Some really good stuff here, Dave, and I had similar thoughts about preemptive pardons. He should also give his son some sort of clemency, but be prepared for a $#!+storm. I advocated fireside chats some time ago - an opportunity missed.
I hadn't thought about the farewell tour, but you're right. With trump setting fires at home, he should be here cementing his legacy. He could do his tour after he retires.
Thanks Bob. I agree about taking care of Hunter, he's been through enough by now and the ****storm becomes irrelevant on Jan. 21, 2025. Biden has nothing more to fear and he's still the leader of the Democratic Party, a role no one seems anxious to take on right now.
Trump went on a killing spree at the end of his last term. He couldn't execute federal prisoners fast enough. There are now 40 people on death row. Biden could spare them. And spare us the shame of barbarity.
Dave, I think you make really good points here, absolutely good points. I’m doing a copy/paste of item 3 in your article: [3) Pardon anyone who was involved at all in the prosecution of the Felon President and his clique of advisors so that they at least don’t have that hassle to worry about as they transition to life outside of government.] So I don’t know what other mechanism could serve, but it’s my understanding that pardons are only if a crime has been committed, and when a person accepts a pardon, that entails admission of guilt. (That’s a very simple template. It may be more complex.) Basically, you’re advocating for some sort of firewall to protect these people, so Trump can’t go after them, because they don’t deserve retribution, as they did nothing wrong. They were enforcing the rule of Law, or trying to… thoughts?
Thanks Katherine. What I'm thinking is on the order of the pre-emptive pardon that Nixon got. He never admitted guilt and Ford essentially took him off the hook he'd hung himself on. The problem in the current situation is that no one in the group under discussion, as you note, has committed any actual crime and the legal system itself should be all the protection they need but the incoming administration has already demonstrated their disrespect for the law and I don't know of any other mechanism that might serve.
I like the humanitarian suggestions you make. I am not American so I can't make specific comments. I like the people working on immigration I have seen on Democracy Now, and they are vulnerable.
If the President did as you say, make humanitarian moves he should be very clear he is doing so and why. The fear around the word 'inflation' which I just realized is those prices in the stores -- there is a disconnect with the language and the shock in the stores (which I experienced fully in Hawaii on a visit there. The prices were all 10 if you buy 2 and the store was completely like a Zombie experience)
Now here I remember my son who liked Zombies and maybe kids prepare themselves (which is unfortunate) Hope you get my meaning.
I agree that Biden should take the SCOTUS immunity ruling seriously and act in ways that are directed at protecting the institutions that he faithfully served. Pardon is clearly the most powerful tool at his disposal, but tariffs are a close second. Besides the pardons mentioned in the comments, I'd add some blanket pardon for at least Dreamers to protect them from some future deportation. Also anyone involved in any investigation or prosecution of Trump over the last four years including the Jan 6th commission. Trump has already said he is planning to fire a bunch of lawyers from the DOJ, perhaps he can do something to make that more difficult. A tariff holiday would certainly be welcome if it can be executed quickly, though he had just increased some tariffs on China in September. So those are unlikely to come down. Given the supply line for most imported goods (containers on freighters), it may already be too late to have a meaningful impact on Christmas, but it WOULD certainly be a poke in the eye for Trump when consumers realize that they ARE going to pay the coast of tariffs.
Good thought on the Dreamers; at least it might buy them 4 years and a chance that the next administration will finally take some positive action to resolve their situation. I don't know enough about Civil Service law to have an idea how much jeopardy those lawyers might be in, but Trump may find out it's not quite as easy as he thinks. The tariff situation is as much about theatre as reality, although prices coming down a bit in January when the credit card bills are due wouldn't be a bad thing either. The poke in the eye is the most important part.
Some really good stuff here, Dave, and I had similar thoughts about preemptive pardons. He should also give his son some sort of clemency, but be prepared for a $#!+storm. I advocated fireside chats some time ago - an opportunity missed.
I hadn't thought about the farewell tour, but you're right. With trump setting fires at home, he should be here cementing his legacy. He could do his tour after he retires.
