In the interest of full disclosure, this hub was prompted by an article written by Newt Gingrich in Human Events. You can read that article here.

Border agents Ramos and Compean were jailed for shooting a fleeing drug smuggler on the border with Mexico. The details of the case have been well publicized on any number of news and commentary shows as well as numerous written articles so I will not go into them now. It is sufficient to know that the prosecution gave unreasonable freedoms to a known drug smuggler in exchange for his testimony against 2 cops who were tasked with stopping him and criminals like him. It is not the first time this has happened and these to Border Patrol Agents won’t be the first to be prosecuted, jailed and later cleared after years in jail with those who they previously pursued, lost time with their families and generally having their lives, careers and reputations ruined to improve relations with those who ignore our laws to enter this country illegally and commit crimes.

The administrations argument is that the agents have not gone through the procedures to bring them to the pardon desk but, that hasn’t stopped him from pardoning administration members prosecuted for political reasons and, arguably, more deserving of prosecution. The same can be said of a great many pardons provided by previous presidents. Outside of the group that brought and supported the prosecution, there are few people who do not believe this is a miscarriage of justice. A pardon for these men would be supported by the majority of Americans and a large portion of the government on both sides of the isle.

The second amendment to the constitution provides us the right to keep and bear arms for protection against criminals (among others).  Current restrictions require people entering a federal park to unload their weapons even if they are licensed to carry a weapon legally.  The Department of the Interior is already working to remove this restriction but the president has the power to accelerate this process restoring a constitutional right that never should have been infringed.

The Republicans in congress passed rules that made them remove representatives under prosecution.  Since passing that rule a number of Congress members have been run out of office by democrat prosecutors who bring indictments on charges that don’t hold up in court.  Many of these charges are dropped after the representative is removed from congress but some have simply been left in limbo with no action or attempt to bring these people to trial.  While it won’t restore these people to office it would be reasonable to pardon them so that their lives are not continually tied up by obvious political persecution.

There are several cities in this country who have policies requiring local police to ignore laws the city government disagrees with.  Sanctuary Cities are a slap in the face to the rest of the country which supports the laws these cities ignore.  Some sort of corrective action is warranted.  Removing federal funding from them, appointing Marshals to enforce the law, or other sanctions are within the power of the president.

Regulations that blocked oil drilling and the exploitation of oil shale have been lifted but the red tape that slows the process is still there.  The president is capable of clearing a good deal of that red tape to speed the process of making our country energy independent.  Some regulations, necessary to begin the exploitation of resources, still need to pass the presidents office.  Passing them quickly, before he is out of office, will allow some resources to begin being utilized almost immediately.

Review executive orders.  An executive order can be overturned by another executive order.  The executive order that blocked off shore drilling is an example of one President Bush has already overturned.  Other unreasonable orders, such as the Antiquities Act, which locks up millions of acres of land, should also be overturned.

Finally, this administration has made a habit of going along with the media when they told us outright lies.  Rather than confronting the country with the truth the administration has simply adjusted his speeches to fit the medias view.  It’s time to remind the country of the truth.  The Yellow Cake Uranium “Saddam didn’t try to obtain” was found in Iraq and transported to safe facilities last July.  Delivery systems for WMDs have been found throughout Iraq.  Chemical and biological agents have been found throughout Iraq.  The remnants of  dumped chemical weapons were polluting the Tigris River when we took over Baghdad. The intelligence agencies of most of the world believed Hussein had WMDs because he used them against his neighbors and his own people.  In short, Iraq was a just and necessary war.