President Biden's first term in office

[Legio_Italica]

I'm going to use the FBI illegally to go after my enemies

Source?

Why does the presidential pardon still exist? It's basically just a holdover from European monarchies (IIRC the British monarch had a similar power).

It’s based on the English tradition, yes, but in the American context it’s an important aspect of the separation of powers, an executive check on the judiciary as a function of clemency. Washington pardoned insurrectionists he had defeated personally. Lincoln pardoned Confederate deserters. Jimmy Carter pardoned Vietnam draft dodgers. Over 20,000 issued to date. The only grey area is whether or not a president can pardon himself.

[Alastor]

The only grey area is whether or not a president can pardon himself.

I do wonder if that was exactly the intention with this Hunter Biden pardon. To indirectly get himself off the hook by preemptively pardoning his "bagman".

[Kyriakos]

SPQR, the senile and the people of Rome

[Legio_Italica]

I do wonder if that was exactly the intention with this Hunter Biden pardon. To indirectly get himself off the hook by preemptively pardoning his "bagman".

Yeah Beau was the favorite golden child and Hunter is the failson, so in a way it’s sad his father put him in this position as the family consigliere to begin with. The whole situation is virtually without precedent. In normal circumstances, pardons aren’t issued before the defendant has even been formally convicted and sentenced. Joe also bypassed his own DOJ and the standard procedures presidents go through when issuing a pardon. The Office of the Pardon Attorney was not consulted and no application was filed. Joe made the decision over the proverbial dinner table in Nantucket and then made the announcement unilaterally, in true aristocratic fashion.

No other presidential family member in history has had a comparable track record of criminality and subterfuge leading directly back to the White House, and despite insistence to the contrary, Joe met personally with his son’s “business associates” multiple times during the period he’s issued the pardon for “any offenses.” There’s little doubt this was a move to protect the family and himself on his way to retirement. I also wonder if we’ll ever find out exactly how this affected US foreign policy in Ukraine during this historic period, beyond the infamous episode with Viktor Shokin.

[Ludicus]

There’s little doubt this was a move to protect the family and himself on his way to retirement.

Albert Camus was born in Algeria. He preferred to think of himself as both French and Arab. The French nationalist right called him a traitor. The Algerian nationalists of the FLN deemed him ambiguous. His mother, who had never seen France, lived in a poor neighborhood of pieds-noirs (French settlers) in Algiers. Confronted with the criticism, three years before his mother passed away, he held a press conference in Stockholm, having just won the Nobel Prize in Literature. He said: "I believe in justice, but I will defend my mother before justice." It was then rumored that Camus had sold out to the French right, which was reactionary and colonialist. One day, Algerian president Bouteflika said: "Anyone of us would have given that answer. Which proves that Camus is one of us."
Biden's moral dilemma was resolved with the all-too-human gesture of choosing, once again, his son. The justification given may not have been the best: that Hunter was treated differently by the justice system for political reasons. This is not entirely surprising, considering the climate of dissolution that is dragging down American democracy, thus throwing away the last remnants of moral superiority in the Democratic camp's criticism of Trump's relationship with the justice system. This came just months after he had stated that at no point would he use presidential powers to protect his son Hunter.
Some say that, along the way, he lost faith in democracy in America. He and we, with his decision. And perhaps that is true. Some say he is a false moralist. And perhaps that is true. Biden once said, recalling the terrible personal tragedy he went through: "By focusing on my children, I found my redemption. The real reason I came home every night was because I needed my children more than they needed me." This time, condemn him yourselves, because I cannot.

Joe Biden: “By focusing on my sons, I found my redemption”
Albert Camus' Mediterranean: An Answer to “Murderous s Identities”
Meursault, contre-enquête de Kamel Daoud

[mishkin]

Albert Camus was born in Algeria. He preferred to think of himself as both French and Arab. The French nationalist right called him a traitor. The Algerian nationalists of the FLN deemed him ambiguous. His mother, who had never seen France, lived in a poor neighborhood of pieds-noirs (French settlers) in Algiers. Confronted with the criticism, three years before his mother passed away, he held a press conference in Stockholm, having just won the Nobel Prize in Literature. He said: "I believe in justice, but I will defend my mother before justice." It was then rumored that Camus had sold out to the French right, which was reactionary and colonialist. One day, Algerian president Bouteflika said: "Anyone of us would have given that answer. Which proves that Camus is one of us."
Biden's moral dilemma was resolved with the all-too-human gesture of choosing, once again, his son. The justification given may not have been the best: that Hunter was treated differently by the justice system for political reasons. This is not entirely surprising, considering the climate of dissolution that is dragging down American democracy, thus throwing away the last remnants of moral superiority in the Democratic camp's criticism of Trump's relationship with the justice system. This came just months after he had stated that at no point would he use presidential powers to protect his son Hunter.
Some say that, along the way, he lost faith in democracy in America. He and we, with his decision. And perhaps that is true. Some say he is a false moralist. And perhaps that is true. Biden once said, recalling the terrible personal tragedy he went through: "By focusing on my children, I found my redemption. The real reason I came home every night was because I needed my children more than they needed me." This time, condemn him yourselves, because I cannot.

