Give Huckabee his time to defend himself. I don’t think he did anything untoward. He sincerely felt the man was reformed. I think many Governors have done the same thing.
That being said, if you are explaining in politics then you are losing. It ain’t a desirable position to be in.
Let’s see the frontrunner have huge baggage.
Sarah Palin — Twitter Quitter.
Romney — Romneycare when healthcare is the hottest issue.
Huckabee — Clemencies.
They all got equally difficult baggage to overcome.
Indeed. EVERY politician, once we scratch the surface, has baggage. I’m sure I’ll be doing some damage control for Pawlenty at some point on this site, if he ever gains traction.
I remember folks saying the NRA joke would ruin Huckabee. They underestimate him, don’t understand his appeal, and think they’ve buried him about twenty times.
O’REILLY: Well, it’s not your fault, Governor. I mean, look, you’ve got 1,200 of these cases a year. You gotta look at them. I’m not saying it’s your fault. I don’t think anyone watching thinks it’s your fault.
But the judges in Washington state, come on. I mean, this guy moves from your state — Arkansas — to Washington state and then he racks up 8 felony charges. Eight felonies!
HUCKABEE: Well, Bill, first of all — the tragedy of this — if I could have known 9 years ago this guy was capable of something of this magnitude, obviously I would have never granted the commutation.
It’s sickening. The two people I value most in this country are soldiers and police officers, because they’re the only things standing between our freedom and total anarchy. And in the case of this particular individual — he was sentenced to 108 years for two crimes when he was 16. The post-prison transfer board — I’ll be very brief about this, but to understand — they recommended to me as governor for his commutation, which didn’t release him. It simply cut his sentence to 47 years. That would give him parole eligibility.
That was the commutation. I’m responsible for that. And it’s not something I’m happy about, at this particular moment.
O’REILLY: Now did you study it…
HUCKABEE: Yes…
O’REILLY: I mean, look. Governors have a lot of this stuff. Did you study this guy? Did you spend a lot of time on it, or did you just take the advice of your advisers?
HUCKABEE: No, I looked at every case file, and I had about 1,200 of these a year. This is what people need to understand. 92% of the time, they were denied. But in this case, the judge in the case was also recommending, and the parole board — on a 5-0 vote — because at the age of 16, the sentence he got for the crimes he committed back in 1989 was excessive for anything else that….
While he’s at it, he should start owning up to these as well:
“Prosecutors say Huckabee was more inclined to release or reduce the sentences of prisoners if he had direct contact with them or was lobbied by those close to him.
Some inmates who benefited from some sort of personal connection:
—James Maxwell, who killed a pastor of the Church of God in Arkansas. Maxwell worked at the Governor’s Mansion when Huckabee announced his intent to reduce his prison sentence.
—Samuel W. Taylor, convicted on a drug charge. A prosecutor said the man had told him Taylor’s sister had gone to school with Huckabee. Huckabee said the sister didn’t influence the decision. Taylor subsequently was arrested on another drug charge.
—Donald W. Clark, convicted of theft. Huckabee’s pastor recommended leniency for Clark, whose stepmother worked on Huckabee’s gubernatorial staff.
—Robert A. Arnold Jr., who was convicted of killing his father-in-law. Arnold’s father, a former mayor of Hope, Huckabee’s hometown, said he was a casual friend of the governor.
—A pastor who promoted Huckabee among blacks urged the governor to grant clemency to John Henry Claiborne, who was sentenced to 100 years for a 1994 armed robbery, according to a 2004 report in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Huckabee made Claiborne eligible for parole after receiving a letter from the Rev. Charles Williams, who told the newspaper he had helped win “many, many” clemencies from Huckabee.
—Denver Witham, convicted of beating a man to death with a lead pipe at bar, had his sentence commuted by Huckabee. The action drew the ire of prosecutors who speculated that Huckabee’s act of clemency was related to Witham, who was lead singer in a prison band, being a fellow musician.
“It seems to be true at least anecdotally that if a minister is involved, (Huckabee) seems likely to grant clemency,” prosecutor Robert Herzfeld said in 2004 after successfully battling the then-governor over the release of a killer.”"
The biggest reason this may hurt Huckabee is because it could allow Dems to add one more bit of evidence to Huckabee’s Evangelical caricature. He let criminals out of prison because they said they found Jesus (I’m not saying that is what happened in this case or any other but just how it could be/has been portrayed).
Stories only stick if they fit what we already believe or the impression we already have. This is why Romney was hurt by his changes of position when others weren’t even though they had just as many. Romney comes across to some as “slick” while others come across as more “sincere”.
Huckabee will be attacked as wanted to make the Constitution conform to the Bible, granting parole or clemency based on religious grounds, etc.
Again stories only stick if they fit and there is a way to make this one fits, “See we told you Huckabee is one of those crazy Evangelicals who lets religion impact how he governs.”
Hey O’REILLY! Check your facts before opening your big mouth. Bail was set at 150,000 dollars. More of Fox Yellow Journalism! You really think that distorting the facts here is going to get your buddy off the hook?
Trying to blame others for a very defective Huckabee decision?, 1 of 1033 he made. Then trying to shift the blame, having O’Reilly misrepresent the facts? Sorry , Your Smoke and Mirror Show just don’t fly.
Huck needs to Man Up! Admit the obvious, that if he had not interfered with the justice system, and signed his commutation, this monster would be in prison today. And then apologize to all that he hurt, due to his mistake.
Do the math. 1200 cases a year, 5 days a week =4.6 cases a day. Full time clemency granting? Or Roller-stamping? When did he have time to to Govern anything else?
Huckabee’s confessed involvement with this tragic incident should end his bid for POTUS forever. The stank on this will never leave Huckabee.
BTW, to the person who mentioned all politicans have baggage. Really? You are going to put political spin and call four murdered police officers baggage.
Huckabee’s appearence on O’Reilly was weak. He came across somewhat contrite for his role in this but what he seemd most intent on doing was damage control. Damage control for his political career or his TV career I’m not sure but whatever he was doing he looked like we was trying to rationalize away what he did.
Warrant should have kept Clemmons locked up, Arkansas authorities claim
Prosecutor claims Arkansas dropped a no-bail warrant that allowed release of alleged cop killer http://www.seattlepi.com/local/412750_pierceco30.html
Prosecutors told him he was ignoring his responsibility to explain to citizens why he was setting free convicted murderers and rapists. His response, some of them say, was to blame others and strike out against his critics — an off-note from a man they consider a gifted politician.
“Victims groups were pretty well ignored, along with boots-on-the-streets law enforcement and good citizens who sit on these juries,” said Larry Jegley, who objected to Mr. Clemmons’s clemency request as the prosecuting attorney for Pulaski County, where he was convicted.
Robert Herzfeld, then the prosecuting attorney of Saline County, wrote a letter to Governor Huckabee in January 2004, saying his policy on clemency was “fatally flawed” and suggesting that he should announce specific reasons for granting clemency. Mr. Huckabee’s chief aide on clemency wrote back: “The governor read your letter and laughed out loud. He wanted me to respond to you. I wish you success as you cut down on your caffeine consumption.”
“It was all a very personal issue for him,” said Mr. Herzfeld, who later sued successfully to overturn one of Mr. Huckabee’s clemency decisions, which would have set free a man convicted in a bludgeoning death. “It was always about how I was trying to get him or another prosecutor was trying to get him, not about how to do it right. He’s brilliant politically and very likable, but it seems like there’s a blind spot on this issue.”
“It’s the same issue yet again,” said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster. “The difference this time is that Governor Huckabee would start with greater visibility and higher in the polls, which always enhances and exacerbates any possible criticisms.”
