I get Kerik, but why Blago...

[Fig]

He’s a Democrat machine POS. Let him rot. They should all be in there with him.

Trump to commute sentence of ex-Gov. Blagojevich, pardon Kerik

President Trump issued a spree of clemency decisions Tuesday for high-profile figures -- most notably commuting the sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat who was convicted for attempting to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat when he was elected president.

www.foxnews.com

 

[clcustom1911]

Comey was in charge of that Blago investigation I believe........

 

[Charger442]

well, Blago was just commuted, he was not pardoned. which means his conviction hangs around his neck the rest of his life.

its tough to really say, but i think 16 years in federal prison is a pretty long stretch for what Blago did. But if it acts as a deterant to others from doing it, maybe it needs to be done.

 

[Anb618]

I’m not happy with Trump today. This state has such a corruption problem, this commutation sends the wrong message. No politician deserves leniency when they break the public trust. Don’t care which side of the aisle they fall on. I thought he was supposed to be cleaning the swamp, not restocking it?

 

[THEIS]

Hi,

Standby for the ol "I scratch your back, you scratch mine" antic.
It is about as old as the worlds first profession.......


Sincerely,
Theis

 

[Alphatreedog]

Hi,

Standby for the ol "I scratch your back, you scratch mine" antic.
It is about as old as the worlds first profession.......


Sincerely,
Theis

Pretty much what I'm thinking . I just hope that whatever he bargained for is of benefit to the Republic . Blag is damaged goods and a political unic now .

 

[Foul Mike]

I wonder if Blaggo is still a Dumbocrat? Been under the bus and now understands that.???

Maybe he votes for high capacity mags? now that he is out?

I don't know that he is actually OUT, anything on that? FM

 

[Rthur]

Hi,

Standby for the ol "I scratch your back, you scratch mine" antic.
It is about as old as the worlds first profession.......


Sincerely,
Theis

Would like it to be like this.
Problem is I already have an ass full of 5d chess nothing burgers...

R

 

[vh20]

I suspect it is in preparation for pardon of Stone, Flynn, etc. In other words, "I'm applying the logic for this evenly across the board, and not in a Party-biased way."

 

[vh20]

I wonder if Blaggo is still a Dumbocrat? Been under the bus and now understands that.???

I don't know, but I heard in his letters to Trump to plead his case he told Trump, "Pelosi would have impeached Abraham Lincoln."

 

[W54/XM-388]

Pretty much what I'm thinking . I just hope that whatever he bargained for is of benefit to the Republic . Blag is damaged goods and a political unic now .

He could probably run again on the Democrat ticket for most positions and stand a good chance of winning.
If you think a small stint in jail is a problem for a politician, just ask Marion Barry

 

[Inifinty]

Comey was in charge of that Blago investigation I believe........

Illinois is a commie power center.

There could be more going on than meets the eye with this.

Hell who am I kidding, it's all a show!

 

[x_789]

Comey was in charge of that Blago investigation I believe........

Thats what I saw on news earlier. The three cronies, Comey, Fitzgerald, and Mueller all had a hand in it and Trump was doing it because of them.

I hope he pardens Stone and anyone else that was pulled in with illicit means by Comey and crew.

 

[W54/XM-388]

I want to see him pardon Martha Stewart just to teach the FBI that if your own witness is convicted of lying on the stand during a trial, you really don't get to win that same trial claiming somebody lied to you.

 

[OldSalty]

Dude is a scumbag, sure.

But people kill and get less time.

Perspectives...

 

[DarnYankeeUSMC]

Bradley Manning got a sex change and a pardon.
Bo Bergdahl (spelling?) Got back pay for a rank he never earned.
Reality Winner got time for leaking. Same thing Comey, McCabe and a few others and they are walking around like their shit don't stink.
Congressmen Mendez got a walk from the courts.
Martha Stewart and a few others have gone to jail for doing the same thing congressmen do every day.
What's that guy's name from ENRON? Isn't he still in jail for the same reason that the CEO's of the big banks got a taxpayer bonus for?

Topsy turvy. If anyone wants/can to explain I think you should be aware of what happened to Epstein.

 

[Anb618]

Dude is a scumbag, sure.

But people kill and get less time.

Perspectives...

Folks here are constantly advocating for harsher sentences for cops than regular citizens when they break the same laws. As LE, I agree with that stance and also think the same should be applied to politicians, teachers, and clergy. If you take a position of power, then abuse that power taking advantage of those you purport to support/help; you should rot in prison for longer than the average man.

