Trump’s first inauguration speech in 2017 was a disgrace. I suspect today’s will be less menacing, more crowing. I don’t plan to watch him.
The sight of Hamas fighters looking equally jubilant in Gaza yesterday, guns in hand, is not such great optics for the genius peacemaker. He made a big play to get credit for a ceasefire that had been 8 months in the planning.
will not last for long , Hamas celebrations yesterday show the way it will go. Hopefully the hostages get out before all hell breaks out again.
Israel will get as many hostages out as possible, wait a year or two, then go in again to finish the job of making Gaza uninhabitable. Tragically, this is just a time-out
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
No - he’s acknowledged that the MAGA movement will use lawfare to harass him. Not the same thing at all
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
Citation? If you are right, Biden's Alzheimer's is worse than we thought.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
No he didn't. He is protecting him and others from a vindictive Trump.
Trump’s first inauguration speech in 2017 was a disgrace. I suspect today’s will be less menacing, more crowing. I don’t plan to watch him.
The sight of Hamas fighters looking equally jubilant in Gaza yesterday, guns in hand, is not such great optics for the genius peacemaker. He made a big play to get credit for a ceasefire that had been 8 months in the planning.
will not last for long , Hamas celebrations yesterday show the way it will go. Hopefully the hostages get out before all hell breaks out again.
Israel will get as many hostages out as possible, wait a year or two, then go in again to finish the job of making Gaza uninhabitable. Tragically, this is just a time-out
Bomb the rubble?
Essentially, yes
Stage Two of this "peace plan" requires Israel to relinquish control of Gaza's borders, esp the border with Egypt. That allows Hamas to import more weapons and prepare another attack, and off we go again
There is simply no way the Israelis will ever agree to this - and TBH I do not blame them. No Israeli government can allow the risk of another October Surprise, if they did and it happened they would be lynched
So, inevitably, I think, the Israelis will go back to the original longterm plan, which is make Gaze unlivable so it literally no longer exists, and seize the West Bank in toto. The only way this doesn't happen is if Hamas are suddenly replaced by a democratic regime in Gaza that honestly seeks peace, the chances of that seem to be zero - and I likewise don't blame the Gazans for their ongoing hatred of Israel
Quite depressing, really, let's focus on more cheerful things like our shared excitement at the prospect of THE Donald 2.0!
The Greater Israel project. What do they do with all the Palestinians? Give them a vote and a passport? Or something else to make 3-5mn within GI and beyond disappear?
Expel them into Egypt or elsewhere, is likely the plan
You can see glimpses of this plan, faraway in the distance, if you look hard enough
“Jakarta ‘never heard’ of Trump’s plan to relocate Gazans to Indonesia”
Bribe every Gazan to accept relocation, Bribe the relocation destination with a few billion dollars
And, let’s be honest, is that markedly worse than the life and future Gazans have now? Sitting in the squalor and rubble, waiting for the Israelis to bomb their kids to shit again? No, it’s markedly better
It's telling that none of their immediate neighbours are remotely keen.....
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
No he didn't. He is protecting him and others from a vindictive Trump.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
Trump - if he actually ever leaves office before he dies - will now use this precedent in spades come Jan 2029.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
No he didn't. He is protecting him and others from a vindictive Trump.
Oh I see. It's a pre-emptive pardon, right?
Well I must admit I am assuming it, but that seems to be what was done with his son who seems to have an enormously wide spread pardon and it seems the only plausible reason for the police who testified and the committee members.
Suppose I should read the wording, but then I'm just following the norm of PB of jumping to unfounded conclusions.
His guilty pleas mean automatic reporting restrictions in relation to the anticipated trial have lifted, because there is no risk of prejudicing a jury
Reporting restrictions related to naming the child victims who survived remain
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
He hasn't - but he certainly has made it look like that.
Not a few of the Jan 6 committee said they didn't want pardons for precisely that reason.
"But what I find much more troubling about all this is what it tells us about Jenrick. As a Conservative I would expect him to be respectful of the role of the Law Officers in ensuring the Government gets professional and impartial legal advice. But he is quite happy to trash the system when he thinks it might score a cheap hit."
The saving grace is that Trump can't be President again.. but which loon is going to follow him.....
Not necessarily. The 22nd amendment only says that nobody can be ELECTED President twice.
So Trump could have one of those loons run for President, with himself as Vice President. Then the new President resigns on his first day in office, and, bingo, another four years of Trump as President, maybe with the loon as his VP as reward.
I've been having nightmares recently...
12th
... But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.
But he isn't constitutionally ineligible to the office of President, he's just constitutionally ineligible to be ELECTED to it.
Given the pro-Trump tilt on the Supreme Court, I think he'd have a fair shot at succeeding.
He hasn't and he's not even going to try.
Quite, He is 78, he has made a point that is pretty unanswerable. In any event his ego, never mind his health, will not allow him to be anything except POTUS.
Given that this is a one shot at redemption and laying out a Reagan style legacy he might even do many right things, albeit after he has done a whole load of very bad things.