Should he run, there are many prosecutors and victims’ advocates in Arkansas who say they are ready to argue to the national news media that this is just one of the cases where Mr. Huckabee used poor judgment and ignored an inmate’s history of criminal behavior in deciding for clemency. Through a spokeswoman, Mr. Huckabee declined requests for an interview, but a statement from the “press team” on the Web site of his political action committee said that should Mr. Clemmons be found responsible for the shootings, “it will be the result of a series of failures in the criminal justice system in both Arkansas and Washington State.”
Two members of the state parole board said Huckabee pressured them to show DuMond mercy, while Huckabee publicly questioned whether DuMond was guilty of the rape of a teenage girl. During the presidential primaries, a conservative group aired television commercials in South Carolina featuring the mother of Carol Sue Shields, whom DuMond killed in 2000 after his release.
Clemmons’ case packs more potency: The facts of Huckabee’s involvement in the clemency decision are less in dispute, and the crime has played over and over on national television.
“It’s the same issue yet again,” said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster. “The difference this time is that Gov. Huckabee would start with greater visibility and higher in the polls, which always enhances and exacerbates any possible criticisms.”
“People might be able to understand one instance,” said Don Sipple, a GOP strategist who stayed neutral in the presidential primaries. “But now you have two difference episodes where he’s shown poor judgment.”
“That’s somebody he probably shouldn’t have” let go free, said Dick Dresner, who helped steer Huckabee’s 2008 presidential bid, noting that Clemmons was not the first convict to “go off the deep end” after being released during Huckabee’s 10-year term.
Prosecutors have said Huckabee, a Southern Baptist preacher, was more inclined to release or reduce the sentences of prisoners if he had direct contact with them or was lobbied by those close to him. Joe Carter, a staffer on Huckabee’s 2008 presidential campaign, suggested the former governor may simply be too forgiving.
The last 3 paragraphs will be seen ad nauseum from now until 2012 if Huckabee runs and especially if he manages to win the primary.
Huckabee’s political career is probably over….His show is closely tied to politics so even that depends on how well FOX news can rehabilitate his image, O’Reilly’s try was pathetic.
In all honesty i’m flabbergasted that Drudge has failed to really cover this other than a one liner lower on the page. Since when is the murder of 4 POLICE OFFICERS not big news.
Very poor FOX NEWS whitewash at best. O’Reilly trying to spin this off on to the judges in Wa., stating they posted his bail at $15,000. Check your facts Bill. Bail was set at $150,000. I don’t know why these judges let him out, we’ll see. He did have a no-bail warrant from Ark., that Ark. dropped? And get over your God-Complex Bill. Who in the hell has to answer to you and your fact-less crap? There is lots of blood on a lot of hands, and Huck needs to own up to his share.
What is interesting here, is I am seeing a pattern in a lot of these clemencies granted. When being paroled, it is for out of state only, another example of Huck passing the buck?
Yeah, I’m surprised Drudge didn’t give the Police murderers, Clemmons, and the man hunt that has paralized Washington State for two days more than a one liner too.
Drudge has given Mrs. Obama a front pager just for wearing a ugly dress..
No one is throwing Huck a life-line except for FOX. Every conservative site I’ve seen is saying he’s pretty much done for in 2012.
When you start digging into old news stories about the pardons, it’s quite shocking – the people he let go. There just isn’t any plausible defense for Huck.
We invite Gov. Huckabee to immigrate here in Asia. Your genuine and effective leadership Sir does not deserve the damnation of the stupid American people. Let them burn with their arrogance and irrationality, there is no hope for them. God has left your beloved country Sir, and although few green patches of life remain, most are dead with narrow-minded much worse closed-minded people with no appeal to reason.
By transferring here Sir, we are giving you full pardon for your country’s immense debt to us. Soon we will be dictating the terms of payment. It would be very painful and so I encourage you Sir to move out while there is still time.
America has lost its glory. The future is in Asia.
Generally the convicts pay 10% in cash of the face value of the bond. I wonder if the cash payment was $1500 or $15,000. Also Huck said on O’Reilly that 92% of the commutations had a good result. 8% can do alot of damage.
Perhaps this will end his carreer because a few simpletons if you will don’t research this case. There is no doubt that like all other candidates (to a degree) Mr. Huckabee has same judgment issues, but it would be ironic if he is finished on this case. It would be if all of a sudden I start stabbing and shooting my co-workers today. I guess my boss should be held responsible because he refused to fire me for a minor mistake when he had the chance.. Now if I actually had a history of being violent that would be a different story. Yes, Mr. Clemmons has a violent history, but from all accounts, he did not at the time. If Mr. Huckabee did not release this guy, there would be no end to the cries of racism.
The suspect is dead, btw – on the top of the Fox page right now.
Is Mike Huckabee alone responsible for what happened? No, he is not. But this is, once again, part of a clear pattern of the Huckster releasing prisioners – some of whom have gone on to commit serious crimes again. Its a question of judgement – a key thing for a President to have, and something Huck appears to be missing.
The guy was Schizo it appears on top of being a very bad criminal. If I was a governor no way someone like this gets commuted. Huckabee is too forgiving – you need to use some common sense and only commute non violent charges or maybe a case where a lady killed a really abusive husband after being tormented for years but not some guy like this whether a teenager or not when he did it.
I have to wonder if this is not good for the GOP in the long run. Assuming that this removes Huck from 2012, it will also avert what was looking like a very nasty primary between Romney and Huckabee.
Assuming that we now have 2 1/2 top candidates, (1: Romney, 1: Palin, 1/2: Pawlenty), it is more likely to be a more civil primary season (not that I don’t expect some fire works).
“This is like hearing an arsonist predict a busy fire season.” Yeah, it is a two way street. I am sure that a Romney – Palin contest will be more uncivil than most other senarios including Mr. Huckabee. However, I will not except any more responsibilty than my arch-rival camp.
Yeah, it is a two way street. I am sure that a Romney – Palin contest will be more uncivil than most other senarios including Mr. Huckabee. However, I will not except any more responsibilty than my arch-rival camp.
Liar. Your beak is tweaked and it muddles your brain. Your foul envy of Romney’s radiant perfections has embittered your blackened heart. Of course you refer to the old chestnut of how the excellent candidate from Bain Capital went viciously-hysterically negative against his rivals during the primaries–a move that alienated independents and tanked Romney’s own poll-numbers even as he outspent his rivals by 3 to 1, sometimes 4 to 1–but what you fail to consider, Mr. Moral Equivalence, is that Romney is only capable of speaking the truth in love, so whatever he says is loving and truthful because Romney said it, where anything that his rivals claim, even the time of day, is lying and hateful because Romney didn’t say it. Ergo, hence, QED, in sum, and in conclusion, Romney never went negative, because anything and everything that supports Romney is loving and truthful.
Scozzafava-Romney 2012!: For the record, I believe that you are a troll who is playing games. You have nothing to do with the Romney camp and you are just trying to be funny.
All finger pointing aside, I actually really just wonder how he sleeps at night knowing that he could have prevented this by simply not overruling the courts.
He was sentenced 108 years for a 2 robberies and gun possession at 16 year old.
You keep saying this, but it isn’t true. And Huckabee says it was for two convictions. Did you not read the parole report you posted? It shows eight convictions (I said nine above, but one came later) in 1989 and 1990:
8/89 – Robbery
9/89 – Burglary, Theft of Property
11/89 – Aggravated Robbery, Theft of Property
2/90 – Burglary, Theft of Property
11/90 – Possession of Firearm – School
Was the sentence for two or three of these? — could be. But the severity of sentencing often (quite properly) takes into account other convictions. And Huckabee had to know of all these convictions when he let the guy go free.
I sent an email to the O’Reilly Factor calling out Bill for letting Huck off easy. It was a pithy, witty note–totally worthy of an on-air read. I’m excited!
No one is throwing Huck a life-line except for FOX.