 

[OldSalty]

Folks here are constantly advocating for harsher sentences for cops than regular citizens when they break the same laws. As LE, I agree with that stance and also think the same should be applied to politicians, teachers, and clergy. If you take a position of power, then abuse that power taking advantage of those you purport to support/help; you should rot in prison for longer than the average man.

Understood. I can certainly understand that position. I just disagree.

IMO punishment should be equal for the crime across the board. Otherwise we cave to our emotions rather than applying equal justice. And you potentially open a pandoras box of exceptions, favorites and mob rule.

 

[Snuby642]

Looks like a trade to me.
Hope it was worth it

 

[atepointer]

When I looked at average incarceration times for violent offenders, drug traffickers and even vs recidivism rates of time served I scratched my head. Blago served 95 months where the aforementioned serve less than half that on average. I'm not happy about it unless it was done in exchange for pertinent information on a larger target of an ongoing investigation. From the 30k view of Trump's presidency this is certainly not going to sway my vote.

 

[Vodoun daVinci]

Blago was the biggest most virulent and crooked gun grabber Illinois has ever seen. And the guy we are trusting to help US keep our guns turns him loose?

Just looks.....very bad to me. Very bad for US.

VooDoo

 

[DarnYankeeUSMC]

Says the guy who claims to not be a single issue voter.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[longebow]

Brothers:

We should all agree that the swamp's exposure has never been greater than under DJT. We are now witness to what many of us believed was happening "behind the scenes." I too want our Nation to return to the "rule of law" but it has been broken for so long, it is unreasonable for a "correction" to happen at the speed most of us Type A's would like...

I truly believe that DJT was caught by surprise by the breadth and depth of corruption in our government. He also was hampered by not bringing in a trusted team to execute his (OUR) will in D.C. He has made ("beginner's) mistakes, but he learns QUICKLY, and while leading, he is showing the GOP how to fight, lead, and succeed. The GOP-Establishment is falling by the wayside, and his converts have become very effective (Jim Jordan, Mark Meadows, Kevin McCarthy as examples). Keep in mind these elected officials have been "groomed" by the system, and I'm sure that they did not know what to initially make of DJT. BUT, in time, with demonstrated RESULTS and his ability to GAIN momentum from the constant incoming (Mueller, Comey, Impeachment, etc), DJT is beating them at their own game!

I too am scratching my head about the Blago thing, but I am waiting for the "plan" to be made clear in the very near future. DJT is playing four dimensional chess, and quite frankly, I'm enjoying the hell of it!

I'm ready to do my part by re-electing the most effective CIC/POTUS in my lifetime.

longebow

 

[atepointer]

Brothers:

We should all agree that the swamp's exposure has never been greater than under DJT. We are now witness to what many of us believed was happening "behind the scenes." I too want our Nation to return to the "rule of law" but it has been broken for so long, it is unreasonable for a "correction" to happen at the speed most of us Type A's would like...

I truly believe that DJT was caught by surprise by the breadth and depth of corruption in our government. He also was hampered by not bringing in a trusted team to execute his (OUR) will in D.C. He has made ("beginner's) mistakes, but he learns QUICKLY, and while leading, he is showing the GOP how to fight, lead, and succeed. The GOP-Establishment is falling by the wayside, and his converts have become very effective (Jim Jordan, Mark Meadows, Kevin McCarthy as examples). Keep in mind these elected officials have been "groomed" by the system, and I'm sure that they did not know what to initially make of DJT. BUT, in time, with demonstrated RESULTS and his ability to GAIN momentum from the constant incoming (Mueller, Comey, Impeachment, etc), DJT is beating them at their own game!

I too am scratching my head about the Blago thing, but I am waiting for the "plan" to be made clear in the very near future. DJT is playing four dimensional chess, and quite frankly, I'm enjoying the hell of it!

I'm ready to do my part by re-electing the most effective CIC/POTUS in my lifetime.

longebow

You articulated far better than I ever could my sentiments. 100% home run great summation. I think Trump will absolutely clean house of a ton of appointments this go around.

 

[vh20]

I wonder if Blaggo is still a Dumbocrat? Been under the bus and now understands that.??

I don't know that he is actually OUT, anything on that? FM

Well, he is out now, and he answered your question right off the bat. He says he is now "Trumpocrat."

 

[OldSalty]

Since in many cases we have special victim classes, it only makes sense to also have special prosecutorial classes.

We can put people we like(or want to vote for us or appease) in the special victim class and people we dont(political opponents and people who we disagree with) in a special prosecutorial class.

