I frequently link blogger Jason Tolbert here for the simple reason that the hobbyist journalist covers an awful lot of political ground, usually with camera running. He does real reporting (often — I admit with some embarrassment — following up questions raised here with the actual answers.)
He’s a Republican and a past campaigner for Mike Huckabee. But he’s also seemed a straight shooter. An advocate, yes, but not to the point of misrepresenting others or overlooking blemishes on favored candidates.
So I note with interest a morning Twitter from Jason. I expect it to be followed at some point by more information on his blog, The Tolbert Report.
With a heavy heart – I just resigned as Arkansas coordinator for HuckPAC – one of the toughest things I have ever done in politics
I know Jason has been interested in the Maurice Clemmons clemency story. I know he is interested in unearthing the behind-the-scenes discussions in Gov. Mike Huckabee’s office that led to the suspected cop killer’s commutation in 2000. He felt, as others have before, that the governor owed a fuller explanation for his actions in a case with an unfortunate outcome. Who knows? A full explanation might even make one more sympathetic to Huckabee. Or not.
I’m guessing his efforts to elicit more information didn’t get far.
UPDATE: Tolbert comments briefly. Says he still believes in the principles and ideals championed by Huckabee. He also says recent events were part of, but not the only reason for his decision.
Speaking of Clemmons: Here’s a detailed look at how he managed to be free in Washington amid a growing list of criminal charges. Washington believes Arkansas declined to seek to have Clemmons held for violation of his Arkansas parole because it didn’t want the problem inmate back, a problem undoubtedly repeated many times over in an overrun criminal system.