Preach it, sister. Testify. Fox is an manure-spreading Anti-Mormon hate-site desperate to prop up its rapidly deflating caricatured cartoon balloon token Evangelical—Hucka-busted—because they tremble and cringe before the mega-super-galactic awesomeness of Romney.
Would you ever consider nominating Dotan for Secretary of State or maybe Attorney General?
That would be Romney’s prerogative and all his decisions are right ones. We can all take comfort in Romney’s rectitude just as the sun warms the earth. But speaking only for myself I can’t imagine that a foul petulant puerile rant-spewing anti-Mormon Romney-hater like dotan the dim could aspire to public office what with his liberal socialist tendencies. Why, I heard that he’s a homosexual Jew communist who delights in abusing kittens and puppies. He belongs with Kos kids or something.
This has nothing to do with Romney. Huckabee made a mistake…again…that caused people to die…again. That’s the whole story and people can argue if that shows a lack of good judgment on Huck’s part of it he’s simply a victim of a series of unfortunate events. Either way, it’s ridiculous for ANYONE to even discuss Romney in these threads.
“Scozzafava-Romney 2012!” Whoever you are, you have crossed the line in #71. An exploding loose cannon does not begin to describe your luney tunes. You make bed bugs look intelligent. You would do well to take your non-sense elsewhere because you take the cake and you serve no purpose what so ever.
MarkG, I do not believe that this character who calls itself Scozzafava_Romney is even a Romneyite, that is why I believe that this person is a troll. Maybe you know more about this person, but I believe that this person crossed the line in #71 and I have nothing to do with it. You can have Kavon check my computer if you I am in on this sick joke.
O’Reilly went soft on the Huckster and gave him an infomercial – not an interview. O’Reilly was even making up the excuses for Huckleberry. If you have your own media outlet on the same network – you’re not going to get a probing interview. He could have asked him a real probing question like, “How many commutations and pardons did you grant while you were Governor?” (I don’t think the Huckster would own up to the answer – so O’Reilly would have to provide his audience with the answer – 1,033). O’Reilly could have been a real journalist and follow-up with, “When you were Governor, Mr. Huckabee, you granted 1,033 commutations and/or pardons – that’s more than previous three Governor’s in Arkansas combined, more than the six neighboring states combined – was there really that many more miscarriages of justice during your administration? How do you explain your record? and finally, he should could asked, “How many more dangerous criminals are out on the street today, because you set them free?”
“A little bit of light needs to be shed on a funny little thing called FACTS as it pertains to the issues surrounding the suspected cop-killer Maurice Clemmons.
Shamefully prominent voices in the Conservative punditocracy (mostly ones who supported Romney in the last go-round) have come out attempting to link Gov. Mike Huckabee to the killings in Seattle that took the lives of four police officers.
Most of these spared little thought for the families, and jumped right into the band-wagon in denouncing Huck as soft on crime, and a friend to criminals, or a bleeding heart Christian. (Funny how the mainstream always accuses Christians of not having a heart.)
All that being said, these Conservative pundits are wrong on the material substance in linking the two and if they continue to do so it says more about their own character than that of the former Governor.
Yes Gov. Huckabee commuted a 100 year sentence for a person who was a minor when he committed a series of burglaries. He commuted it all the way down to 40 years.
But let’s get some facts straight:
1. That commutation did not pardon, declare innocent or acquit Clemmons of his wrong doing.
2. Clemmons remained on parole following his commutation and when he violated that parole he was brought in for those crimes. (At this point in time, Huckabee’s involvement with Clemmons was over.)
3. It was prosecutorial malfeasance that THEN allowed Clemmons to walk free, NOT a Huckabee commutation.
4. Sometime after that incident Clemmons moves to Washington State, and by all signs possible, lives the life of a model citizen.
5. After that 5-6 year stretch of time Clemmons begins to have skirmishes with Washington State authorities.
6. In Washington State there is a 3 strike law. Which means that when accumulating serious offenses in that state, the third time will incur automatic sentencing that can not be altered.
7. The child-rape Clemmons was most recently charged with was considered his 3rd strike IN WASHINGTON.
“
#66, he was sentenced to 95 years for the string of robberies. Huck said that if a 16 year old wealthy white guy in Arkansas was senteced for the same thing, he would get 10 years and perhaps on probation, not even serving. This guy was black and got the discrimination of a racist court. Huck reduced his sentence to 47 years like a white man would already had gotten. He looked at the case and thought it wasn’t fair to put some teenager in jail for life for 8 robberies.
#82 – Kevin McCullough is a blogger for the Evangelical crowd – philosophically, they believe you shouldn’t be judged according to your works – so they won’t hold Huckabee accountable for setting all these criminals free.
“A Few bad apples can spoil the whole bunch.”–You know the saying, I bet you could point to numerous success stories of Huck’s commutations. And guess what? We as taxpayers don’t have to fork the bill for them being in prison. Also, more black are in prison and serve longer sentences than white people. The justice system is unfair. If Clemmens was a murderer or a rapist when Huck commuted him that would be a dif. story; however, Clemmens had already served 11 years for a string of robberies when he was a teenager. His record was just a reckless teenager who robbed people. Huck reduced his sentence to what a white kid would get. There was NO evidence that this guy would become a killer in 9 years. Also, Huck DID NOT PARDON him, the parole board voted 5-0 to pardon him. It seems like people don’t know the dif. between a pardon and a clemency. The healines say “Huck Pardons Cop Killer.”–That suggest that Huck set a murderer free when it isn’t the case.
83. Use the unbiased/logical portion of our brain and imagine if Romney was the one involved in this and not Huckabee.
I would argue that the Huckabee crowd would be just as bad if not worse! Let’s be honest with ourselves. You point fingers at the Romney group when you know it would be the same way had Romney been involved. Period.
I don’t really agree with that – of course, I think a lot of those attacking Romney are just childish, who have more fun acting like a jackass or a child in what should be a serious and real discussion, but Romney IS relevant in this whole thing.
Why? Because the only reason we’ve had eight threads on this so far, the only reason so many people (even in the MSM) are mentioning huckabee, the ONLY reason half the people who have made a comment about the police officers have done so is because Huck looks like he is going to be a candidate in 2012.
If Huckabee were to come out tonight and say that he was deff. not running in 2012, you wouldn’t head another word about this situation. The officers are dead, the suspect is dead, and it was a series of screw ups, rather than bad law, that let this guy go free in the first place.
Were it not for the 2012 factor, 90% of people wouldn’t care about this story anymore.
“#85, ha you don’t know what evangelicals believe. Your statement is more inline with what Catholics believe.”
HUH?
Traditionally, Catholics have believed in the necessity of good works, Evangelicals (historically) have supported salvation through faith alone – although this is changing as time goes by. Most Evangelicals I know now believe that good works are an essential element of faith. Those who do not still hold the misguided view that “good works” are a way of humans trying to buy their way into Heaven.
Given that felons appear to serve about 1/4 of the nominal time assessed (Clemmons was released after 11 years of the 47 Huckabee decreed), the original sentence of 108 reduces to 27 years in prison for eight felony convictions — about three years per felony.
Doesn’t sound excessive to me — but Huckabee reduced it to less than 18 months.
Huckabee has no one to blame but himself commuting a sentence of someone with that many felonies. I didnt see the O Reilly interview but if he let him off easy he is a hypocrite considering how he would normally be shouting 4 officers are dead because someone was walking free due to you giving a multiple felon a commutation period.
The Huckster is done. Even Michelle Malkin called it “Huckabee’s Willie Horton”
If he even thinks of entering into the 2012 fray, he’ll get blown out by a commercial like this:
Huckabee is not only soft on crime, he allowed sentence reductions and pardons to be granted for hundreds of violent criminals already behind bars.
One was Maurice Clemmons, who was imprisoned for 5 felony convictions.
Despite a 48-year prison sentence, Clemmons was set free on parole after just 11 years. While free, Clemmons murdered 4 police officers execution-style.