My judgement is that his petty vindictiveness will avoid any magnanimity in victory and that his instinct for grift and corruption will alienate even his allies. However, to give the old crook his due, today is his alone. Its up to him whether he a going to attempt statesmanship or childishness. Trump 45 was a total shitshow... can Trump 47 build anything lasting?
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
Citation? If you are right, Biden's Alzheimer's is worse than we thought.
Trump’s first inauguration speech in 2017 was a disgrace. I suspect today’s will be less menacing, more crowing. I don’t plan to watch him.
The sight of Hamas fighters looking equally jubilant in Gaza yesterday, guns in hand, is not such great optics for the genius peacemaker. He made a big play to get credit for a ceasefire that had been 8 months in the planning.
will not last for long , Hamas celebrations yesterday show the way it will go. Hopefully the hostages get out before all hell breaks out again.
Israel will get as many hostages out as possible, wait a year or two, then go in again to finish the job of making Gaza uninhabitable. Tragically, this is just a time-out
Bomb the rubble?
Essentially, yes
Stage Two of this "peace plan" requires Israel to relinquish control of Gaza's borders, esp the border with Egypt. That allows Hamas to import more weapons and prepare another attack, and off we go again
There is simply no way the Israelis will ever agree to this - and TBH I do not blame them. No Israeli government can allow the risk of another October Surprise, if they did and it happened they would be lynched
So, inevitably, I think, the Israelis will go back to the original longterm plan, which is make Gaze unlivable so it literally no longer exists, and seize the West Bank in toto. The only way this doesn't happen is if Hamas are suddenly replaced by a democratic regime in Gaza that honestly seeks peace, the chances of that seem to be zero - and I likewise don't blame the Gazans for their ongoing hatred of Israel
Quite depressing, really, let's focus on more cheerful things like our shared excitement at the prospect of THE Donald 2.0!
The Greater Israel project. What do they do with all the Palestinians? Give them a vote and a passport? Or something else to make 3-5mn within GI and beyond disappear?
Expel them into Egypt or elsewhere, is likely the plan
You can see glimpses of this plan, faraway in the distance, if you look hard enough
“Jakarta ‘never heard’ of Trump’s plan to relocate Gazans to Indonesia”
Bribe every Gazan to accept relocation, Bribe the relocation destination with a few billion dollars
And, let’s be honest, is that markedly worse than the life and future Gazans have now? Sitting in the squalor and rubble, waiting for the Israelis to bomb their kids to shit again? No, it’s markedly better
It's telling that none of their immediate neighbours are remotely keen.....
Egypt has past experience of taking an exiled people from the land of Judea. Last time they ended up losing all their first born.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
Okay Milley in particular is bonkers, because what did he do to upset Trump?
Milley didn't like getting used for a photo op by Trump, he didn't like any suggestion of using US troops against Americans, and he reminded US military officers of the substance of their oath. Basically Milley is a stickler for doing things by the book, and maintaining propriety. Since then Milley's also described Trump as fascist to the core when speaking to Bob Woodward.
These actions by Milley are tiny compared to all the events of the pandemic, or around the attempted coup. So if Trump is after Milley then anyone could be next.
In the US effective democracy and rule of law ends today.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
A convenient hospital appointment so Acting President Vance can pre-emptively pardon Trump?
Whatever happens, the left are going to scream about it and not take one jot of responsibility for handing Trump the tool on a silver platter.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
Trump - if he actually ever leaves office before he dies - will now use this precedent in spades come Jan 2029.
His guilty pleas mean automatic reporting restrictions in relation to the anticipated trial have lifted, because there is no risk of prejudicing a jury
Reporting restrictions related to naming the child victims who survived remain
What worries me is the BBC coverage at least, and no doubt other outlets, helpfully name the AQ terrorism manual to make it easy to search, find and download. So in a few months there will be more people convicted of possession through idle curiosity, and possibly a handful of deaths because some idiot followed the instructions. That's my pearl-clutching quota for the day.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
No, it really wasn’t “just about understandable” when Biden himself swore he wouldn’t do it, and then every Democrat in America proudly said “we are Democrats, we believe in the rule of law, that’s why we’re better than Trump, that’s why Biden will not pardon his own son, let justice prevail” - then Biden went and pardoned his own son, for a weirdly specific eleven and a quarter years, and then every Democrat had to mumble “yeah ok anyway law, who cares about the law, they don’t so we don’t either can we move on now”?
Dismal
Also, what the fuck is a “pre-emptive pardon”? What if incontrovertible evidence emerges that, say, Fauci personally approved the particular Gain of Function research - against US law - which led to Covid? And then Fauci conspired to cover that up? That’s twenty million dead people not getting justice
Trump’s first inauguration speech in 2017 was a disgrace. I suspect today’s will be less menacing, more crowing. I don’t plan to watch him.
The sight of Hamas fighters looking equally jubilant in Gaza yesterday, guns in hand, is not such great optics for the genius peacemaker. He made a big play to get credit for a ceasefire that had been 8 months in the planning.
will not last for long , Hamas celebrations yesterday show the way it will go. Hopefully the hostages get out before all hell breaks out again.
