Flimsy or not, i respect the Attorney general trying to stop the release of these people.

“Unfortunately our research has revealed that Gov. Barbour violated the Constitution,”

Unfortunate for whom? The murderers who shined the Governor's shoes?

FORTUNATELY for the citizens of Mississippi, the research has revealed that Gov. Barbour violated the Constitution.

Agreed RwEvans. I hope he CAN put a stop to it too. Especially some of those murderers that were more of the premeditated variety. 208 pardons = someone gave that governor a ton of money for those. I hope the AG checks into that also.

Pardoning these criminals - It's the nature of the Republican Beast.

Here is a link to a youtube video titled:

"The Truth About Republicans"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlKMy65dyz4&feature=related

Like I say, Nature of the Beast!

Check Barbour's off-shore accounts - you may have your explanation.

He is a Republican which means he is a hypocrite and will do anything for the God almighty dollar bill. So who paid this thief off?

This is so completely out of character for Barber that it makes me wonder if he did not have some kind of mental breakdown in the last days in office that caused this. Hopefully the state AG is successful in blocking the release of the violent offenders included on this pardons list.

But, but, Barbour already cashed the checks. Oh well, no guarantees, no refunds I guess.

Not that I agree with letting out dangerous criminals, but I have strong doubts that he violated their constitution just because one guy said so. In virtually every U.S. jurisdiction I have ever heard of, the Executive branch is given this right unconditionally.

The chances of his pardons being overturned are nil.

That's a very flimsy technicality to reverse some very questionable pardons. The voters in Mississippi elected these clowns, so I guess they're getting exactly what they deserve.

Yeah, that whole Constitution thingy is a 'flimsy technicality'.

No one person should have this much power to overrule a 12 person jury's decision. It's not democratic.

There should be a committee. It won't stop corrupt decisions completely, but at least they have a chance.

This IDIOT is as criminal as those he turned loose on us. Throw his Butt in prison. He is the scum of the earth!!!

Remember too -- the Rethugs were begging this scumbag to run for President as he was such a fine, upstanding Rethug who happens to be racist too

If there was ever a need for a picture in a dictionary or Wikipedia of a corrupt politician, Gov. Barbour's mug could easily fit the bill. Yes I know you can't judge a book by it's cover, but jeez talk about your typical fat-cat politician. If he were an actor you know he would be typecast as the sleazy senator that takes bribes from the oil companies, or the town sheriff that shakes down the local business owners.

And btw, both Democrats and Republicans are equally corrupt. I'm not brainwashed into thinking that only one party smells like roses.

Maybe him self is or was a criminal, we just may or not know. sides... take care of your own

I have strong doubts that he violated their constitution just because one guy said so. In virtually every U.S. jurisdiction I have ever heard of, the Executive branch is given this right unconditionally.

The chances of his pardons being overturned are nil.

Sounds like you want these murderers to be released...

And I heard that the day after he left the governor's office he got himself a good job as a LOBBYIST! Oh well, such is politics. I remember years ago shortly after my dad retired from the Army he had some hay that the Army wanted to buy for their horses. In order to sell the hay they needed, he had to sell it to a neighboring rancher who sold it to the Army. But that was then, when the government really followed the rules and regulations.

Sounds like you want these murderers to be released...

I think it's completely possible that a person with a conscience would want them to be released. We don't know anything about the details of the cases (this story is too sensational to give us any actual FACTS - boo MSNBC). We don't know if these were premeditated crimes. We don't know when they happened or anything about the people who were convicted. We don't know if they've already been in jail for 20 or 30 years.

It's easy to jump to conclusions and say all criminals should be locked up forever. But until we know more about the circumstances, it really doesn't make any sense to say anything either way.

The one thing that truly bothers me about it is that they claim part of the rationale is financial - that their medical conditions are expensive to treat. That's idiotic. Who's going to pay for that treatment when they get out? Most convicted felons aren't HMO members, and have a really difficult time getting good work. They'll go right onto Medicaid, or they'll be under tremendous financial pressure to commit more crimes to pay for care. Either way, it's a really stupid reason to make a pardon.

I can't imagine any good reason for what Gov Barbour did. That said, do you ding dongs really think that these murderer-clowns have money? The ridiculous claims made here really do make you all sound like complete idiots.

There is no record of any serious corruption - it actually would explain a lot, but who the hell knows. As for the headline, again, very misleading. If it read Pardons result in 26 convicted criminals being released, that would be far less interesting. The truth, but dull. On top of that, most are sick / under doctors care, not exactly dangerous people.

This constant over the top, jump to conclusions nonsense is beyond old and childish.

Ok, go ahead, rant on.

Willy1962, sounds like you can't read since the FIRST thing I wrote was "Not that I agree with letting out dangerous criminals". My point has nothing to do with whether anyone wants them released, as I think most rational people would not want that at all, myself included.

The constitutional issue is another matter, and my comment was simply technical and thus: No matter how the average citizen feels about it, the Executive branch has been given that right, and thus, that will pretty much make it a done deal, and ultimately, I doubt any court will overturn his pardons short of finding out he was paid for them.

Violent criminals get pardoned while prisons are still overpopulated with those who committed minor or even victimless crimes. How's this fair at all?

can be returned to custody if they commit another crime.

Well i should hope so! That's kinda how it works isn't it?

Barbour, a Republican,

I don't see what that has to do with anything. Bad decisions are made on both sides.

@ Dan-299885

So let me get this straight. Just because a Democrat has done it you fell it's alright to defend this Republican? Are you for what's right or wrong or are you just anti-democrat?

The problem is that you statement is half truth. (Why did I know that before looking it up)

http://www.kentucky.com/2011/10/22/1929681/campaign-watchdog-claims-about.html

@ Practical Libertarian

That said, do you ding dongs really think that these murderer-clowns have money? The ridiculous claims made here really do make you all sound like complete idiots.

Didn't you even read the article ?

"Among the pardoned was the brother of retired National Football League star quarterback Brett Favre. Earnest Scott Favre was convicted in 1996 of driving while intoxicated resulting in the death of his best friend. He was sentenced to a year of house arrest and two years probation."

You think maybe Brett Farve doesn't have a few thousand laying around to get his brother out of jail? What makes you think the others don't have family that will give money to get their relative released?