Leniency for violent felons. Huckabee on crime.
#20
DSkinner,
That’s 100% correct. Clemmons along with the Dumond case and others reinforce the narative that Huckabee is soft on crime.
Why is Romneycare a big deal? It is actually slightly under budget, 70% of Massachusetts residents are satisfied with their healthcare, and 97% are covered. No healthcare system is ever going to be perfect, and every state has different factors and constituencies, but this one seems to work well for the people of that state.
“My name is Mitt Romney and I approve post no. 100″ Your name is not Mr. M. Romney. You are a trouble making troll and your anti-Romneyism is about as crazy as some of the anti-Palinism and anti-Huckabeeism. Enough of this game. Attack them on the issues.
Mike Huckabee: I Take Full Responsibility
December 1st, 2009
From Mike Huckabee:
Mike Huckabee: I Take Full Responsibility
The nation was stunned by the senseless and savage cold-blooded murders of 4 young police officers in Lakewood, Washington. Whenever a police officer or soldier is killed, I feel the loss is even more profound for they are the ones who stand between our freedom and anarchy.
At the time I write these words, police are still searching for Maurice Clemmons who is believed to be the one committing these unspeakable acts. Nine years ago, that name crossed my desk. I commuted his sentence from 108 years to 47 years. Many news reports, talk show hosts, and bloggers have erroneously said that he was granted a “pardon.” Others speak of me “setting him free.” As one who now hosts a talk show and who does daily radio commentaries, I can attest to how easy commentary is compared to actually governing. I am not seeking to justify or defend my actions of nine years ago, but it’s important that I answer for my actions and give some explanation as to how and why his sentence was commuted.
I take full responsibility for my actions of nine years ago. I acted on the facts presented to me in 2000. If I could have possibly known what Clemmons would do nine years later, I obviously would have made a different decision. But if the same file was presented to me today, I would have likely made the same decision.
Each state is different, but in Arkansas, a governor doesn’t initiate a parole—the Post Prison Transfer Board does after it conducts a thorough review of an inmate’s file and request. The board then makes a recommendation to the governor, who decides to grant or deny.
If the decision is made to grant any form of clemency (the broad term for a commutation or a full pardon), the governor gives notice of intent and the file is sent to the prosecutor, judge, law enforcement officials, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State as well as to the news media. A period of 30 days is then started for there to be public input as well as response from the above named officials. At the end of the public response period, the final decision is rendered.
Between 1,000 and 1,200 requests for some form of clemency came to my desk each and every one of the 10 ½ years I was governor. Ninety-two percent of the time, I denied the requests. When I did grant them, it was usually based on the recommendation of at least five of the members of the PPTB, with consideration given to the input from public officials.
Maurice Clemmons was 16 years old when he was charged with burglary and robbery. He was sentenced to a total of 108 years based on the way in which the sentences were stacked. For the crimes he committed and the age at which he committed the crimes, it was dramatically outside the norm for sentencing. The PPTB recommended in 2000 by a 5-0 vote for his sentence to be commuted.
He had served 11 years of his sentence. A pardon would have set him free and cleared his record. A commutation to “time served” would have set him free and released him from any parole reporting. As per the recommendation, I commuted his sentence to the term of 47 years, still a long sentence for the type of crime he had committed, but it would make him parole eligible. It would not parole him, as governors do not have that power in Arkansas. He would have to separately apply for parole and meet the criteria for that.
Despite news reports to the contrary, the only record of public response to the notice to commute was from the trial judge, who recommended the commendation in concert with the board. There were letters of support, but no record of letters of opposition.
Following the commutation, he met the criteria for parole and was paroled to supervision in late 2000. When he violated terms of his parole by participating in additional crimes, he was returned to prison and should have stayed there. For reasons only the prosecutor can explain, charges were not brought forth in a timely way and the prosecutor ended up dropping the charges, allowing him to leave prison and return to supervised parole.
He moved to Washington state and had intermittent criminal activity that increased in violence and frequency. He was allowed to post bail in Washington state and while on bail from there committed the unspeakable acts of murdering four valiant police officers. I can’t explain why he wasn’t prosecuted properly for the parole violations or why he was allowed to make bail in Washington state and not incarcerated earlier for crimes committed there.
I wish his file had never crossed my desk, but it did. The decision I made is one that I now wish were different, but I could only look backwards at his case, not forward. None of this is of any comfort to the families of these police officers nor should it be. Their loss is senseless. No words or deeds by anyone will bring them back to their loved ones. Our system is not perfect and neither are those responsible for administering it.
The system and those of us who are supposed to make sure it works sometimes fail. In this case, we clearly did.
November 30th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
He’s trying to pass on the blame – how disgusting. What a sleazeball.
November 30th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
aft,
No. He owned up to his part, and explained how the process worked.
You Rombots will claim he’s passing the blame unless he says “I pulled the trigger.”
November 30th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Let the fact-check begin
November 30th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
I don’t blame Huckabee here, but the folks that are trying to claim that this won’t be very damaging to his political prospects are delusional.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Give Huckabee his time to defend himself. I don’t think he did anything untoward. He sincerely felt the man was reformed. I think many Governors have done the same thing.
That being said, if you are explaining in politics then you are losing. It ain’t a desirable position to be in.
Let’s see the frontrunner have huge baggage.
Sarah Palin — Twitter Quitter.
Romney — Romneycare when healthcare is the hottest issue.
Huckabee — Clemencies.
They all got equally difficult baggage to overcome.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
nowandlater,
Indeed. EVERY politician, once we scratch the surface, has baggage. I’m sure I’ll be doing some damage control for Pawlenty at some point on this site, if he ever gains traction.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Huck owns up and O’Reilly heartily commends him.
I have a feeling this issue will blow over in a couple of days and will hardly harm Huck.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
#7:
I remember folks saying the NRA joke would ruin Huckabee. They underestimate him, don’t understand his appeal, and think they’ve buried him about twenty times.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Adam, it’s the Democrats that would have killed him with the NRA remark….he didn’t get that far, remember?
November 30th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Twitter Tweet from Talkmaster (Neal Boortz)
Quote:
Huckabee accepting responsibility for commuting cop killer’s sentence. A rarity in the political world.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Huckabee won’t recover from this. Democrats will destroy him.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
11. You think Democrats are not soft on crime? lol
November 30th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Let’s find out a little more about these two Washington state judges…
and their records of releasing rapists on $15K bail and such.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:01 am
Damaged goods.
Wayne Dumond meet Clemmons and ???. Willie Horton has nothing on these guys.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:05 am
O’REILLY: Well, it’s not your fault, Governor. I mean, look, you’ve got 1,200 of these cases a year. You gotta look at them. I’m not saying it’s your fault. I don’t think anyone watching thinks it’s your fault.
But the judges in Washington state, come on. I mean, this guy moves from your state — Arkansas — to Washington state and then he racks up 8 felony charges. Eight felonies!
December 1st, 2009 at 12:05 am
I would be more inclined to give Huck the benefit of the doubt, if this was ONE CASE.
The problem is that there are 1000+ cases, and then the reasons why these criminals were set free. It’s all about the context.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:10 am
HUCKABEE: Well, Bill, first of all — the tragedy of this — if I could have known 9 years ago this guy was capable of something of this magnitude, obviously I would have never granted the commutation.
It’s sickening. The two people I value most in this country are soldiers and police officers, because they’re the only things standing between our freedom and total anarchy. And in the case of this particular individual — he was sentenced to 108 years for two crimes when he was 16. The post-prison transfer board — I’ll be very brief about this, but to understand — they recommended to me as governor for his commutation, which didn’t release him. It simply cut his sentence to 47 years. That would give him parole eligibility.
That was the commutation. I’m responsible for that. And it’s not something I’m happy about, at this particular moment.