Joe Biden: “By focusing on my sons, I found my redemption”
Albert Camus' Mediterranean: An Answer to “Murderous s Identities”
Meursault, contre-enquête de Kamel Daoud

This is pathetic. What the hell does Camus have to do with a politician taking advantage of his position as a state servant to exonerate his son of very serious crimes? Use similar far-fetched nonsense to justify Trump's permanent amorality.

[Alastor]

This time, condemn him yourselves, because I cannot.

Happily. I condemn him.

You see Ludicus I'm sick and tired of this excuse that he did what every father would have done, that this was all done out of love. This narrative completely discards a notion that used to hold a certain degree of sway once upon a time in public life. That notion is called integrity. Joe Biden chose to seek higher office, he chose to "serve" the public and democracy. He wasn't put there against his will, he chose it. Thus, he no longer is "just like any other father" and he should not be held to the same standards. When you have been entrusted with incredible power, some things ought to be different. When you are the state that prosecutes the children of others and jails them, you can't be making excuses for your own.

I am not going to give Biden one iota of sympathy over this. What he did was a clear and obvious abuse of power, it was an example of flagrant nepotism, if not an example of covering his own behind, it was hypocrisy of a rare magnitude and it discredits the very office and system he ostensibly serves. Biden's term can't end soon enough and the only thing left to do will be to assess the harm his display of "fatherly love" has caused.

[Legio_Italica]

What he did was a clear and obvious abuse of power, it was an example of flagrant nepotism, if not an example of covering his own behind, it was hypocrisy of a rare magnitude and it discredits the very office and system he ostensibly serves.

The wildest part? Democrats impeached Trump for trying to investigate the criminality Biden pardoned his son for. Makes you wonder why emails proving Joe met with Burisma execs before getting rid of Shokin were such a threat to his father’s electoral chances, the entire intel community and media establishment was mobilized to censor the story as “Russian disinfo.” There’s obviously a much deeper web of corruption the Bidens have weaponized the federal government in order to keep hidden. And we would never have known anything about it if it weren’t for Trump and Elon.

[Ludicus]

.. What the hell does Camus have to do...

Everything. Camus: Between justice and my mother, I choose my mother. Biden: Between justice and my son, I choose my son.

You're listening to me, but you're not hearing me: "This is not entirely surprising, considering the climate of dissolution that is dragging down American democracy, thus throwing away the last remnants of moral superiority in the Democratic camp's criticism of Trump's relationship with the justice system..."

Are you saying that Biden is morally superior to Trump? Biden is no different than Trump.
--

Happily. I condemn him.You see Ludicus I'm sick and tired...

Of course, why not?
Camus said that "integrity does not need rules". However, Camus' mother, who lived in Algiers, was, like everyone there at the time, at risk of dying due to bombings. Therefore, he said he would choose his mother over independence. When the moment of truth arrived, Biden, because he could, decided to keep his only remaining son out of prison, and sent integrity to the wind.
I have now discovered, quite by accident, while rereading some of Camus' texts, that the same thought occurred to the author of the article published by Shadi Hamid in his notebook, Between justice and my mother, I choose my mother

And by the way, on a side note, it makes no sense to say that there is no political ideal, no matter how just, for which it is not worth sacrificing people's lives. Of course, there is. That's not what Camus had in mind, in spite of what some people say.

[Alastor]

Of course, why not?
Camus said that "integrity does not need rules". However, Camus' mother, who lived in Algiers, was, like everyone there at the time, at risk of dying due to bombings. Therefore, he said he would choose his mother over independence. When the moment of truth arrived, Biden, because he could, decided to keep his only remaining son out of prison, and sent integrity to the wind.

Indeed, I have yet to hear a good reason why not.
Remind me which country's president did Camus serve as? What higher office was he elected to? How many people did his administration bomb in pursuit of independence and yet he would still choose to save his mother and abandon the cause? It's apples and oranges. Integrity needs no rules because those that have it will do the right thing anyway. In the case of Camus what even was the right thing? Supporting independence or protecting his mother's life, it is up to interpretation. In Biden's case, it's not. He took an oath, he was entrusted with great power and he flagrantly abused it.

[Ludicus]

He took an oath, he was entrusted with great power and he flagrantly abused it.