I don't like seeing a governor's authority to issue a pardon overruled by some judge. Separation of powers are there for a reason. Sometimes we don't like it, but I really don't want some judge making a decision like this. The right for pardons and clemency have always been reserved for the President and governors and I don't like it messed with just because people have an issue with what the governor did. When Bill Clinton left office as the POTUS he made some unpopular pardons too.

ALL of you IGNORED Dan's post and COLLAPSED it when he made an EXTREMELY VALID point. Truly you all cannot be serious. I find it hard to believe that you can be so staunch in your unyielding support for the Democratic party to ignore such a remarkable fact and undeniably more questionable act than the article is about.

Unless you are willing to apply the same SWEEPING ACCUSATIONS AND INSINUATIONS to your own party that you handily sling at the other.

meede1

Remember too -- the Rethugs were begging this scumbag to run for President as he was such a fine, upstanding Rethug who happens to be racist too

How could he be a racist if he pardoned black convicts as well? Moron. If you ask me he's nothing more than a RINO two face after such a sickening political maneuver. And don't you dare act as if the liberals aren't soft on violent criminals.

TOTALLY LOCO !!!......okay, get him out of office, he's NOT playing with a full deck..........

@ jeeeesus

This is his last term....Phil Bryant was sworn in.

At any rate, 99 percent of Mississippi residents oppose this. I'm glad to see a judge is stepping up and saying "not so fast."

Larry, go back to school, and learn reading and math. farve's brother was sentenced to 1 year in jail, and 2 years probation. he has been done for 13 years. Already out and over.

Perhaps the concept of releasing the very ill is so they can spend their last days with family. Medicaid costs waaaay less than medical care while in prison. Average of $40,000.00 a year to keep a person in prison. Now add medical on top of that. Makes good sense and sympathy to send them home.

Bottom line, Barbour this was an idiotic move.

Espy25 - Why the devil would you put out information about Kentucky when this is about Mississippi = Haley Barbour was the Governor of Mississippi

Now about this man he was a lobbyist before he became Governor - he must be missing all that easy money

And remember Katrina - Mississippi got a bigger payout than Louisiana - what's the difference - why sugar the Governor of Louisiana was a Democrat and Haley is a Republican - had to take care of those Casinos and the people of New Orleans be damned

I don't know that anything is awry but, given the Governors past comments about supporting Citizens Councils and his past association with White Supremacists groups, I would like to see what the racial make up of those pardoned is vs. the population of the states prisons..... I suspect we will see it tilted a little towards the lighter shades....

It is this simple, some how, some where, money changed hands. barbour has been a corrupt tool all his life.

"George Carlin had a way with words, and a pretty clear view of the GOP."

He used to remind his audience "its a big club out there and you aint in it" That is the republican way of thinking like this incident. One Democrat lost a chance at being President after he released a murderer and President Clinton was castigated for months on his pardon by the same people who are now defending the Governor. The fact is if he did not follow the rules (of which I am not privy to) then the pardons should be nullified. The process is cumbersome and takes a long time to even reach a governors desk from what I can read. If he has to send a list of names he plans to pardon out and he did not there may be a chance he screwed up. That is for the courts to decide. Until then we have to put up with the right wingnuts yelling their incessant " well your side did it too"

Barbara Adams Jackson

"And remember Katrina - Mississippi got a bigger payout than Louisiana - what's the difference - why sugar the Governor of Louisiana was a Democrat and Haley is a Republican - had to take care of those Casinos and the people of New Orleans be damned"

First off, do you realize entire towns were gone in the state of Mississippi after Katrina. You can still go to the coast and see empty lot after empty lot. New Orleans was flooded because they never fixed their levee. So yeah Mississippi would end up with more money.

As far the pardons, I see why but I don't agree with it even with a large majority was already out of prison. Just another typical politician.

He was sentenced to a year of house arrest and two years probation."???? he was not even in prison !!!

Whatever happened to "Let the Punishment suit the Crime"? By pardoning these people without regard of "rehhabilitation" this Governor is taking on the responsibility of a Parole Board and a proper hearing.

He was sentenced to a year of house arrest and two years probation."???? he was not even in prison !!!

And in the real world, with that conviction, even though the "debt" was paid, he would have a very hard time achieving anything like a desirable, productive career. Such people continue to live in prison, wherever they go. That is not justice, it is never ending revenge.

Left or right, seems there are a lot of repub bashers on here as usual. But look up Clinton he pardoned or commuted more than 180 people, this is "common practice" amongst outgoing heads. It is right or is it just showing off their power at the end of their run? I think it is just another stereotypical egotical maniacs way showing their power.

justredd64

Left or right, seems there are a lot of repub bashers on here as usual. But look up Clinton he pardoned or commuted more than 180 people, this is "common practice" amongst outgoing heads. It is right or is it just showing off their power at the end of their run? I think it is just another stereotypical egotical maniacs way showing their power.

How many were murderers?

Like Ford pardoning Nixon maybe. Granting a pardon is either within the province of a Governor or President or it is not. He said that ninety percent of those pardons had the approval of the parole board. I'm one of those who recommend using pardons sparingly but in a large portion of these pardons the people were already out of jail. He merely pardoned them of and for the crimes. One of the reasons we have a jurisprudence system is to take revenge out of the equation. The family of victims usually are dissatisfied with any sentence given the perpetrator. If he was given life without parole, they often feel he should have got the chair. Not all killers, kill a second time, and not all deaths by anothers hands merits a death penalty or even a life time in jail. There are exceptions to this of course but this is why we have a system of laws and a complicated system of judgement, to take the revenge equation out of sentencing. Every State in the Country knows and has what is called a hanging Judge. He or she hands out the harshest sentences possible under the law or their descretion. No one but the sentenced one or his family views this with any alarm nor questions the wisdom of that Judge. This Governor, showed a different side of that same descretion under his power as Governor. If we must condemn him we must condemn every Judge in the Country who expunges any ones record of a previous crime and this goes on in every State in the Union on a daily basis. A nine out of ten record can't be all bad and if you think money was involved check the parole boards bank accounts also. Incidently how much did President Ford receive for granting Nixon a pardon.

Thank God. we are now safe from a Barbour for President run.

The finger pointing and lashing out at others because they do not agree with your political rantings is amazing on these threads. I am saddened for you that the bubble you live in will one day come crashing down around you and you will have nothing, yes I said nothing, to support anything that you believed in. So the only advice I can give.... GROW UP and try seeing both sides instead of bashing one side or the other.

