Excuses, excuses, excuses

Mike Huckabee’s excuses for commuting the sentence of Maurice Clemmons have the hollow ring of one who is desperately seeking to distance himself from the consequences of his own lapse of good judgment [“Huckabee explains pardon of Clemmons,” Opinion, guest commentary, Dec. 9].

The former governor has never given a convincing reason for bestowing clemency on Clemmons.

Huckabee’s pathetic whining that he was relying on what turned out to be terrible advice, which resulted in tragedy, is hardly a recommendation for one who seeks to lead the free world.

— Arlene N. Heath, Seattle

I don’t care if he’s a Democrat, Republican or independent

I do not care if Mike Huckabee is a socialist, independent, Democrat or a Republican, when the clemency paper comes across that desk, and the inmate has only served about 10 percent of his 108-year sentence, you need to engage the mind.

That is something good leaders do.

If Huckabee had not commuted Maurice Clemmons’ sentence, there would most likely be four police officers alive tonight, and nine children would have their dads or mom home during the holidays.

— David Shaw, Everett