• frozenspinach@lemmy.ml
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    10 hours ago

    The comments in this thread are completely insane. Nobody remembers anything, so let’s check in on the history of pardons:

    Bill Clinton pardoned actual criminal Marc Rich.

    George H.W. Bush pardoned actual criminals associated with Iran Contra.

    George W. pardoned Scooter Libby for obstructing a CIA investigation.

    Trump pardoned Joe Arpaio who did racial profiling in contempt of court.

    Trump is about to pardon everyone from Jan 6th.

    Ford pardoned Nixon and Andrew Johnson pardoned basically the entire confederate south.

    So if you’re going to stand here and say that Hunter Biden’s pardoning is a singularly unique, precedent-setting moment in American history signalling the downfall of democracy? I’m going to hand you a bouncy ball and some orange slices and tell you to go play in the corner. You are not a serious person.

    Edit: And for the dipsticks here who think a “pre-emptive” pardon is new… Ford’s pardon of Nixon was pre-emptive. So you’re only like 50 years and 3 months out of date on that talking point. Oops.

  • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    I had a brother who was an accessory to a crime at 17 and went to prison for three years at 18, and that experience makes me viscerally angry that Hunter Biden is going to skate just because he’s a member of the lucky sperm club. This is bullshit.

    • frozenspinach@lemmy.ml
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      1 day ago

      I had a brother who was an accessory to a crime at 17 and went to prison for three years at 18, and that experience makes me viscerally angry that Hunter Biden is going to skate just because he’s a member of the lucky sperm club. This is

      I’ve never understood the mindset of “I suffered so you should too”. The most convoluted example in recent member was “I worked hard for my degree so we shouldn’t forget student loans.”

      I don’t like this way of thinking because it’s about eye-for-an-eye justice and it’s not interested in facts. Such as the fact that nobody ever serves jail time for Hunter Biden’s offense.

      I’m sorry for your brother, our justice system is broken. But of all the takeaways, “keep Hunter Biden in jail” is to me a bizarre conclusion to pull from that.

      • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        I’ve never understood the mindset of “I suffered so you should too”.

        That is taking my point wildly out of context.

        It would be far more fair to say: “Your guy got mercy. Mine should have too.” And yes, the lopsided and wildly corrupt justice system is on full display here.

        I’d also recommend watching the Daily Show’s segment on the pardon. It’s pretty clear from its contents that Hunter’s crimes were extensive.

        • frozenspinach@lemmy.ml
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          1 day ago

          Sorry but nothing was taken out of context. Your brother’s unjust experience being thrown in jail is terrible, but it doesn’t make it more right for Hunter Biden to have to go to jail. That’s eye-for-an-eye. If what you really mean is Hunter being frivolously prosecuted was miscarriage of justice, you could say that.

          But it sounds like you’re specifically mad about the act of pardoning but you were 100% fine with him being jailed. You’re welcome to edit your original comment to clarify that you support the pardon, if that’s what you really meant this whole time.

          Also it’s funny you mention the Daily Show here, because I did watch that episode. That clip said (1) Biden said he wouldn’t pardon originally, (2) in the news cycle context of Trump nominees, Dems could have lost moral high ground on law and order and (3) made fun of the 11 years timeline. It didn’t recount any specifics on crimes, real or imagined, extensive or otherwise.

      • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        I don’t think that’s going to be necessary after the SCOTUS ruling on official presidential actions.

        But it’s Trump. He might do that one day. After Biden pardoned Hunter yesterday, I 100% think he’ll issue preemptive pardons for all of his family before his next term ends.

  • geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml
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    3 days ago

    He could have abused his power like this to fix the justice system. Forgive student loans, Codify abortion. And all those other unfulfilled promises.

    Instead Biden has fully destroyed the illusion of Democrat commitment to “justice” only to bail out a coke addict.

    Both sides anyone?

    • anomnom@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      I bet more than half of us didn’t want him to go to jail for something that no one else would have gone to jail for if they weren’t a political pawn.

