Posted by
Andrews on Monday, January 19, 2009 11:14:33 PM
Well, two things have come to my attention that convince me there is some hope for the world.
First, it appears that Bush commuted the sentences of Ramos and Campeon. While I would have preferred a pardon, and would have been even happier had a federal prosecutor looked into this travesty earlier and retried and acquitted them, I can't say that I am unhappy with the commutation.
Second, though the specifics disgust me, I am happy to see that the federal government is allowing the bizarre sale of
Natalie Dylan's (or Dillon's) virginity. In what must be the first victory for federalism in recent memory, the feds have said that since it is legal in Nevada, they can't do anything about it. Now I do not have any interest in seeing people sell their virginity, and I think whoever has bid the reported $3.8 million is insane, but it is nice to see, for once, the federal government recognizing that the states do have rights, even if only in this relatively trivial scope.
Unfortunately, those are the
ONLY two news stories I have seen recently that have given me much hope. So I am not exactly bursting with joy, nor confident that the US is about to be set back on the right course.
Still, something is always better than nothing.
POSTSCRIPT
By the way, could any reader confirm that Ramos and Campeon only had their sentences commuted? I have seen stories using both commutation and pardon, and the two are very different things. Commutation means they are still convicted felons, while pardon means they are innocent men. However, stories seem to be unable to distinguish between the two,
Google's AP news story using both in the same article to describe one event.
So if anyone knows whether they simply had their sentences commuted or received a full pardon, please let me know.