Now, as far as this story is concerned, this is why there should always be checks and balances: regardless of which party he is a part of, there should always be a process for reality checks. If his pardons were off the wall or the process was not taken through the proper channels then the checks and balances part of the process would/ should catch that and put a stop to it. We all know that most of these stories on here are only partial information. Yet some take the little info and run at light speed...right into the wall

Think about this. Barbour was an acceptable presidential candidate according to the Republican establishment group.

i think this is treason on the people of the united states and he should be charged as such! these corrpt servants get a free ride and rake in the money! time to show'em you screw the people and your get it hard!good luck to miss. families and all those tax payers dollars that it cost to put them away! also maybe those prisoners found out something while doing his chores at his castle!

Barbour was just another piece of cow flop forced down the throats of the dimwit puggy voters. Now those same pubbies will complain about the bad after taste. When will they ever learn, me thinks never. So sad, so scary, so typical.

For those who are shocked by this and ripping on Barbour, google Eric Holder and Marc Rich...

Oldmann "Medicaid costs waaaay less than medical care while in prison. Average of $40,000.00 a year to keep a person in prison. Now add medical on top of that. Makes good sense and sympathy to send them home."

especially when it's the feds picking up the tab, not your state.

not that im shocked by the hypocrisy, the poorest states are the red states and they receive the most fed dollars, and yet...everything out of a republicans mouth is about smaller govt, less taxes less handouts...except, when it's THEIR hand thats sticking out. of course.

DO YOU ALL MIND IF WE RELEASE ALL THE PRISONERS IN MICHIGAN, AND DEPORT THEM TO THE SOUTH? WE ARE FLAT BROKE, AND FROM WHAT I HEAR - THIS IS A FAST WAY TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS!

a possible presidential candidate, the former leader of the repub party?

L M F A O

oh the irony in life, tickles me hard

well mississippi, enjoy the growing number of death in your nieghborhoob, i mean, you voted for this, it was in the FINE PRINT LOLZ

Folks, the answer is plain as day. It's libs and cons. Since Barbour is a 'con' he let the REAL cons go free.

These a$$holes were in prison for a reason. Why do we let ANYONE pardon them????????

As an attorney who works extensively with convicted violent offenders I can say that Barbour's decision was sound.

Our prisons are overcrowded with elderly convicts holding absolutely no threat to public safety whatsoever. Many of these convicts are hooked up to IVs, bedridden, wheelchair bound, and require expensive medical care. It costs the states millions of dollars to care for these individuals.

A person convicted of a crime should be punished. No one's going to argue that. But we need to take a more pragmatic approach to dealing with our convicts. America incarcerates over 1% of its population. No other country in the world comes anywhere close to that. It's unconscionable that we so freely take away the freedom of so many of our citizens. The general public simply does not understand what occurs in our criminal justice system. Our criminal laws are extremely overbroad and our accepted theories of criminal punishment have become utterly ineffective.

Politicians run on "tough on crime" platforms. Being "tough on crime" is popular. No one likes crime. But the repurcussions of these platforms are wideranging. No one considers the impact our overly broad criminal laws are having on our economy, our society, and our core values. More and more young people are being tossed in with hardened criminals for "crimes" that thirty years ago would never have been considered crimes. These young individuals learn from the criminals they're tossed in with. They're also taught by the system that they're underclass and begin to wonder whether they should even try to make it in this world. It becomes a downward spiral. Furthermore, when they're locked up they can't work to provide for their families who then suffer. On top of it all, it's expensive to house these individuals. If we really want to get serious about reducing government spending, one of the first places we should look to is our criminal laws. People are completely underinformed about jail and prison issues in America. They're expensive to run. House 80-90% non-violent offenders. Do absolutely nothing to rehabilitate those kids who need help. And any efforts at fixing these problems are met with outrage by a public that just doesn't get it. Crime is bad. That's easy to understand. Dealing with crime is another story. Do we really need to lock away so many non-violent, wayward, inner city kids? Or should we save millions of tax dollars and keep our prisons focused on truly violent offenders?

As for the Constitutionality of it. A thirty day notice requirement on a pardon is a flimsy technicality. Pardons are executive branch powers. Notice is not a constitutional issue when it comes to executive branch powers. Only judicial branch. The AG is most obviously pandering. The challenge will go nowhere.

This is exactly why Mississippi is the way it is. A screwed up state with a backwards buffoon running the show.

Doesnt Mississippi need field workers? After earning $.15 an hour in prison, making license plates, $5.00 an hour to pick cotton will make them rich.

It doesn't matter what political party you are from, this is an abuse of power!

Let me ask all the Barbour bashers, did any of you notice that 189 of 200 odd were already out of prison. This means they were released by a parole board or something similar before Barbour acted. Or, as in the case cited in the article, the person had already served whatever sentence had been handed down by the court.

Of course what most of you keyboard flappers don't know because it isn't mentioned in the article is that Jim Hood - Mississippi AG - is a Democrat. Not only is he a Democrat he has been quite the partisan Democrat of late. And, he has at least one axe to grind with Gov. Barbour because the Gov. hired outside council to include MS in the suit over Obamacare that is coming up before the SCOTUS this term. And that was done because Hood wouldn't act on behalf of the citizens of MS.

In other words, this is all nothing more or less than a bunch of liberal gotcha crap to make a Republican, any Republican, look bad in an election year.

To all those who are saying that MS got what it deserved for electing Barbour in the first place; you're right we did. Wanna see some of the results?

Look at the coastal recovery after Katrina and compare Conservative MS with Liberal LA. MS recovered far faster and is still well ahead of where LA is even today some seven years later.

Look at the fact that MS has one brand new and relatively new auto factory. Although the UAW is targeting them to become union shops they were located here in part because union membership in this state is not mandatory and they can't make it mandatory even in certain locations or for certain groups.

So yes, we did get what we asked for in our Governor. And now we're coming back for seconds since we just elected the LT. Gov. as Gov.

State Atty,

This has got to be the best response on any subject, on any blog that I have ever read. If you are indeed what your name says you are, I hope that you are trying to succeed to a higher office.

If you aren't - then you need to be in politics. This country is in sore need of people like you.

