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PaperclipPerfector  6mo ago (text post)   28099 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of May 27, 2024

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I saw it recommended that Biden pardon Trump. I don't actually think that will happen or is in his interest, but it would be quite something.

Also, this'll be interesting in debates.

Do you think that Trump would still be likely to win after being convicted, jailed and released after being pardoned? It seems to me that if played right, such a move would be immensely emasculating - "you're only standing here because they took pity on you" - while also taking selectively taking some amount of wind out of the persecution narrative (which motivates the hardcore pro-Trump base) but not weakening the "he's a felon" narrative (which probably pushes at least some nose-holding establishment Republicans over the edge).

This would be the best possible outcome in my opinion. It disclaims the lawfare and de-escalates a potentially dangerous situation without rewarding Trump for being the human personification of "too big to fail." I don't love that I think it's also the best bet for Biden politically, but I can accept that as the price of walking us back from the cliff.

National Review is pretty much the mouthpiece of the Republican establishment. They are pretty against this prosecution even if they aren’t big fans of Trump.

NY Governor Hochul could pardon Trump.

Biden can't pardon Trump for state crimes. He could pardon Trump for the federal crimes.

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