Yesterday, President Bush pardoned Isaac Toussie, who pleaded guilty to using fake documents to get mortgages from HUD and to defrauding Suffolk County by selling it overpriced land (he faked documents claiming people were offering over $5 million for land appraised at $2.5 million)—but now he's asked the DOJ pardon attorney not to execute the pardon! Earlier today, Daily News reported Toussie's father "donated $28,500 to the Republican Part this year." And there's a federal lawsuit against Toussie from homebuyers who were apparently duped into buying overpriced, defective homes in bad areas from him, after he used deceptive tactics. Some had given comments like, "The politically connected get what they want, and little people like us are just left to sink or swim. Thanks to the President for the worst Christmas gift you could have ever given us," and "I think Bush stinks anyway," but maybe they'll slightly change their tune now.




Bush reversed the pardon today.
“With respect to the case of Mr. Isaac R. Toussie, the counsel to the president reviewed the application and believed, based on the information known to him at the time, that it was a meritorious application,” the statement said. “He so advised the President, who accepted the recommendation.”
The statement added:
Based on information that has subsequently come to light, the President has directed the Pardon Attorney not to execute and deliver a Grant of Clemency to Mr. Toussie. The Pardon Attorney has not provided a recommendation on Mr. Toussie’s case because it was filed less than five years from completion of his sentence. The President believes that the Pardon Attorney should have an opportunity to review this case before a decision on clemency is made.
God forbid the idiot actually read something and maybe even ask questions about it before he signs his name to it.
Interesting, he apparently did reverse it or at least not execute it...
Incompetent to the very end.
If all was right in the world, Bush would be the one begging for a pardon.
Bush can WRITE?
is this true, this is the first time a pardoned has been reversed?
"Based on information that has subsequently come to light"
That information being that the press was reporting on his donor history? What else could it be that has "come to light" since yesterday?
"donated $28,500 to the Republican Part this year."
Actually, according to the data at opensecrets.org, the family contributed $40,000 in total to Republican causes in the 2008 cycle. Other than the Committee and McCain, they also gave to the Norm Coleman and Gordon Smith campaigns. Each of the campaign contributions was at the $2300 legal limit, leading to use of the common tactic of splitting contributions between family members. That is, $2300 from Robert and $2300 from Laura to each campaign.
By the way, it took me all of 90 seconds to look that up. Yet Bush's press secretary says they were unaware of any political contributions. No one on the staff does even that much research before clemency is granted?
Actually this is kind of strange. Why would a lame-duck president give a shit about these donations? They are perfectly legal. They don't amount to a hill of beans. They don't matter to him politically.
Think about it this way. Lame-duck means not having any real power of persuasion. But it also means not having any real political responsibility to the electorate. Never has a pardon affected a president's legacy, even in the extreme case of Ford.
There's got to more to this. Or Bush is just a retard--granted.
"They don't matter to him politically."
Personally, no. You're right, his career is over. But there is the pride wrapped up in the "legacy" idea.
And perhaps there's a little loyalty left to the Republican Party. Or at least to the Bush family, and Jeb's political future. Maybe a little hesitation about staining those with more of the "corrupt" tag.
>>Based on information that has subsequently come to light
Unlike that Bush ~ Saud family connection (remember 9/11?)
WHO SAID HE CAN'T LEARN
Reversing the pardon of a Brooklyn thief
Has gone down so well with the public and core
That President George W. Bush
Has decided to rescind the Iraq war.
There is no question that a political payoff was made — both ways.
Someone told the donor hat $50,000 or so would get the felon a pardon. The fixer got at least that much as a fee. The one thing they couldn't guarantee was anonymity. Once it hit the Web, the Papers and the News Networks, our illustrious lame duck actually had to read it and even he knew it was wrong.
Where are all the usual right-wing/Republican/Conservative trolls?
Do you finally agree with America and the world that Bush is an idiot? Why else the silence?
Yeah, he had the balls to reverse it...Marc Rich anyone? Oh thats right, Billy Jeff's balls were too busy being sucked by a 21 year old girl.
Hmm, is it possible, comeuppance for the true elite douches?