Ernie, I beg your pardon

One if by land, two if by sea, nine if by Ernie, none if by me.

Apparently, the pardons are coming! The pardons are coming.

It is unprecedented of a Kentucky governor to pardon themself while in office. Heck, President Nixon couldn't pardon himself. Governor Ernie Fletcher will not get away with this. It is a crime and he knows it.

According to the Bluegrass Report:

Governor Ernie Fletcher has called a news conference for a major announcement regarding the merit hiring investigation. The conference is scheduled for 6 p.m. (EDT) tonight.

Reports from the media are inconsistent, but there is a consensus emerging that Fletcher is issuing pardons -- some say nine of them. Mark Hebert (WHAS-11 Louisville) and Bill Bryant (WKYT-27 Lexington) are both reporting online. Sources inside the investigation have told BluegrassReport.org that they expect Fletcher will pardon himself as well.

Unfortunately, this will not be the lead story in the news as weather is always the big news (and with good reasons). Fletcher, if he pardons himself, should be impeached.

Can someone from the state legislature submit articles of impeachment soon? That would be a good thing to do! Ernie Fletcher will not get away with this.

I'd rather name that heading "%^$%&^%&^% You, Ernie!"

It is apparent that Governor Ernie Fletcher has no care for the legal system in this great commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mark now reports that the pathetic governor we have known as Ernie Fletcher has issued blanket pardons to any involved in the jobtrot scandal. The public will never know what happened because that dumb [EXPLETIVE} who is a son of a female dog has decided to say this, to paraphrase: Screw democracy and the legal system.

Anyone remember what Steve Pence said after Gov. Patton pardoned some of his folks:

"Things like that are not going to happen in a Fletcher-Pence administration," said Republican lieutenant governor candidate Steve Pence, a former federal prosecutor and running mate of Ernie Fletcher, the GOP candidate for governor.

Steve, that's ytter bullcrap and you know it!

To give the official Democratic response to this is Greg Stumbo.

MEDIA ADVISORY
CONTACT: Vicki Glass
August 29, 2005

WHO - Attorney General Greg Stumbo
WHAT - Press Conference: Remarks Regarding Pardons Issued by Governor Fletcher
WHEN - Monday, August 29th at 8:30p.m.
WHERE - Room 114, Capitol

Greg, I've never said this publically before but go get 'em today.

Mark reminds us who was charged and is now being pardoned by Ernie and Bert.

Darrell Brock, Kentucky Republican Party chairman and former commissioner of local development: one count conspiracy.
Dan Druen, former Transportation Cabinet commissioner: Two counts witness tampering, 20 evidence tampering; 10 counts political discrimination, two conspiracy, one official misconduct.
Richard "Dick" Murgatroyd, Fletcher's deputy chief of staff: 16 counts political discrimination, two counts violating the rights of state employees and one conspiracy.
Corey Meadows, executive director of transportation enhancement programs: five counts political discrimination, one count conspiracy.
Bill Nighbert, acting transportation secretary: one count political discrimination, one count official misconduct and one count conspiracy.
Jim Adams, deputy transportation secretary: one count political discrimination, one count conspiracy and one count official misconduct.
Basil Turbyfill, director of personnel and efficiency in Fletcher's office: one count conspiracy.
Bob Wilson, deputy personnel secretary: one count conspiracy.
Tim Hazlette, a transportation personnel official: one count conspiracy.

According to the Washington Post:

Democratic Attorney General Greg Stumbo said in a statement that Fletcher has "slammed the door on the public's right to know what wrongs his administration has committed."

Fletcher, a Republican, repeated his accusation that Stumbo has been carrying out a political vendetta and compared most of the charges that have been brought to minor violations of fishing laws.

Prosecutor Scott Crawford-Sutherland has said the grand jury's investigation will continue even if Fletcher issues pardons.

Fletcher's decision was criticized by Democratic state legislators, with Rep. Kathy Stein saying pardons would be grounds for the General Assembly to consider impeachment of Fletcher.

"He is showing a broad disrespect for the criminal justice system that every other citizen in the commonwealth must live with," Stein said.

Alright Kathy!

More on Ernie Fletcher's disgrace of power:

By pardoning everyone else -- all of whom had previously invoked 5th Amendment -- they will now be compelled to testify before the grand jury by Attorney General Stumbo and will not be allowed to take the 5th since they cannot face criminal charges. They would then be compelled to tell the whole truth and should they lie, Stumbo would go after them for perjury and if they refuse to testify, he'll get them on contempt and possibly obstruction of justice.

Assuming most would rather not have this legal nightmare continue for them -- especially the younger staffers -- they might instead implicate Governor Fletcher and make it all the more likely that he will be indicted for being the head of this criminal enterprise and conspiracy and for possible obstruction of justice for the way his administration has failed to produce critical e-mail evidence to prosecutors and the grand jury?

Democrats will impeach him, I'm confident. We control the house and Section 66 says that "The House of Representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment." Furthermore, Section 68 precisely says "The Governor and all civil officers shall be liable to impeachment for any misdemeanors in office."

Democrats will move for an impeachment. I'm confident of it.