If Huckabee wants to “take responsibility,” all he has to do is shut up — which he most certainly should do (cf., Healey’s First Law On Holes). …

I do take issue with what I read in my morning paper: Huck supposedly said he’d do it again.

Say what? Knowing the outcome of this case, I’d hope that if an official were presented with an identical situation they might pour over the file and ask more questions at the very least.

Perhaps the more proactive approach would be to stop commuting sentences unless the convict really wasn’t guilty due to hidden facts or similar injustice and other “worthy cases” — if there is such a thing — would result merely in probation for the duration of the sentence?

Perfect? Certainly not. But at least with probation, the first time they violate the law, they get yanked back to the joint for the original crime. Here, that would have save lives.

I’m not defending Huck but it’s gotta be hard to know every detail of every case presented. At some point, he has to trust the people who advise him. Damn shame it was this time, though.

Big John on December 2, 2009 at 1:01 AM

He doesn’t HAVE to commute or pardon anybody.

Dukeboy01 on December 2, 2009 at 9:04 AM

Yikes, you are right! Nothing personal, but I find that backwards.

If they did, his conviction should be overturned and a new trial ordered, BUMPKIN. For the billionith time, jury’s can’t consider sentencing except on capital cases.

Blake on December 2, 2009 at 3:08 AM

Perhaps things are different in your state, but juries do “consider sentencing” as part of the sentencing phase in all jury trials in Kentucky and in all other jurisdictions that I am aware of. The sentencing phase occurs after the verdict of guilty is rendered. Both the prosecution and the defense put on witnesses, the defendant’s prior criminal record(if any) can be introduced, and then both sides make closing arguments. The jury then goes back to deliberate and recommends a sentence, but the judge has the final say when he imposes it. 99% of the time the judge goes with the jury’s recommendation, but he doesn’t have to. This happens in all cases in which a jury trial is demanded, not just capital cases.

pardons/commutations/clemencies than the the combined number of his surrounding states, his words hold no weight.

No law and order governor was Mike Huckabee, that’s for sure.

Intrepid on December 2, 2009

Even with the GOP’s lurch to the left, it’s hard to imagine them seriously considering this clown for whom “soft on crime” doesn’t begin to come close. Rot in political hell, Huckabee, you moronic turd.

Sentenced to 5 years for robbery in Pulaski County, Aug. 3, 1989.

* Sentenced to 8 years for burglary, theft and probation revocation in Pulaski County, Sept. 9, 1989

* Sentenced to an indeterminate amount for aggravated robbery and theft in Pulaski County, Nov. 15, 1989

* Sentenced to 20 years each for burglary and theft of property in Pulaski County, Feb. 23, 1990.

* Sentenced to 6 years for firearm possession in Pulaski County, Nov. 19, 1990.

Fed45 on December 1, 2009 at 10:12 PM

Remember, these are only the ones he was convicted of, but this does not include his entire arrest record.

In addition Clemmons beat an old lady for her purse. I’m amazed that anyone can defend Huck in this matter. This puke was a monster and headed for worse as any thinking person can see.

As I said earlier the buck stops with the governor. It was his responsibility to research the case before giving clemency and he admits he didn’t.

Huck was squishy on criminals granting over 700 clemencies.

The prosecutor who Huckster says never raised any objections also says his office never received any notice of the intention to grant clemency.

Then he should complain to the parole board. They are the ones who would notify them. Seriously, they schedule hearings. Wouldn’t you think the DA’s office would look at the schedule or have a representative their at all times? You are the one who is naive.

I guess 10 years and change is sufficient time served for a half dozen instances of armed robbery/aggravated burglary? The people who served on those juries didn’t seem to think so, but I guess Huckabee is much wiser and more enlightened than the rest of us bumpkins here. ASSHAT.
NoLeftTurn on December 1, 2009 at 9:12 PM

If they did, his conviction should be overturned and a new trial ordered, BUMPKIN. For the billionith time, jury’s can’t consider sentencing except on capital cases.

It’s been a good few days.

I’ll even give Obama credit for doing mostly the right thing re Afghanistan, albeit two months late and probably only after concluding that the hard-left defeatists really can’t hurt him.

I’m a big Sarah fan, but I’ll stay neutral viz Palin vs Romney vs whoever else for now.

Huckabee has this
Romney has his Mass Healthcare
Pawlenty has his mullet
Gingrich has his past
Cheney has his heart

it all clears the road for Palin….easy path to nomination

joepub on December 1, 2009 at 5:03 PM

Funny. Our crew was talking about this last night. We’ve all followed Sarah for years, ever since she became Governor of Alaska. Back then we knew she was special.

But you know, we are beginning to think there is some serious divine intervention going on here.

Think about it. Those that knew her back then thought, hmmm, POTUS someday? But not many outside of Alaska were familiar with her.

