Phil Espin says:
November 8 2020 at 9:09 am
Surely fascists are thrown out by violence not by the ballot box? If they leave when ordered by the electorate or courts doesn’t that make them democratic?Reply
Richard Murphy says:
November 8 2020 at 10:09 am
That really is not worthy of comment, it’s so wrongOf course you can be a fascist in a democracy
And this is a fun prediction:
November 8 2020 at 10:03 am
Trump is still President for another 7 weeks, this is not over yet!Reply
Richard Murphy says:
November 8 2020 at 10:05 am
AgreedBut I still expect him to resign during that period so that Pence can grant him a presidential pardon
Pardon for what?
“Pardon for what?”
Being the Bad Orange Man, of course.
You can actually pardon somebody for EVERYTHING they might or might not have done (federal crimes only, doesn’t help you with state-level stuff) so there is no need to specify the offence or even admit there was one. See for example the wording of Proclamation 4311:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GERALD R. FORD, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, have granted and by these presents do grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974.
If you want to cover your backside, even against the threat of vindictive or politically-motivated action in future, it’s a pretty nifty power to have.
Is there anything to stop him pardoning himself if he thinks it necessary?
‘Is there anything to stop him pardoning himself if he thinks it necessary?’
Cool, svs. Perhaps this will become the last act of all future US presidents.
In reality, Mussolini stood down as Prime Minister when the King asked him to.
Pardon for what?
For being hated by the Left
“ For being hated by the Left”
And they’ve already started drawing up lists of Trump’s political staff and associates, led on Twatter by “blue checks”
“But I still expect him to resign during that period so that Pence can grant him a presidential pardon”
And I still have money riding on Biden excusing himself for heath reasons within the year.. I’ve a feeling my bet is safer..
Reagan broke the 20-year hoodoo, despite “forgetting to duck”. I think Biden is just the man to re-introduce it – providing he makes it to 20th January.
Or is indeed actually elected.
The election not over till the Supreme Court sings.
I suspect it’ll be Biden needing a Presidential Pardon (if he survives long enough to need one)
@svs
“Is there anything to stop him pardoning himself if he thinks it necessary?”
The long-standing legal uncertainty over whether a presidential self-pardon would be effective, mainly. The idea certainly looks a bit iffy and it doesn’t seem desirable for presidents to get into the habit of it. Perhaps if such backside protection is worth doing, it’s worth being iron-plated – so the idea of giving Pence a few days in the White House to sign it all off isn’t inherently barmy, but doesn’t seem especially in keeping with Trump’s character either. His most pressing legal problems post-presidency, whenever that may be, might be more likely to emanante from New York state anyway.
Ritchie is not the only person to suggest this
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/election-result-trump-biden-president-pardon-b1600867.html
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-11-01/how-trump-could-get-a-pardon-for-himself-if-he-loses
The Elysian Spud nails it, as always. Unfortunately he nails his own testicles