Relax

A lot of people commenting about the Hoover situation the past few days. Quite a few let their Trump Derangement Syndrome get the better of them, claiming outrage on the part of thousands of crime victims they cared little for in years past or resentment on behalf of cops, few of whom had direct or indirect involvement with Hoover or the g.d's.

We let most of the comments go through unless it got personal or outright wrong. For a little perspective, here's the former Head of the Prisoner Review Board saying Hoover isn't getting out under the current committee:

• “I think it’s all just drama” said attorney Jorge Montes, who was a member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board for 16 years including six years as chairman.  “The president (Trump)  well knows that Mr. Hoover isn’t going’ anywhere. And that he’s not going to be released; he’s not going to be given freedom."

  Hoover has “to come back and fulfill his Illinois sentence – I think he (President Trump) is trying to impress his friends, Kanye West, and other celebrities who have been pushing for this pardon; but it’s a pyrrhic victory,” contends Montes. “At the end of the day, (Hoover) isn’t going anywhere. “

  Just a couple years ago when Hoover last came up for parole, the state board denied release by a vote of 10 to 1. That single parole board member on Hoover’s side is no longer even on the board. But a majority of the others are, and they voted against Hoover’s release less than three years ago. This time they will be the only people standing between Larry Hoover and freedom. 

We already opined that this was (and remains) a bad look for the president, but not a deal breaker for continued support. Let's be realistic:

• this was concurrent federal sentencing (six life sentences) to go with 200 years of state time for homicide. While we support Hoover dying in prison alone, "overkill" is a legit argument in this case;
• people with institutional or personal knowledge of Hoover and his crimes are minimal and getting more minimal by the day. Again, that doesn't excuse the release, but it factors into the political decision making process;
• Trump isn't facing Illinois voters ever again and the system ensures a Republican won't be competitive in Illinois for the next six to to ten years minimum; 
• the "pardon pen" has been abused for decades - Clinton was selling them for cash, Biden was covering crimes, Obama, Bush, W, Reagan, Carter. Until there's a concerted effort to reform the system, we give exactly zero fucks about someone else manufacturing a political advantage out of it;

In the end, it's going to come down to Fata$$ and what price - if any - he'll pay for going against the Prisoner Review Board, every member who was appointed by him. And those political ads WILL play to a national audience. Funny how national democrats are completely silent on this. 

Politely agree or disagree, use logical arguments and considered opinions.