If the RESTORE Act arrives on Bush’s desk without an immunity clause for the telecom companies that enabled his impeachable, illegal (under FISA) and unconstitutional (4th Amendment) warrant-less “wiretapping” program, he will have to veto it not so much because of the telecom’s investment in him but more because if he doesn’t he will expose himself to the same kind of lawsuits and criminal charges that the telecom companies fear.
The telecoms are complaining that without immunity they risk bankruptcy from lawsuits. This argument is stupid. For a start they’d be subject to a class-action suit, (and possibly half a dozen individual suits at best) so they wouldn’t be sunk by lawyer’s fees and court costs. Secondly there’s no way a court would allow the total bankruptcy of any one of the telecom companies—it would be too disruptive.
If he hasn’t already done-so, Bush will likely write-up a pardon for the telecoms. It won’t matter to him that a pardon is supposed to apply only after a guilty verdict and time served. His father “pardoned” Caspar Weinberger for his indictment in Iran-Contra, thus averting a trial and exposure of G.W. Bush’s own important role in the affair, thus allowing Bush to effectively pardon himself--and he got away with it!
(The sub-headings of the NYT article—Bush Diary at Issue and 6 Year Inquiry into Deal of Arms for Hostages Swept Away)
The power to pardon falls under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution:
The telecoms are complaining that without immunity they risk bankruptcy from lawsuits. This argument is stupid. For a start they’d be subject to a class-action suit, (and possibly half a dozen individual suits at best) so they wouldn’t be sunk by lawyer’s fees and court costs. Secondly there’s no way a court would allow the total bankruptcy of any one of the telecom companies—it would be too disruptive.
If he hasn’t already done-so, Bush will likely write-up a pardon for the telecoms. It won’t matter to him that a pardon is supposed to apply only after a guilty verdict and time served. His father “pardoned” Caspar Weinberger for his indictment in Iran-Contra, thus averting a trial and exposure of G.W. Bush’s own important role in the affair, thus allowing Bush to effectively pardon himself--and he got away with it!
(The sub-headings of the NYT article—Bush Diary at Issue and 6 Year Inquiry into Deal of Arms for Hostages Swept Away)
The power to pardon falls 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."
That’s all there is to it. It can be applied to a corporation as to an individual, and no standard of justification is required.
"Should I decide to grant pardons, I will do so in a fair way. I will have the highest of high standards." (George W. Bush, Feb 22nd 2001)
Ri-iight, George!
If history is any guide, George Junior is going to get away with it, just like his old Dad, though just to be sure he’s going to have to pardon is entire administration, and with all those pardons there’ll be just enough room in his presidential Library for “The Pet Goat” and a torture memo.
"Should I decide to grant pardons, I will do so in a fair way. I will have the highest of high standards." (George W. Bush, Feb 22nd 2001)
Ri-iight, George!
If history is any guide, George Junior is going to get away with it, just like his old Dad, though just to be sure he’s going to have to pardon is entire administration, and with all those pardons there’ll be just enough room in his presidential Library for “The Pet Goat” and a torture memo.
22 comments:
Excellent. As to Bush's "high standards" quote:
"Should I decide to grant pardons, I will do so in a fair way. I will have the highest of high standards."
He also once said: "You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on."
And that's exactly what he's doing.
If they let the current abortion of FISA sunset, doesn't that put the old rules back in place, and wouldn't that be the best for all of us?
Yes, George will find a way to weasel out of paying for his high crimes and misdemeanors, but that would mean that he'd have to slink away rather than ride off into the sunset, wouldn't it?
I don't think he can pardon corporations.
Since a corporation cannot serve jail time, no Presidential pardon can be issued.
if the CEOs serve time, however...
carl...
c'mon...you don;t think BUSH can;t pardon a corporation? You think the Supreme Court would find it unconstituional?
In princople I'd say pardons apply to individuals, but look how far we've come lately regards individual and corporate rights and constiutional power.
Brit,
It is scary what the SCOTUS passes in their more drunken moments of deliberation, to be sure.
so, i see you've abandoned your blog.
I see that too!
not_over_it: we could just hijack his blog and he'd never know it!!!
so - where did Mr 5th Estate go?
wow - still nothing. over 5 weeks of silence.
No fair! I had just found his blog again and then *poof*
who knows - maybe he went into hiding? nothing on newshoggers from him either.
*knock**knock**knock*
anyone home???? hello????
*poke poke*
I heard through the grape vine that there was some fun shit going down in here.
there was - a bunch of us are squatting here because the owner seems to have skipped town. the hooka's in the living room and the fridge is full of food. make yourself at home!
Merry Christmakwanzikah, everyone!
:)
no dubs said...
*poke poke*
I heard through the grape vine that there was some fun shit going down in here.
umm - nope - obviously nothing fun going on here.
good bye and good luck
Oh, a brilliant comment leads me to a brilliant blog!
Well... brilliant!
America has been on a downward slide since Ford pardoned Nixon.
The current crew in the White House is all from Nixon's cabinet.
I think this theory has merit - the proof is all around us.
Now back to reading your stuff....
Great.
Of course he doesn't post here anymore....
Sigh.
Guess he went to NewsHoggers exclusively.
where have you gone?
...but more because if he doesn’t he will expose himself to the same kind of lawsuits and criminal charges that the telecom companies fear.
This is what's really behind telecom immunity. It's not the money, they've already spent millions buying off politicians with campaign donations. No, it's about blocking the last avenue of investigating what exactly the Bush administration has been up to.
ps: i like your content; congrats also on your blog name.
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