We are 233,330 users strong...I BEG you all. Please sign this petition to the WH

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Last edited Sat Apr 30, 2016, 02:08 AM - Edit history (1)

Bottom Line:

Don is now 70 years old and as elleng posted has recently been sent to solitary confinement - it is insane.


PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION ASKING OBAMA TO PARDON DON . I knew him as a Democrat activist. He is a kind and decent human being, once all fucked over by Rove and his game and now in some bureaucratic Alabama nightmare suffering in a Louisiana prison.

We as a group, en masse, could get him out !!!! I counted 86 posts at DU over the years and stopped counting....


http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/president-obama-pardon-1

Background:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Siegelman#cite_note-2

FEBRUARY 2008
Is Don Siegelman in prison because he's a criminal or because he belonged to the wrong political party in Alabama? Siegelman is the former governor of Alabama, and he was the most successful Democrat in that Republican state. But while he was governor, the U.S. Justice Department launched multiple investigations that went on year after year until, finally, a jury convicted Siegelman of bribery.

Now, many Democrats and Republicans have become suspicious of the Justice Department's motivations. As correspondent Scott Pelley reports, 52 former state attorneys-general have asked Congress to investigate whether the prosecution of Siegelman was pursued not because of a crime but because of politics.

THE ONCE DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA IS STILL IN PRISON [FONT COLOR=WHITE]<a href="http://photobucket.com/images/don%20siegelman" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="don siegelman photo: Don Siegelman don-siegelman.jpg"/></a>

[FONT COLOR=BLACK]After:

[bkkyosemite]

1. Done

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. Thank you bkkyosemite !!

[bjo59]

2. signed

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. Thank you bjoe59 !

[CentralCoaster]

5. Done!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

6. THANK YOU...so much CC !

[CentralCoaster]

7. Any friend of EllenG...

Is a friend to ME!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

12. She's a cool chick. Here's her post...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027791684

[rhett o rick]

8. Pres Obama's total lack of empathy for the Gov sickens me. He can excuse torturers but

will keep Siegelman in prison because he was framed by the Bush Family. Who is he doing a favor for?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

10. Thank you so much, as a veteran voice at DU it means so

much to have your support.

This has gone on too long.. an occasional post, the occastional outrage...and we have so many like minded people here...I honestly think we could make a difference if we only tried.

[rhett o rick]

14. I can not comprehend why Pres Obama ignores the unjustice that occurred with regard

to Gov Steigelman. I can't believe that Oama himself is that heartless. I believe he is being directed by someone with a higher paygrade that fears the gov.

I will do whatever I can.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

22. I do not either. I am afraid, due to the intense and utter obstruction he

has faced, he has created this ivory tower where everything is fine and nothing bad is happening. Can't blame the guy. But Romney did not win - and Rove is discredited and the Republican Party is in shambles. WTF O ???

[rhett o rick]

24. Pres Obama isn't the final word. There is a higher power. nm

[rhett o rick]

67. I don't have discussions with those that think ridicule is part of a discussion.

Some are much more comfortable living in their bubble of denial.

[rhett o rick]

69. You didn't study the case. He accepted nothing. He did nothing that

wasn't traditional and done by his predecessor. Every aspect of his case was handled illegally. 50 Atty Gen say he was railroaded but you and Karl Rove think he should spend more time in prison that Dennis Hassert.

It's the conservatives that want Siegelman locked up. You are in good company. I bet you're loving the Prisons For Profits.

Obama will let torture go but turn his back on Gov Siegelman.

I notice that conservatives have to use name calling and ridicule when they have a weak argument.

Go find someone else to ridicule. Bob-Bye

[yallerdawg]

80. It looks like the former governor will be serving out his sentence.

Siegelman was duly convicted by a jury, and conviction upheld multiple times right up to US Supreme Court.

Richard Scrushy served his sentence and is now back with his family, moving on.

The astounding hypocrisy this case confronts me with is how everyone jumps on Seigelman's "innocence" because of the "rightwing conspiracy" that targeted him and brought him down.

But - for some unimaginable reason - this same standard does not apply to Hillary Clinton.

On any utterance from Breitbart/Fox/Republican-machine-meme-creation on any freaking subject, these same people who rally for Siegelman would lock up Hillary without a single freaking charge or trial!

