Pardon who? Hunter Biden case renews ethical debate over use and limits of peculiar presidential power
Pardon who? Hunter Biden case renews ethical debate over use and limits of peculiar presidential power
Despite the controversy surrounding them, presidential pardons can provide a service ā the question is how they are used.
The decision by President Joe Biden to pardon his son, Hunter, despite previously suggesting he would not do so, has reopened debate over the use of the presidential pardon.
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The time to worry about the limits of presidential power was during the supreme court decision on immunity
Now that cats out of the bag, there's no sense in Biden trying to adhere to standards that no longer exist
True. Ain't nobody "reopening" debate except corporate news holes.
Yup. Let him go crazy with those powers. As sour as it tastes, he was given authority to do so by the Federal Supreme Court. If MAGA doesn't like it they can kiss our collective asses and roll that shit back.
They won't, of course, for a couple reasons:
- It IS another form of power
- They know the left will have plenty of people complaining whenever someone on their side decides to use it, while everyone on the Far Right will rejoice.
I suggest those of you whining about this take a step back and look at the bigger issues. One of which happens to be rather rotund, orange, and requires us to stop bickering.
You argument is quite literally "the president should just go ahead and misuse power right now because it was abused before." It's astonishing what you people will let Dems get away with and how little you consider the damage it does to the party's image, chances, conduct and culture.
The damage is already done, why worry about image, chances conduct and culture in a country that's got no future either way
He might as well do what he can while he can, none of it is going to matter for long
Sooo....
Why'd he just pardon his own son?
Why isn't he trying to fix this broken law rather than just pardoning his own son who's in his 50s?
Like, if the gloves are off shouldn't Biden be doing a bunch of stuff to help a lot of people at once?
He's fine with his son breaking this gun law for crack, but won't de-regulate cannabis so Americans in states where it's legal won't be breaking the law by owning a gun?
Drunks and (some special) crackheads can have guns but somebody who smokes a little green at night instead of a beer can't own a gun?
Edit:
After four years of political experts outling actions he can take...
It's really fucking depressing some people honestly believe this is all he can do
The president cannot create laws or change the constitution themselves. That's what the legislative branch does.
Yeah, but what if Biden makes it an "official act" to abolish Congress and usurp the ability to make law? It's clearly illegal, but POTUS cannot be held to account so nobody can stop him... right?
Why isn't he trying to fix this broken law rather than just pardoning his own son who's in his 50s?
Do you not understand what powers the President is given? Executive orders can only do so much, and it's irrelevant when the next administration can simply undo them in a month.
Let's say all he can do is pardon people to save them from trump...
You telling me the only person trump is/was going after is Hunter?
The President doesn't make laws, Congress does. You need to be talking to your representative and Senators and holding them accountable.
About cannabis specifically, he already pardoned the federal non-violent, non-distribution offenders. And his DOJ has recommended the DEA reschedule it to a Class III drug, they're the department that actually controls drug scheduling.
State drug laws are not something the President has control of. Again that you be your State reps.
You seem to either not understand how this works or are purposely ignoring that for whatever reason.
About cannabis specifically, he already pardoned the federal non-violent, non-distribution offenders. And his DOJ has recommended the DEA reschedule it to a Class III drug, theyāre the department that actually controls drug scheduling.
He pardoned some.
He can order agencies to do things and replace them if they refuse.
But even if the only thing he can do is pardon people to save them from trump...
Why is he only pardoning his son who admitted guilt to his crimes already?
Do you and Biden both think Hunter is the only one at risk and the only one that need protection from trump?
Why do you think that Trump is going to give any shit about whether someone has been pardoned already? What in his history makes you think he will follow the law?
So you're happy Biden did this...
But it means absolutely nothing...
Why do you think he did it anyways?
I don't honestly care about it that much. Biden is correct that these specific specific charges are rarely brought to court, and if Hunter were anyone else, they wouldn't have been. There WAS political interference by the Republicans ONLY because it was Biden's son, he was targeted for political reasons, not because of the laws he broke.
The pardon power SHOULD be used in situations of injustice. Individuals being targeted because of who they are related to, race, gender, identity, etc. instead of the merits of the charges themselves. Or where extenuating circumstances provide a lot more context. Law enforcement has a lot of leeway with determining when to arrest and prosecute, and jury nullification exists for context situations at the peer level already. Laws are written by man, and many laws on the books are unjust, some by design. There are situations where something illegal probably shouldn't be, or the context surrounding it needs to be considered. Sometimes the end does justify the means. Government whistleblowers being targeted for instance.
There WAS political interference by the Republicans ONLY because it was Bidenās son, he was targeted for political reasons, not because of the laws he broke.
What republicans?
The ones Biden appointed?
Otherwise I don't see how they were capable of doing things the last four years...