See?
That’s going to be the reaction of millions of Americans upon learning that Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, after he swore on multiple occasions that he wouldn’t.
Last week, New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote a thoughtful piece about how Trump supporters view our institutions. Basically, they see them all as rotten from the inside, corrupt, dishonest and rigged. Worse, they see the pols and others who defend these institutions as doing so only to protect the personal advantages that they provide. So, when Trump stands all that on its head, they cheer.
For those of us who — while acknowledging their faults — revere our institutions, Biden just delivered us a gut punch. When those who have lost faith in American democracy say “they all do it,” what are we left with? For them, Biden has just proven that, in fact, they all do do it.
The counter argument that Trump is so much worse doesn’t help one bit. Yes, Trump pardoned every pal and supporter he could on his way out the door in 2020. That included his son-in-law’s father who he has now named Ambassador to France. And you can be assured that Trump will pardon all of the January 6th insurrectionists he can as well as anybody in the cast of criminals that follow in his wake who can be reached by a Presidential edict. Then he’ll turn the tables and use the Justice Department to go after his enemies on what will be mostly phony charges.
But up until yesterday we were only half of a banana republic. We only had one party dedicated to using the rules to punish its enemies while it let its own miscreants go free. Now, Biden has done all he can to complete the cycle.
Biden’s argument is that his son was the victim of a witch hunt. Maybe. I don’t know how others in his situation, without a father who is President, would have been treated. But there’s no question that the guy cheated on his taxes — to the tune of at least $1.4 million — and lied about his drug convictions when obtaining a gun. And that doesn’t include his obvious use of his connection to his father to rake in millions from foreign businesses. A lot of people will look at his tax cheating in the neighborhood of a million and a half dollars and think, ‘I’d like to be in a position to owe a million bucks in taxes.’
Joe Biden had a mixed legacy as President. He did some good things, like the infrastructure bill. He did some bad things, like make the southern border too porous until it was too late. But, for the most part, Biden has been a steadfast champion for the rule of law, for our institutions of democracy and for normalcy.
With one act he just blew all that away. He has now destroyed his legacy. Let’s hope he didn’t just take down the rule of law with it.
Yellow Stripes & Dead Armadillos 
A burning question: Will the talented Debbie Zeeger return to claim her Booby Prize, and issue an appropriately groveling and contrite apology for thinking Biden was the epitome of integrity…because Trump?
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Cornelius, I hesitated to post this and maybe I shouldn’t have. Let’s refrain from personal attacks on our fellow commentators. Taking issue with a point is fine, but this crossed the line. I posted it only to send this message to everyone else. Dave
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Noted. But I’m left to ponder why THIS COMMENT escaped similar scrutiny
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Like I said, I’m sorry Joe felt he had to make the decision, but if I were him and looking at all the crazy people Trump wants to put in charge to exact his revenge, I would do the same for my son. Lots of people are running scared. That’s the sad part. What Joe hasn’t done is alot of what makes Trump a horrible human. Let’s not lose sight of the real problem here.
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No he didn’t. Would you leave your son in the hands of what’s coming? I sure wouldn’t. Also, Trump just named a former convicted tax evader as a foreign diplomat, so there’s that. I’m sorry that Joe had to make what was likely a very tough decision for him, but it was only because of the banana republic that’s to come. So thank the people that voted for Trump, don’t blame Joe.
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You read my mind. I am so disappointed and now even more fearful for the future of our democracy. Hunter was guilty on the counts you listed and, as you referenced, if he were anyone else, he would have been punished to some extent. The other time Biden went back on his word was when he said he would serve one term – then recanted. His personal interests “trumped” the country’s best interest in both decisions.
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That’s what pardons are for, to help family and friends and every single president has used them. Trump is about to free all of the January 6 rioters that actually hurt people. That matters more to me and our democracy. It just boggles my mind that people have higher standard or different expectations for Joe than for the president elect.
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In the interest of some balance, this post needed to be made Dave. We differ substantially on what Biden’s legacy will be, but in this instance, I agree with your assessment. However, I see this as par for the course for Joe.
