Bush pardons fraudster

When Bill Clinton issued a series of last-minute pardons, Republicans stamped their feet and demanded a constitutional amendment to weaken presidential pardon powers.

Now Bush is abusing pardon powers outright, and nobody raises a peep.

Yesterday, Bush pardoned a Brooklyn real estate developer who scammed hundreds of poor homebuyers. The developer, Isaac Toussie, had been convicted of mail fraud and lying to HUD. He falsely claimed Whoopi Goldberg and other celebrities had endorsed his business.

Victims of Toussie's fraud are outraged at the pardon.

Why was a con man pardoned for preying on some of New York City's poorest people? Well, it helps that his daddy donated $28,500 to the Republicans this year.

Actually the Republicans were right 8 years ago: We should amend the Constitution to limit presidential pardons. Unchecked pardon power was actually a carryover from the days when America was ruled by the British crown. But the GOP doesn't dare advocate limiting pardon powers now.

Shockingly, Toussie was still able to find work as a real estate consultant even after his fraud convictions. This is yet another aspect of this story that shows that in modern America, everything is about who you know. People who are honest, knowledgeable, and hard-working can't find a job anywhere except Booger Burger, but a Republican con artist like this gets to keep their well-paying job.

(Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/12/23/2008-12-23_president_bush_pardons_brooklyn_home_sca.html)