Israel will get as many hostages out as possible, wait a year or two, then go in again to finish the job of making Gaza uninhabitable. Tragically, this is just a time-out
Bomb the rubble?
Essentially, yes
Stage Two of this "peace plan" requires Israel to relinquish control of Gaza's borders, esp the border with Egypt. That allows Hamas to import more weapons and prepare another attack, and off we go again
There is simply no way the Israelis will ever agree to this - and TBH I do not blame them. No Israeli government can allow the risk of another October Surprise, if they did and it happened they would be lynched
So, inevitably, I think, the Israelis will go back to the original longterm plan, which is make Gaze unlivable so it literally no longer exists, and seize the West Bank in toto. The only way this doesn't happen is if Hamas are suddenly replaced by a democratic regime in Gaza that honestly seeks peace, the chances of that seem to be zero - and I likewise don't blame the Gazans for their ongoing hatred of Israel
Quite depressing, really, let's focus on more cheerful things like our shared excitement at the prospect of THE Donald 2.0!
The Greater Israel project. What do they do with all the Palestinians? Give them a vote and a passport? Or something else to make 3-5mn within GI and beyond disappear?
Consocialisation
If only. Pic of the day is the signs as you leave a West Bank village. Not exactly indicating that there is mutual respect for each other.
Törnberg, P., & Chueri, J. (2025). When Do Parties Lie? Misinformation and Radical-Right Populism Across 26 Countries. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/19401612241311886
His guilty pleas mean automatic reporting restrictions in relation to the anticipated trial have lifted, because there is no risk of prejudicing a jury
Reporting restrictions related to naming the child victims who survived remain
What worries me is the BBC coverage at least, and no doubt other outlets, helpfully name the AQ terrorism manual to make it easy to search, find and download. So in a few months there will be more people convicted of possession through idle curiosity, and possibly a handful of deaths because some idiot followed the instructions. That's my pearl-clutching quota for the day.
Isn't the problem more that we've made it illegal to possess this document? I'm sure it contains the details of how to do some nasty things, but at the end of the day it's not terribly difficult to find out how to do nasty things on the internet (e.g. rock up a dance class with a kitchen knife and murder a bunch of kids).
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
I think its the reverse. You can only take Trump on what he says he will do, so the pre-emptive pardons are a way to limit the political persecution. But to pardon his son was unjustifiable and one of those decisions which taint a presidency.
His guilty pleas mean automatic reporting restrictions in relation to the anticipated trial have lifted, because there is no risk of prejudicing a jury
Reporting restrictions related to naming the child victims who survived remain
What worries me is the BBC coverage at least, and no doubt other outlets, helpfully name the AQ terrorism manual to make it easy to search, find and download. So in a few months there will be more people convicted of possession through idle curiosity, and possibly a handful of deaths because some idiot followed the instructions. That's my pearl-clutching quota for the day.
At least there's less ambiguity about something that has 'Al Qaeda training manual' in its name. I pity all the budding chefs who languish in prison for thinking the Anarchist Cookbook is the kind of guide to edgy cuisine that will propel them into the final of MasterChef
Biden has just said he won’t pardon himself because - I’m serious - “I didn’t do anything wrong”
Which makes everyone who just got pardoned look not-very-good
Given that he was completely senile and also rapidly declining at least a year ago, surely nothing Biden says means anything at all. It's actually surprising he's still alive.
A thought arises: is there much precedent for pre-emptive pardons or is this novel with Biden?
US Law is based upon English Common Law uncontaminated with the drift which has afflicted that since the 1850s. I am pretty sure you cannot be pardoned for something you have not done - that would be absurd. The limbo between commission and conviction for an offence is more difficult. There was a case I researched in the 1580s where a killer, John Taylor tried to divest himself of property between discovery of his offence and conviction with the intent that it wouldn't escheat to the Crown. It seems American commentators are saying the pardon is an admission of wrong-doing. I think it more likely that it would only be an admission if the pardon were to be accepted.
Biden has just said he won’t pardon himself because - I’m serious - “I didn’t do anything wrong”
Which makes everyone who just got pardoned look not-very-good
There’s no evidence that he is even compos mentis anymore.
I think he will dead with 2 years.
Did you see his final address to the nation? Barely able to string three words together
Very sad. I sense he is being manipulated into doing this shit, but then again he is a foolish old twat so maybe it doesn’t take that much manipulation
Charlie Bentley-Astor @astor_charlie The Judge asks if there is any other material the defence wishes to place before the court.
Mr Reiz says he does not have a psychiatrists report but wishes to submit Rudakubana's "considerable" mental health record which existed before the events in Southport on 29 July 2024
I'm watching it on TV. He has a long history of violent and disturbed behaviour.
And an interest in producing ricin, according to the BBC. Yet 'not terror related' per the police...
The ricin claim was of course made public on the afternoon before the budget. Months after we can assume the police knew about it. And the trial starts today, the same day as Trump's inauguration.
"Former M&S boss says working from home is ‘not doing proper work’ WFH has harmed employee productivity, says Stuart Rose, who was also executive chair of Asda"
Biden seems intent on ruining his reputation even in these final few hours.
