Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
    • Reason TV
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • Free Media
    • The Reason Interview
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • Freed Up
    • The Soho Forum Debates
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Print Subscription
    • Subscriber Support

Login Form

Create new account
Forgot password

Oh, Pardon Me

Julian Sanchez | 8.30.2005 1:07 PM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Several Republican appointees in Kentucky's state government have been accused of illegaly replacing state employees with party apparatchiks. Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher has acted quickly to dispel these charges of political nepotism—by granting a blanket amnesty to the accused.

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: The Justice Department's Quack Remedies

Julian Sanchez is a contributing editor at Reason.

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Hide Comments (7)

Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.

  1. Brian   20 years ago

    Probably going to give Bob Taft an idea. The whole Republican party here in the Heart of it All(tm) is rotten from dogcatcher on up. The KY and OH govenors were in a race to see who gets indicted first. Bob won that round.

    But the voters will vote Jesus and they will remain one party states.

  2. Johnny Clarke   20 years ago

    Well, as long as the politicians invoke a diety in their speeches they certainly can't do anything bad or evil, right?

  3. ChicagoTom   20 years ago

    You're just being cynical....Fletcher, being the moral, virtuous person that he is, merely pardoned them so that they no longer can invoke their 5th amendment right, thus compelling them to testify and actually help the case. And unless I remember incorrectly, didn't he say that he was going to testify before the grand jury tell them everything he knows? A real stand up guy this Ernie Fletcher -- and also, not a Democrat -- so let's all just back off Mr Fletcher wont we please? He's just looking out for KYs best interests.

  4. Doc   20 years ago

    From the NY times:

    Mr. Fletcher also said that although he would appear before the grand jury, he would not testify.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/30/national/30kentucky.html

    Goes nicely with the GOP Coingate in Ohio next door doesn't it?

  5. PintofStout   20 years ago

    Brian,
    All the more reason to head the the Free State of New Hampshire. Hopefully, I will depart from OH in a few years.

    http://www.freestateproject.org

  6. Ruthless   20 years ago

    PintofStout,
    Hey!
    What do you know of the libertarian movement down in Costa Rica?
    Research it and get back to me.
    I have good reason to believe there are some free-marketers still ruminating/ambulating down there.
    Have you read "Villa Incognito" by Tom Robbins? There are echoes therein.

  7. Douglas Fletcher   20 years ago

    What, he never heard of nepotism? What the hell's happening with the South these days?

Please log in to post comments

Mute this user?

  • Mute User
  • Cancel

Ban this user?

  • Ban User
  • Cancel

Un-ban this user?

  • Un-ban User
  • Cancel

Nuke this user?

  • Nuke User
  • Cancel

Un-nuke this user?

  • Un-nuke User
  • Cancel

Flag this comment?

  • Flag Comment
  • Cancel

Un-flag this comment?

  • Un-flag Comment
  • Cancel

Latest

Lawmakers in Texas and Ohio Consider Abolishing Property Taxes

Christian Britschgi | From the February/March 2026 issue

The Supreme Court Is Poised To Remind States That the Constitution Doesn't Stop at the Liquor Store

C. Jarrett Dieterle | 2.7.2026 7:00 AM

Archives: February-March 2026

Reason Staff | From the February/March 2026 issue

Most Americans Hate Trump's Tariffs

Jack Nicastro | 2.6.2026 4:54 PM

The Trump Administration Is Taking Credit for a Long-Running Murder Decline

Alexandra Stinson | 2.6.2026 3:48 PM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS Add Reason to Google

© 2026 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

r

I WANT FREE MINDS AND FREE MARKETS!

Help Reason push back with more of the fact-based reporting we do best. Your support means more reporters, more investigations, and more coverage.

Make a donation today! No thanks
r

I WANT TO FUND FREE MINDS AND FREE MARKETS

Every dollar I give helps to fund more journalists, more videos, and more amazing stories that celebrate liberty.

Yes! I want to put my money where your mouth is! Not interested
r

SUPPORT HONEST JOURNALISM

So much of the media tries telling you what to think. Support journalism that helps you to think for yourself.

I’ll donate to Reason right now! No thanks
r

PUSH BACK

Push back against misleading media lies and bad ideas. Support Reason’s journalism today.

My donation today will help Reason push back! Not today
r

HELP KEEP MEDIA FREE & FEARLESS

Back journalism committed to transparency, independence, and intellectual honesty.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

STAND FOR FREE MINDS

Support journalism that challenges central planning, big government overreach, and creeping socialism.

Yes, I’ll support Reason today! No thanks
r

PUSH BACK AGAINST SOCIALIST IDEAS

Support journalism that exposes bad economics, failed policies, and threats to open markets.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

FIGHT BAD IDEAS WITH FACTS

Back independent media that examines the real-world consequences of socialist policies.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

BAD ECONOMIC IDEAS ARE EVERYWHERE. LET’S FIGHT BACK.

Support journalism that challenges government overreach with rational analysis and clear reasoning.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

JOIN THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

Support journalism that challenges centralized power and defends individual liberty.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

BACK JOURNALISM THAT PUSHES BACK AGAINST SOCIALISM

Your support helps expose the real-world costs of socialist policy proposals—and highlight better alternatives.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

FIGHT BACK AGAINST BAD ECONOMICS.

Donate today to fuel reporting that exposes the real costs of heavy-handed government.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks