Oregone]

8. Drug smuggler or girl scout, what do you think they were attempting with 15 shots other than murder?

[ColbertWatcher]

13. Agreed.

But, then again, Joe the "plumber" will need body guards.

[Greyhound]

6. And the spin just keeps on whirling. They were "drug smugglers" that were "shot in the butt",

not people that the agents attempted to kill as they were running away. When you take a 9mm round in the ass, you can tell us all how it is no big deal. I'm sure you won't mind the constant pain and limping for the rest of your life, and the likely onset of chronic arthritis is just a hoot, and wheelchairs are really cool anyway.

After failing to kill them and knowing that their actions were illegal, they compounded their offense by attempting to cover it up.

So the argument is that it is OK for LEOs to convict and execute anyone they decide "has it coming", and if they fail to carry out the execution, they can try to cover it up, and failing that as well, they should get off because it doesn't really matter anyway, incompetence is justification.

Now if the argument goes that our sentencing is too harsh and our prison system a travesty that makes no discernible effort at reintegrating convicted criminals back into society we might agree, but this OP is just more reich-wing BS.

[Oregone]

7. Wasn't it basically attempted murder?

Ive seen people go to jail far longer than 2 years for that.

[cynatnite]

11. Border guards shot an unarmed man as he ran away and they tried to cover it up...

oh, yeah, their sentences were harsh :sarcasm:

[no limit]

12. 15 shots at the back of an unarmed man

you can't be serious if you think that 2 years for attempted murder is fair.

[Vinnie From Indy]

14. Cali does this kind of post regularly

Wants to see the people get angry.

[no limit]

19. Hey, I love cali's posts

but yeah, he/she likes to play devil's advocate from time to time. :P

[Zookeeper]

16. K & R. n/t

[Celebration]

17. heh, can't believe it but I agree with you

Manslaughter is three years. Their sentences were too long. Of course, there are lots of people in jail with sentences that are too long. And plenty with sentences that are too short, as well.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Bush-s-Last-100-Days--Wha-by-Betsy-Ross-090116-740.html

They aren't heroes, but they have suffered enough.

[EFerrari]

18. LOL

[nichomachus]

20. How long has John Hinckley been locked up?