Rather assuming he has much reputation left to ruin...
He will go down in history as a fool who hastened oligarchic rule in the U.S.
That rather depends on what happens in 2028. Certainly if the Dems' predictions of policy failures are even half right then the election is there to be won. But they need to learn from their failures of the last four years and make sure that the story they tell - starting at midday ET today, not just in the election campaign - actually accords with voters' experience.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
I think its the reverse. You can only take Trump on what he says he will do, so the pre-emptive pardons are a way to limit the political persecution. But to pardon his son was unjustifiable and one of those decisions which taint a presidency.
I said it was understandable, not right.
The same threats of persecution were made against Hunter Biden. The argument is effectively the same for all.
Biden has just said he won’t pardon himself because - I’m serious - “I didn’t do anything wrong”
Which makes everyone who just got pardoned look not-very-good
Given that he was completely senile and also rapidly declining at least a year ago, surely nothing Biden says means anything at all. It's actually surprising he's still alive.
A year ago the Dems thought he was the best person to stop Trump!
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
No, it really wasn’t “just about understandable” when Biden himself swore he wouldn’t do it, and then every Democrat in America proudly said “we are Democrats, we believe in the rule of law, that’s why we’re better than Trump, that’s why Biden will not pardon his own son, let justice prevail” - then Biden went and pardoned his own son, for a weirdly specific eleven and a quarter years, and then every Democrat had to mumble “yeah ok anyway law, who cares about the law, they don’t so we don’t either can we move on now”?
Dismal
Also, what the fuck is a “pre-emptive pardon”? What if incontrovertible evidence emerges that, say, Fauci personally approved the particular Gain of Function research - against US law - which led to Covid? And then Fauci conspired to cover that up? That’s twenty million dead people not getting justice
Unspeakable
Just to repeat, I said understandable, not justified. Otherwise, I'm in agreement with you.
A thought arises: is there much precedent for pre-emptive pardons or is this novel with Biden?
US Law is based upon English Common Law uncontaminated with the drift which has afflicted that since the 1850s. I am pretty sure you cannot be pardoned for something you have not done - that would be absurd. The limbo between commission and conviction for an offence is more difficult. There was a case I researched in the 1580s where a killer, John Taylor tried to divest himself of property between discovery of his offence and conviction with the intent that it wouldn't escheat to the Crown. It seems American commentators are saying the pardon is an admission of wrong-doing. I think it more likely that it would only be an admission if the pardon were to be accepted.
His guilty pleas mean automatic reporting restrictions in relation to the anticipated trial have lifted, because there is no risk of prejudicing a jury
Reporting restrictions related to naming the child victims who survived remain
What worries me is the BBC coverage at least, and no doubt other outlets, helpfully name the AQ terrorism manual to make it easy to search, find and download. So in a few months there will be more people convicted of possession through idle curiosity, and possibly a handful of deaths because some idiot followed the instructions. That's my pearl-clutching quota for the day.
Isn't the problem more that we've made it illegal to possess this document? I'm sure it contains the details of how to do some nasty things, but at the end of the day it's not terribly difficult to find out how to do nasty things on the internet (e.g. rock up a dance class with a kitchen knife and murder a bunch of kids).
That is a separate problem, although I agree that guns, bombs and poisons have been rendered largely redundant by the realisation that you can easily wipe out tourists or children by swerving a car or using a kitchen knife. (And recently guns have been used mainly by drugs gangs rather than terrorists, because the latter don't especially care who they kill so there is no point trying to buy firearms.)
But given that said document is illegal to possess, it seems absurd to instruct people on where to find it. The BBC does not give similar details for, say, child porn, cocaine purchases or terrorist beheadings.
His guilty pleas mean automatic reporting restrictions in relation to the anticipated trial have lifted, because there is no risk of prejudicing a jury
Reporting restrictions related to naming the child victims who survived remain
What worries me is the BBC coverage at least, and no doubt other outlets, helpfully name the AQ terrorism manual to make it easy to search, find and download. So in a few months there will be more people convicted of possession through idle curiosity, and possibly a handful of deaths because some idiot followed the instructions. That's my pearl-clutching quota for the day.
At least there's less ambiguity about something that has 'Al Qaeda training manual' in its name. I pity all the budding chefs who languish in prison for thinking the Anarchist Cookbook is the kind of guide to edgy cuisine that will propel them into the final of MasterChef
If it said Isis Training Manual people might think it was about boating in Oxford
A thought arises: is there much precedent for pre-emptive pardons or is this novel with Biden?
US Law is based upon English Common Law uncontaminated with the drift which has afflicted that since the 1850s. I am pretty sure you cannot be pardoned for something you have not done - that would be absurd. The limbo between commission and conviction for an offence is more difficult. There was a case I researched in the 1580s where a killer, John Taylor tried to divest himself of property between discovery of his offence and conviction with the intent that it wouldn't escheat to the Crown. It seems American commentators are saying the pardon is an admission of wrong-doing. I think it more likely that it would only be an admission if the pardon were to be accepted.
