58 Comments
User's avatar
ZeusOnDaLoose's avatar

They want all the power, and zero responsibility.

This will not fly.

James Byham's avatar

And what entity will stop him ?

James Byham's avatar

It will have to be us because the corrupt supreme court and Congress have surely failed.

Stephen Kirk's avatar

Is he planning to leave power soon?

Teri's avatar

The not so supreme court has created a monster!

paulahik's avatar

That's why I call them the Scrotum Court. Should be Sweaty Scrotum Court.

James Byham's avatar

Who is more corrupt than Clarence Thomas ? Harlan Crowe purchased a supreme court justice.

Jedi Senshi's avatar

That pardon doesn't cover being prosecuted by a state (state crimes).😁

Nancy Picklo's avatar

Unfortunately, until that part of the Constitution is amended, we are stuck with it. Trump is acting like a bully in high school. He has no concept of adherence to the rule book (the Constitution). So then the rule book (the Constitution) gets updated. That harms those who really do adhere to the rule book (the Constitution) in years to come. The rest of his administration act like the "mean girls / boys" around him. (Ok, I know that this is long-winded, but it's true. Please keep reading.)

The similarities are too striking to be missed. Maybe the entire Trump administration should see the principal. Us.

We have the power to boot him and his ilk out of office. We have the power to ratify our part in changing the Constitution - IF Congress and the Senate as a whole get off their butts and do their jobs. At end of the day, we know everyone's track record. If they keep getting voted back into office, and they are incompetent, that is on us. You would think that the people that the nation chooses to represent them would be the best.

If those in power are the best, we should be ashamed. On the other hand, if some of the best are not in government due to Citizens United, the need to raise an extremely huge amount of money just to run, and the the rug is pulling out from underneath us by those who buy campaigns, I say do something about it. But it is those who are incompetent at their jobs that want to continue this system.

We should make the entire government a minimum wage job. No work, no pay. Then we should kick Citizens United to the curb. Then we should kick big money to the curb. Then we might get some much needed work done.

We would see the minimum wage sky rocket. The Senate and the Congress would actually do their jobs.

But no matter what reforms are made to the system, if we don't pay attention, vote for competency over personality or loyalty, the we are in the same boat. In trouble.

Charles G Haacker's avatar

Quote: "We should make the entire government a minimum wage job. No work, no pay. Then we should kick Citizens United to the curb. Then we should kick big money to the curb. Then we might get some much-needed work done."

Hear! Hear! Wotta concept, Nancy. 🫡

Stefan Arnold's avatar

"Strongly worded" position - with a not so strong effect...

The Pivot Project's avatar

Stating the obvious, this is what happens when someone is placed in the highest office that has ZERO concept of accountability.

Charles's avatar

Would the pardons stand up against Article II Section IV of the Constitution?

John Hurlbut's avatar

Don’t forget, trump doesn’t believe in, or follow the Constitution.

James Byham's avatar

With this supreme court ?

Charles's avatar

Sadly true, but if "his part of the court took the psychedelics he just signed an executive order for...

James Byham's avatar

Hell they might do a lot less damage if they just rode in their space ships listening to Pink Floyd at epic volume.

Charles G Haacker's avatar

"...all civil officers of the United States shall be removed from office upon impeachment for and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."

But the problem, as I see it, is that if the bloated orange dotard issues blanket pardons for "...treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors," then his minions are off the hook. NOT at the state level, no, but we know they are all crooks, including and especially the Prez, who has full immunity thanks to the unsupremes, so what could be done? They'd all be able to squirm out of prosecution like the snakes and worms they are.

Laurie's avatar

Don't believe Treason can be included in the Pardon.

Charles G Haacker's avatar

Hi, Laurie: Yes, the U.S. President has the constitutional authority to pardon treason, as it is a federal offense, not an impeachment case. Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution provides broad authority for federal offenses, excluding only impeachment cases. However, this power applies solely to federal crimes, not state offenses, and cannot be used to pardon oneself, which remains a subject of legal debate. —Citation, University of Virginia School of Law

Laurie's avatar

Thank you, Charles. Wasn't sure. Happy to know and disappointed at the same time. Ultimately, I am hoping all if his pardons will be challenged on the basis of diminished capacity at time they were issued. Just being wishful.

