The Rick Amato Show

Homeland Security Won't Release Papers On Border Agents' Case

The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin newspaper (California) purports to have obtained a confidential internal memo of Homeland  Security Inspector General Richard Skinner that contradicts material statements and positions of the prosecution and Dpt. of Homeland Security in the case of Border Patrol Agents Jose Ramos and Ignacio Compean.

These are very disturbing implications in that it indicates the Homeland Security may have been been lying to Congress. Click  here to read the article written by Sara Carter.

Free Ramos And Compeon

Free Ramos And Compeon: The Washington Times, 1-29-07

National Border Patrol Council Rebuttal To U.S. Attorney Office

The document listed below is the official Rebuttal  by the National Border Patrol Council in the case involving convicted Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose' Campeon.

Download rebuttal_to_sutton1.pdf

Border Patrol Agents & Questionable Plea Bargain Deals On Rick Amato

We will take a closer look at the developments surrounding the case of convicted Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose' Campeon, including an upcoming rally to free the BPA's scheduled outside the offices of Congressman Duncan Hunter.

Plus..The growing trend of young American military men under emotional duress, financial pressure and questionable legal representation who are forced in to plea bargain deals, raises more than a few questions about the governments treatment of accused soldiers.

Plus...Your phone calls ...and, wherever you want to take the conversation.

Today at 4PM PST on  The Rick Amato Show on 1170 KCBQ   

Toll Free Listener Call-In Line at 1-888-344-1170.   Email Rick Your Question or Comment.

Today At 4!

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Common Sense

For the past several months I have been receiving audience email and voice mail messages that have a common and recurring theme: common sense. I'm humbled to write that people are saying The Rick Amato Show is all about common sense.  The content, the opinions, the guests.

Common sense of course is a good thing and it seems to be in mighty short supply these days. Whether it's about Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Campeon being sentenced to eleven year prison terms for shooting a convicted drug felon in the buttocks while crossing the border illegally....or about a group of young marines being shackled, chained and locked in solitary confinement at Camp Pendleton before ever having charges brought against them...we seem to be living in a world lacking in common sense.  At the same time government bureaucracies grow more pervasive, Big Monied special interest groups grow more influential and working middle-class Americans become less represented.

Common sense can be a powerful thing. It was after all the Common Sense pamphlet by Thomas Paine which  led to popular support of the American Revolution.  Thomas Jefferson, so impressed with the Common Sense pamphlet took ideas from the publication when writing the Declaration of Independence.

So because of you...your feedback... your comments and opinion I am embracing common sense as an identity for The Rick Amato Show. Our new tag line for the show is now "Common Sense With Rick Amato".

I thank you for your genuine interest and support.

Political Thriller By Douglass MacKinnon A 'Must Read'

Imagine an America that is not as our founding fathers intended it to be. A nation that has lost sight of its ideals, where borders are not sovereign and global agendas take precedent over the nation itself. An America where the only solution is for the most powerful men and women to revolt and drive the government to its knees.

So writes former Pentagon official Douglass MacKinnon in the  political thriller America's Last Days. MacKinnon joins me today to discuss both his fascinating new book and give comments on the new Bush Iraq Strategy.

Also on the show today we will discuss the fate of the two Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Campeon. What do you think of the President's decision not to pardon the two?

What do you think of presidential candidate Duncan Hunter (R-CA) introducing a bill to pardon the agents? Will it make a difference? And can we learn anything from their case and the rash of American soldiers facing court martial alleged of wrong doings in Iraq?

All that today at 4 PM PST on The Rick Amato Show on 1170 KCBQ.

Listen online at amatotalk.com

Duncan Hunter Introduces Bill To Pardon Convicted Border Patrol Agents

Republican presidential candidate Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA) is adding a dose of common sense to a story that seems to make no sense. Yesterday Congressman Hunter introduced the Congressional Pardon for Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose' Campeon.

The legislation pardons convicted Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Campeon who reported to prison yesterday to begin serving 11 and 12 year sentences respectively. Additionally- citing obvious safety reasons-Hunter requested that Ramos and Campeon be separated from the general prison population while serving their time.