Can a pardonee refuse a pardon?
I agree that in the face of it a pre-emptive pardon - certainly for something that hasn't even been investigated, much less charged or convicted - seems absurd.
Which leaves an interesting strategic question for Trump. If he doesn't challenge it, it's a good sign he's going to want to use the precedent himself.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
It wasn't understandable, it was disgraceful.
What bollocks bearing in mind what Trump previously did regarding pardons and intends to do to the January 6th rioters later on today. The pre emptive pardons will not set a precedent, he would do what he liked regardless.
"Former M&S boss says working from home is ‘not doing proper work’ WFH has harmed employee productivity, says Stuart Rose, who was also executive chair of Asda"
I WFH all but one day a month. He's not wrong. Some things I have to be in the office to do a decent job of, and most things I can do a decent job at home but would need to be in the office to do a good job.
"Former M&S boss says working from home is ‘not doing proper work’ WFH has harmed employee productivity, says Stuart Rose, who was also executive chair of Asda"
Biden has just said he won’t pardon himself because - I’m serious - “I didn’t do anything wrong”
Which makes everyone who just got pardoned look not-very-good
There’s no evidence that he is even compos mentis anymore.
I think he will dead with 2 years.
Did you see his final address to the nation? Barely able to string three words together
Very sad. I sense he is being manipulated into doing this shit, but then again he is a foolish old twat so maybe it doesn’t take that much manipulation
Serious question: how long before we have the same debate about the 47th president? Is Trump too old, is his speech too rambling, does he sometimes freeze? The Project2025 types won't mind their guy taking over two years earlier than planned.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
"been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes"
Hmm. That reminds me of something else for some strange reason.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
It wasn't understandable, it was disgraceful.
What bollocks bearing in mind what Trump previously did regarding pardons and intends to do to the January 6th rioters later on today. The pre emptive pardons will not set a precedent, he would do what he liked regardless.
Has PB covered the explosion in PIP and sickness benefits since 2015?
Apparently those in receipt are exempt from the income limits pertaining to spousal immigration, too.
Give people the chance to grift, and many will take it.
Seemingly so, according to that damning HoL report.
Like so many issues with the British state, it seems to have started mid-2010s and then exploded via Covid.
It was hugely disappointing to me, just how badly the Conservatives performed in areas that should be Conservative strengths (immigration and border control, defence, justice, control of spending). They preferred to shout ineffectually.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
It wasn't understandable, it was disgraceful.
What bollocks bearing in mind what Trump previously did regarding pardons and intends to do to the January 6th rioters later on today. The pre emptive pardons will not set a precedent, he would do what he liked regardless.
If both sides do it, it's a norm, or a convention.
Has PB covered the explosion in PIP and sickness benefits since 2015?
Apparently those in receipt are exempt from the income limits pertaining to spousal immigration, too.
Give people the chance to grift, and many will take it.
Seemingly so, according to that damning HoL report.
Like so many issues with the British state, it seems to have started mid-2010s and then exploded via Covid.
It was hugely disappointing to me, just how badly the Conservatives performed in areas that should be Conservative strengths (immigration and border control, defence, justice, control of spending). They preferred to shout ineffectually.
One word: Brexit. Two words: Brexit and Boris.
Hollowed out and debauched the entire governing apparatus.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
It wasn't understandable, it was disgraceful.
What bollocks bearing in mind what Trump previously did regarding pardons and intends to do to the January 6th rioters later on today. The pre emptive pardons will not set a precedent, he would do what he liked regardless.
So basically the USA has abandoned the rule of law and it’s now just two tribes trying to win so they can pardon their own and persecute the other side, and the Democrats are easily as bad as the Republicans - arguably worse because more pious and hypocritical - and that’s all fine because muh Trump?
"Former M&S boss says working from home is ‘not doing proper work’ WFH has harmed employee productivity, says Stuart Rose, who was also executive chair of Asda"
I WFH all but one day a month. He's not wrong. Some things I have to be in the office to do a decent job of, and most things I can do a decent job at home but would need to be in the office to do a good job.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
It wasn't understandable, it was disgraceful.
What bollocks bearing in mind what Trump previously did regarding pardons and intends to do to the January 6th rioters later on today. The pre emptive pardons will not set a precedent, he would do what he liked regardless.
Nonetheless, it sets a precedent.
And the argument for them isn't even coherent.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5094948-joe-biden-pardons-mark-milley-anthony-fauci-january-sixth/ ..It’s unclear whether all members will accept the pardons Biden has offered them. Thompson indicated that he would accept a pardon from the White House for his leadership role on the committee, but other members have said in recent weeks that they do not believe they need them. Several police officers who testified to the committee were also preemptively pardoned. The officers that testified were former U.S. Capitol Police officers Harry Dunn, Aquilino Gonell and Caroline Edwards, and former D.C. Metropolitan police officers Michael Fanone and Daniel Hodges. During a press call earlier this month, Fanone and Gonell indicated that they had not discussed pardons with Biden’s White House and felt they did not need them. It’s typical for presidents to grant clemency at the end of their term, but Biden has stretched the limits of the presidential pardon power by offering pardons to individuals who have so far faced no investigation. “I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics,” Biden said. “But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing.” Biden’s Justice Department wrote in recent court filings for Jan. 6 defendants — many of whom are expecting imminent pardons from Trump — that accepting a pardon comes with an implicit admission of guilt or wrongdoing, despite Biden’s insistence that these (pardons) do not...