Russ's avatar

Any provision anywhere for recall of the president? Since he got voted in, perhaps national convention to un-elect him? CA threw out Gray Davis at the state level. What happened to we the people or was it misstated to wee people.

The various provisions in the Constitution never foresaw a President would be in cahoots and control with both houses of congress, SC and have a DOJ whose only purpose is to go after his political enemies.

James Byham's avatar

We will never straighten out our country with this sort of rampant corruption.

James Byham's avatar

We will never straighten out our country with this sort of rampant corruption.

Paul Schwartz's avatar

1. Pam Bondi will be disbarred

2. Todd Blanche will be disbarred

3. Pete Hegseth will face Internation trial at the Hague

4. The President may eventually face an International Trial and will be labelled an International War criminal

5. Snoozie Viles will undergo cancer treatment

6. Harmeet Dhillon will face disbarment

7. Creatures like Patel, Miller will likely be 'confronted in public'; that is all I will say which is my First Amendment right

Sally's avatar

Why, if trump and his cabinet is "making America great again" and doing all the right things, would he NEED to pardon anyone? Seems as though he and his cronies KNOW what they have done/are doing is not kosher!!!

Stefan Arnold's avatar

The american federal legal system for me as a european "spectator" seems to rely very heavily on the ethical behaviour and the moral grounds of the acting people.

Most of the insiders know that and they see the problems that might arise from that since a couple of years. But the majority seems to be fine with (or because of) that situation.

Something, that I cannot understand as a foreigner. At least I would expect an established, ongoing public discourse about what still might be acceptable or what clearly is over the top. But nobody seems to be interested...

Russ's avatar

I assure you there is a lot of concern. We are testing the limits of democracy, that has a fatal flaw. It relies on the majority of voters making altruistic decisions in the best interests of the nation. We now realize that is not true, it has become mob rule.

Socrates, a very learned man had it right:

To understand Socrates' views on democracy, consider the following points:

Socrates questioned the competence of the average citizen to make informed decisions.

He believed that democracy could lead to the rule of the uninformed majority.

Socrates emphasized the importance of knowledge and wisdom in governance.

He argued that true leadership should be based on expertise rather than popularity.

Socrates was concerned that democracy could result in mob rule and chaos.

He advocated for a system led by philosopher-kings who possess true understanding.

Stefan Arnold's avatar

You pulled my feet back to the ground. - So we seem to have to wait that the environment becomes harsh enough to create some strong people again. Takes some time and we might loose some of the good fellows during that journey…

Russ's avatar

I guess you have to see what bad feels like before you can appreciate good.

NanceeM's avatar

I'm more concerned about surviving this regime than worried about whether a future president might abuse pardons. How much more abuse can we withstand?

Stefan Arnold's avatar

But be assured: We will never return to those "good old days" - probably...

John Hurlbut's avatar

Imagine if Al Capone could pardon himself and his gang. What would follow? Probably the US would be a Dictatorship now. (Already).

Hound's avatar

Maybe Trump is not as senile as most people think. He knows that his people around him are criminals like he is and he knows they’ve committed crimes that we’re not aware of yet. What we are seeing here is something I’m going to call.

PREEMPTIVE PARDONS.

Preemptive pardons make a whole lot of sense for the Trump administration because nearly everybody in the Trump order is a criminal.

Wouldn’t it be nice if preemptive prayer actually worked. I’m gonna give it a try. Dear God, in Jesus name, would you restore the limbs of amputees just to show everybody that you really exist and that you’re not evil like I think you are.

John Hurlbut's avatar

I’d vote for the Big Guy curing cancer first. As a side effect that would cure a lot of amputees too.

JP's avatar

The pardon system should be abandoned, except for (all) turkeys.

J.Marshall's avatar

We need NEW "GUARDRAIL" LEGISLATION for a plethora of loopholes, backdoor, Blackmail, extortion,

EPSTEIN FILES, and a whole lotta CORRUPTION MOST OF US HAVE NEVER SEEN NOR HEARD OF

BEFORE!!! 🤬🤬🤬

Phoenix Rodman's avatar

The good news: it means they see the writing on the wall. Justice will be served for those who broke our laws, violated our constitution.