A Thought on Governor Huckabee
A lot of you think some are being too harsh on Gov Huckabee over his commutation of Clemmon’s sentence in Arkansas. Let me clarify my criticism. Huck had no ability to foresee that years after having his sentence reduced this thug would kill four police officers. However, he has a responsibility to make up his own mind, to examine his record, the crimes committed, the court proceedings, etc. He should not rely solely on the Parole Boards’ recommendation, or the comments submitted, or lack thereof, to make this decision. It is HIS decision and HIS responsibility. If he did not personally review the record, but relied on other’s recommendations, he did not do his job IMHO. If he did, he showed, again IMHO, poor judgment. That’s the issue, his decision-making process and his judgment. This thug, with his record, in and out of prison, should not have been allowed on the streets til at least he required a cane to walk, or needed a wheelchair. Huck’s judgment shows him unfit for the White House, where far more important decisions are made every day and the judgment of it’s occupant can impact not just four police officers and a small community, but the world.
21 Responses to “A Thought on Governor Huckabee”
-
Sue says:
Mike Huckabee’s political future has taken a fatal hit. I would have voted for him prior to this revelation. His lack of discernment makes me thankful I did not have that opportunity.
-
Marv says:
I strongly agree, Kirby. In too many issues we get caught in the details. The crucial aspect here was Huckabee’s judgment. Look at the devastation being created by the judgment of the naive ideologue currently in the White House.
-
bhayden says:
Evidently the Huckster has a record of issuing pardons and commutations. He reported issued more than all three of his predecessors combined. He is a liberal in conservative clothing. He is also for illegal immigration. He is a fake conservative.
-
Bill Wa says:
I agree with your thoughts. My question is when doid Huckabee grant him Clemency? If it was within the last year, OK Huckabbe should be raked, but if was a very long time, I can’t see being overly harsh. My disagreement is with the system in general. A sentence is a sentence, it stands for as long as it is set for. Ot wi i ma es o se se (Otherwise it makes no sense)
-
Susan Murphy says:
Amen Kirby! While there is enough blame to go around after the fact, it started with Gov. Huckabee making the decision to commute the sentence of someone who committed a crime, or crimes, bad enough to get him a 90+ year sentence! That alone should have told him to leave well enough alone. I do hope a lesson can be learned by currently serving governors from this tragedy…say “no” to all commutation/clemency requests — particularly for those whose sentences were that severe. Better safe than to have innocent people die for their mistaken judgment.
-
Cammy says:
Kirby, what I really like about Huckabee is his steadfast religious faith and not being ashamed to proclaim that faith. I always thought it would be a huge plus for this country to have a president that was solidly grounded in a faith that supported the traditional values and principles this country was founded on. But just as important is a president’s ability to make sound and perceptive judgement calls because of important decisions that office faces constantly. So I’m disappointed to say this but I have to agree with you that Huckabee is unfit for the office of president because of he granted clemency to Clemmons. I heard he had done so based on a letter the 16-year old Clemmons had written him at the time.
-
shelly says:
I agree–and didn’t Romney do something similar with the guy who murdered the family in Carnation last year?? They both have really missed the boat on this and look at all the heartache, loss and grief they have contributed.
-
Jerry Johnson says:
Right On!
-
Charlotte says:
AMEN! A very thoughtful comment and thanks a lot!
Charlotte -
Dennis says:
I think the Governor Huckabee is being criticized too harshly. To me, the real problem lies with the Pierce County judges who granted clemmons bail, including only six days before the murders. We have a judicial system that seems, mostly, to serve the guilty, with little regard fro protecting law-abiding citizens. I am a Pierce County resident.
-
bill mccord says:
very well said!!
-
Martel says:
I concur! Medved is clearly in the Huckabee Camp, or at least he is in the “anybody but Palin or Romney” camp!
Huckabee is just popular enough to mess up the Republican Party, not strong enough to pull it together! -
Karen Meredith says:
I do not think Huckabee is unfit for the White house. I love him! However, other people do, we have to get past this and go on with someone who can win. We can’t waste time and energy on this issue.
-
I agree. Clemmon’s rap sheet at the time was still pretty darn disturbing. His application for executive clemency was filled with bucket loads what I can only describe as B.S. Even without the knowledge of what this guy was going to end up doing it wasn’t hard to figure that this guy was just telling people what he thought they wanted to hear from him and they bought it hook line and sinker. Huck should have taken responsibility and admitted that he had to do it all over, he might have done things differently. It not his mistake that angers me so much, we are all human, it his reaction to the outcome that sticks in my craw more than anything.
-
This issue of pardons, even without the Lakewood tragedy, would have proven to be Huckabee’s Achilles Heel. I agree with your post.
-
Mardene Patton says:
I agree with you Kirby, but also once he got up here the Judges should have seen his record too. Then not be out on bail!! The Police are the innocent ones here…
-
I also believe that the victims of his crimes should be allowed to voice their opinions to these Governors who have this right to commute sentences. Maybe then they might think twice before letting them go so easy or if at all.
-
velta benson says:
Thanks for perspective on Huckabee.
-
LFRoss says:
I agree completely, maybe it is too much to ask of a governor of any state to be involved in judicial pardons! It seems like 2 branches of gov. Maybe, but ??? No matter, he is not as bad as the thug himself and shouldn’t accept quite as much responsibility. Huck also is, with this and perhaps other failings, way more qualified than the group in charge in DC now regarding the values of our country,individual freedom and the concept of innovation and growth that cannot be provided by the central government. It never has, never will! One term only, 2nd perhaps as a reward for exemplary and transparent records and behavior. Throw the bums out continuously!
-
Jerry Cochrun says:
Kirby,
After hearing Gov. Hukabee on the air with Michael Medved, I have a dfiferent view of this situation. Apparently he did not pardon or completely commute the sentence, he merely reduced the sentence from 108 to 47ish(?) years. The crimes where committed when he was 16 years old, he mugged a lady in a parking lot, he burglarized a State Troopers home stealing his gun and then was caught with it at school. When the Police came to arrest him he apparently hit is Mother and struggled with the Police? It sounds like he gave a very complelling statement as to why he deserved a commuted sentence and Gov. Hukabee agreed that the sentence was too much. Once he was finally paroled he went back on a crime spree in Arkansas and the Authorities totally dropped the ball allowing him to leave the State. Hardly Gov. Huckabee’s fault, in fact the Gov. says that NOT knowing what he knows now and being in that same place again, he would have made the same decision, and I can’t really fault him.
I think our Washington State Justice System is far more at fault then Gov. Hukabee and has once again proved how liberal they are. This guy should have never been given bail as he was up on very serious charges which included a third strike and possible life in prison. What we need here in Washington is stiffer rules for bail concerning possible Third Strikers!
(Oh yes, under Gov. Huckabee’s watch, more death sentences were carried out then under any other Gov.).Kirby, you are sincerely missed, there are now no local conservative Talk Radio shows to listen to during the morning commute and it is missed, hope to hear you bad on the radio soon!
Thank you for all you do and keep posting!
The fact that this man was 16 yrs old when he was originally convicted & sentenced to 108 yrs in prison soften your opinion any?
I haven’t seen/heard what the original crime/s were? For the record: I agree Huck isn’t for the WH.