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
It wasn't understandable, it was disgraceful.
What bollocks bearing in mind what Trump previously did regarding pardons and intends to do to the January 6th rioters later on today. The pre emptive pardons will not set a precedent, he would do what he liked regardless.
So the Democrats should follow suit?
In anticipation of vexatious prosecutions against Trump's personal foes, for example several Republicans like Milley I am comfortable with that. If you want Democrat pardoning misbehaviour Clinton pardoning the USA's biggest white collar criminals Marc Rich and Pinky Green was unforgivable.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
It wasn't understandable, it was disgraceful.
What bollocks bearing in mind what Trump previously did regarding pardons and intends to do to the January 6th rioters later on today. The pre emptive pardons will not set a precedent, he would do what he liked regardless.
If both sides do it, it's a norm, or a convention.
It's a crap idea open to abuse from all sides, see Clinton's pardons.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
Okay Milley in particular is bonkers, because what did he do to upset Trump?
In particular, who knows ? But Trump has publicly threatened to recall him to active service to face a military tribunal, with the threat of a treason indictment.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
It wasn't understandable, it was disgraceful.
What bollocks bearing in mind what Trump previously did regarding pardons and intends to do to the January 6th rioters later on today. The pre emptive pardons will not set a precedent, he would do what he liked regardless.
So the Democrats should follow suit?
In anticipation of vexatious prosecutions against Trump's personal foes, for example several Republicans like Milley I am comfortable with that. If you want Democrat pardoning misbehaviour Clinton pardoning the USA's biggest white collar criminals Marc Rich and Pinky Green was unforgivable.
I am not interested in partisan politics here, and am no “Democrat”. Clinton was indeed some kind of crook, and a lech besides.
I’m interested in the direct example set by Biden (or the people who now prop up Biden) and how it will be instrumentalised by Trump.
US democracy is being enfeebled in real time (we barely discussed the meme coin), and it’s astonishing to see how poorly the Dems have responded to it.
"Former M&S boss says working from home is ‘not doing proper work’ WFH has harmed employee productivity, says Stuart Rose, who was also executive chair of Asda"
I WFH all but one day a month. He's not wrong. Some things I have to be in the office to do a decent job of, and most things I can do a decent job at home but would need to be in the office to do a good job.
As someone WFH since 2012, here are three observations.
One of the reasons WFH is better is management obsession with open plan offices and cubicles made office work harder than it needs to be.
Bringing in new team members is hard to do remotely.
Some people do take the piss, whether at home or at the office.
The major thing driving workers liking WFH is, I rather suspect, that commuting absolutely sucks. Especially around big cities - it was one of the main reasons I left London. Maybe there needs to be a shift to paying for commuting time.
Trump should schedule his executive orders like a 1970s television schedule.
“At 6, I’ll announce my tariffs on Europe, before some light relief at 7 with the Black and White Minstrels.”
It's not so far from that. I can easily imagine a weekly show where he issues the latest bunch of edicts straight into the camera. Perhaps just call it "Trump".
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
It wasn't understandable, it was disgraceful.
What bollocks bearing in mind what Trump previously did regarding pardons and intends to do to the January 6th rioters later on today. The pre emptive pardons will not set a precedent, he would do what he liked regardless.
So basically the USA has abandoned the rule of law and it’s now just two tribes trying to win so they can pardon their own and persecute the other side, and the Democrats are easily as bad as the Republicans - arguably worse because more pious and hypocritical - and that’s all fine because muh Trump?
It's been going on for years. Ford pardoned Nixon. Reagan's team delayed the Iranian hostage release and, well, Iran-Contra. Too many Americans regard the other side as so dangerous that (almost) anything goes.
By coincidence (or not) YouTube's algorithm today served up 30 seconds of Reagan's inaugural remarks on the peaceful transfer of power. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gaKwr0b1Cnc
Has PB covered the explosion in PIP and sickness benefits since 2015?
Apparently those in receipt are exempt from the income limits pertaining to spousal immigration, too.
Give people the chance to grift, and many will take it.
Seemingly so, according to that damning HoL report.
Like so many issues with the British state, it seems to have started mid-2010s and then exploded via Covid.
It was hugely disappointing to me, just how badly the Conservatives performed in areas that should be Conservative strengths (immigration and border control, defence, justice, control of spending). They preferred to shout ineffectually.
One word: Brexit. Two words: Brexit and Boris.
Hollowed out and debauched the entire governing apparatus.
That’s an insufficient explanation if the benefits system failures date back to Cameron.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
It wasn't understandable, it was disgraceful.
What bollocks bearing in mind what Trump previously did regarding pardons and intends to do to the January 6th rioters later on today. The pre emptive pardons will not set a precedent, he would do what he liked regardless.
