I am 100% behind President Biden on pardoning his son Hunter and for the reason you stated. Since the tr*** transition team has signed an agreement for the FBI to vet tr's "picks", hopefully most of them will be discreditied (and rightly so) and not be able to serve, especially that patel guy. President BIden spent some time soul searching before he did this. I respect the heck out of President Biden, and yes, marbles are rolling everywhere because many -- particularly the newsmedia -- love drama.
I'm beginning to hope that several more of Trump's picks will flame out before they get anywhere near a hearing. Gaetz was totally unqualified for Justice, and Hegseth is even more unqualified for Defense. But DeSantis as a backup? We're living in the Bizarro World.
I re-read It Can't Happen Here in 2001. I'm not sure I can read it again right now. Maybe I'll try Julia, the retelling of 1984 from Sandra Newman.
I don't know if you read Dave Karpf, but in case you don't, you might appreciate his take on this issue. Very compatible with yours. https://davekarpf.substack.com/p/uncouth
Thanks so much for the link. I love this guy, and not just because his take is similar to mine -- he also pushes it farther. I especially like that he came right out and said what I said: "Here is something I am quite confident of: had Kamala Harris been elected President, Hunter Biden would not have been pardoned."
For those clutching their pearls and ringing their hands saying Biden broke precedent I say bull****. Trump made the precedent when he pardoned....oh God we know who he pardoned and who he plans to pardon on 'day one'. Why such a long stretch of time? THE LAPTOP FOLKS! IMHO I think Biden should pardon every single person on Trump's hit list.
This is yet another “brick in the wall” to assuring us there are only two classes in America.
Oligarch
Proletariat
Rule of law is for ya’all…and only ya’all. But if you have power and money, always pass go.
Meanwhile…keep learning Russian and Mandarin, because personal issues mixed with political expedience and ambition starts to look more like Russia and China; not the “exceptional” country we pretend to be.
We will see if President and not just father Biden is capable of using his pardon power for other than self serving reasons…
California guided by Newsom is taking action to lawyer up against Führer Drumpf to protect California…well, this is what it looks like when the states rights game is forced. State legislators are in special sessions to continue into the Holiday Season; request from state coffers for an additional 25 million dollars in legal monies among the many activities ongoing.
The largest Korean American population is here, where the local consensus is that the current South Korean president was embolden by our last election results. Literal word on the streets of K town is that there are more similarities than differences by exception between recent South Korean martial law and Trump’s January 6 activities.
There have been a significant handful of legislator seats flipped from Red to Blue at local and state level.
Snowflake, a tech company, fucked around and found out the hard way moving to the Red state of Texas didn’t pay the expected nirvana dividends of freedom and owning libs as anticipated…pretty sure women and other marginalized employees drank a big cup of Duh while pointing that out…along with wincing at a costly Bay Area record-deal-estate transaction, titled no matter where you go, there you are.
Many thanks! I've been thinking (from a distance) that many South Koreans, having experienced dictatorship in their own lifetimes, are far more savvy than even pro-democracy USians. It seems their awareness has been effectively passed on to the next generations.
I've noticed the red-to-blue flips in CA. Katie Porter's newsletter is very helpful.
Special thanks for the story about Snowflake. Hadn't heard about that. Awww . . . Now I'm wondering if any MA companies have had similar experiences. Threats to leave the state are pretty common -- high taxes, yadda yadda yadda -- but finding a hyper-educated (esp. in tech, science, or medicine) workforce in a low-tax state might be a challenge. Will keep my eyes and ears open.
I'm in colorado, which is really bi-polar like so many states. Fox bought up all the local tv stations in the rural areas and has been feeding thm b.s. for 20 years and the people there are very single minded. Then we have Boulder-Denver, quite liberal.
Then there is El Paso County, larger in size than Denver County and exploding in population, with 5 military installations. Dems are increasing, but worried at the arrogance and anger of the trumpites. It's been a ride, for sure! How about others?