Maybe him self is or was a criminal, we just may or not know. sides... take care of your own

WTF! Who are the three that understood this?

In his defense, these people haven't killed anyone while in prison, so I guess they're cool now.

Barbour just saved the state of Mississippi A TON OF TAX MONEY in housing, feeding and clothing these inmates. Now that they're PARDONED (and the smart ones got the hell out of the state as fast as they could!), you can't "bring them back" unless they break a law in the state of Mississippi!!! I hope they take the opportunity to become better American citizens, and begin to contribute to the tax rolls they used to take from. I don't condone the crimes they committed in any way shape or form. We need to learn how to let these things go and move on. We haven't learned how to let 9/11 go and we've become wholly and totally uncivilized because of it!!!

In defense of the law, Governors and Presidents have pardon power. Please note that most pardons issued are for crimes for which time has been serviced (Favre's brother, etc), and usually there is a lack of any further reason why not. In defense of murderers (I am an attorney who has dealt with them), I was in conversation with the chief of security of a state prison, and he commented that a paroled/pardoned murderer, who's crime did not involve drugs or sexual sadism, is often a better neighbor than many average citizens. He had good reason for the statement - this is a person who NEVER wants to see the inside of that prison ever again, and will live a sober, clean life in order to avoid any chance of going back to prison. I've got three murderers in my state that are doing life without parole, whom I would like to see their sentences commuted or a pardon issued, because I think these three will make pretty darn good citizens, given the chance. All have been locked up for more than 35 years now.

Haley Barbour's may be in hot water ... even if the decision is not bad .... only time will tell ..

If none of these men commit another crime, the decision is a good one. The odds are against that being the case. Most persons that have been incarcerated for any substantial time have a incredibly difficult time reentering society and "Re Up" in despair. Tragic ...

State Attorney Bearcat, Boogablue & Jon2149156 Congratulations!~~~ Gutsy Post ...

It takes some balls to go against the flow!
"Mob" lynchings started this way ...

I seem to recall Bill Clinton pardoning a bunch of Puerto Rican terrorists just so Hillary could get the PR vote, and how much did Marc Rich pay Clinton for his pardon.

I'm no fan of Barbour or Republicans in general but the man is no idiot. I don't know what his motivations were but there is no way he is stupid enough to get caught up in some kind of pay for play pardoning convicted murderers because he would know the backlash it would cause.

"My decision about clemency was based upon the recommendation of the Parole Board in more than 90 percent of the cases," the statement said.

more than 90% recommended by the parole board, plus medical costs were driving costs way up for some of them.

now what are the "lock them up forever" crowd whining about?

Hey Yall I seem to recall that Bill and Hillary Clinton had something to do with 155 deaths before Bill left office. Just ask Art Bell that now has to live other than in the U.S. due to death threats.

What the Gov. did is pale and uncomparable to the slime Clinton death squads.

Larry is accusing Brett Favre of being behind the huge payoff that it took to get his brother and a bunch of random people out of jail. Just goes to show that NFL quarterbacks are all evil! Tebow included! Actually, Tebow probably paid to get the rest of the people out of jail! If you think this post is dumb, read the rest of these! lol

How does one form a response to something so preposterous? I'm with the AG, Barbour didn't dot an i.

Realist

All the name calling and you are calling others juvenile.

Haley Barbour = soft on crime

Pathetic Typical for a Republican.

Oh I supose it is fine for Dems to let everyone out before they leave,,, or was that because the inmates were Elite s just like them,,, Dear Bill Clinton comes to mind,,, and all those poor little Illeagal Aliens that all the liberal judges let go everyday Im not saying it was right ,, but why jump on a Rep, when they all do it

Look at the record, it's the democrats that seem to have a lot of friends behind bars;

Presidential pardones

G.W. Bush - 176

Bill Clinton - 456

H.W. Bush - 77

Ronald Regan - 406 (bad Republican, but wait)

Jimmy Carter - 566 (Worse Democrat)

Seeing as we're throwing names around, I've got one.

Scooter Libby.

CHRIS

The article is referring to violent criminals.

Most of these who receive pardons (Not the same as being released as most of those pardoned by Presidents were already released) were not violent.

Apples to Oranges

The worst pardon was by Ford. Does anyone remember a man named Nixon?

I would have thought that after headlines like this "Huckabee Granted Clemency To Maurice Clemmons, Person Of Interest, In Ambush That Killed 4 Cops" you idiot Republicans would have learned your lesson, I guess not!

I don't care what party you are with. Is that it... is that what I'm not understanding about the Republican party this past 12 years? Is that your party affiliation is what defines you as a person? Do you wake up everyday and say "I'm a Democrat and will live today as just that", OR "I'm a Republican, it's in my blood and that is what drives me daily". Are you people nuts. I'm a Republican and I'm not voting in 2012 as one because... I'm smart and would like to think I have common sense!! I don't believe in voting evil into office just to make a President a one term president and I don't believe in a "do nothing" congress and then blame the president for not doing the work that is job to do in the first place. This Governor had some good picks, such as the footballs brother, who drove drunk and his friend was killed. This was like a bad decision it was not like he intended to kill. Now, if you shoot your wife in the head as she held your baby... did the man have a melt down... who knows... but should he have a gun ever again... NO. Common sense. Don't release those who intended death, and if you do, don't put a gun back in their hands and make them serve their time (not that today if you want one its around the corner). We could as a Nation save billions of dollars by creating jails for drug/alcohol addicts and getting them help during the years served. That is just common sense also.

UN-cleareye, this is done by governors all over the country, republican and democrat. I didn't like it when the criminal Mark Rich was pardoned by Clinton, just as I don't like it with Barbour, but that is the law. Our former Governor, Frank Clement went to prison for selling pardons, and had to resign and leave his office two months early. He was a multiple term democrat governor, when is not relevant to the issue at all. I think the law should be changed, and place a requirement that a citizens' board go along with the pardons. That, or abolish the practice completely.

Nothing these Republican Governor's do surprises me anymore. It is OK to pardon Murderers, abolish Unions, sell State Property etc, etc.

The People of each state elects these clowns so I guess we the people are responsible for this madness. Promise Jobs, Jobs and more Jobs then cut the number of state employees. I guess that equals more jobs. Our Florida Governor claims he has created 50,000 jobs but when asked where/when he doesn't answer. Maybe he is not telling the truth.