So the Democrats should follow suit?
In anticipation of vexatious prosecutions against Trump's personal foes, for example several Republicans like Milley I am comfortable with that. If you want Democrat pardoning misbehaviour Clinton pardoning the USA's biggest white collar criminals Marc Rich and Pinky Green was unforgivable.
I am not interested in partisan politics here, and am no “Democrat”. Clinton was indeed some kind of crook, and a lech besides.
I’m interested in the direct example set by Biden (or the people who now prop up Biden) and how it will be instrumentalised by Trump.
US democracy is being enfeebled in real time (we barely discussed the meme coin), and it’s astonishing to see how poorly the Dems have responded to it.
Would Fauci and Milley going to jail make you feel more comfortable? At least Biden can do some bird for "stealing the election" 4 years ago.
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
It wasn't understandable, it was disgraceful.
What bollocks bearing in mind what Trump previously did regarding pardons and intends to do to the January 6th rioters later on today. The pre emptive pardons will not set a precedent, he would do what he liked regardless.
So the Democrats should follow suit?
In anticipation of vexatious prosecutions against Trump's personal foes, for example several Republicans like Milley I am comfortable with that. If you want Democrat pardoning misbehaviour Clinton pardoning the USA's biggest white collar criminals Marc Rich and Pinky Green was unforgivable.
I am not interested in partisan politics here, and am no “Democrat”. Clinton was indeed some kind of crook, and a lech besides.
I’m interested in the direct example set by Biden (or the people who now prop up Biden) and how it will be instrumentalised by Trump.
US democracy is being enfeebled in real time (we barely discussed the meme coin), and it’s astonishing to see how poorly the Dems have responded to it.
I suppose Biden has done the Dems a service in one respect - they are going to have to have a serious clear our of the old guard, after the debacle of the last few months.
Has any President quite so tarnished his legacy on the very last day of his presidency ?
* General Mark Milley * Dr. Anthony Fauci * Jan. 6 Committee members of Congress and staffers * The police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee
Biden says these pardons are not an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
MRDA.
Biden just admitted that Fauci fucked up over the pan(dem)ic.
It’s quite extraordinary. “Yeah so what fauci lied about lab leak anyway now he’s PRE EMPTIVELY PARDONED”
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
The Hunter pardon was pretty foolish, but was just about understandable from a parent. He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
Pre-emptive pardons are wrong.
Sometimes you have to do what is right, even if it is difficult. Democracy and the rights and greetings under the law they were enjoy on the West only came to be because of brave people in the past who chose to do what was right rather than what was easy.
This move by Biden will have terrible consequences.
"Former M&S boss says working from home is ‘not doing proper work’ WFH has harmed employee productivity, says Stuart Rose, who was also executive chair of Asda"
I WFH all but one day a month. He's not wrong. Some things I have to be in the office to do a decent job of, and most things I can do a decent job at home but would need to be in the office to do a good job.
As someone WFH since 2012, here are three observations.
One of the reasons WFH is better is management obsession with open plan offices and cubicles made office work harder than it needs to be.
Bringing in new team members is hard to do remotely.
Some people do take the piss, whether at home or at the office.
The major thing driving workers liking WFH is, I rather suspect, that commuting absolutely sucks. Especially around big cities - it was one of the main reasons I left London. Maybe there needs to be a shift to paying for commuting time.
Then the calculation becomes "workers get some things done better in offices than at home, is that worth the 10-20 percent more it would cost to pay them to get in little metal boxes on wheels to travel from home to work?"
(At which point I start thinking of the Martians/Robots from the old "For mash, get Smash" adverts.)
That, plus the cost of owning/renting and maintaining the office buildings adds up to an awfully big productivity boost needed.
Comments
What? Of everything? Of misleading the world about a plague that killed 20 millions? Of funding the research that led to that plague?
Nothing has so unbecome Biden in office as the way he has departed it. All this and Hunter too
Suppose I should read the wording, but then I'm just following the norm of PB of jumping to unfounded conclusions.
His guilty pleas mean automatic reporting restrictions in relation to the anticipated trial have lifted, because there is no risk of prejudicing a jury
Reporting restrictions related to naming the child victims who survived remain
https://x.com/lizziedearden/status/1881307460541292889
Not a few of the Jan 6 committee said they didn't want pardons for precisely that reason.
Apparently those in receipt are exempt from the income limits pertaining to spousal immigration, too.
(Assuming Trump has a clue what Iron Dome actually is.)
Trump:
I will direct our military to begin construction of the great Iron Dome Missile Defense Shield, which will all be made in the U.S.A.
https://x.com/clashreport/status/1881222767263261169
I thought they were planning for the defence budget to be spent more efficiently ?
Utterly incredible. 2000 years old. Huge! And the visitor book showed an average of 5 foreign visitors a day (I checked). FIVE
Tons of Buddhist Noom
Milley didn't like getting used for a photo op by Trump, he didn't like any suggestion of using US troops against Americans, and he reminded US military officers of the substance of their oath. Basically Milley is a stickler for doing things by the book, and maintaining propriety. Since then Milley's also described Trump as fascist to the core when speaking to Bob Woodward.