[OnyxCollie]

93. Ever hear of the Rule of Four?

Probably not.

The Rule of Four says that four SCOTUS Justices must be willing to hear a case before it can be reviewed.

Of the four allegedly liberal Justices, Kagan must recuse herself. (As Solicitor General under Obama, she argued for a longer prison sentence for Siegelman.) Hence, no Supreme Court review.

[7962]

117. Kagan hasnt recused herself in other cases she was involved with before.

Why would she do it now? Besides, if she wanted a LONGER sentence, she would vote to leave the case alone anyway.

[OnyxCollie]

118. What cases?

Please list them.

[7962]

119. Remember the ACA?

She was involved in the early defense of it as SG for Pres Obama. It could fit the criteria for recusal, but she didnt. But "could" is the key word. There are different levels of participation
The law usually states a justice "may" recuse themselves, and its generally left up to them.
And again, if she wanted a tougher sentence for Siegelman it really doesnt matter if she did or didnt.

[JDPriestly]

109. What bribe did he take that people in politics don't take all the time?

Please provide a link to support what you say.

So many attorney generals believe he is innocent because he is.

[OnyxCollie]

91. It's called the petromilitary industrial complex.

It's calling the shots.

[SusanCalvin]

77. Really.

There is no excuse for Don not having been pardoned (or whatever would get him out of prison) long ago.

[ornotna]

9. Thanks for posting

Done.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

11. Thanks ornatna ! can't help but ask....what is an ornotna? or is that your name?

[ornotna]

13. It is my name

backwards. Anton

[Laura PourMeADrink]

16. cool ! and thanks again for your support !

[KT2000]

15. Done!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

17. +1,000,000

[Dragonfli]

18. Of course I signed, it is the only right thing we can do

I still don't get why Obama refuses to pardon him, this is not the first time he has been petitioned to do so.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

23. I know, it's not the first time. And, it makes me mad that I have

moved on each time and not really tried to do anything more.

[Dragonfli]

25. There is little more you can do, don't beat yourself up, you do not have the power to free him.

You can only petition those with the power to free him! You have been doing that, it is all anyone INCLUDING YOURSELF can expect of you.

[rhett o rick]

19. Signed. Thanks for posting. We will fight this injustice. nm

[Control-Z]

20. Done

K&R

[Little_Wing]

21. Done.

This man deserves justice. Such an outrage.

[tosh]

26. And another one...done!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

35. thank you

[MFM008]

27. signed

[Laura PourMeADrink]

36. thank you MFM.....008 ? there are 8 MFMs? :)

[ffr]

28. Add one more to the petition. Thanks for posting!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

46. ffr - thanks

[martigras]

29. Thanks, this is an outrage!

Signed and shared.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

45. thanks - Louisiana?? Mardi Gras?? nt

[Rhiannon12866]

30. Done! K&R!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

33. thank you so much !!!

[Rhiannon12866]

37. You're more than welcome

I can't believe this has gone on for so long...

[Laura PourMeADrink]

51. I can not either. Let's do it

[Rhiannon12866]

52. Absolutely!

Kicking again and passed this on!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

31. Siegelman said he was looking at the 2004 presidential primaries...

Siegelman said he was looking at the 2004 presidential primaries, not necessarily to run against Bush for president but "I wanted to as a Southern liberal challenge Bush on his on education policies, his economic policies and his war policies."

The former governor said he didn't know if that was on Rove's mind but said the former Bush adviser was "at the scene of the crime when the department of justice decided to pursue me."

[Equinox Moon]

32. Done

Thanks for caring and carrying a torch of activism and hope for this man.

I heard him talk by phone with Thom Hartmann maybe a couple months ago. The live radio/phone interview landed Don in solitary confinement. So we heard later.

In the interview he expressed optimism. Said he felt helpful by helping other inmates with their legal processes.

I don't get it, why solitary for talking on the phone. He is allowed phone calls. The prison system is messed up!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

39. It reminds me of what I have read about the gulags. All this talk, all these posts, all of us

outraged and caring....and there is only one person who can stop this - and what is so incredibly sad is that a good and decent man has had the best part of his life ruined. What you said...about his helping other people says it all...

