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thesquanderer

(12,480 posts)
Wed Dec 4, 2024, 09:46 AM Dec 4

A case for Biden pardoning Trump [View all]

Okay, I can't believe I'm even saying this, since my gut is so invested in the other direction, but with the talk of not just Manchin but even Clyburn also saying he could support Biden pardoning Trump, I had to give it some more thought, and here's what I realized:

A Biden pardon is irrelevant to Trump's legal issues. So then the question is whether there is any benefit--to Biden, the Democrats, or the country--to have Biden pardon him.

The reason I say a Biden pardon is irrelevant to Trump's legal issues is that the Federal cases (the only ones Biden can pardon him for) are going to go away regardless. Either he'll get his DOJ people to drop them, or he will pardon himself, or if all else somehow failed to sufficiently close the door, he'd resign the presidency near the very end of of his term (perhaps for "health reasons" ) and have Vance pardon him a la Ford. (Heck, he probably wouldn't even have to resign, merely create some time when Vance would be "acting president" via 25th amendment, section 3.) I think it is realistic to say that the federal cases are NOT going to happen, period.

That being the case, what good does a Biden pardon do for Trump? Not much. Save him a little effort maybe. Or maybe he'd find a way to score some rhetorical points off of it. But in the end, it provides no actual change to Trump's legal status. Therefore, I think the remaining question is what advantages it might have for Biden, the Dems, or the country. And with Trump's legal status not truly being at issue, I think the answer to that balance of advantages vs. drawbacks is not entirely clear, and could at least be worthy of further thought and analysis.

It has been said by many, for a long time, that the fact that the federal cases go away may have been the the over-riding reason Trump ran for another term in the first place. Since he did win, his federal legal jeopardy is essentially over, and a Biden pardon is moot from his perspective. So the remaining question is whether there might be some benefit from our perspective, and I"m not sure what the answer is. I'm keeping an open mind.

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A case for Biden pardoning Trump [View all] thesquanderer Dec 4 OP
No way. The damage it would do to the Democratic base would take decades to recover from. yourout Dec 4 #1
Decades? How about a century? IzzaNuDay Dec 4 #61
No pardon ever !!!!!! No no no no no..... #LockUpTrump Trueblue1968 Dec 5 #63
No. Machin is stupid for even suggesting it. Fuck that. Autumn Dec 4 #2
Nothing justifies Biden pardoning Trump, displacedvermoter Dec 4 #3
No snowybirdie Dec 4 #4
Rep. Crockett claudette Dec 4 #13
Not buying a pardon 303squadron Dec 4 #5
You're absolutely right. At least we have Jack Smith yorkster Dec 4 #24
re: "Jack Smith's cases can be reopened." thesquanderer Dec 4 #42
Joyce Vance would disagree 303squadron Dec 4 #58
Can you elaborate? Or point to a link? thesquanderer Dec 4 #60
Only positive I see is it would embarrass Trump. Callie1979 Dec 4 #6
No. (nt) Paladin Dec 4 #7
Nope. Just nope. Tommy Carcetti Dec 4 #8
Absolutely NOT claudette Dec 4 #9
Yes he belongs in prison. But he's not going to end up in federal prison whether Biden pardons him or not, thesquanderer Dec 4 #43
Prosecuting yes, pardoning no. Johonny Dec 4 #10
Just FTS! MineralMan Dec 4 #11
What does FTS mean? n/t thesquanderer Dec 4 #44
I'll take a guess at "Fuck This Shit!" (nt) muriel_volestrangler Dec 4 #49
The T is for "that" MineralMan Dec 4 #51
Biden could wrap a Trump pardon with a tranche of other pardons Prairie Gates Dec 4 #12
Basically pardoning him after he's escaped justice HereForTheParty Dec 4 #14
No. Biden repeating Ford's mistake should not be on the table. nt Gore1FL Dec 4 #15
MAGA will see a pardon as proof that Trump never did anything wrong Ohioboy Dec 4 #16
I think they will believe the same, whether pardoned or not. (n/t) thesquanderer Dec 4 #45
🗑 dweller Dec 4 #17
Worst possible move we could make. Trump and his flying monkeys will be travelingthrulife Dec 4 #18
That will be the day that I stop supporting Dems the_liberal_grandpa Dec 4 #19
It would make the narrative of his crimes being a Democratic witch hunt pretty hard to sustain ColinC Dec 4 #20
For the good of the country bucolic_frolic Dec 4 #21
re: "If you're going to give something, get something." thesquanderer Dec 4 #46
It could be written crud Dec 4 #22
Manchin was always Republican lite LW1977 Dec 4 #23
lite? Think. Again. Dec 4 #55
... Celerity Dec 4 #57
wow, I've never seen those! Think. Again. Dec 4 #59
There is no case for pardoning him. sinkingfeeling Dec 4 #25
No. NO. NO Charging Triceratops Dec 4 #26
HELL NO berksdem Dec 4 #27
It would be like kissing the ring. I would change my dem affiliation immediately if he did that. CrispyQ Dec 4 #28
At this point it doesn't make much difference, trump is free and will resume office in January. While I agree Silent Type Dec 4 #29
Show NO QUARTER to DonOLD tRump! ProudMNDemocrat Dec 4 #30
If TSF steps down first. Blues Heron Dec 4 #31
Just no. Groundhawg Dec 4 #32
Is this another example of The Art of the Deal? If so, what do we get? Ping Tung Dec 4 #33
Go ahead if you never want people voting for a Democrat again, ever. ZonkerHarris Dec 4 #34
No. Scrivener7 Dec 4 #35
Not a chance EnergizedLib Dec 4 #36
I thought Trump was an existential threat to Democracy and also a Fascist. That's what we were told anyway. jalan48 Dec 4 #37
Notice that this post received ZERO RECS AKwannabe Dec 4 #38
I kind of expected this to sink like a stone, but I wonder if I may have set some sort of record... thesquanderer Dec 4 #62
You want them calling us Weak on Crime? Emile Dec 4 #39
If those with power, who made a point of telling the world how dangerous Trump is, surrender Solly Mack Dec 4 #40
I'm glad this OP is getting flamed tenderfoot Dec 4 #41
Never Meowmee Dec 4 #47
Well, it's a terrible case. flvegan Dec 4 #48
Absolutely not standingtall Dec 4 #50
Correct. That was in my OP as well. He can only be pardoned for federal crimes... thesquanderer Dec 4 #53
the entire idea is disgusting. nt ecstatic Dec 4 #52
NO! Owl Dec 4 #54
Here we go Cirsium Dec 4 #56
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