O’REILLY: Now did you study it…
HUCKABEE: Yes…
O’REILLY: I mean, look. Governors have a lot of this stuff. Did you study this guy? Did you spend a lot of time on it, or did you just take the advice of your advisers?
HUCKABEE: No, I looked at every case file, and I had about 1,200 of these a year. This is what people need to understand. 92% of the time, they were denied. But in this case, the judge in the case was also recommending, and the parole board — on a 5-0 vote — because at the age of 16, the sentence he got for the crimes he committed back in 1989 was excessive for anything else that….
December 1st, 2009 at 12:16 am
While he’s at it, he should start owning up to these as well:
“Prosecutors say Huckabee was more inclined to release or reduce the sentences of prisoners if he had direct contact with them or was lobbied by those close to him.
Some inmates who benefited from some sort of personal connection:
—James Maxwell, who killed a pastor of the Church of God in Arkansas. Maxwell worked at the Governor’s Mansion when Huckabee announced his intent to reduce his prison sentence.
—Samuel W. Taylor, convicted on a drug charge. A prosecutor said the man had told him Taylor’s sister had gone to school with Huckabee. Huckabee said the sister didn’t influence the decision. Taylor subsequently was arrested on another drug charge.
—Donald W. Clark, convicted of theft. Huckabee’s pastor recommended leniency for Clark, whose stepmother worked on Huckabee’s gubernatorial staff.
—Robert A. Arnold Jr., who was convicted of killing his father-in-law. Arnold’s father, a former mayor of Hope, Huckabee’s hometown, said he was a casual friend of the governor.
—A pastor who promoted Huckabee among blacks urged the governor to grant clemency to John Henry Claiborne, who was sentenced to 100 years for a 1994 armed robbery, according to a 2004 report in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Huckabee made Claiborne eligible for parole after receiving a letter from the Rev. Charles Williams, who told the newspaper he had helped win “many, many” clemencies from Huckabee.
—Denver Witham, convicted of beating a man to death with a lead pipe at bar, had his sentence commuted by Huckabee. The action drew the ire of prosecutors who speculated that Huckabee’s act of clemency was related to Witham, who was lead singer in a prison band, being a fellow musician.
“It seems to be true at least anecdotally that if a minister is involved, (Huckabee) seems likely to grant clemency,” prosecutor Robert Herzfeld said in 2004 after successfully battling the then-governor over the release of a killer.”"
December 1st, 2009 at 12:27 am
Have the downed officers been buried yet?
December 1st, 2009 at 12:34 am
The biggest reason this may hurt Huckabee is because it could allow Dems to add one more bit of evidence to Huckabee’s Evangelical caricature. He let criminals out of prison because they said they found Jesus (I’m not saying that is what happened in this case or any other but just how it could be/has been portrayed).
Stories only stick if they fit what we already believe or the impression we already have. This is why Romney was hurt by his changes of position when others weren’t even though they had just as many. Romney comes across to some as “slick” while others come across as more “sincere”.
Huckabee will be attacked as wanted to make the Constitution conform to the Bible, granting parole or clemency based on religious grounds, etc.
Again stories only stick if they fit and there is a way to make this one fits, “See we told you Huckabee is one of those crazy Evangelicals who lets religion impact how he governs.”
December 1st, 2009 at 12:41 am
Did anybody see the judge in this case on CNN’s 360? I think he basically spells it out that it wasn’t Huckabee’s fault.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:41 am
The folks over at Daily Kos and Huff Post have been dogging on Palin and Huck’s Christianity since day one as well as on Romney’s Mormonism.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:44 am
#6: Or he just might be as squeaky clean as he seems. Two statewide campaigns and nobody could find the slightest bit of dirt.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:46 am
Huckabee’s bull: “he was sentenced to 108 years for two crimes when he was 16.”
Clemmons had nine felony convictions, according to the parole board report David Schmidt posted earlier today.
Martha’s bull: “I would be more inclined to give Huck the benefit of the doubt”
Try to be a little bit honest occasionally, Martha. You would never give Huckabee the benefit of the doubt about anything.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:54 am
Hey O’REILLY! Check your facts before opening your big mouth. Bail was set at 150,000 dollars. More of Fox Yellow Journalism! You really think that distorting the facts here is going to get your buddy off the hook?
December 1st, 2009 at 1:11 am
phenom Says:
December 1st, 2009 at 12:27 am
Have the downed officers been buried yet?
No, they havent, they were moved by motorcade with estort from the scene of the slaying, to the county mourge.
December 1st, 2009 at 1:13 am
Dick Cheney slams President Obama for projecting ‘weakness’
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/30024_Page2.html
December 1st, 2009 at 1:27 am
Trying to blame others for a very defective Huckabee decision?, 1 of 1033 he made. Then trying to shift the blame, having O’Reilly misrepresent the facts? Sorry , Your Smoke and Mirror Show just don’t fly.
December 1st, 2009 at 1:35 am
Huck needs to Man Up! Admit the obvious, that if he had not interfered with the justice system, and signed his commutation, this monster would be in prison today. And then apologize to all that he hurt, due to his mistake.
December 1st, 2009 at 1:50 am
Do the math. 1200 cases a year, 5 days a week =4.6 cases a day. Full time clemency granting? Or Roller-stamping? When did he have time to to Govern anything else?
December 1st, 2009 at 2:00 am
O’Rielly, the spin-doctor thing is just a bit Retro, pretty transparent these days though..
December 1st, 2009 at 2:05 am
Huckabee’s confessed involvement with this tragic incident should end his bid for POTUS forever. The stank on this will never leave Huckabee.
BTW, to the person who mentioned all politicans have baggage. Really? You are going to put political spin and call four murdered police officers baggage.
Huckabee’s appearence on O’Reilly was weak. He came across somewhat contrite for his role in this but what he seemd most intent on doing was damage control. Damage control for his political career or his TV career I’m not sure but whatever he was doing he looked like we was trying to rationalize away what he did.
Rarely do rationalizations and murders mix.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:51 am
No-one gets sentenced for 108 years for a minor crime.
Does Huck think we are all stupid?
December 1st, 2009 at 3:28 am
Political death blow for Huckabee?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010392864_huckfallout01.html
Old Clemency May Be Issue for Huckabee
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/us/politics/01huckabee.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print
Huckabee’s pardons at issue after police killings
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/30/AR2009113003928_pf.html
Huckabee blames prosecutors, says ‘heart is broken’
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/186761.asp
Warrant should have kept Clemmons locked up, Arkansas authorities claim
Prosecutor claims Arkansas dropped a no-bail warrant that allowed release of alleged cop killer
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/412750_pierceco30.html
Huckabee’s presidential chances are over
http://www.examiner.com/x-17336-Midland-County-Public-Policy-Examiner~y2009m12d1-Huckabees-presidential-chances-are-over
December 1st, 2009 at 3:29 am
“No-one gets sentenced for 108 years for a minor crime.”
He was sentenced 108 years for a 2 robberies and gun possession at 16 year old.
December 1st, 2009 at 4:11 am
From the NYT article:
December 1st, 2009 at 4:17 am
Looks like this is spreading.
The last 3 paragraphs will be seen ad nauseum from now until 2012 if Huckabee runs and especially if he manages to win the primary.
December 1st, 2009 at 4:18 am
Huckabee’s political career is probably over….His show is closely tied to politics so even that depends on how well FOX news can rehabilitate his image, O’Reilly’s try was pathetic.
December 1st, 2009 at 5:33 am
In all honesty i’m flabbergasted that Drudge has failed to really cover this other than a one liner lower on the page. Since when is the murder of 4 POLICE OFFICERS not big news.