Not only has he feathered his nest and those of his family with his shadiest of dealings, details on Hunter’s laptop, he also has evinced no standards when it comes to consequential decisions. I reference his stance re: Israel and Bibi’s dancing all over Biden’s redlines. Ditto Ukraine and Biden’s continuing walking over his own redlines on what he will give Ukraine; the latest being ATACMS to attack Russia directly – we made the weapons, we sent troops in to use them and we supply the satellite info to target them. This is an act of war. It is utterly unconstitutional.
I’ll close with a quote from Jonathan Turley, constitutional lawyer and ex-lifetime liberal Democrat:
“President Joe Biden’s decision to use his presidential powers to pardon his own son will be a decision that lives in infamy in presidential politics. It is not just that the President used his constitutional powers to benefit his family. It is because the action culminates years of lying to the public about his knowledge and intentions in the influence-peddling scandal surrounding his family. Even among past scandals in the abuse of the pardon power, Biden has cemented his legacy for many as not the Commander in Chief but the Liar in Chief.”
https://jonathanturley.org/2024/12/02/liar-in-chief-president-biden-cloaks-his-legacy-in-infamy-with-the-hunter-biden-pardon/
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I’m less disappointed in Biden (this was predictable) than in the many Dem leaders who are staying silent. Whatever their sympathies are for Biden, this is a great opportunity to present a contrast with an unpopular and powerless outgoing Democratic president. If I were an ambitious Democrat, I would use this as a chance to attack the abuse of the pardon power by both parties and propose reforms of it. I don’t know if it can be reformed without a constitutional amendment, but that’s not the point.
And this is the problem. Democratic leaders simply don’t recognize that demonstrating independence usually carries far greater political benefits than demonstrating loyalty to your political party.
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Once again, I totally agree with your take on Joe Biden and his legacy. Hunter is the epitome of sleaze and deserves whatever punishment he should have got. I’m disappointed in old Joe, who really looks decrepit these days. Reminds me of Grandpa Simpson. He’s to blame for the four year Dumpster fire that awaits. Everyone could see it but him, apparently.
Unrelated but I can’t help but comment on “Cornelius’s” cheapshot on a frequent poster to this site. I don’t usually agree with her but at least she uses her real name – I assume – and doesn’t hide behind the cloak of anonymity, like the “Gotch.” It’s amazing how courageous he – I assume it’s a he – is when he doesn’t have the cojones to use his real name. I’m sure he’ll claim legitimate reasons for his pseudonym but that’s a bunch of crap.
I used to work as a newspaper reporter in mid-sized Iowa cities and we frequently got unsigned, caustic, poisonous letters to the editor that the gutless writers expected to be published. They went directly to the waste basket, where they belonged.
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A lot of laughably unfounded assumptions in three (3) short paragraphs. And calling out “cheapshot” while delivering many of your own? Priceless!
Funniest thing; your manufactured outrage explicably failed to launch when the inimitable Rollie posted THIS. Reckon you’ll claim “that’s different,” but, to borrow a phrase, “that’s a bunch of crap.”
“I’m sure he’ll claim legitimate reasons for his pseudonym but that’s a bunch of crap.”
In all of the many LTEs I’ve submitted over time in “tolerant” Madison, I used my real name. The reward for “cajones?” “Private Number” middle of the night phones calls, eggings, a couple of the “poison pen” letters you reference, garbage bags tossed in the front yard, and beau coup magazine subscriptions to which I never subscribed.
So…”Bunch of crap?” Get a grip!
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Ok. I decided to post all this back and forth, but we’re going to end it here. I’ll take responsibility for not moderating as carefully as I should and I will in the future. But please, folks, I enjoy a spirited back and forth, but let’s refrain from personal attacks. Let’s assume that everybody has the best interests of the country at heart, that nobody is stupid or ill-motivated. And let’s move on now. Dave
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In defense of not using real names: I do business with lots of Rs. I know that I will be discriminated against if they searched my name online and saw that I have the political views I have.