Any additional charges/indictments filed against Hunter would be served to him in a Federal Prison. That what would happen sans Pardon. Since it's a Federal matter ( Feds can't indict for crimes they do not have jurisdiction) are you at all curious as to what the other crimes covered in the Pardon are? Hunter and Joe knew what they were or that language and specific time frame would not appear in the Pardon. Or did Joe as a Father say I dont want to know? That still leaves Hunter and of course, any and all victims, whether they be human, animal, or part of the USG.
Are you okay with any criminal getting away with Federal crimes? Ot just a particular President's surviving son? FTR I read the same folk and more. Did any of those you read test their own thoughts and words by substituting Don Jr for Hunter and Trump for Biden? Same set of facts. Only the names change.
As it stands now those who were convinced by others or convinced self Joe was right, own the concept that Trump would be right to pardon Don Jr or Eric for the exact same crimes and for other Federal crimes unknown to the public.
FTR: Hunter ain't off the hook. Although the clock is running 2 or more states have the right to charge him for state tax evasion and likely at least one gun charge. Presidential pardons don't preempt states from legal action. And then there is the other crimes referenced in the pardon. They too may include state criminal violations. And the possibility (although unlikely) of international crimes.
While sympathetic to addicts that doesn't translate to nullifying their crimes. And the kicker for me includes Joe and Jill NOT recognizing their grandchild. Who turns a grandchild into their victim? Bad enough when parents turn on son-in-law or daughter-in-law for no good reason or in this case the Mother. But the grandchild. How fucking cruel one must be to do that to the innocent while excusing the acts of the guilty, indeed blaming them on Trump?
First thought (probably more later): Context matters. The fate of Hunter Biden's case under a Trump administration is not the same as a hypothetical case of Don Jr. (etc.) under a Biden, Harris, Newsom, Whitmer (etc.) administration because I'm counting on the latter administrations to respect and do their best to adhere to the rule of law. I have no such confidence in the Trump administration. So the hypotheticals are not equivalent.
Here's a possible parallel: In a typical U.S. court how likely is it that a woman will get the same ruling on a case as a man? a person of color as a white person? a Native woman as a white man? "Respect for the rule of law" isn't a protected category (like sex, race, disability), but the distinction between those who abide by it (or profess to abide by it) and those who don't is very real.
I seriously doubt that Hunter Biden (whose case is pretty much unique) is likely to get a fair shake from the incoming Justice Department. He may be a class of one, but that still matters.
Perhaps I wasn't clear. Subbing the names is to test the logic of the argument. Nothing more. Same can be done with subbing in Person A and Person B. Logic must remain consistent and insulated from other influences. Even more so in legal matters and formal arguments. And this method isn't a hypothetical. It's how to stress test one's thinking and the logic that must be part of it. That's what "free and fair from favor" means.
It's an error to believe Hunter's case is unique. That argument by so many is fatally flawed because the crimes are not at all unique. Tax evasion is a common crime, so too is mucking with Federal docs including during a gun purchase. What Andrew and others say about the rareness of being charged is correct. But it is the same lame argument heard about regarding rape. That being a conscious and intentional effort by prosecutors NOT to prosecute. Rarely prosecuted is deceiving when the decision not to is not supportable but instead accepted as it long has been with rapes and other crimes. Low percentages of prosecutions of a crime don't translate to a crime has not occurred.
What constitutes a fair shake for Hunter? He already pleaded guilty to 9 felonies and misdemeanors and was found guilty of 3 gun-related charges. And he is walking free.
I would say that if he had couched the pardon the way you have, he could have killed 2 birds .... Context was key. ... he could also have mentioned dumbest of political attacks to try to destroy his family without cause.