December 1st, 2009 at 5:37 am
Very poor FOX NEWS whitewash at best. O’Reilly trying to spin this off on to the judges in Wa., stating they posted his bail at $15,000. Check your facts Bill. Bail was set at $150,000. I don’t know why these judges let him out, we’ll see. He did have a no-bail warrant from Ark., that Ark. dropped? And get over your God-Complex Bill. Who in the hell has to answer to you and your fact-less crap? There is lots of blood on a lot of hands, and Huck needs to own up to his share.
December 1st, 2009 at 6:29 am
What is his new campaign slogan going be? Vote Pass-the-Buck-Huck in 2012?
December 1st, 2009 at 6:35 am
What is interesting here, is I am seeing a pattern in a lot of these clemencies granted. When being paroled, it is for out of state only, another example of Huck passing the buck?
December 1st, 2009 at 7:26 am
Mcon: #39
Yeah, I’m surprised Drudge didn’t give the Police murderers, Clemmons, and the man hunt that has paralized Washington State for two days more than a one liner too.
Drudge has given Mrs. Obama a front pager just for wearing a ugly dress..
December 1st, 2009 at 7:33 am
Huckabee has been hurt in the betting world…down to 8.2 on intrade.com yesterday…still there. Mitt back to 24.0, Palin and Pawlenty around 20 now.
Personally, I think Huck’s demise helps both Palin and Pawlenty and hurts Mitt’s path to the nomination.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:01 am
Clemmons hs been killed now by a cop in Seattle. Three other people have been arrested for aiding and abetting or charges similar.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:23 am
45. Thank Heaven!
No one is throwing Huck a life-line except for FOX. Every conservative site I’ve seen is saying he’s pretty much done for in 2012.
When you start digging into old news stories about the pardons, it’s quite shocking – the people he let go. There just isn’t any plausible defense for Huck.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:25 am
44. I agree. Romney benefited from Huck being in the race for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the contrast in characters.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:25 am
Jeremiah Wright is right: “God damn America”
We invite Gov. Huckabee to immigrate here in Asia. Your genuine and effective leadership Sir does not deserve the damnation of the stupid American people. Let them burn with their arrogance and irrationality, there is no hope for them. God has left your beloved country Sir, and although few green patches of life remain, most are dead with narrow-minded much worse closed-minded people with no appeal to reason.
By transferring here Sir, we are giving you full pardon for your country’s immense debt to us. Soon we will be dictating the terms of payment. It would be very painful and so I encourage you Sir to move out while there is still time.
America has lost its glory. The future is in Asia.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:37 am
Generally the convicts pay 10% in cash of the face value of the bond. I wonder if the cash payment was $1500 or $15,000. Also Huck said on O’Reilly that 92% of the commutations had a good result. 8% can do alot of damage.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:40 am
Perhaps this will end his carreer because a few simpletons if you will don’t research this case. There is no doubt that like all other candidates (to a degree) Mr. Huckabee has same judgment issues, but it would be ironic if he is finished on this case. It would be if all of a sudden I start stabbing and shooting my co-workers today. I guess my boss should be held responsible because he refused to fire me for a minor mistake when he had the chance.. Now if I actually had a history of being violent that would be a different story. Yes, Mr. Clemmons has a violent history, but from all accounts, he did not at the time. If Mr. Huckabee did not release this guy, there would be no end to the cries of racism.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:41 am
Hucks done just like Sanford. This helps Romney tremendously as getting Iowa and NH is now possible and the momentum would be almost unstoppable then.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:43 am
Anyone that gives commutations on charges like that is a fool imo and that includes Romney if he has and none have blown up yet.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:00 am
The suspect is dead, btw – on the top of the Fox page right now.
Is Mike Huckabee alone responsible for what happened? No, he is not. But this is, once again, part of a clear pattern of the Huckster releasing prisioners – some of whom have gone on to commit serious crimes again. Its a question of judgement – a key thing for a President to have, and something Huck appears to be missing.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:04 am
50. OJ,
Yes, he did. Aggravated burglary is inherently violent, and Clemmons violated prison rules over 24 times, sometimes violently, according to reports.
Huck either knew it, and ignored it, or he did not do due diligence before he recommended him for commutation.
Race had nothing to do with it.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:10 am
The guy was Schizo it appears on top of being a very bad criminal. If I was a governor no way someone like this gets commuted. Huckabee is too forgiving – you need to use some common sense and only commute non violent charges or maybe a case where a lady killed a really abusive husband after being tormented for years but not some guy like this whether a teenager or not when he did it.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:11 am
I have to wonder if this is not good for the GOP in the long run. Assuming that this removes Huck from 2012, it will also avert what was looking like a very nasty primary between Romney and Huckabee.
Assuming that we now have 2 1/2 top candidates, (1: Romney, 1: Palin, 1/2: Pawlenty), it is more likely to be a more civil primary season (not that I don’t expect some fire works).
December 1st, 2009 at 9:13 am
I’m not sure I’d put Palin in the “civil” category.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:31 am
I predict that the day will soon come when all violent crime in America can be traced to Huckabee’s stint as governor of AR.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:33 am
This is like hearing an arsonist predict a busy fire season.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:52 am
“This is like hearing an arsonist predict a busy fire season.” Yeah, it is a two way street. I am sure that a Romney – Palin contest will be more uncivil than most other senarios including Mr. Huckabee. However, I will not except any more responsibilty than my arch-rival camp.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:11 am
Liar. Your beak is tweaked and it muddles your brain. Your foul envy of Romney’s radiant perfections has embittered your blackened heart. Of course you refer to the old chestnut of how the excellent candidate from Bain Capital went viciously-hysterically negative against his rivals during the primaries–a move that alienated independents and tanked Romney’s own poll-numbers even as he outspent his rivals by 3 to 1, sometimes 4 to 1–but what you fail to consider, Mr. Moral Equivalence, is that Romney is only capable of speaking the truth in love, so whatever he says is loving and truthful because Romney said it, where anything that his rivals claim, even the time of day, is lying and hateful because Romney didn’t say it. Ergo, hence, QED, in sum, and in conclusion, Romney never went negative, because anything and everything that supports Romney is loving and truthful.
Dwell on that truth and follow Romney.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:15 am
Scozzafava-Romney 2012!: For the record, I believe that you are a troll who is playing games. You have nothing to do with the Romney camp and you are just trying to be funny.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:17 am
All finger pointing aside, I actually really just wonder how he sleeps at night knowing that he could have prevented this by simply not overruling the courts.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:19 am
A troll for Romney is a troll for truth. Hence, a troll for Romney is no troll but a bringer of light, the light of Romney.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:28 am
…and succeeding miserably!
December 1st, 2009 at 10:30 am
David R. Schmidt #35:
You keep saying this, but it isn’t true. And Huckabee says it was for two convictions. Did you not read the parole report you posted? It shows eight convictions (I said nine above, but one came later) in 1989 and 1990:
8/89 – Robbery
9/89 – Burglary, Theft of Property
11/89 – Aggravated Robbery, Theft of Property
2/90 – Burglary, Theft of Property
11/90 – Possession of Firearm – School
Was the sentence for two or three of these? — could be. But the severity of sentencing often (quite properly) takes into account other convictions. And Huckabee had to know of all these convictions when he let the guy go free.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:30 am
I sent an email to the O’Reilly Factor calling out Bill for letting Huck off easy. It was a pithy, witty note–totally worthy of an on-air read. I’m excited!
December 1st, 2009 at 10:30 am
Preach it, sister. Testify. Fox is an manure-spreading Anti-Mormon hate-site desperate to prop up its rapidly deflating caricatured cartoon balloon token Evangelical—Hucka-busted—because they tremble and cringe before the mega-super-galactic awesomeness of Romney.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:32 am
Huckabee Lesson Is Execution Beats Pardons: Margaret Carlson
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=av.ZRzboI_Kw
Pawlenty can’t resist kicking Huckabee’s coffin
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2009/12/pawlenty_cant_r.php
Huckabee’s Willie Horton
http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon/2009/12/huckabees-willie-horton.html
Conservatives hammer Mike Huckabee over shooting
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/30014.html
December 1st, 2009 at 10:34 am
Scozzafava,
Would you ever consider nominating Dotan for Secretary of State or maybe Attorney General?
