Who Should President Paul's first pardons be?

[RonPaulMall]

The pardon power is one of the most important functions of the President from a Constitutional standpoint, and one almost entirely ignored by mainstream Presidents of both parties. Who do you think should be on Rand's list of immediate, week one pardons? My thinking off the top of my head:

1. Edward Snowden
2. Julian Assange
3. Weev
4. Irwin Schiff

First three you'd pardon outright, Irwin Schiff you probably just commute the sentence. Eventually I'd like to see him reduce Bradley Manning's sentence too but probably shouldn't be in the first wave of stuff. Some of the Liberty Reserve guys are starting to get sentenced too. Goes without saying they should get full pardons or immediate commutations as well.

 

[alucard13mm]

I wouldnt do this until 2nd term imo. Not everyone will like the president pardoning someone the media call as traitors. Lame duck president for the win. If no second term, do it at 4th year.

 

[thoughtomator]

His first pardons should go to all the victims of the War on Drugs.

And if I had to lay money down on someone, I'd lay my money there.

 

[Root]

Everyone ever convicted of any sort of possession charge.

 

[fr33]

Bradley (Chelsea) Manning

 

[Root]

Bradley (Chelsea) Manning

Absolutely.

 

[RonPaulMall]

I wouldnt do this until 2nd term imo. Not everyone will like the president pardoning someone the media call as traitors. Lame duck president for the win. If no second term, do it at 4th year.

If that was the position he took (and I don't think he'd be able to go home for Christmas and face his father if he took such a morally reprehensible position) he wouldn't get my vote (or support) for a second term. Weev's sentence (for doing math that embarrassed AT&T) will be over by then. Schiff's too, if he doesn't die in prison first. If he doesn't pardon Snowden his first term and loses his second, he's basically sentenced Snowden to a lifetime of exile. For Assange, it would be a lifetime of house arrest in London. These are people's lives we are talking about, not a political game. And even from a strictly political point of view pardoning the people I listed would be hailed by all of Rand Paul's most ardent supporters, ignored by most everybody else, and only cause rage in a few neocons who aren't going to like his Presidency anyway. So there is no excuse not to.

 

[BuddyRey]

Don't forget Barrett Brown! I've never been prouder to share a common first name with someone in all my days.

 

[RonPaulMall]

Don't forget Barrett Brown! I've never been prouder to share a common first name with someone in all my days.

Yes, another obvious week one pardon. And i guess we shouldn't forget to include Barret Brown's mother on the list too!

 

[dannno]

Kokesh in addition to everybody else mentioned already.

 

[dannno]

And Ricky and Julian. I don't care what country they are in.

 

[Neil Desmond]

I think posthumous pardons ought to be included as well, no matter how far back in history the person existed. Any suggestions on any good candidates for this?

 

[alsis8xmy]

Ed and Elaine Brown

 

[mrsat_98]

Barack Obama because we have wasted enough time and energy on this asshole.

 

[ronpaulfollower999]

Adam Kokesh

 

[pacelli]

Repeal the patriot act and pardon the American nationals.

 

[jkr]

LET
MY
PEOPLE
GO!

 

[Matt Collins]

You can only be pardoned if you've been convicted of a crime.

 

[69360]

High profile pardons are done as a president leaves office. You don't want all that controversy around an incoming president.

 

[ronpaulfollower999]

You can only be pardoned if you've been convicted of a crime.

High profile pardons are done as a president leaves office. You don't want all that controversy around an incoming president.

Ford pardoned Nixon (who hadn't been convicted of a crime) while Ford was serving his 1st term.