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

34. Done. K&R N/T

[Laura PourMeADrink]

41. thanks ADW

[Kalidurga]

38. He should have given a speech for a German bank

He wouldn't have to worry about jail then.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

40. Too erudite for me. Care to expound?

[Duppers]

59. Clinton's speaking fee from Deutsche Bank?

Just guessing.

[Kalidurga]

122. Hillary collected speaking fees from Deutsche Bank

to the tune of $485,000. The Panama Papers suggest this same bank hid billions due to the Panama Free Trade Treaty.

[AllyCat]

42. Done. Any good links to info about this I can give to former AL Republican

Who thinks he was a crook of the highest order?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

47. Huff Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bennett-l-gershman/cruel-justice-the-case-of_b_5434216.html

Of all the egregious instances of misconduct by the Bush administration’s Department of Justice — its ruthless pursuit of voting rights cases and government corruption cases against Democrats and firing U.S. attorneys who resisted — no case epitomizes the abusive, vindictive, and politically-driven agenda as much as the prosecution of Don Siegelman.

In 2002, Siegelman, a Democrat, was governor of the blood-red state of Alabama and was predicted to win re-election. But according to sworn and strongly-corroborated testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Alabama’s top Republican operative Bill Canary contacted Karl Rove and instigated the Justice Department’s prosecution of Siegelman. Rove contacted the Public Integrity Section, and Canary declared confidentially that “his girls would take care of Siegelman.” When asked who “his girls” were, Canary replied Alice Martin, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, and Leura Canary, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama. Leura Canary, by the way, is Bill Canary’s wife.

[bobopa]

43. signed

[Laura PourMeADrink]

48. thank you

[Laura PourMeADrink]

44. Washington Spectator....

Yet, Siegelman’s case is a clear-cut one for a pardon, for several reasons.

The first is that the Justice Department’s theory of a crime is attenuated at best and never should have been upheld in the federal courts. The Supreme Court has already questioned it in open argument and may now be preparing to hand down a ruling that would void the theory on which Siegelman was tried.

The second is that the specter of political malfeasance pervades the entire case, particularly infecting the conduct of the Justice Department and of the federal bench, which rattles public confidence in the fair administration of justice. Indeed, polls in Alabama consistently show that majorities believe that Siegelman was the target of a political vendetta.

The third is that the sentence given to Siegelman by his disgraced former judge, seven-and-one-third years (later reduced to six-and-a-half years), would be unconscionable even if the first two points weren’t valid. Siegelman’s “crime” is an absurdity—even politicians who actually take bribes for favors, as former Alabama Governor Guy Hunt did, get fines, not prison sentences.

Consider Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, and the copious evidence of venality in his conviction on 11 counts of corruption, none of which exists in the Siegelman case. McDonald was sentenced to two years in prison. By contrast, Siegelman has already served almost four years, much of it under very difficult circumstances.

The rank injustice of this case screams out for direct action by the White House, and for bypassing the Justice Department, whose conflict of interest make it an unreliable adviser to the president in such circumstances.

http://washingtonspectator.org/the-case-for-a-presidential-pardon-for-don-siegelman/

[yortsed snacilbuper]

49. signed, sealed and delivered!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

50. Republicans Destroy.... thank you !

[catchnrelease]

53. Done!

Solitary confinement!!!!????

[Laura PourMeADrink]

56. yes

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) -
Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman, 70, has been sent to solitary confinement, according to the Washington Post.

Siegelman was quoted several times in a Post article published this week.

His son believes this punishment is linked to Siegelman's interview. The Bureau of Prison officials would not confirm if Siegelman was in solitary confinement.

[catchnrelease]

75. Disgusting

I read the article about it this morning. Another political prisoner. What a great country this is, an example for the rest of the world.

[Duppers]

54. Done.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

57. thank u D

[Duppers]

60. Most welcome.

This is the 3rd or 4th one I've signed over some years. Hope the hell Obama pardons him.

[billhicks76]

55. signed

[Laura PourMeADrink]

58. thank you

[TM99]

61. Absolutely, I will sign this

right now.

It sickens me that Obama will not pardon him.

[Cassiopeia]

62. Done, K&R.

[bbgrunt]

63. It is beyond comprehension what they have done to this man. Thanks for

following up. I signed.

[williesgirl]

65. Signed

[NBachers]

66. Done, and thank you for putting this petition here.

[OneGrassRoot]

71. Done! This situation is so FUABS

K&R

[justhanginon]

72. Signed

[B Calm]

73. Done, I can't believe they still have this innocent man locked up.

[B Calm]

74. and child molester Hastert gets 15 months. .