December 1st, 2009 at 10:34 am
Huckabee’s pardons at issue after police killings
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/30/AR2009113003928.html?hpid=moreheadlines
Huckabee clemency record revisted after shootings
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5if_tdQrE5B6tvgSYXBtfmfMOLEwwD9CACTHG0
December 1st, 2009 at 10:38 am
Can someone please remove this troll?
December 1st, 2009 at 10:43 am
That would be Romney’s prerogative and all his decisions are right ones. We can all take comfort in Romney’s rectitude just as the sun warms the earth. But speaking only for myself I can’t imagine that a foul petulant puerile rant-spewing anti-Mormon Romney-hater like dotan the dim could aspire to public office what with his liberal socialist tendencies. Why, I heard that he’s a homosexual Jew communist who delights in abusing kittens and puppies. He belongs with Kos kids or something.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:45 am
This has nothing to do with Romney. Huckabee made a mistake…again…that caused people to die…again. That’s the whole story and people can argue if that shows a lack of good judgment on Huck’s part of it he’s simply a victim of a series of unfortunate events. Either way, it’s ridiculous for ANYONE to even discuss Romney in these threads.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:47 am
Scozzi,
Thanks for the update. I just thought that since he’s written some speeches for you on the side, you might find work for him after the campaign.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:49 am
December 1st, 2009 at 10:50 am
“Scozzafava-Romney 2012!” Whoever you are, you have crossed the line in #71. An exploding loose cannon does not begin to describe your luney tunes. You make bed bugs look intelligent. You would do well to take your non-sense elsewhere because you take the cake and you serve no purpose what so ever.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:55 am
OJ, you’ve been punked!
December 1st, 2009 at 10:57 am
Past time for Dotan to be banned.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:59 am
MarkG, I do not believe that this character who calls itself Scozzafava_Romney is even a Romneyite, that is why I believe that this person is a troll. Maybe you know more about this person, but I believe that this person crossed the line in #71 and I have nothing to do with it. You can have Kavon check my computer if you I am in on this sick joke.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:00 am
O’Reilly went soft on the Huckster and gave him an infomercial – not an interview. O’Reilly was even making up the excuses for Huckleberry. If you have your own media outlet on the same network – you’re not going to get a probing interview. He could have asked him a real probing question like, “How many commutations and pardons did you grant while you were Governor?” (I don’t think the Huckster would own up to the answer – so O’Reilly would have to provide his audience with the answer – 1,033). O’Reilly could have been a real journalist and follow-up with, “When you were Governor, Mr. Huckabee, you granted 1,033 commutations and/or pardons – that’s more than previous three Governor’s in Arkansas combined, more than the six neighboring states combined – was there really that many more miscarriages of justice during your administration? How do you explain your record? and finally, he should could asked, “How many more dangerous criminals are out on the street today, because you set them free?”
December 1st, 2009 at 11:01 am
I am not for banning people generally, but yes whoever’s computer is typing this garbage should be banned.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:03 am
Kevin McCullough at Townhall says only stupid liberals and conservatives can blame Huckabee. All you guys must be STUPID. Yes, I called you all stupid. Deal with it! http://kevinmccullough.townhall.com/blog/g/64b058cc-52c1-407a-9f1c-2134166dbb28&comments=true#commentAnchor
December 1st, 2009 at 11:06 am
Well, if Kevin McCullough (whoever he is) says it, then I guess the issue is settled.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:07 am
This is what he does say:
“A little bit of light needs to be shed on a funny little thing called FACTS as it pertains to the issues surrounding the suspected cop-killer Maurice Clemmons.
Shamefully prominent voices in the Conservative punditocracy (mostly ones who supported Romney in the last go-round) have come out attempting to link Gov. Mike Huckabee to the killings in Seattle that took the lives of four police officers.
Most of these spared little thought for the families, and jumped right into the band-wagon in denouncing Huck as soft on crime, and a friend to criminals, or a bleeding heart Christian. (Funny how the mainstream always accuses Christians of not having a heart.)
All that being said, these Conservative pundits are wrong on the material substance in linking the two and if they continue to do so it says more about their own character than that of the former Governor.
Yes Gov. Huckabee commuted a 100 year sentence for a person who was a minor when he committed a series of burglaries. He commuted it all the way down to 40 years.
But let’s get some facts straight:
1. That commutation did not pardon, declare innocent or acquit Clemmons of his wrong doing.
2. Clemmons remained on parole following his commutation and when he violated that parole he was brought in for those crimes. (At this point in time, Huckabee’s involvement with Clemmons was over.)
3. It was prosecutorial malfeasance that THEN allowed Clemmons to walk free, NOT a Huckabee commutation.
4. Sometime after that incident Clemmons moves to Washington State, and by all signs possible, lives the life of a model citizen.
5. After that 5-6 year stretch of time Clemmons begins to have skirmishes with Washington State authorities.
6. In Washington State there is a 3 strike law. Which means that when accumulating serious offenses in that state, the third time will incur automatic sentencing that can not be altered.
7. The child-rape Clemmons was most recently charged with was considered his 3rd strike IN WASHINGTON.
“
December 1st, 2009 at 11:11 am
#66, he was sentenced to 95 years for the string of robberies. Huck said that if a 16 year old wealthy white guy in Arkansas was senteced for the same thing, he would get 10 years and perhaps on probation, not even serving. This guy was black and got the discrimination of a racist court. Huck reduced his sentence to 47 years like a white man would already had gotten. He looked at the case and thought it wasn’t fair to put some teenager in jail for life for 8 robberies.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:19 am
#82 – Kevin McCullough is a blogger for the Evangelical crowd – philosophically, they believe you shouldn’t be judged according to your works – so they won’t hold Huckabee accountable for setting all these criminals free.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:26 am
“A Few bad apples can spoil the whole bunch.”–You know the saying, I bet you could point to numerous success stories of Huck’s commutations. And guess what? We as taxpayers don’t have to fork the bill for them being in prison. Also, more black are in prison and serve longer sentences than white people. The justice system is unfair. If Clemmens was a murderer or a rapist when Huck commuted him that would be a dif. story; however, Clemmens had already served 11 years for a string of robberies when he was a teenager. His record was just a reckless teenager who robbed people. Huck reduced his sentence to what a white kid would get. There was NO evidence that this guy would become a killer in 9 years. Also, Huck DID NOT PARDON him, the parole board voted 5-0 to pardon him. It seems like people don’t know the dif. between a pardon and a clemency. The healines say “Huck Pardons Cop Killer.”–That suggest that Huck set a murderer free when it isn’t the case.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:26 am
83. Use the unbiased/logical portion of our brain and imagine if Romney was the one involved in this and not Huckabee.
I would argue that the Huckabee crowd would be just as bad if not worse! Let’s be honest with ourselves. You point fingers at the Romney group when you know it would be the same way had Romney been involved. Period.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:27 am
#85, ha you don’t know what evangelicals believe. Your statement is more inline with what Catholics believe.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:28 am
“even discuss Romney in these threads.”
I don’t really agree with that – of course, I think a lot of those attacking Romney are just childish, who have more fun acting like a jackass or a child in what should be a serious and real discussion, but Romney IS relevant in this whole thing.
Why? Because the only reason we’ve had eight threads on this so far, the only reason so many people (even in the MSM) are mentioning huckabee, the ONLY reason half the people who have made a comment about the police officers have done so is because Huck looks like he is going to be a candidate in 2012.
If Huckabee were to come out tonight and say that he was deff. not running in 2012, you wouldn’t head another word about this situation. The officers are dead, the suspect is dead, and it was a series of screw ups, rather than bad law, that let this guy go free in the first place.