I think at the last moment his courage faltered. As a father, I get it. Trump, on the other hand already decided to pardon the Capitol invaders, regardless of Biden's decision.
But, on the other hand, its also true that Biden has one of the lowest clemency rates compared to prior presidents. Hunter Biden and the Future of Clemency

Edit,

Biden broke a promise pardoning his sole surviving son. Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger. During his last week in office, Clinton pardoned Marc Rich, who had fled the U.S. during his prosecution and was residing in Switzerland. What about Trump? In his final weeks in office, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner, and the List of people granted executive clemency by Donald Trump
Biden broke a promise pardoning his sole surviving son. Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger. During his last week in office, Clinton pardoned Marc Rich, who had fled the U.S. during his prosecution and was residing in Switzerland. What about Trump? In his final weeks in office, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner, and the List of people granted executive clemency by Donald Trump

was marked by an unprecedented degree of favoritism. Of the pardons and commutations that Trump did grant, the vast majority were to persons to whom Trump had a personal or political connection, or persons for whom executive clemency served a political goal. A significant number had been convicted of fraud or public corruption

In fact, they all do the same thing, some of them more than others. As a politician, Biden is no better than Trump - it's an overstatement to say that Trump wants to end the American democracy. I don't like Biden as a politician - or Trump - but as a human being, one of them is incomparably better than the other.

[Legio_Italica]

https://nypost.com/2024/12/12/us-new...rcover-agents/

Remember when this was a far right conspiracy theory

[Laser101]

https://nypost.com/2024/12/12/us-new...rcover-agents/

Remember when this was a far right conspiracy theory

Technically, 'confidential human sources' (i.e. informants) are different from agents.

[Legio_Italica]

Most of the “informants” went to the protest “on their own” and of course did not have permission to do the rioting and illegal stuff they did. Awfully prescient of the conspiracy theorists to allege such a serendipitous mistake. Even more so that they all avoided prosecution despite the lack of authorization.

[Coughdrop addict]

Informants are not agents. Legio is hoping none of us are aware of this.

It is very common for both local and state police as well as the FBI to turn members of violent criminal gangs into informants. it is a great way of stopping violent criminals gangs (like MAGAs) from preying on society.

Who knows how many Oct 7-style attacks on American cities the FBI has prevented the MAGAs from carrying out by the use of informants?

[Alastor]

Who knows how many Oct 7-style attacks on American cities the FBI has prevented the MAGAs from carrying out by the use of informants?

Oct 7-style attacks? Involving 6000 militants and 1000 rockets? By the MAGAs? On American cities? Yeah, who knows indeed. But here is a wild guess... zero? Yeah zero sounds right.

[Laser101]

Most of the “informants” went to the protest “on their own” and of course did not have permission to do the rioting and illegal stuff they did. Awfully prescient of the conspiracy theorists to allege such a serendipitous mistake. Even more so that they all avoided prosecution despite the lack of authorization.

The FBI doesn't order informants. They're just people who knowingly or otherwise provide them with information.

[Legio_Italica]

The FBI doesn't order informants. They're just people who knowingly or otherwise provide them with information.

The FBI can and does order informants around, and even to break the law as part of routine operations. The Bureau has admitted three of their Jan 6 sources were there on orders to spy and report back, and claims they were only aware two more were there at all. We’re to believe the remainder are natural overachievers whose handlers were completely in the dark. If an informant breaks the law without authorization, their cover can be revoked and they can be prosecuted. Alas, it’s pure coincidence none of these 26 informants were prosecuted and presumably retain their status, perhaps in case there are any other “insurrections” that need disavowing in the future.

[Coughdrop addict]

MAGAs fervently believe the Jan 6 terrorists are simultaneously innocent hostages held by the evil Biden, and at the same time secret FBI and Antifa operatives out to make poor victim Trump look bad. In other words, MAGAs have been trained to use doublethink:

"To know and not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them, to use logic against logic, to repudiate morality while laying claim to it, to believe that democracy was impossible and that the Party was the guardian of democracy, to forget whatever it was necessary to forget, then to draw it back into memory again at the moment when it was needed, and then promptly to forget it again, and above all, to apply the same process to the process itself—that was the ultimate subtlety: consciously to induce unconsciousness, and then, once again, to become unconscious of the act of hypnosis you had just performed. Even to understand the word—doublethink—involved the use of doublethink."

[Legio_Italica]

MAGAs SCOTUS fervently believe the Jan 6 terrorists protestors are simultaneously innocent hostages political prisoners held by the evil Biden, and at the same time others aresecret FBI and Antifaoperatives out to make poor victim Trump look bad follow instructions. In other words, MAGAs have been trained to use doublethink: Google.

Fixed.