[ghostsinthemachine]

76. Dunzo!

[Doctor_J]

78. The president signaled on Jan 21 2009 that he's either afraid of Karl Rove or works for him

A truly disgusting display of cowardice not pardoning siegelman.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

83. I agree

Joseph Siegelman, Siegelman's son and attorney, said a commutation request filed in 2012 was rejected because of Siegelman's pending appeals. But Obama could grant clemency for the fellow Democrat at any time.

"We remain hopeful that the president will recognize this injustice," said the younger Siegelman.

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/12/don_siegelman_not_on_obamas_li.html

[dchill]

79. Done.

[ReRe]

81. K&R

I will K&R here, but I will not sign petition if I am required to include my e-mail address in exchange. I already have way too much e-mail coming which I'm having trouble getting stopped. Won't add more, sorry.

[we can do it]

82. Happy to help

[Live and Learn]

84. Done. nt

[Laura PourMeADrink]

85. Thanks ! When I read the petition last night there were 64 signatures

Now - 235 !

[Live and Learn]

87. Bet a lot are due to your post. Good job! nt

[L. Coyote]

88. More like the same two hundred people talking to each other ad nauseum.

Some of those people with over 100,000 posts. And what does that accomplish?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

95. I have always thought when we stopped actually organizing to DO something,

bombarding the press, attending activists meet-ups, etc. it was an astounding waste of what could be a powerful bloc to change things.

Now, all we do is agree with each other.

[PufPuf23]

89. Done. The Seigelman saga has always confused and troubled me.

I don't get the failure of POTUS Obama and Democratic leadership to offer support to what appears to be politically-fueled injustice.

The alleged crime seems flimsy and manipulated by GOP prosecutors.

Why has this apparent travesty been allowed to endure?

What a sad waste.

[PatSeg]

90. I can't count how many petitions

I have signed for Governor Siegelman anymore. Thank you for increasing our awareness of this gross injustice.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

94. I know, me too ....Hope Don writes a best seller on his

ordeal and once and for all exposes Karl Rove for what he is.

[PatSeg]

96. I was thinking along the same line

which also made me concerned for his safety. There are people out there who do not want the governor appearing on talk shows and writing books. This is all like a political thriller movie and so disturbing that it is real life.

[eleny]

92. done nt

[jwirr]

97. Done.

[Pharaoh]

98. Done!

[PBass]

99. Kicked and recommended (NT)

[Enthusiast]

100. Kicked and recommended! I have signed it.

[choie]

101. Done!

[Eric J in MN]

102. Signed and tweeted. NT

NT

[tularetom]

103. I done it, WTF is the matter with Obama?

He leaves a good man to rot in jail while war criminals and crooked banksters are allowed to run free.

I'm beginning to wonder why I ever voted for the guy.

[mucifer]

104. Does make you wonder if he had to sell his soul to be President.

I felt that was what happened to President Carter, too.

[TIME TO PANIC]

105. Signed! n/t

[thereismore]

106. Done. I do not understand why he is in prison...under

Obama no less.

[DiverDave]

107. Justice?

Despicable travesty of justice IMO
Signed, as if it will help...

[Iwillnevergiveup]

108. Done, with great pleasure!

K&R

Thank you Laura PourMeADrink.

[kacekwl]

110. DONE It seems like

I've done this several time before.

[AmBlue]

111. Done.

I believe with all my heart that what has been done to Don Sielgelman is wrong, and needs to be righted. We cannot take away the many years of freedom he has lost, but you, Mr. President, can restore him to his family to salvage what is left of his life. The man is 70 years old for goodness sake! America has no business keeping political prisoners. Please pardon Don Siegelman.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

116. brilliant AB !

[chknltl]

112. Done knr nt.

[Hiraeth]

113. done. K&R

[Maru Kitteh]

114. Done!

[chervilant]

115. Done.

K & R


(Obama should have issued a pardon LONG ago.)

[riderinthestorm]

120. Done!

[trof]

121. Done

[Laura PourMeADrink]

123. thanks ! Started at 64 now up to 570 !! nt

[Rhiannon12866]

124. Just ran across this in my travels, so I'm giving it another kick!