Were it not for the 2012 factor, 90% of people wouldn’t care about this story anymore.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:31 am
I love how outraged he is about the prosecutors but not his own actions.
he shouldn’t have been commuting so many sentences plain and simple. Take a lesson from romney and just don’t do any. Than this stuff doesn’t happen.
He looks very unpresidential in this interview and petty. He looks like he is groveling to Bill O’Reilly.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:32 am
“#85, ha you don’t know what evangelicals believe. Your statement is more inline with what Catholics believe.”
HUH?
Traditionally, Catholics have believed in the necessity of good works, Evangelicals (historically) have supported salvation through faith alone – although this is changing as time goes by. Most Evangelicals I know now believe that good works are an essential element of faith. Those who do not still hold the misguided view that “good works” are a way of humans trying to buy their way into Heaven.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:47 am
Given that felons appear to serve about 1/4 of the nominal time assessed (Clemmons was released after 11 years of the 47 Huckabee decreed), the original sentence of 108 reduces to 27 years in prison for eight felony convictions — about three years per felony.
Doesn’t sound excessive to me — but Huckabee reduced it to less than 18 months.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Huckabee has no one to blame but himself commuting a sentence of someone with that many felonies. I didnt see the O Reilly interview but if he let him off easy he is a hypocrite considering how he would normally be shouting 4 officers are dead because someone was walking free due to you giving a multiple felon a commutation period.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:05 pm
The Huckster is done. Even Michelle Malkin called it “Huckabee’s Willie Horton”
If he even thinks of entering into the 2012 fray, he’ll get blown out by a commercial like this:
Huckabee is not only soft on crime, he allowed sentence reductions and pardons to be granted for hundreds of violent criminals already behind bars.
One was Maurice Clemmons, who was imprisoned for 5 felony convictions.
Despite a 48-year prison sentence, Clemmons was set free on parole after just 11 years. While free, Clemmons murdered 4 police officers execution-style.
Leniency for violent felons. Huckabee on crime.
#20
DSkinner,
That’s 100% correct. Clemmons along with the Dumond case and others reinforce the narative that Huckabee is soft on crime.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Why is Romneycare a big deal? It is actually slightly under budget, 70% of Massachusetts residents are satisfied with their healthcare, and 97% are covered. No healthcare system is ever going to be perfect, and every state has different factors and constituencies, but this one seems to work well for the people of that state.
December 1st, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Michelle Malkin doesn’t like Mike Huckabee!!!!!!!
Stop the presses!!!!!
December 1st, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Ann Coulter doesn’t like Mike Huckabee!!!!
Stop the presses, I said!!!!
December 1st, 2009 at 1:31 pm
The Liberal media (MSNBC has talked about it for about 48 hours straight) and nutcases at Kos & Huff don’t like
Mike Huckabee!!!!!
Are you going to STOP the presses or what!!!!
..
Huck and The Hot Alaska Gal in 2012
December 1st, 2009 at 1:33 pm
My name is Mitt Romney and I approve post no. 100
December 1st, 2009 at 1:35 pm
…if they’ll choose me for Ambassador to France. I know Paris!
December 1st, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Yes, OJ, I totally agree. Several people over the last few days should be banned. They are WAY OUT OF LINE.
December 1st, 2009 at 1:43 pm
“My name is Mitt Romney and I approve post no. 100″ Your name is not Mr. M. Romney. You are a trouble making troll and your anti-Romneyism is about as crazy as some of the anti-Palinism and anti-Huckabeeism. Enough of this game. Attack them on the issues.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:08 pm
103, 104.
You two are much too serious. Chill.
It’s Christmas ’09 time …
A long way to go ’til 2012 … pace yourselves …
or you’re gonna get heart attacks, my friends.
December 1st, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Excuses, Excuses, Excuses. No Pardon here from me. Poor whitewash job on FOX there Ol’ Huck Finn & sidekick Bill…..
December 1st, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Mike Huckabee: I Take Full Responsibility
December 1st, 2009
From Mike Huckabee:
Mike Huckabee: I Take Full Responsibility
The nation was stunned by the senseless and savage cold-blooded murders of 4 young police officers in Lakewood, Washington. Whenever a police officer or soldier is killed, I feel the loss is even more profound for they are the ones who stand between our freedom and anarchy.
At the time I write these words, police are still searching for Maurice Clemmons who is believed to be the one committing these unspeakable acts. Nine years ago, that name crossed my desk. I commuted his sentence from 108 years to 47 years. Many news reports, talk show hosts, and bloggers have erroneously said that he was granted a “pardon.” Others speak of me “setting him free.” As one who now hosts a talk show and who does daily radio commentaries, I can attest to how easy commentary is compared to actually governing. I am not seeking to justify or defend my actions of nine years ago, but it’s important that I answer for my actions and give some explanation as to how and why his sentence was commuted.
I take full responsibility for my actions of nine years ago. I acted on the facts presented to me in 2000. If I could have possibly known what Clemmons would do nine years later, I obviously would have made a different decision. But if the same file was presented to me today, I would have likely made the same decision.
Each state is different, but in Arkansas, a governor doesn’t initiate a parole—the Post Prison Transfer Board does after it conducts a thorough review of an inmate’s file and request. The board then makes a recommendation to the governor, who decides to grant or deny.
If the decision is made to grant any form of clemency (the broad term for a commutation or a full pardon), the governor gives notice of intent and the file is sent to the prosecutor, judge, law enforcement officials, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State as well as to the news media. A period of 30 days is then started for there to be public input as well as response from the above named officials. At the end of the public response period, the final decision is rendered.
Between 1,000 and 1,200 requests for some form of clemency came to my desk each and every one of the 10 ½ years I was governor. Ninety-two percent of the time, I denied the requests. When I did grant them, it was usually based on the recommendation of at least five of the members of the PPTB, with consideration given to the input from public officials.
Maurice Clemmons was 16 years old when he was charged with burglary and robbery. He was sentenced to a total of 108 years based on the way in which the sentences were stacked. For the crimes he committed and the age at which he committed the crimes, it was dramatically outside the norm for sentencing. The PPTB recommended in 2000 by a 5-0 vote for his sentence to be commuted.
He had served 11 years of his sentence. A pardon would have set him free and cleared his record. A commutation to “time served” would have set him free and released him from any parole reporting. As per the recommendation, I commuted his sentence to the term of 47 years, still a long sentence for the type of crime he had committed, but it would make him parole eligible. It would not parole him, as governors do not have that power in Arkansas. He would have to separately apply for parole and meet the criteria for that.
Despite news reports to the contrary, the only record of public response to the notice to commute was from the trial judge, who recommended the commendation in concert with the board. There were letters of support, but no record of letters of opposition.
Following the commutation, he met the criteria for parole and was paroled to supervision in late 2000. When he violated terms of his parole by participating in additional crimes, he was returned to prison and should have stayed there. For reasons only the prosecutor can explain, charges were not brought forth in a timely way and the prosecutor ended up dropping the charges, allowing him to leave prison and return to supervised parole.
He moved to Washington state and had intermittent criminal activity that increased in violence and frequency. He was allowed to post bail in Washington state and while on bail from there committed the unspeakable acts of murdering four valiant police officers. I can’t explain why he wasn’t prosecuted properly for the parole violations or why he was allowed to make bail in Washington state and not incarcerated earlier for crimes committed there.
I wish his file had never crossed my desk, but it did. The decision I made is one that I now wish were different, but I could only look backwards at his case, not forward. None of this is of any comfort to the families of these police officers nor should it be. Their loss is senseless. No words or deeds by anyone will bring them back to their loved ones. Our system is not perfect and neither are those responsible for administering it.
The system and those of us who are supposed to make sure it works sometimes fail. In this case, we clearly did.
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:01 am
find the factor of 50 and 1000