And of course when I say "we", I really mean the mob which is driven by bias.

Or, we could apply blind justice evenly acoss the board.

 

[Fig]

“Blind justice” is the worthy goal, but when I consider the reality and the political prosecutions going on (that only go one way unless it’s Chicago level egregious) and culminating with Obama’s weaponization of every level of government...

 

[deersniper]

I want to see him pardon Martha Stewart just to teach the FBI that if your own witness is convicted of lying on the stand during a trial, you really don't get to win that same trial claiming somebody lied to you.

^why you should never talk to any cops.

They can lie to you. That’s perfect.

You lie to them or answer a question slightly different a month later. Jail form you

 

[W54/XM-388]

^why you should never talk to any cops.

They can lie to you. That’s perfect.

You lie to them or answer a question slightly different a month later. Jail form you

Or in the case of Stone,

THEY go back and edit the transcript of the interview with you to fake what you said, and then charge you with a crime....
And kick in your door on TV with a swat team....

But when they get found out for having forged the paperwork.... oh well.... no foul and of course not like they are doing to tell the judge to toss out the false charges either....

 

[Strykervet]

Proud to be an American, where all the corrupt politicians go free!

 

[buffalowinter]

8 years for soliciting bribes...he could have killed someone and been out sooner. Trump knows him and Trump, like it or not, takes care of friends...actually not a bad character trait. Trump got the favor returned in full with Blago's sound bite that his political party is now "Trumpocrat"...priceless.

 

[Charger442]

i dislike Blago as much as anybody else around here, but Blago has been gutted and is no longer a threat or asset to anyone politically.

I think it was a shrewd political move, especially commuting his sentence instead of pardoning his felony conviction. it was probably something he needed to do to show he is serious about his criminal justice reforms, instead of giving them just lip service.


we'll see what the long game is.

 

[OldSalty]

“Blind justice” is the worthy goal, but when I consider the reality and the political prosecutions going on (that only go one way unless it’s Chicago level egregious) and culminating with Obama’s weaponization of every level of government...
View attachment 7253532

Yeah, I feel the same way TBH. But we must remain dilligent in the equal application of justice.

What you cite is the absense of justice. This can lead to anger, resentment and the call for harsher justice than perhaps the crime warrants.

Problem is, with mob rule this is a very sharp double-edged sword.

 

[Anb618]

Understood. I can certainly understand that position. I just disagree.

IMO punishment should be equal for the crime across the board. Otherwise we cave to our emotions rather than applying equal justice.

I understand that. It’s definitely an emotional response.

Yeah, I feel the same way TBH. But we must remain dilligent in the equal application of justice.

What you cite is the absense of justice. This can lead to anger, resentment and the call for harsher justice than perhaps the crime warrants.

Problem is, with mob rule this is a very sharp double-edged sword.

My issue with your position is, in my opinion, being a crooked politician (or any of the other professions I’ve previously listed) makes the victim list inconceivably large. In the case of politicians it’s not just a few people or one/a few organizations who is the victim. Someone embezzling funds, selling a Senate seat, or whatever else is making EVERY citizen a victim of that crime. All of society has placed this person in a trusted position, and the politician has taken advantage of ALL of those people. This should be an aggravating factor in sentencing. I understand it is not an official aggravating factor by statute, but I don’t consider it to be an injustice to sentence politicians to a longer sentence than the common man based on that circumstance.

Each case (in all criminal trials) is judged on its own merits; past criminal history, victim impact, severity of crime, and etc. This is the way it should be. Why should Blago’s sentencing be forced into a boilerplate “average” sentence, based on the circumstances?

 

[Vodoun daVinci]

I'm of the opinion that crimes against the Constitution and/or against the entire state/our whole society/the Electorate should carry a hefty penalty which was levied against Mr. Blagojevich. To turn him loose letting him call his conviction a miscarriage of justice tells elected criminals that they are a special breed and that their crimes are not serious. It says the little weasel Blago wasn't "all that bad" and if one followed to any of the testimony at his trial they'd realize this guy is a criminal with a capital C.

And we wonder why shit is all fucked up. We let our elected officials trample the law and fuck all the citizens and then commute their sentences sending the message that the filthy rich elected criminals are above the law?

VooDoo

 

[Tchitcherine]

Blago is Back – Trump commutes sentence of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich

Blago brings back so many memories here at Legal Insurrection. Blago was our earliest obsession.

legalinsurrection.com

Jacobson saying the process in Blago’s impeachment was flawed in ways similar to that used against Trump. Article includes links back to opinion pieces he wrote at the time.