I am 100% behind President Biden on pardoning his son Hunter and for the reason you stated. Since the tr*** transition team has signed an agreement for the FBI to vet tr's "picks", hopefully most of them will be discreditied (and rightly so) and not be able to serve, especially that patel guy. President BIden spent some time soul searching before he did this. I respect the heck out of President Biden, and yes, marbles are rolling everywhere because many -- particularly the newsmedia -- love drama.
I'm beginning to hope that several more of Trump's picks will flame out before they get anywhere near a hearing. Gaetz was totally unqualified for Justice, and Hegseth is even more unqualified for Defense. But DeSantis as a backup? We're living in the Bizarro World.
Great article Susanna , it is honest and to the point. hugs and peace too you
I re-read It Can't Happen Here in 2001. I'm not sure I can read it again right now. Maybe I'll try Julia, the retelling of 1984 from Sandra Newman.
I don't know if you read Dave Karpf, but in case you don't, you might appreciate his take on this issue. Very compatible with yours. https://davekarpf.substack.com/p/uncouth
Thanks so much for the link. I love this guy, and not just because his take is similar to mine -- he also pushes it farther. I especially like that he came right out and said what I said: "Here is something I am quite confident of: had Kamala Harris been elected President, Hunter Biden would not have been pardoned."
For those clutching their pearls and ringing their hands saying Biden broke precedent I say bull****. Trump made the precedent when he pardoned....oh God we know who he pardoned and who he plans to pardon on 'day one'. Why such a long stretch of time? THE LAPTOP FOLKS! IMHO I think Biden should pardon every single person on Trump's hit list.
Bottom Line Up Front…
This is yet another “brick in the wall” to assuring us there are only two classes in America.
Oligarch
Proletariat
Rule of law is for ya’all…and only ya’all. But if you have power and money, always pass go.
Meanwhile…keep learning Russian and Mandarin, because personal issues mixed with political expedience and ambition starts to look more like Russia and China; not the “exceptional” country we pretend to be.
We will see if President and not just father Biden is capable of using his pardon power for other than self serving reasons…
https://youtu.be/V5BcIHPMAHw?si=Eax-xcqkSTsjkn6z
🤣☮️☯️🇺🇸
What's going on in your immediate area? That's what I'm really interested in!
Indeed Comrade…
California guided by Newsom is taking action to lawyer up against Führer Drumpf to protect California…well, this is what it looks like when the states rights game is forced. State legislators are in special sessions to continue into the Holiday Season; request from state coffers for an additional 25 million dollars in legal monies among the many activities ongoing.
The largest Korean American population is here, where the local consensus is that the current South Korean president was embolden by our last election results. Literal word on the streets of K town is that there are more similarities than differences by exception between recent South Korean martial law and Trump’s January 6 activities.
There have been a significant handful of legislator seats flipped from Red to Blue at local and state level.
Snowflake, a tech company, fucked around and found out the hard way moving to the Red state of Texas didn’t pay the expected nirvana dividends of freedom and owning libs as anticipated…pretty sure women and other marginalized employees drank a big cup of Duh while pointing that out…along with wincing at a costly Bay Area record-deal-estate transaction, titled no matter where you go, there you are.
More to follow…
☮️
Many thanks! I've been thinking (from a distance) that many South Koreans, having experienced dictatorship in their own lifetimes, are far more savvy than even pro-democracy USians. It seems their awareness has been effectively passed on to the next generations.
I've noticed the red-to-blue flips in CA. Katie Porter's newsletter is very helpful.
Special thanks for the story about Snowflake. Hadn't heard about that. Awww . . . Now I'm wondering if any MA companies have had similar experiences. Threats to leave the state are pretty common -- high taxes, yadda yadda yadda -- but finding a hyper-educated (esp. in tech, science, or medicine) workforce in a low-tax state might be a challenge. Will keep my eyes and ears open.
I'm in colorado, which is really bi-polar like so many states. Fox bought up all the local tv stations in the rural areas and has been feeding thm b.s. for 20 years and the people there are very single minded. Then we have Boulder-Denver, quite liberal.
