Bush commutes sentences of Ramos and Compean

In a move not unexpected, President Bush today commuted the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. Their sentences will now expire on March 20 of this year

Bush has been cautious in his use of pardon powers, and particularly careful when it comes to commutations of prison terms. A pardon is an official forgiveness of a crime (typically requested at least five years after the completion of a prison term); a commutation is a reduction of sentence.

Already though, supporters are fighting one another to take credit for the commutation. The credit though goes to George Bush and nobody else.

Bush acted on principle and used good judgment in granting these commutations without falling victim to the threats, demands and character assassination used by supporters of Ramos and Compean.

But while their supporters are celebrating, some gloating, let’s not forget one thing.

The commutation does not erase the record. Upon release, Ramos and Compean will still be under the direct supervision of the Federal Parole office for three years. Both are still obligated to pay the court ordered fines of $2500.00 each and costs of $600 and $800 respectively.

Like all convicted felons, they have forfeited their right to vote, run for most public offices or possess or be around firearms.

Some though on the other side of the issue are not satisfied with President Bush’s action today.

Nativist Willy Gheen of ALIPAC who is phreaking out over how he is going to continue to extort donations from his flock of faithfuls to pay his $7000 dollar a month salary to spread the hatred, has this posted on his site.

Bush’s decision to commute the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who tried to cover up the shooting (FALSE STATEMENT BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS), was welcomed by both…………………………………

and

that they had already suffered the loss of their jobs, freedom and reputations, a senior administration official said (The Reputations of Ramos and Compean are those of national heroes!).

The action by the president, who believes the border agents received fair trials and that the verdicts were just (FALSE: These men were railroaded!), does not diminish the seriousness of their crimes, the official said.

Sorry Willy, their reputations or those of common felons who lied about their actions. They weren’t railroaded but instead received a fair and just trial.

These agents shot someone whom they knew to be unarmed and running away,” said the prosecutor, United States Attorney Johnny Sutton. “They destroyed evidence, covered up a crime scene and then filed false reports about what happened. It is shocking that there are people who believe it is O.K. for agents to shoot an unarmed suspect who is running away.”

This is why they were prosecuted.

So this is the end of this circus finally. No Pardon, they don’t deserve one. Not two heroes but two felons who benefited from the largesse of and outgoing President.

Perhaps now, in the remaining two months, the US Bureau of Prisons will release these two convicts into the general population. After all, haven’t their supporters all along been whining about them being kept in solitary?

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