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Yes, well, cheating on your taxes is a terrible thing, and Trump, of course, would never do that. Oh, wait – I pay more in taxes than Trump ever did! I pay my share for national defense, construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, dams, border security, and police, and fire protection. I agree that Joe Biden shouldn’t have stated that he would not pardon Hunter but went ahead and did it anyway. That was poor form. But I also remember very clearly watching Trump commit treason by being the first and only President to attempt to overturn the results of a free and fair election and watched him commit treason by deliberately inciting a mob to trash the Capitol building and bludgeon Capitol police and then sat on his fat ass watching the whole thing for hours on his damn TV while doing absolutely nothing.
I also pay my share of taxes which are used to repair homes and infrastructure in Florida again and again, while Florida s governor and conservative citizens deny the existence of climate change that will eventually kill us all, when drought, flooding, and extreme heat wipe out global agriculture (I figure in 5-10 years tops).
Then there’s the heinous crime of Hunter lying about his drug convictions when buying a gun. For that, Hunter Biden should be hanged by the neck until dead.
I agree that Joe Biden shouldn’t have stated that he would not pardon Hunter but went ahead and did it anyway. That was poor form. But I also remember very clearly watching Trump commit treason by being the first and only President to attempt to overturn the results of a free and fair election and watched him commit treason by deliberately inciting a mob to trash the Capitol building, bludgeon Capitol police in a last attempt to cling to power and then watch the whole thing for hours on his damned TV while doing absolutely nothing.
Trump, of course, is getting away as he always does with the horrendous crimes that he committed in his attempt to overthrow the newly elected government, and will no doubt pardon the January 6 insurrectionists who came to D. C. to help him remain in power. And then he will no doubt visit terrible vengeance on those who did their jobs to hold him accountable. And finally, he will tear the very foundations of our democracy to the ground and utterly destroy America’s standing in the world and all the good that we ever stood for.
So, pardon me if I don’t give a rip that Joe Biden “destroyed his legacy” by pardoning his son. As an active member of the resistance, I will work with others in one last, probably futile effort to save the world that Trump and his MAGA mob are gleefully trying to destroy. I will fight the hideous, immoral mob that was once the honorable Republican Party and I will fight the vile, demented personification of filth that is its corrupt leader.
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The plot thickens; from ethicsalarms.com (bolds/caps/italics mine throughout):
“It is being reported that the pardon had been in the words for months. Meaning that he knew he was going to pardon Hunter at the same time he was saying that he wouldn’t.
“I haven’t seen conclusive proof, but these things rarely are done overnight and usually go through several drafts of legal opinion. For example, the Biden team probably needed to do some extensive research to find out exactly when Hunter’s spree of crime began.”
“I have seen analyses of Hunter Biden’s laptop that put THE NUMBER OF DOCUMENTED FELONIES DISPLAYED AT AROUND 150. (bolds/caps/italics mine)
“Now, HUNTER HAD 2 OTHER LAPTOPS STOLEN BY RUSSIAN SPIES that had posed as prostitutes in Vegas (yes, he fell for it twice). They need to know the dates that those laptops covered as well in case Putin decides to release information from that.”
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“hideous immoral mob” and “vile, demented personification of filth that is its corrupt leader” doesn’t qualify for censure or deletion?
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It’s all a matter of proportion. As I’ve argued in the past, the propaganda techniques that Con trolls use include the excuse that “a D has done something like it, so you can’t critique Rs for doing it.” In their worldview, nothing Cons do can be critiqued because of that, but everything Pros do can be critiqued despite that.
It’s like a bank robber saying that they shouldn’t be held liable because a kid stole a candy bar.
I understand why Biden did what he did. Given the fact that Cons are
planning to stop “Justice Department politicization” by implementing vastly increased Justice Department politicization, he might need to blanket pardon all US citizens….
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Do not understand people’s obsession with Hunter. He was never a cabinet member or official in charge of anything. Meanwhile, people are ok overlooking the actual felonies the president-elect has been convicted of; and seemingly ok with the pardons he granted for people who committed similar crimes who will also be appointed as a foreign dignitary. Such as his son-in-law’s father. It just boggles the mind. Feels like I’m living in an alternate universe.
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