Thanks Bob. I agree about taking care of Hunter, he's been through enough by now and the ****storm becomes irrelevant on Jan. 21, 2025. Biden has nothing more to fear and he's still the leader of the Democratic Party, a role no one seems anxious to take on right now.
Trump went on a killing spree at the end of his last term. He couldn't execute federal prisoners fast enough. There are now 40 people on death row. Biden could spare them. And spare us the shame of barbarity.
Good idea Mary, I hadn't even thought about that.
This is brilliant, Dave.
My favorite of all your writing
that I have read so far.
It is important and highly valuable.
We need to get it
to President Biden.
It is written so respectfully
and constructively
that I believe he would hear you.
Maybe send it out
to publications leading Dems read.
Send it to many avenues
and it will get to his inner circle.
It's a smaller world
than we think.
I have learned
we are always only a few steps away
from anyone we want to reach.
Thanks Deborah. That is my project for today.
Dave, I think you make really good points here, absolutely good points. I’m doing a copy/paste of item 3 in your article: [3) Pardon anyone who was involved at all in the prosecution of the Felon President and his clique of advisors so that they at least don’t have that hassle to worry about as they transition to life outside of government.] So I don’t know what other mechanism could serve, but it’s my understanding that pardons are only if a crime has been committed, and when a person accepts a pardon, that entails admission of guilt. (That’s a very simple template. It may be more complex.) Basically, you’re advocating for some sort of firewall to protect these people, so Trump can’t go after them, because they don’t deserve retribution, as they did nothing wrong. They were enforcing the rule of Law, or trying to… thoughts?
Thanks Katherine. What I'm thinking is on the order of the pre-emptive pardon that Nixon got. He never admitted guilt and Ford essentially took him off the hook he'd hung himself on. The problem in the current situation is that no one in the group under discussion, as you note, has committed any actual crime and the legal system itself should be all the protection they need but the incoming administration has already demonstrated their disrespect for the law and I don't know of any other mechanism that might serve.
As BTC succinctly responds with frequency, “Got it!” Marc Elias and the like will have very full dockets ongoing. Thank you for the clarification.
I like the humanitarian suggestions you make. I am not American so I can't make specific comments. I like the people working on immigration I have seen on Democracy Now, and they are vulnerable.
If the President did as you say, make humanitarian moves he should be very clear he is doing so and why. The fear around the word 'inflation' which I just realized is those prices in the stores -- there is a disconnect with the language and the shock in the stores (which I experienced fully in Hawaii on a visit there. The prices were all 10 if you buy 2 and the store was completely like a Zombie experience)
Now here I remember my son who liked Zombies and maybe kids prepare themselves (which is unfortunate) Hope you get my meaning.
I agree that Biden should take the SCOTUS immunity ruling seriously and act in ways that are directed at protecting the institutions that he faithfully served. Pardon is clearly the most powerful tool at his disposal, but tariffs are a close second. Besides the pardons mentioned in the comments, I'd add some blanket pardon for at least Dreamers to protect them from some future deportation. Also anyone involved in any investigation or prosecution of Trump over the last four years including the Jan 6th commission. Trump has already said he is planning to fire a bunch of lawyers from the DOJ, perhaps he can do something to make that more difficult. A tariff holiday would certainly be welcome if it can be executed quickly, though he had just increased some tariffs on China in September. So those are unlikely to come down. Given the supply line for most imported goods (containers on freighters), it may already be too late to have a meaningful impact on Christmas, but it WOULD certainly be a poke in the eye for Trump when consumers realize that they ARE going to pay the coast of tariffs.
Good thought on the Dreamers; at least it might buy them 4 years and a chance that the next administration will finally take some positive action to resolve their situation. I don't know enough about Civil Service law to have an idea how much jeopardy those lawyers might be in, but Trump may find out it's not quite as easy as he thinks. The tariff situation is as much about theatre as reality, although prices coming down a bit in January when the credit card bills are due wouldn't be a bad thing either. The poke in the eye is the most important part.