These actions by Milley are tiny compared to all the events of the pandemic, or around the attempted coup. So if Trump is after Milley then anyone could be next.
In the US effective democracy and rule of law ends today.
https://www.noom.com/
He's not a politician, and he's been pursued in a manner completely unprecedented for what were fairly minor crimes, with every indication that would carry on post election.
These pre-emptive pardons, though, set a terrible precedent, which no doubt Trump will turbocharge in due course.
Whatever happens, the left are going to scream about it and not take one jot of responsibility for handing Trump the tool on a silver platter.
Dismal
Also, what the fuck is a “pre-emptive pardon”? What if incontrovertible evidence emerges that, say, Fauci personally approved the particular Gain of Function research - against US law - which led to Covid? And then Fauci conspired to cover that up? That’s twenty million dead people not getting justice
Unspeakable
Which makes everyone who just got pardoned look not-very-good
I think he will dead with 2 years.
It's been a steepening downhill slope since then.
Very sad. I sense he is being manipulated into doing this shit, but then again he is a foolish old twat so maybe it doesn’t take that much manipulation
WFH has harmed employee productivity, says Stuart Rose, who was also executive chair of Asda"
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/20/working-from-home-not-doing-proper-work-stuart-rose
The same threats of persecution were made against Hunter Biden.
The argument is effectively the same for all.
“At 6, I’ll announce my tariffs on Europe, before some light relief at 7 with the Black and White Minstrels.”
Otherwise, I'm in agreement with you.
But given that said document is illegal to possess, it seems absurd to instruct people on where to find it. The BBC does not give similar details for, say, child porn, cocaine purchases or terrorist beheadings.
Like so many issues with the British state, it seems to have started mid-2010s and then exploded via Covid.
I agree that in the face of it a pre-emptive pardon - certainly for something that hasn't even been investigated, much less charged or convicted - seems absurd.
Which leaves an interesting strategic question for Trump. If he doesn't challenge it, it's a good sign he's going to want to use the precedent himself.
For Blue Monday we can't think of anything more appropriate than this charming depiction of a man getting his face eaten off by a leopard.
https://bsky.app/profile/romanpalace.bsky.social/post/3lg5zpyhhnk27
Hmm. That reminds me of something else for some strange reason.
Two words: Brexit and Boris.
Hollowed out and debauched the entire governing apparatus.
Workers: WFH good, offshoring bad.
As someone WFH since 2012, here are three observations.
And the argument for them isn't even coherent.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5094948-joe-biden-pardons-mark-milley-anthony-fauci-january-sixth/
..It’s unclear whether all members will accept the pardons Biden has offered them. Thompson indicated that he would accept a pardon from the White House for his leadership role on the committee, but other members have said in recent weeks that they do not believe they need them.
Several police officers who testified to the committee were also preemptively pardoned. The officers that testified were former U.S. Capitol Police officers Harry Dunn, Aquilino Gonell and Caroline Edwards, and former D.C. Metropolitan police officers Michael Fanone and Daniel Hodges.
During a press call earlier this month, Fanone and Gonell indicated that they had not discussed pardons with Biden’s White House and felt they did not need them.
It’s typical for presidents to grant clemency at the end of their term, but Biden has stretched the limits of the presidential pardon power by offering pardons to individuals who have so far faced no investigation.
“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics,” Biden said. “But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing.”
Biden’s Justice Department wrote in recent court filings for Jan. 6 defendants — many of whom are expecting imminent pardons from Trump — that accepting a pardon comes with an implicit admission of guilt or wrongdoing, despite Biden’s insistence that these (pardons) do not...
But Trump has publicly threatened to recall him to active service to face a military tribunal, with the threat of a treason indictment.
I’m interested in the direct example set by Biden (or the people who now prop up Biden) and how it will be instrumentalised by Trump.
US democracy is being enfeebled in real time (we barely discussed the meme coin), and it’s astonishing to see how poorly the Dems have responded to it.
ETA: Arm round Suella and Suella's hand in a fairly intimate position on him, so could well be!
If you can capture evil in a photograph they did it
https://x.com/mennewsdesk/status/1881336239347077618?s=46&t=bulOICNH15U6kB0MwE6Lfw
Seriously. Be warned. It’s actually quite disturbing (but it is just a face in case the mods are worried)
By coincidence (or not) YouTube's algorithm today served up 30 seconds of Reagan's inaugural remarks on the peaceful transfer of power.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gaKwr0b1Cnc
Has any President quite so tarnished his legacy on the very last day of his presidency ?
Sometimes you have to do what is right, even if it is difficult. Democracy and the rights and greetings under the law they were enjoy on the West only came to be because of brave people in the past who chose to do what was right rather than what was easy.
This move by Biden will have terrible consequences.
(At which point I start thinking of the Martians/Robots from the old "For mash, get Smash" adverts.)
That, plus the cost of owning/renting and maintaining the office buildings adds up to an awfully big productivity boost needed.