Carl, it isn't just republicans, Obama wants us to believe that he saved hundreds of thousands of jobs, with nothing to back up those figures.

for those of you who pointed out that party affiliation appears to have nothing to do with it, thank you. It was Hailey Barbour, Gov, who granted these particular pardons. He did not do it because he is a Republican. The former presidential candidate who pardoned Willie Horton did not do it because he was a Democrat. Gerald Ford did not pardon Nixon (for a crime for which he was never convicted -innocent until proven guilty, anyone?) did not do it because he was a Republican. Ford did it because it was the best way out of the mess, and so as to not start any sort of policy of prosecuting Presidents after they leave office (that would have been a really bad precedent to set, by the way). Be up in arms all you want, but PLEASE take a bit of time to study the law before you spout off.

Carl Obama says he has created 2,000,000 jobs. Maybe he is not telling the truth.

Politician= THE BIG LIE.

Where are all the dumb democrap comments and responses. Oh, that's right I'm reading them here and now. How juvenile to interpret one man's idiotic actions as representative of an entire political party. Democraps are juvenile in their thinking, must be why Odumbo

now who is juvenile?

nope, name-calling is not juvenile at all (sarc)

and he calls himself "realist", what a joke.

arrogant and MORONIC Republican.

This is only directed at Governor Barbour, not other Governors.

At one time Barbour was considered as a candidate for President.

Those southeastern republicans are still fighting the civil war.

Instead of building a fence around Mexico the fence should be around Mississippi, and it can't be high enough.

IRESPOND::: Not dementia. He has for years been governing while being in a state of AIT. He is one of these that is Alzheimer's In Training.

This is the AGs assertion. If he's basing this on the 30 "notice" day rule- It looks vague and I'm not sure if it actually limits the governor's power. Quickly looked at, it doesn't appear to impose the requirement on the governor, but who knows what the Mississippi courts would say - they'll likely get a chance weigh in on the matter. AG (IMO) is mad he wasn't "consulted." He (or whoever in the office looks these things over)may feel the need to justify his salary. This type of action seems to be an epidemic in government jobs lately - regardless of which branch, level or political party is involved.

Most likely an appeals court in Mississippi (Preferably its Supreme Court) has the last say (i.e. the one that matters) on the issue.

You are probably jumping the gun on your self righteous outrage. Nobody knows who the inmates are, exactly what they were convicted off, how long each had been in or had left to go, and the medical status of these inmates. Inmates in the end stages of fatal diseases are very unlikely to reoffend. Everybody wants to toatally freak out with out all the relevant information. God don't you all get it?? The whole story is never, ever, ever told on this site.. Stop getting so upset!! And just to point out, a person who kills somebody in a drunk driving act is just a little bit different than lets' say..Jeffery Dahlmer?? If there is a rule about 30 days notice then perhaps this guys pardons are no good. So slow down a minute and find out whats' really going on for a change.

skrewdworldYou are probably jumping the gun on your self righteous outrage. Nobody knows who the inmates are, exactly what they were convicted off

What? 10 seconds on google will give you that info and guess what - a large portion of the pardons were murderers.

You undoubtably have advanced ESP, which is clouded by your lack of intelligence. Under our system of jurisprudence we do not presume any one's guilt before he has committed the crime. It is true that many who kill once kill again, but this is a very small percentage of all murders. Usually the total number of murders by the same person, when he has killed multiple times is only discovered after he has been apprehended for one murder, ala serial killers. Ninety nine percent of those who kill once never kill again if they are caught and sentenced and are subsequently released. We need you on ghost patrol with some of our police departments so that you can point out potential murderers before they kill someone. Report to the nearest police department and inform them of your psychic ability. But keep a lawyer handy you might be arrested as a kook.

IRESPOND - Your ignorance is amazing.

The vast majority of the pardoned were not incarcerated. Among those who were, most have significant medical problems and many are elderly. The chances of these individuals committing further crimes is extremely low.

You need to understand our system of criminal justice before you start making such ignorant comments.

Just recently the United States Supreme Court upheld a three-judge panel injunction ordering California to release 46,000 inmates. The Supreme Court spent months pouring over caselaw, public policy considerations, and pragmatic concerns regarding the release of so many "criminals" and determined that the benefits of release outweigh the burdens on society of keeping so many people locked up. So the smartest people in our country along with the smartest attorneys representing these issues have determined that the best thing to do right now is release prisoners.

America incarcerates over 1% of its population. No other country in the world comes anywhere near that number. Most of these people are non-violent offenders and would never have been locked away thirty years ago. Also, a huge proportion of these people are bedridden or wheelchair bound and hold absolutely no threat to public safety. It has gotten completely out of control.

StateAtty,

You do see what you are dealing with don't you?

The problem out there is that until it happens to them, they don't care! They don't educate themselves, they don't want to educate themselves, they just want to feed on the hate. They don't realize the cost to this country..and I'm not just talking money here. The only thing they have is an opinion.

Doesn't matter if that opinion is not based on fact, but rather from watching a 2 minute news broadcast, listening to Uncle Bubba's politics, or something they overhear at their local grocery store; it's their opinion and they'll stand behind it no matter what.

It's what we've become.

I'm outta here.

it is true that a FEW who kill once kill again. Generally, those who do are psychotic, on drugs, dealing drugs, or some such. Most murders are committed with very little forethought (it takes very little thought to still be a forethought, and therefore "planned" sufficiently for a first degree conviction. A guy who's been behind bars for 30 years generally does not want to go back, and will not kill again. And again, most of those pardoned were already out on the street, so it isn't like you have much to fear. I have a client who spent five years behind bars for assault, he is not now violent, as he never wants to go back to prison. I'd like to see a pardon for him, but I serious doubt our REPUBLICAN governor will issue one. My client needs a job, but can't find one, and I am sure that felony conviction on his record is a major reason.

Good point about the AG's political ambitions. Perhaps the former governor's technical bobble was intentional, to allow some showboating by the AG to "save the day" and get the pardons cancelled.

I could understand commuting a death penalty to a life-without-parole sentence - that could be an act of conscience for an old fart politician with a foot in the grave himself. I could even understand paroling a terminally ill criminal, to avoid expensive medical care from the Dept. of Corrections and possibly get some felons off a priority transplant list. The health care costs would be shifted to Medicaid, but the felons would no longer have the guaranteed after-transplant care, which could move them down (or off) the transplant list. But pardon or commute sentence for a convicted felon who can still walk and care for themselves? No way - run them down with a few more years of prison food and medical care first.