          • surph_ninja@lemmy.world
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            2 days ago

            Sure, but it was also the minimum they could convict him with in hopes to stop the investigations before they implicated the president and the rest of the family. He was the sacrificial lamb.

            It’ll be interesting to see if Congress calls him back to testify next year, since presumably he has no 5th amendment rights to claim to prevent testifying. And if he lies, his pardon won’t cover that or other future crimes.

              • surph_ninja@lemmy.world
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                2 days ago

                Maybe at the state level. Not federal.

                Are you pretending to be wildly uninformed, or just a bad actor refusing to acknowledge the alleged influence peddling operation this entire thing was about?

            • frozenspinach@lemmy.ml
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              1 day ago

              it was also the minimum they could convict him with in hopes to stop the investigations before they implicated the president

              Literally what are you talking about. This wouldn’t have stopped future investigations, and unless you’re suggesting Biden held Hunter Biden’s hand and helped him grasp the pen that checked that box, there’s no sense in which he was implicated.

              • surph_ninja@lemmy.world
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                1 day ago

                It’s extremely common in corporate and political criminal schemes to throw a sacrificial lamb under the bus to attempt to satisfy calls for accountability. Hunter already outed himself by leaving a trail of evidence across the globe, and given his position as the bagman was presumably set up to take the fall from the beginning.

                What’s funny is Joe may have inadvertently fucked himself with this pardon, because he just revoked Hunter’s right to refuse to answer questions under the fifth amendment as he’s not at risk of prosecution.

                I hope they don’t drop it. We deserve some answers.

        • anomnom@sh.itjust.works
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          2 days ago

          Right, Hardly anyone goes to prison for tax evasion. Especially once it’s paid off.

          You could be liable for UP TO 5 years. Which means your have to be pretty fucking flagrant.

          Also he pled guilty, it wasnt the “minimum” bullshit you claim.

  • FauxPseudo @lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Of course. We went from “Trump can totally pardon himself” to this and somehow this is going to make bigger headlines with the “law and order” Republicans.

  • jaxxed@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Even if you think that HB was or will be unfairly treated, look at the size of the ethical door that was just opened. Of all of the “norms” that could have been broken, this is the one?

    • geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml
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      3 days ago

      “Sir will you legalize mariuana and pardon all those black people who have suffered unfair trails”?

      “Sir will you close the asylum detention camps pardon all those Mexicans people who have suffered unfair trails”?

    • MutilationWave@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      This is such small potatoes corruption compared to what we’ve already seen from Trump. And it’s going to look like specks of dirt with what’s coming up.

        • Zahille7@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          Fair, but you can’t go around plugging your ears, closing your eyes and going “lalala” anytime someone brings up the insane amount of bullshit trump has already gotten away with, let alone anytime in the future when there’s new shit to add to the pile.

          • geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml
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            3 days ago

            Fair, but you can’t go around plugging your ears, closing your eyes and going “lalala” anytime someone brings up the insane amount of bullshit Biden has already gotten away with, let alone anytime in the future when there’s new shit to add to the pile.

          • macabrett[they/them]@lemmy.ml
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            1 day ago

            Isn’t the exact opposite of what you’re describing what is happening in this thread? It’s a thread about Biden and someone is using Trump to try and ignore it lol

            • frozenspinach@lemmy.ml
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              1 day ago

              I think it’s to neutralize arguments that this is specifically precedent setting. It’s actually working within the margins of established precedent, which is the opposite of what everyone is saying, and it’s why Trump is relevant here.

  • HorreC@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Seems like they are dropping the idea they are not corrupt as the other team. Can only hope that the new idea that would go after the common worker can hold the mask on for a few decades.

    • EchoCT@lemmy.ml
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      3 days ago

      Why should he? It’s already been made clear there is no law for the ruling class. Mind your place pleb.

  • Cyclohexane@lemmy.ml
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    1 day ago

    Who cares? I don’t like biden at all but this shouldn’t make news just because Republicans are fixated on biden. Hunter biden didn’t commit anything of value. Yeah sure, those in power can get away with things. Nothing new here.