[Hoot Gibson]

Haley Barbour was a great governor but pardoning murderers simply because they were trustees at the Governor's mansion during his term and such pardons are a tradition is wrong. However, I am opposed to robbing the president or governors of the power to pardon because that power serves to balance powers of the judiciary branches of state and federal governments. Except where pardons are sold to wealthy prisoners (e.g., Mark Rich), there should be no limits on the right of of the president and governors to grant clemency to prisoners at their sole discretion.