[Old Crow]

I'm not in the group that minimizes his crime by reference to the fact it is a common practice and he merely got caught (though I agree that is the case). However, I do hope he is pardoned in considertion of his prior service to the country.

Remember, the pardon power is in the Constitution:

...he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment

So, unless you want to bad mouth the framers, I think the pardon power serves a legitimate political purpose. Say what you will about Bush but he has used the power to pardon and commute much more sparingly than Clinton or even Reagan. And pardoning Duke Cunningham is certainly a much different matter than pardoning someone like Marc Rich, whose ex-wife contributed to your presidential library.

[skydriver]

Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts on this as well as many other matters. As for me, I think most politicians are somewhat corrupt. That being said, what Duke Cunningham did prior to becoming a politician is simply.....

HE IS ONE OF ONLY 2 AMERICAN ACES FROM THE VIETNAM WAR!!!!!!

Let me repeat.....HE IS ONE OF ONLY 2 AMERICAN ACES FROM THE VIETNAM WAR!!!!!

Thus in my book, he is a great American. I only hope that Bush, who I voted for, does the right thing and pardons him. At least Cunningham put his life on the line.

[KG_Jag]

In my view it's still too early to issue the pardon. A President McCain would be the perfect person to make such a call. If he is elected, Bush should leave it to him.

If Obama wins, the choice for Bush may be either now or never. That would be a tough call upon which reasonable minds can differ.

[leeG]

Duke leveraged his status as an American hero to win the trust and confidence of the voters in his state and capture an important and powerful elected office.

He then betrayed the people he was sworn to serve for money.

Sorry, his early status as a fighter ace doesn't trump his later betrayal of the American people.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by leeG

Duke leveraged his status as an American hero to win the trust and confidence of the voters in his state and capture an important and powerful elected office.

He then betrayed the people he was sworn to serve for money.

Sorry, his early status as a fighter ace doesn't trump his later betrayal of the American people.

Took the words right out of my mouth, leeG.

I have nothing but admiration for Cunningham’s aviator skills and wartime exploits. For that and his service to our country, I honor him. But it ends there.

Solemn tradition holds Navy officers to standards of integrity and rectitude up to and past retirement. Regrettably, Duke trashed this timeless covenant by committing conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion—dismantling not only his own reputation but injuring the character and dignity of fellow Navy officers. And ... betraying the trust of the United States House of Representatives and those whom he represented.

Should someone ask Cunningham if the President ought to wink at his outrageous, criminal conduct and pardon him because he shot some Migs out of the sky decades ago, I’d suggest Duke would respond, “No.” And so would I.