It is always better with hindsight than foresight. Some have said this Governor is suffering from many illnesses which run the gamut of mental psychosis. I am not a, nor was I a favorite fan of Mississippi, nor the Republican party, but I believe that and I am convienced that inherent fairness comes to all in time. This man had time to study the mentality of at least four of these murderers close at hand, they worked for him. I cannot in good conscious believe that he would release a murderer(potential) back into society unless he felt strongly that that man would not repeat his crime. You do not become the Governor of a State without having some qualifications of determining a man's worth to himself and to society. No State elects an idiot to the post of Governor, Republican or Democrat. I would place my bets on the side of the Governor. I do not think he knew all of the two hundred eight men he pardoned either so someone must have recommended most of them. Recommendations come from people who generally have a vested interest in seeing a pardon issued and this interest is not always motivated by money. Wardens some time recommend pardons, as do Judges, Prosecutors and well meaning citizens. In most cases the grantor of pardons, the Govenor or the President rely on reports given him by parole boards or of people charged with investigating the merits of an individual pardon. If we must condemn this Governor, we must widen our condemnation to a lot of other recommenders.

Absolutely! The unfortunate thing is that he will never be held criminally responsible for it.

I live near Boston, where a parole board paroled a convict serving three (THREE!) life sentences for murders. Within weeks of being released, he was robbing a jewelry store on Christmas Eve and was happened upon by an off-duty cop a week away from retirement. They killed each other in the chase and shootout.

It goes without saying that these clowns are not on the parole board anymore, but as far as many of us feel, they should be brought up on charges of accessory to murder. It wasn't like this criminal totally bamboozled them, what person in their right mind couldn't see this coming? It was totally irresponsible, and totally insane, just like what Barbour did! He should be held criminally responsible for any future murders, rapes or armed robberies.

justredd64 - "hatemonger/retard"? Look in the the mirror.

justredd64 - Please from your vast knowledge, show us some real life examples where a democratic governor has done the same thing. GROW UP.

Let's look at the real issue here, the GOV made a tremendous mistake, and now the people are the ones who will suffer..

And any blood that is shed is on Barbour's hands and the criminal Barbour shouild be put on trial

For those saying the dems don't do the same thing, look no farther than the "great" state of Massachusetts where it has happened twice in the past twenty years. In both cases innocent people died because of it. Get off your partisan high horse. The growing up will happen when you come to the realization that NEITHER side has the best interest of Americans at heart.

Allowing politicans to do this type thing is one of the strangest and most disgusting things in our society. It not repubs or dems they both and all do it. I remember when Bill Clinton pardoned somewhere around 140 or 150 criminals on his last day including convicted murders and terrorist from FALN. We should take this away from them!!

maybe someone has already commented on it but i dodnt see it. Does anyone think these pardons are made unslefishly ? It is always to return a political or personal favor or for money. Public safety be damned. We keep electing these self serving idiots and then follow them like sheep and shake our heads. Tsk tsk. Shame on us.

I think that pardons were originally meant for those who were more minor felons. I knew a guy who got a minor ticket in NY State, but he couldn't get to court to pay it because 9/11/2001 happened. Then his license was taken away, and he couldn't get to work, etc. He had no means to get to the court in the county where the original minor ticket happened. That is the kind of case that needs a pardon, not convicted murder.

I'm sick and tired of the fact that children can't walk in neighborhoods because there are "former" sex offenders who are there. In 1985, I was assaulted by a man on parole for homicide in NY State, and I couldn't understand why such a person was out of jail. When I got to court, I found out that he had assaulted several people in a spree. I'm not always thinking about it, but I have developed an auto-immune disease caused by stress that can be measured by blood tests. That was over 25 years ago, but I still suffer, almost worse now than then. Crime victims and their families are affected their whole lives by these crimes. Forgiveness is important to work on for a victim, but that is a long way from letting the criminals out to do similar life-destroying harm to another person. And...

Victims have NO Constitutional rights! I researched this from 1985 on: the only rights are the unwritten rights borrowed from the Magna Carta, included in the 9th Amendment about the inclusion of previous rights. But it is never spelled out. Legally in the U.S.A., the victim is only a "witness" to their crime; but "society" is the "victim," so if "society" decides that it is not harmed, it can do anything to anybody. Legally.

I'm a Democrat, and I believe in fairness, but also stern justice when it is needed.

Bill is right.

@ ItsAboutTime-3704531

Former governor (and presumptive Democratic gubernatorial candidate) Jerry Brown pardoned more than 400 convicted criminals during his two terms in office from 1975 to 1983 – from those found guilty of murder and rape to scores locked up on lesser offenses, such as petty theft and check forgery.

http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/exclusive-search-more-400-criminals-pardoned-jerry-brown-789

In a move to shield criminally convicted immigrants from deportation, the governor of New York has created a special pardon panel to forgive individuals of state crimes that under federal law require expulsion from the U.S., according to a report from the public-interest group Judicial Watch.

Governor David Paterson is suffering from dismal poll numbers as low as 29 percent favorability. Critics claim he's trying to duplicate a move by President Bill Clinton when he pardoned Puerto Rican terrorists who perpetrated bombings and killings in New York in order to help his wife, Hillary, in her race for New York's U.S. Senate seat.

http://archives.huntingtonnews.net/columns/100523-kouri-columnscriminalaliens.html

On Wednesday, Gov. John Baldacci pardoned a Cambodian national who faced deportation for a fatal DUI.

The outgoing governor also pardoned a British national who was convicted of burglary and various drug charges.

http://www.examiner.com/immigration-reform-in-national/maine-s-democratic-governor-pardons-criminal-aliens-on-last-day-office?fb_comment=27932166

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle has issued criminal pardons at a torrid pace since he announced he would not seek re-election, granting more in 12 months than former Gov. Tommy Thompson did in seven years, records show.

Doyle has granted 85 pardons between Aug. 17, 2009, when he announced he would not seek re-election, and early August of this year, according to records obtained by The Associated Press under the state open records law.

You can google former Louisiana Gov Edwin Edwards for yourself, and I'm sure there are more.

