A message to President Bush:

Dana Rohrbacher, a Congressman from California, has sent a letter -- co-signed by many of his colleagues -- to George Bush, asking him to issue a Christmas pardon to Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, the two Border Patrol agents who were persecuted (and will soon be jailed) for shooting a drug smuggler.

I've written about this travesty before, and am still angry about it. The jury that convicted Compean and Ramos was not only pressured to do so, but accepted the testimony of the drug-smuggler -- who was granted immunity, given free medical care, was caught smuggling drugs again after the trial (and was cut loose!), and now is suing the government because he was "incapacitated" by his minor wound -- as somehow compelling.

There is little doubt in my mind that Compean and Ramos were hung out to dry under orders of the same man to whom Rohrbacher addressed his letter.

Nonetheless, Bush can redeem himself (at least on this particular issue) by acceding to the request.

Of course I believe he should order the two agents reinstated in their jobs as well.

I would like to ask all who read this to go here and add your names to a petition that will be sent to Bush.

ABSOLUTELY NON-PARENTHETICAL THOUGHT: I disagree, in some cases very strongly, with some of the positions this organization takes. But in this instance, they are right on, and I signed. It's too important an issue to let drop because the one organization willing to step up to the plate has some other views that aren't supportable.

The entire illegal-immigration issue has been so politicized, is so rife with corruption on the pro-illegal side and so destructive to the core of this nation that at some point we will have to decide whether any of the people in our government are really representing us, or are advancing an agenda meant only to enrich themselves and a few pals here and in Mexico.

Granting a pardon to Compean and Ramos would not only be an act of true justice, but would signal that Bush actually is capable of understanding the difference between right and wrong, something not often apparent.

I would be so happy to have George Bush offer proof that he can be better than I believe he is, and this would be a damn good place for him to start.