(look another negative post about Bush, how peculiar)

all presidents issue pardons, and alot of them are controversial. I am not saying its right, it just is a perk that they take advantage of.

I'll be surprised if Bush doesn't issue sweeping pardons. He may feel that the legal opinions cover everything but there are many legal authorities who don't agree. People may be reluctant to bring charges against Bush, but the people under him who were involved in the wiretapping and torture may not be so lucky.

It's just so hard to think of anything nice to say about Bush.
And the question isn't just about pardons, it's about sweeping, pre-emptive pardons for administration officials.

Hey CG! The post wasn't intended to be an attack on Bush. Just wanted to present the fact that White House officials believe that pardons are unnecessary because they acted within the law.

Of course, any reaction to this news, positive or negative, is welcome!

I don't expect to see any presumptive pardons for wiretapping because, based on his approval of the Patriot Act, Obama doesn't oppose it.

I don't expect to see any presumptive pardons for wiretapping because, based on his approval of the Patriot Act, Obama doesn't oppose it. So Bush and his administration have little to fear as far as being prosecuted for that.

Sorry, didn't finish the thought.

Yeah nice picture though citizen.

He said he wouldn't do it, and I truly think that Bush will do whatever the heck he wants, so i believe him. I mean it's not like he has any reason to lie. You all hate him already anyways. Can't get much worse for him. I personally don't think he should pardon anyone of the people in question. I don't like the idea of pardoning anybody unless you see their conviction was a witch hunt.

I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're saying.

big surprise!

you hate him already, what purpose does it serve him to lie. He is not up for reelection. He is not searching for your approval....

I absolutely believe that he will issue sweeping pardons for all his top criminals I mean top officials.

he would just be doing it so they wouldn't have to testify. i think he's probably frightened of what the people under him could reveal! hope the new administration does investigate~!

No he's not up for re-election. But he could be up on charges some day, with half his administration with him.

Bush's approval rating is abysmal. It's no secret that he's not well liked.
And I really hope charges are brought against him and other top officials.

All presidents have the right to pardon and pass crazy bills, before they leave office. President Reagan did worse. "My opinion". Hey, I'm hoping President Obama gives "REPARATIONS NOW" right before his term ends. Who's with me??

@NDiva. I just hope Pres Bush says no when it comes down the pipeline to pardon Mr. Ryan.

I couldn't tell from the article if Bush - himself - said no pardons. If he did, then I doubt he will issue sweeping pardons.

I also doubt that Obama is going to end up looking too closely into such matters for the reason that Michelin stated - Obama voted for the law that protects perpetators in such matters. It would be disengenuous and counterproductive to retract it and then apply it retroactively. That does not mean that Obama might not rewrite the law in time.

Plus, methinks he will have enough issues that require immediate attention once in office that it won't be a top priority.

you hate him already - It's no secret that he's not well liked and it's all with good reasons.

what purpose does it serve him to lie - 1)He could be up on charges some day, with half his administration with him 2)he's probably frightened of what the people under him could reveal.

He is not searching for your approval....was he ever?

Be done with it already - They want us to fess-up that Obama was a bad decision (although he's not even in office yet). When they can't even admit after $600 billion on a war (which we can't come to 1 true conclusion on what we are really fighting for), thousand kills, a Recession, a fallen housing market and the list goes on.

Questionable stuff happened before the revised Patriot Act was passed and there are serious questions about some of the administration's interpretations of what they were allowed to do after.

Justice and upholding the Constitution should always be high, if not very top, priorities. I can't believe that republicans need to be reminded of that.

It's not that we have to be reminded, it's that we don't think the "questionable stuff" is all that questionable.

Ben Franklin anticipated you guys:
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Yeah, we've sacrificed all kinds of freedoms and liberties in the name of safety.

I would say this quote could apply to many things... including bailouts, entitlement programs, and gun control laws.

Yes it could - right now, it refers to stuff Bush has done.
But, if Obama is allowed to follow Bush's example and alter laws with signing statements and rewrite rules via attorney opinions, he could well use the changes Bush has brought to presidential powers and go after your guns.

I just don't see how Obama could sneak around the Bill of Rights to go after "our" guns. Bush hasn't done anything that has infringed on our civil rights.

It seems as though a great deal of his pardons are going to the individuals involved in his brother's (Neil) Savings & Loan Scandal from the 80s.