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orbit's avatar

So you're equating Joe Biden's pardon of his son as the same abuse of power Trump displayed during his first term as president?

Really?

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Robert Jaffee's avatar

No, I’m comparing the hypocrisy. No one forced Biden to take a stand, especially given Trump’s proclivity for vengeance. My issue is that his word is as meaningless as Trump’s. You can’t have it both ways; you either respect the rule, of law or you don’t.

Hunter was found guilty by a jury of his peers. If we’re outraged with all the court interventions to help Trump, a convicted criminal, then you can’t seriously support or justify what Biden is doing for his son!

If any pardons should be given, it’s to people who truly put their lives on the line in the name of justice. Hunter is not one of them, and this pardon only serves to confirm MAGA’s suspicions: Democrats are all hat, and no cattle!

So please tell me how democrats move forward with any credibility; especially given that Trump is going to not only break the law, he’s going to re-write them!

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SandyG's avatar

How is pardoning his son which the Constitution, the supreme law of the land, gives him the authority to do without any constraint except in cases of impeachment disrespecing the rule of law?

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Robert Jaffee's avatar

It’s disrespecting the rule of law, because he said he wouldn’t pardon Hunter in order to uphold the rule of law.

As I’ve stated previously, Biden wasn’t asked to make that BOLD statement, but once he did, he is supposed to keep his word! After all, wasn’t it Biden who claimed that Trump was abusing his power by pardoning criminals who didn’t even complete their sentences, and never showed even an ounce of remorse or contrition!

Has Hunter even shown any remorse? No, like Trump, he’s a victim and the trial was politically motivated, even though, it was Garland who appointed the special counsel.

We can debate whether it was warranted or not, but the fact is that Garland was appointed by Biden, and it was he, who made the decision to keep the Hunter investigation open.

Sandy, I’ve learned a long time ago, to pick and choose my battles wisely; this isn’t a battle I’m willing to fight for. All we’re doing is strengthening Trump’s hand to help him confirm his worst nominee’s and to help him implement his most draconian agendas. And his sycophants in Congress will use the pardon as an excuse of democratic hypocrisy to help him achieve his goals of authoritarianism.

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Susan Fuller's avatar

Hunter has shown remorse. He was mentally ill and in a state of depression and irrationality when he bought and disposed of that gun without ever loading it. He did not have control of his faculties nor did he do anything with intent to harm anyone. He has paid the late taxes and worked to rehabilitate himself. He has always been a target of MAGA simply because of the circumstances of his birth

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Robert Jaffee's avatar

I was thinking more in terms of his lies about the laptop. He allowed over 100 former high level military and Intelligence officials to sign a letter stating that it was most likely a Russian disinformation campaign.

Hunter knew the entire time that it was real, yet he allowed his dad and so many others believe he was a victim. And when Trump colludes with Putin again, or shares intelligence with him, who is going to believe these people now? Trump will call it a hoax and fake news, and the public skeptical!

That’s my point!….:)

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JF's avatar

Hunter Biden’s crime isn’t a death penalty case. If Hunter went to prison during a Trump administration, he would never come out. He would meet with mysterious “misadventure” similar to Jeffrey Epstein.

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Robert Jaffee's avatar

Actually, I think Trump would pardon him, acting magnanimously, while parading Hunter around to praise the anointed one in all his glory! Trump loves to humiliate people; his best form of revenge and punishment!….:)

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SandyG's avatar

Yes, they will use it to criticize Democrats as hypocrites. They are already doing so.

That was the rock Biden was facing on one side. The hard place on the other side was what a Trump-run Bureau of Prisons, who will not respect the rule of law, would do to his incarcerated son. He valued protecting his son more than not giving the Republicans fodder for their criticism of Democrats. In that, IMO, he made the right choice.

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Robert Jaffee's avatar

Right or wrong is irrelevant. Let’s see how this plays out! Trump may get his spineless senate to confirm all his highly unqualified candidates, using this as an excuse.

Furthermore, the issue is whether he’ll be able to continually use this incident to convey democrats as being corrupt! And that’s all that matters; not what you or I think, but whether they can sell it to the American people: repeatedly, while destroying the administrative state in the process!

And let’s face it, they already have half the media, including social media, in their pocket!….:)

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SandyG's avatar

When you say right or wrong is irrelevant, you mean to how Trump will use it and how the People will see it. And that that is the issue. Is that correct?

If so, are you also saying Biden should have allowed the lawless Trump administration to incarcerate his son and put his life at risk in order to prevent the Republicans from having an incident to give them a talking point that Democrats are corrupt, which is not the case in this incident, but doesn't matter because the People aren't capable of understanding that and will only understand what right-wing media [AKA propaganda] says?

If so, you are saying it was politically unwise, yes? Not immoral or dishonorable as JVL and Sarah said yesterday, just politically unwise and that is your objection to the pardon. Yes?

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SandyG's avatar

Please show me where he said he wouldn’t pardon Hunter in order to uphold the rule of law.

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Robert Jaffee's avatar

He doesn’t have to explicitly say it Sandy, it’s implied. And I’m not looking for an argument. I’m just making the case that for many Americans, they cannot distinguish the difference in abuse of power between Trump and Biden, and it speaks volumes about the American electorate.

However, it’s a bad look when the party’s message is, “we uphold the rule of law.” Then when it’s not convenient: we don’t! Now we don’t have much to separate us from MAGA in the minds of voters who make the difference on Election Day.

And whether Biden has the right or not, is irrelevant, since we’re not the people who need convincing!

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SandyG's avatar

Oh, it's implied. You made an affirmative statement; silly me to not get you were merely implying. And that you were only speaking for the voters.

This is important because your criticism rests on what Biden promised and its relationship to the rule of law. A pardon is not disrespecting or not upholding the rule of law. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives the president unrestricted authority to pardon except in cases of impeachment. There is no question that he has the right.

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Brent_in_FL's avatar

Nope.

Biden could have put his own son in prison personally and Trump would still be an authoritarian and nominate the worst people and go after those he thinks wronged him. He doesn't need any excuse.

I hope Biden pardons himself and Kamala on January 19.

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Robert Jaffee's avatar

I said, Trump doesn’t need an excuse, but it’s not Trump we’re trying to change. It’s the minds of the tens of millions, who may not like Trump, but voted for him anyway.

You think I personally disagree with you guys on the points? I don’t! I’d have no issue with the pardon, had it not been for Biden’s promise to uphold the rule of law, regardless of the outcome of the trial. That said, I’m also commenting from the perspective of average Americans who don’t share your worldview, or our view of Trump.

Do you know what I hear talking to Trump voters in Florida? It’s one of two things: they know he’s corrupt, but he shakes things up, and they know what they are getting. And the other is, democrats are just as corrupt; Biden is too old and corrupt; and Harris is a liar and incompetent.

So now that we have shredded the last of our credibility, what’s your plan to fight back? Other than I’m glad we’re finally fighting back with a pardon; to a criminal, by the way!

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