Then there is El Paso County, larger in size than Denver County and exploding in population, with 5 military installations. Dems are increasing, but worried at the arrogance and anger of the trumpites. It's been a ride, for sure! How about others?
Any additional charges/indictments filed against Hunter would be served to him in a Federal Prison. That what would happen sans Pardon. Since it's a Federal matter ( Feds can't indict for crimes they do not have jurisdiction) are you at all curious as to what the other crimes covered in the Pardon are? Hunter and Joe knew what they were or that language and specific time frame would not appear in the Pardon. Or did Joe as a Father say I dont want to know? That still leaves Hunter and of course, any and all victims, whether they be human, animal, or part of the USG.
Are you okay with any criminal getting away with Federal crimes? Ot just a particular President's surviving son? FTR I read the same folk and more. Did any of those you read test their own thoughts and words by substituting Don Jr for Hunter and Trump for Biden? Same set of facts. Only the names change.
As it stands now those who were convinced by others or convinced self Joe was right, own the concept that Trump would be right to pardon Don Jr or Eric for the exact same crimes and for other Federal crimes unknown to the public.
FTR: Hunter ain't off the hook. Although the clock is running 2 or more states have the right to charge him for state tax evasion and likely at least one gun charge. Presidential pardons don't preempt states from legal action. And then there is the other crimes referenced in the pardon. They too may include state criminal violations. And the possibility (although unlikely) of international crimes.
While sympathetic to addicts that doesn't translate to nullifying their crimes. And the kicker for me includes Joe and Jill NOT recognizing their grandchild. Who turns a grandchild into their victim? Bad enough when parents turn on son-in-law or daughter-in-law for no good reason or in this case the Mother. But the grandchild. How fucking cruel one must be to do that to the innocent while excusing the acts of the guilty, indeed blaming them on Trump?
First thought (probably more later): Context matters. The fate of Hunter Biden's case under a Trump administration is not the same as a hypothetical case of Don Jr. (etc.) under a Biden, Harris, Newsom, Whitmer (etc.) administration because I'm counting on the latter administrations to respect and do their best to adhere to the rule of law. I have no such confidence in the Trump administration. So the hypotheticals are not equivalent.
Here's a possible parallel: In a typical U.S. court how likely is it that a woman will get the same ruling on a case as a man? a person of color as a white person? a Native woman as a white man? "Respect for the rule of law" isn't a protected category (like sex, race, disability), but the distinction between those who abide by it (or profess to abide by it) and those who don't is very real.
I seriously doubt that Hunter Biden (whose case is pretty much unique) is likely to get a fair shake from the incoming Justice Department. He may be a class of one, but that still matters.
Perhaps I wasn't clear. Subbing the names is to test the logic of the argument. Nothing more. Same can be done with subbing in Person A and Person B. Logic must remain consistent and insulated from other influences. Even more so in legal matters and formal arguments. And this method isn't a hypothetical. It's how to stress test one's thinking and the logic that must be part of it. That's what "free and fair from favor" means.
It's an error to believe Hunter's case is unique. That argument by so many is fatally flawed because the crimes are not at all unique. Tax evasion is a common crime, so too is mucking with Federal docs including during a gun purchase. What Andrew and others say about the rareness of being charged is correct. But it is the same lame argument heard about regarding rape. That being a conscious and intentional effort by prosecutors NOT to prosecute. Rarely prosecuted is deceiving when the decision not to is not supportable but instead accepted as it long has been with rapes and other crimes. Low percentages of prosecutions of a crime don't translate to a crime has not occurred.
What constitutes a fair shake for Hunter? He already pleaded guilty to 9 felonies and misdemeanors and was found guilty of 3 gun-related charges. And he is walking free.
I would say that if he had couched the pardon the way you have, he could have killed 2 birds .... Context was key. ... he could also have mentioned dumbest of political attacks to try to destroy his family without cause.