I mean really, what are the odds that the RINO’s RINO, old Maverick McCain himself, would chose the greatest conservative superstar since Ronald Reagan as his running mate? Really, what are the odds!

Then look at what Obama, Pete Rouse (Obama’s campaign chief of staff, now WH adviser) the Alaska Mafia, and so on caused Palin to do. That insanity was so over the top, cost the Alaska tax payers so many millions, Sarah felt she must step down.

Since then, look how things have fallen.

Sarah has been on Facebook forever, but no big deal. All of a sudden, she has time to post a couple of sentences about “death panels” and sets the health care debate on it’s ass.

In fact, every thing she has done has been effective, and awesome. Now the book.

And then there is the “competition.”

As you say RomneyCare is a non starter.
Huckabee is done, in a very big way.
Pawlenty is well, Pawlenty.

Sarah is strong and has proven she can take absolutely everything that is thrown at her, and beg for more. You don’t do that on your own.

I’m not one of these overly religious people. But I believe there is a God, and I believe he has taken a shine to this woman. I believe she is the right person for this time in history, just like George W Bush was the right guy in the White House on 9/11.

Events are what make the leader. They determine who it will be. The events are sure looking kindly toward Sarah Palin. These times were ready made for her.

Whether this is God’s hand, or sheer coincidence, who knows, but I think some things happen for a reason. I truly think there is more going on here.

But having said that, I certainly cannot suppor him continuing a political career.

He is perceived as being responsible and that’s good enough.

No law and order governor was Mike Huckabee, that’s for sure.

Huck is a scum-f’ing-bag.

I’ll never get the idea that so and so’s life is more worthy of grief than someone else’s simply because of their occupation.

Dr. ZhivBlago on December 1, 2009 at 11:05 PM

More like respect for the added risk they take on our behalf.

Mike Huckabee is not at fault at all. He didn’t show negligent judgment in commuting the sentence of Clemmons. This was a 16 year old kid who was given a 108 year sentence for robbery. All Huckabee did was commute his sentence which reduced it to 47 years which is still incredibly long for a minor and that was only after the Arkansas Parole Board made the request. The Judge agreed. Huckabee’s judgment is fine. Nobody could ever know that this kid would become a murderer. Leaving a child to rot in jail for 100 years would have been cruel to say the least

First off he was not given a 108 sentence just for robbery as you put it. He was given the sentence for multiple crimes
to run concurrently. He was a career criminal. And he wasn’t the only career criminal the huckafraud commutated, he also did that for a serial rapist who went out and raped again after Huckafraud let him loose.
Mike should be totally ashamed of his self for trying to put any of the blame off on other people for his irresponsibility.

But, it’s interesting that if you or I were murdered tomorrow, I doubt policemen around the country would be grieving for us. I’ll never get the idea that so and so’s life is more worthy of grief than someone else’s simply because of their occupation.

Dr. ZhivBlago on December 1, 2009 at 11:05 PM

Oh, I dunno…maybe because we depend on the police to keep us from possibly being murdered tomorrow? Just guessing. I could be wrong. But I doubt it.

All he knew was the guy was a kid at the time who had robbed somebody and was sentenced to 100 or so years. Why would he not commute the sentence? Any sensible person would.

Narutoboy on December 1, 2009 at 10:47 PM

Read the Arkansas Ledger article I linked to. Huckabee ignored the prosecutors recommendations. You call that sensible? And I also listed out his crimes. (PLURAL). The cop-killer wasn’t sentenced to 108 years because he “had robbed somebody”. Like I said, the sentences were for multiple crimes, some were concurrent.

Hell, while the cop killer was about to appear in court one time he managed to take a hinge from a door, hide it in his sock and was planning to hit the judge with it. In another court incident he attempted to take a gun from a security guard transporting him to prison..this was in his first round of crimes…when you say all he did was “robbed somebody”. Believe me, we here in Washington know more about this cop-killer than we care to. And we realize who got the ball rolling on this guy getting out.

We haven’t heard from the families of the slain officers yet. If they come out and attack Huckabee as part of the general criminal justice system that allowed Clemmons to be freed he’s done, finished, through, over, toast.

Well, the families haven’t spoken out (and they likely won’t), but an officer from the Lakewood Police Dept sure did.

http://www.q13fox.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=a9232844-e1f8-4c35-ae74-929561c800b9&src=front

Scroll to about the 6:00 mark. Needless to say, this officer is no fan of the likes of Huckabee, parole boards, and any dimwits here in Washington that let this guy out.

But, it’s interesting that if you or I were murdered tomorrow, I doubt policemen around the country would be grieving for us. I’ll never get the idea that so and so’s life is more worthy of grief than someone else’s simply because of their occupation.

If the people of the State of Arkansas want to hand down 108 years total to violent felons of any age, fine by me. Don’t like it, don’t waggle a pistol at an Arkie.