For those saying the dems don't do the same thing, look no farther than the "great" state of Massachusetts where it has happened twice in the past twenty years. In both cases innocent people died because of it. Get off your partisan high horse. The growing up will happen when you come to the realization that NEITHER side has the best interest of Americans at heart.

Bill, I'm inclined to agree, however I would point out that prior to 2007 all the way back to 1991, the Governor of Massachusetts was a Republican.

Missai

Pardoning someone who has already been released (often many years before) is not nearly the same as pardoning and releasing a violent criminal who has yet to serve out their term. Once you have paid your debt in prison, then it can be considered is some cases. But not before you have done the time.

6.1, Maybe you should be arrested if one of your kids committs a crime as well, you being the source of his birth. I can see you now trying to explain to the Judge you couldn't have foreseen him committing the crime, but alas you would still be responsible. This is how your philosophy works, visit the crime of the perpetrator on all who got him to that point. Believe it or not it is practiced in some communities in America. Parents are being charged for the crimes their offspring committed. Usually of a minor nature such as vandalism or something but its only a small step to covering more violent crimes. Talk about over populated jails, mothers, fathers, grand parents of criminals all doing time for his crime. Then we could get into those technical fine points of the law which prevented some criminals from being convicted. We would have to reserve some space behnd bars for those Judges also. Perfect logic don't you think.

Probably not a fair criticism. This isn't exactly a Republican thing.

Not only Missouri but one of his pardoned prisoners came to Washington State and killed 3 cops at a coffee shop. However, I believe just like a President can pardon convicts convicted of Federal Crimes, the Governor can pardon whomever he wants. People may not like it but that is what they do. It is a part of his powers as Governor so he used what he was entitled to use. What is weird here is not more than a year ago, there was all this talk about good ole boy Haley being the GOP nominee to run for President in 2012...

@GCCal: Commuting a death sentence to life in prison isn't quite the same thing as turning a bunch of murderers loose on the street. Try again.

A pardon and a halted execution are two ENTIRELY different things. A pardon releases the criminal into society.....a halted execution keeps the criminal in prison.

Not allowing executions isnt exactly letting a murderer back on the streets.

you mean like Dukakis giving murderers weekend furloughs and they killed people in Massachusetts.

torino - I remember the case - the person let loose by Huckabee - raped and murdered Bill Clinton's cousin -

Well people have to start working towards changing Governers ability to make these pardons. Unless they are on thier death bed those convicted of murder should'nt be released. Sex offender absolutely should'nt be pardoned all. The ability to do this should be limited to convicts inprisoned for much lessor crimes. Sex offenders don't seem to ever get much time unless they have multiple offenses or murder or attempt murder. Laws around sex offenders especially pedophiles need to be much harsher. These types offenders don't get cured they just try to get smarter and not get caught. Any politician, of either party that would pardon prisioners for financial gain should be tried and convicted themselves along with those paying them. However, in this particular story we just don't have the evidence that this happened.

GCCal post# 8.2--Your way off base citing Governor Kitzhabers' stopping an execution as the same as this story. I'm from Salem Oregon, The capitol of Oregon. This case was big news in this state. I disagree with him stopping the execution. One of the reasons why being that the prison inmate was not fighting his sentence and was wanting to die. Another reason being that the governor was not doing this per the people of Oregon but by his own personal dislike of executions. Having said that the biggest difference here is that the Oregon inmate will not die but neither will he EVER get out of prison.

Never get out of prison? Can you guarantee that? Couldn't another Governor pardon him?

Isn't it Barbour that has a famous, albeit edited version of a famous quote on his office wall?

"Power corrupts, but absolute power is kinda fun," or something closely along those lines.

What's more, those who commit minor or even victimless crimes get to rot in jail. What the @!$%# indeed.

That's why prisoners who were convicted of child molesting were always getting out early--"good behavior." They followed all the rules and never reported anything happening to them, and laid low the whole time, because all the other prisoners considered them to be the scum of the earth, they didn't want to do anything that would draw attention.

I would merely point out that for all the faults in individuals of either major party, it is probable that your hated "repukian" is the one more likely to stand up for your right to defend yourself, and to be able to continue making statements such as yours.

Jon-2149156

So the ACLU is a conservative group? LOL

Haley violated what law? super ex?

A number of other gun-toting good ol' boy states are putting that "personhood" referendum on their ballots in November. No IV fertilization, but let's pardon the killers.

Because he is a undercover Ku Klux Klan in the day light.

then why would he pardon 3 black murderers?

Leroy, That would make him a Democrat since they are the ones that formed the KKK.

Gulfwar9091-

You seem to have forgotten the rebranding that took place following the Voting Rights Act of 1965 when so many many disaffected Southern Democrats and Dixiecrats (not always coterminous) were welcomed into the big white tent of the Republican Party. As merely one example, under which party affiliation did Klan official David Duke serve in the Louisiana state legislature?

Anothermick: "coterminous" - GREAT word! Nice to read an intelligent post now and then, no matter on which side it falls.

Gulfwar9091

Leroy, That would make him a Democrat since they are the ones that formed the KKK.

As evidence that they nominated and subsequently elected the first black president. Clowns.

Well, I suppose it is entirely possible that he knows that all these people were railroaded. I would be willing to accept that just maybe he had an attack of conscience, but it seems rather out of character for this guy. I'd be curious to hear his explanation.

Barbour's track record tends to make us think that there almost has to be something suspicious about this. You can't help but want to go there. It is hard to say without seeing all the cases involved, but supposedly there are 19 convicted murderers on the list. Maybe the 208 is an attempt to cover for a couple of his cronies. Hard to say, but it just seems fishy.

I never liked much of what this guy had to say, but I must admit that I found his almost cartoonish character and voice somewhat entertaining. Who knows, maybe this is just the beginning of some interesting revelations. The guy is close to 65 and I suspect this pretty much excludes him from any real future political influence. Although it's funny how his fellow righties will come to his defense about this even without understanding anything about it. Even if I were a Barbour supporter, I suspect I would just keep quiet until I at least understood what was behind this.

There always is more to the story. I agree we should check his off shore accounts - - oh wait, we can't. Politicians. Gotta love 'em cause there ain't nothin' you can do about them.