 

[OldSalty]

I understand that. It’s definitely an emotional response.


My issue with your position is, in my opinion, being a crooked politician (or any of the other professions I’ve previously listed) makes the victim list inconceivably large. In the case of politicians it’s not just a few people or one/a few organizations who is the victim. Someone embezzling funds, selling a Senate seat, or whatever else is making EVERY citizen a victim of that crime. All of society has placed this person in a trusted position, and the politician has taken advantage of ALL of those people. This should be an aggravating factor in sentencing. I understand it is not an official aggravating factor by statute, but I don’t consider it to be an injustice to sentence politicians to a longer sentence than the common man based on that circumstance.

Each case (in all criminal trials) is judged on its own merits; past criminal history, victim impact, severity of crime, and etc. This is the way it should be. Why should Blago’s sentencing be forced into a boilerplate “average” sentence, based on the circumstances?

I think there is conflation between a sentencing that fits the crime and wanting heftier sentences for those who are unpopular or thought to have abused their position of authority.

A teacher molesting a child versus a family member (which is WAY more common), say an uncle...the crime is the same. Both are trusted and both in a position of power. A mechanic caught overcharging for services rendered or not performing the service to begin with? Trusted position, position of power impacted many people. The list goes on and on. And, who gets to decide the protected classes and the prosecutorial classes? I trust no one for this not even myself.

Just wayyyyy too subjective for me. The crime is a crime. Sentence it as appropriate on a case by case basis. - as you suggested.

We arent too far off from agreement by the way. Its just a matter of a few details

 

[W54/XM-388]

A mechanic caught overcharging for services rendered

So you want to make it a crime if you don't like what someone charges for their services?
What if the mechanic wanted to have you charged with a crime for not wanting to pay enough for their services?

 

[OldSalty]

So you want to make it a crime if you don't like what someone charges for their services?
What if the mechanic wanted to have you charged with a crime for not wanting to pay enough for their services?

It was a rhetorical question and that was my point.

Its a can o' worms best left unopened.

 

[TheGerman]

It was a trade for Stone.

They aren't even trying to hide it as Trump literally said how he 'doesnt even know him' in reference to Blago.

Why pardon someone you don't even know?

 

[atepointer]

Interesting read here and a take on Blago's case I hadn't heard of....don't think we have heard the end of this story just yet.

Blago Is Free | Mises Institute

Blago's real crime wasn't trying to sell a senate seat, if he did in fact try to do that. Rather his crime was that he refused to appoint the man Obama had

mises.org

 

[Vodoun daVinci]

Blagojevich, Daley push gun ban

www.chicagotribune.com

Blago is a fucking criminal gun grabber. And Trump turned him loose. There is a lot more to the Blogojevich story than just the selling of a vacant Senate seat. That was just the final arrogant step of a criminal Governor.

The man is as anti 2A and pro gun confiscation as any politician ever and Trump just sided with him.

VooDoo

 

[Charger442]

Blagojevich, Daley push gun ban

www.chicagotribune.com

Blago is a fucking criminal gun grabber. And Trump turned him loose. There is a lot more to the Blogojevich story than just the selling of a vacant Senate seat. That was just the final arrogant step of a criminal Governor.

The man is as anti 2A and pro gun confiscation as any politician ever and Trump just sided with him.

VooDoo

What did I miss? Is blago still governor? Is he no longer a convicted felon?

 

[OldSalty]

Blagojevich, Daley push gun ban

www.chicagotribune.com

Blago is a fucking criminal gun grabber. And Trump turned him loose. There is a lot more to the Blogojevich story than just the selling of a vacant Senate seat. That was just the final arrogant step of a criminal Governor.

The man is as anti 2A and pro gun confiscation as any politician ever and Trump just sided with him.

VooDoo

 

[atepointer]

Blagojevich, Daley push gun ban

www.chicagotribune.com

Blago is a fucking criminal gun grabber. And Trump turned him loose. There is a lot more to the Blogojevich story than just the selling of a vacant Senate seat. That was just the final arrogant step of a criminal Governor.

The man is as anti 2A and pro gun confiscation as any politician ever and Trump just sided with him.

VooDoo

Ok I don't want to put words in your mouth so perhaps you could expound a bit. The way I read this is somehow you envision Trump now accepts Blago's anti-2A stance going forward b/c he commuted his sentence and 'sided with him'?

What did Trump side with Blago exactly? Blago is still guilty of the crimes and has not been pardoned.