After introducing the bill, Hunter sent an email stating that research indicates Congress has never enacted legislation purporting to grant an individual pardon. However, the email continued, The Supreme Court has not ruled on the constitutional authority of Congress to grant individual pardons. Hunter's staff is currently in the process of obtaining the text of pertinent House and Senate bills.

There seems to be a void of common sense and reasoning surrounding the case. If you are not familiar with the story, two Border Patrol Agents-Ramos and Campeon- have been sentenced to 11 years prison time for allegedly violating the civil rights of a convicted drug dealer named Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila of Mexico. They shot Aldrete-Davila in the buttocks after he illegally crossed the U.S./MX border in an area known for heavy drug trafficking. Adding insult to injury Aldrete-Davila is now suing the the US. government in the amount of $5 million for having his civil right violated.

This week White House press secretary Tony Snow displayed aloofness and indifference when asked if President Bush would be issuing a pardon. Meanwhile everyone I have spoken to is at a loss to explain why President Bush remains silent and allows the two to twist in the wind. Then late today, after Hunter's surprise announcement it appears the Administration went in to spin control mode when the President told the Associated Press "a pardon was possible".

Duncan Hunter is stepping forward to attempt to do do what it is the President should have done.

 

Duncan Hunter Shaking Things Up

I know it's early. In fact I know it's way too early to draw any meaningful conclusions regarding the polling figures of dark horse candidates for the '08 presidential election.

But as I have said several times on my radio show, and as I wrote back in November in The Washington Times (article titled Ahead To '08), Duncan Hunter is a candidate who can make things interesting. More interesting than most pundits realize.

Yesterday it was announced that Hunter took first place in an  Arizona straw poll among republican candidates. Romney came in second and McCain third.

This is obviously good news for Hunter and helps energize his campaign. As stated previously I believe Duncan Hunter can shake things up because his message of: peace through strength, conservative illegal immigration policy and conservative social values (he is further to the right than either McCain or Romney) have a history of playing well among voters in early primary states.

As stated on my radio show I also believe Mr. Hunter's ultimate objective is to position himself as an attractive candidate for Secretary of Defense in '08, should the GOP win.

Duncan Hunter will officially announce his candidacy on January 25th in South Carolina.

Border Sham

How ironic. In April of 2006 I wrote a front page Op-Ed article in The Washington Times newspaper titled Protect The Border. In the article I interviewed T.J. Bonner, the president of the union that represents America's Border Patrol agents. During the interview he had this to say,

"In my 28 years as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent, I have never seen the morale among agents any lower than it is right now. Never."

It appears Mr. Bonner was telling it like it is.

To support border patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, contact the White House at:

[email protected] or call 202-456-1111.

You can also send an e-mail to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales:mailto:[email protected] or call 202-514-2001.

Clemente Casillas, Bush's New Iraq Strategy & Protecting Our Border On Rick Amato Saturday!

The city of National City, California- the same community which tried to turn its town in to a sanctuary haven for illegal immigrants- is now now trying to claim eminent domain on the building of a youth athletic center for under-privileged kids. My guest is the founder of the Community Youth Athletic Center, Mr. Clemente Casillas.

Casillas grew up in the tough streets of east San Diego, worked as a boxer after graduating from high school and eventually managed to find his way to attend and graduate from the University of Southern California. Today Casillas runs his own successful real estate and mortgage company and is committed to giving something back to his community. But the city of National City apparently has a different vision.

Also joining the show will be reports from a rally of outraged citizens who are demanding a pardon for the two Border Patrol agents (Ramos and Campeon) who face prison time for protecting our border while pursuing a convicted Mexican drug smuggler near the border in Texas last year.

PLUS...Former pentagon official Douglas MacKinnon joins the program to gives his thoughts on President Bush's new Iraq strategy.

All that plus your phone calls toll free at 888-344-1170

This Saturday at 4 on 1170 KCBQ

Listen online at amatotalk.com!