You bet your last Confederate dollar their is. But that is not the point. People have been pardoned by every Governor and President since the Nation was founded and on both sides of the aisle. It is one of the perks of the office(s). The validity of this action is written into the Constitution and most State Constitutions and if some don't like it they should opt for Constitutional amendment on both levels. It has also most often been used as political fodder by one side or the other. This is the mysterious hoopla about these pardons, it provides grist for the Democrats and a few potential office seekers on the Republican side as well. Nothing will come of it until or unless any one of these pardonees gets into trouble again. It is my reccommendation that they all leave the State because law enforcement will certainly find a crime they can pin on them in due course. Other than this after the next election no one in Mississippi will give a twit about them one way or the other.

N.C., even after vast numbers of posters named governors and Presidents that pardoned thousands of convicted individuals, they still believe it is only republicans that do it. How thick-headed can some people be? I do not like seeing dangerous people released, but no governor can be absolutely positive that some of them will never repeat their crime or other crimes. Most of Barbour's releases were not locked up at the present time, if the reports that I read are true, and also that most of the released were released on the recommendations of the parole board, others. I think the biggest issue has become whether Barbour was a democrat or a republican, and facts aren't being considered at all.

Not funny, I was born elsewhere but call Mississippi my home, the people here are not stupid.

Okay not stupid - - but they had a huge lapse of judgement electing this guy.

Thank God for Mississippi. It keeps West Virginia from being dead-last in every good category. It's so much nicer when misery has a partner.

You are the one out of touch. You and the rest of the republicans around the country. You are either brain washed or completely and utterly ignorant.

That boy is President of the United States of America. Perty good for just a boy, black or white.

That boy is president because he was groomed by liberals.

And because he appealed to the inexperienced minds of the young.

They will not vote en-masse for him now that they know what "change" is.

Viewer_Ready

That boy is president because he was groomed by liberals.

And because he appealed to the inexperienced minds of the young.

News flash genius - the inexperienced young werent the only ones who voted in 2008.

Oh, I am sorry, the OLD, misinformed and inexperienced voted as well.

The governor is at best being foolish and in the future he should be held accountable for any crimes committed by the people he pardoned.

So you've personally looked into all 800 of these cases, interviewed the officers, the criminals and/or their families and done every bit of possible investigating so that you KNOW that 800 officers just went around killimg people for absolutely no good reason??? There are likely some of those cases that were questionable but I'd bet the majority were legit and justified. Seriously how would you even know the first thing about these officers that your basically calling criminals? I don't know or care what party you believe in and don't think it matters cause theres nut jobs like you on both sides.

Well, I would think a lot of these officers had no choice. And i sure would want to see the cases before calling them mudereers, Bungaard. So give me the data . . .

you are one sick puppy. The men in uniform are trying to protect you from scumbags.

The only problem is we keep hearing about more and more of these "heros" who are scumbags.

Two cases pending where I live.... a sheriff in Jail after 30 years in power who sold meth and traded drugs for gay sex for 20 of those years...and who is suspected of killing a former lover. A sheriff's deputy just arrested for fondling a 13 year old... My estimation is that 50 percent--or more--or our law enforcement agents are corrupt in some way or another and being shielded by the system.

Where there's smoke there is fire...and you can find hundreds of corrupt cops...and those are just the ones we know about.

Maybe we have way too many laws and way too many prisons...some 50% of these "serious offenders" are in the Federal system for drug violations in the proven un-winnable "war on drugs." [It does ensure a high employment rate for our 'boys in blue' though.]

Stop kidding yourselves.

I also like the majority of these posts who are so ill informed about the Mississippi pardons...all they know is what they've been fed by the f-upped media and educational system.

If we got rid of half the cops nationwide, half the lawyers and judges, and half the stupid laws we have we would be way better off.

If we got rid of half the cops nationwide, half the lawyers and judges, and half the stupid laws we have we would be way better off.

Trouble is, we don't know which half to get rid of, which ones who will throw themselves in front of you to take the bullet, and which ones will duck behind you.

You sir are a moron. I have lived in Mississippi my whole life. The stereotype of "us being white trash, hillbilly, racists" makes me feel sorry for all of you misinformed, ignorant, sorry excuses for human beings. Black or white has nothing to do with the decision he made or anything in the state of Mississippi. I wish people would read the whole article and not just the headline. While I do not agree with his decision, he did not release violent criminals. 189 of the 215 people he "PARDONED" were already out, having served their sentence. He is not the reason they are out. I will not go into detail because you seem like the kind of guy that too many details would confuse. Maybe if I take my crayons and construction paper and draw you a stick figure diagram you would come close to realizing how big of an idiot you sound like. Please do not consumate (sorry for the big words) have children.

@NRA: You sir are THE moron. Do you have the slightest clue as to what a pardon entails? You're pathetic patronizing of CD illustrates how intellectually challenged you really are and your obsession over "big words" adds further proof.

It's time for you to get out your crayons and construction paper.

Last time I checked, murder was a violent crime.

I tire of the anti-Mississippi excrement spewed out by people who have never visited the beautiful state of Mississippi. I was born and raised in Mississippi, earned and received my Bachelor and Master's degrees in Mississippi, and (while in Mississippi) associated with some of the most intelligent, diligent, and kind-hearted people in this country. I have attended the Ballet Magnificat, seen BB King play Blues in a Hay Field, experienced living in a true Mississippi small town, caught some unbelievably large fish, and got educated in some of the finest colleges in the country. To refer to myself or to the general population of my state as "dumb goobers" is insulting, yet it suggests that you have no idea what you are talking about.

As for NRA and CD, the construction paper, and the definition of "pardon", I suggest that CD might want to refrain from throwing the gauntlet to Mississippians in the future.

Eh, traffic, they say the same things about Alabama. They just don't have a clue. They form these opinions, and most of these yahoos have never even set foot in the South. But, that's okay. Let them think what they want, and maybe they will stay away. We don't need or want their kind here- let them keep their hate in their own home states. They carry on about hatred and bigotry, but they're the ones spewing the some of the most vile comments I've ever had the misfortune to read or hear.

They call us stupid, but our spelling and grammar are far superior to theirs- which speaks volumes about their schools. They call us hicks, rednecks and hillbillies, but I would much rather be a hick, a redneck or a hillbilly than a nasty-tempered bigot who has nothing but hate for an entire group of people. Just throw the gauntlet back into their front yards and let them wave it around. They're never going to believe anything we say.