[Rich]

Well done Joe Biden!

We haven’t seen a pardon as sweeping as Hunter Biden’s in generations

Joe Biden has done absolutely the right thing here.

[albionfagan]

Appalling behaviour but let's face it, this is what the USA is, a monarchy dressed up as something else.

They wanted independence because they hated paying taxes, something still very evident in their toxic political culture. Trump is not an outlier, he is American with no clothes on.

[Dimetrodon]

Is it wrong? Yes.

But let's be honest, this is a mere drop in the bucket in this political era.

[Pewty]

Seems reasonable. The Justice Department is going to be a rotting cesspool under Trump and the Presidential Pardon is going to abused so much as to become a worldwide laughing stock, along with the country, so Biden pardoning his son doesn't seem like a big deal.

[Negotiator]

Is this thread some sort of competition who can post the most sarcastic comment ?

This was sure to happen and demonstrates what everyone knows - these people are above the law.

His father has blown up a gas pipeline of an ally, after all, and all that Germany did was giving Biden a medal.

[Rich]

My post was not sarcastic. First off Biden has the power to do it, why not do it. A man that doesn't show loyalty to his family and close friends is not a man that I trust to do right for wider groups such as the nation. I just don't support lawfare. i don't support it when the Democrats do it. I don't support it when the Republicans do it. Before Trump won back the Presidency I was willing to support lawfare against Hunter as a defensive measure against the attempts to stop Trump standing. But now Trump has won its absolutely right to see the back of these anti Hunter cases.

Its impossible to be objective and work out how Hunter would have been treated if he wasn't the President's son. Democracy requires top politicians and in this case their families to treated with a greater degree of leniency. The stakes of elections are already too high. Huge changes in fortune turn on a couple of percent in the popular vote. If politicians or their close family members can end up in prison after losing an election it raises the stakes even further. Lawfare is a deadly threat to democracy.

It was lawfare against Julius Caesar that brought down the Roman Republic. I think the lawfare against Caesar was a terrible mistake. And with Caesar there were credible accusations of genocide far, far worse than anything that Hunter Trump or Hilary have ever done. Once lawfare cretinism starts it never stops. Next these idiots will be trying to prosecute Vladimir Putin or Benjamin Netanyahu.

[MadMonk]

Biden senior has done everything wrong here. The romantic in me pictures a father doing anything to save one of his children, having already lost two in earlier tragedies. The cynic in me, that he not only protected his son but also himself, if he was in any way implecated in his crimes.

As I understand it, Hunter was found guilty of federal firearms charges as well as tax evasion just this year. Were there any more crimes that will not come to light because of this sweeping pardon? You can bet your ass that Trump will direct the Justice Department to investigate at colonoscopy depth.

Goodbye, Biden. You will not be missed. Though you might want to check back with me after a couple of months with Trump. I swear that sometimes I think I died many years ago, and now I am circling deeper and deeper into Hell. Fuck you, Dante.

[Mosaic Mystic]

Joe Biden comes across to me as a power-driven opportunist and a chronic liar. I think he should fade into political obscurity over time. It’s frustrating how the Democratic primary winners often feel like poor choices. First, there was Clinton, then Biden, and now Kamala. Can we please get better candidates?

[Mosaic Mystic]

I highly recommend reading Branko Marcetic’s work for a thorough examination of Joe Biden's troubling track record. Marcetic highlights Biden’s history of pushing for balanced budgets, supporting anti-busing policies, and fabricating claims about his involvement in the civil rights movement. His actions reveal a politician driven more by a desire for power and popularity than by any coherent or principled ideology. The list of issues with his record is extensive and deeply concerning.

[elias877]

Biden’s just doing what any parent would, but it doesn’t help the “they’re above the law” narrative. It’s a messy look, especially with the timing. Feels more like protecting his own skin than just his son.

[Rich]

Bill Clinton pardoned his half brother. Donald Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, he's now nominating him as French Ambassador. If Joe Biden had a second term and appointed his son as ambassador, I bet the Republican hypocrites would already be whining about it.

[Mosaic Mystic]

How about President Biden uses his pardon power to free all the individuals incarcerated for victimless crimes like marijuana possession? It's unjust for people to serve harsh prison sentences for something as harmless as smoking a joint or possessing weed, especially when marijuana is now legal in 24 states for recreational use and 38 states for medical use. Instead, Biden seems more focused on prioritizing his son, Hunter Biden. This is yet another example of how the rich appear to be above the law—something Hunter Biden seems to have in common with Donald Trump.

[Pewty]

Biden should pardon everybody, and let Trump clean up the mess.

[AFAIK]

He already did @Mosaic Mystic but the president can only pardon people guilty of federal crimes and most drug prosecutions are handled by the states.

I've heard right wingers like Thomas Sowell criticise Obama for failing to help his impoverished cousin in Kenya whilst promoting the ACA because Sowell can't tell the difference between public policy and private charity. I'm sure he'll be happy that Biden put family first.

[Rugoz]

A man that doesn't show loyalty to his family and close friends is not a man that I trust to do right for wider groups such as the nation.

Jesus, what nonsense. Loyalty to the nation's impersonal, rule-based institutions is more important.

I just don't support lawfare.

It's not lawfare if it leads to convictions. The US is not Russia where it's impossible to have a political career without being corrupt. Hunter Biden is a criminal bastard and so is Trump. We all know it.

[AFAIK]

I don't get why Americans give their president the powers of a monarch and then complain when he exercises them. They've had plenty of oppourtunity to implement those precious checks and balances they bleat on about endlessly. They could require all presidential pardons be confirmed by the senate, they could strip the president of authoritarian abilities like vetos. The fact is they enjoy their vestiges of feudalism where strongmen can override the will of the people on a whim.

[Rich]

While we're at it I would like to give a belated cheer for Jimmy Carter's some what belated pardoning of Jefferson Davis (not to be confused with Jefferson airplane) and Robert E Lee. I would also note Carter's leading role before he became President in the defence of of Lieutenant Calley who died earlier this year.

[wat0n]

I don't get why Americans give their president the powers of a monarch and then complain when he exercises them. They've had plenty of oppourtunity to implement those precious checks and balances they bleat on about endlessly. They could require all presidential pardons be confirmed by the senate, they could strip the president of authoritarian abilities like vetos. The fact is they enjoy their vestiges of feudalism where strongmen can override the will of the people on a whim.

In all fairness, there are other checks on presidential pardons. For instance, the POTUS can't pardon for state convictions.

Another issue though is that of preemptive pardons, someone who hasn't been convicted of a crime is presumed innocent so it's not that easy to understand why a pardon would even be necessary before there's a conviction.

[Tainari88]

I don't get why Americans give their president the powers of a monarch and then complain when he exercises them. They've had plenty of oppourtunity to implement those precious checks and balances they bleat on about endlessly. They could require all presidential pardons be confirmed by the senate, they could strip the president of authoritarian abilities like vetos. The fact is they enjoy their vestiges of feudalism where strongmen can override the will of the people on a whim.

Stop with all that truth saying AFAIK.

Don't you know Americans want to live with myth? You got to stop noticing these contradictions fella.

You are bringing the American Dream bullshit down. Don't bring me down!

[Negotiator]

Here are nine minutes of mainstream media saying Biden wont pardon his son:

https://rumble.com/v5vjnm5-media-pushed ... src_v1_ucp

Also Jimmy Dore failing to never interrupt this stream of nonsense with own comments.

Stop with all that truth saying AFAIK.

Frankly, in a country with the death penalty, I'm damn happy that they have at least a pardon, too.