MAGAThread XVIII: The Authority Is Total

[Saturna1ia]

Trump is only granting clemency to these people to make his eventual clemency/pardon of Roger Stone appear less newsworthy.
Ole Trump, campaigned on "Drain the Swamp" but delivered "Appoint the Swamp" and now "Pardon the Swamp"

[Albrenia]

It's always seemed weird to me that the President even has the power to pardon people.

I can sort of understand the ability to commute death sentences to life sentences, but to basically say 'this one's on us' about a crime seems... inherently corrupt.

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

It's always seemed weird to me that the President even has the power to pardon people.

I can sort of understand the ability to commute death sentences to life sentences, but to basically say 'this one's on us' about a crime seems... inherently corrupt.

It's one of ye olde royal prerogatives written into the Constitution in the late 18th, derived from a King's power over life and death.

[Nakena]

Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.

[Albrenia]

Executive Orders are a similarly odd idea to me - I understand some circumstances can't wait for the proper procedure and must be implemented immediately, but the way they're used often seems like ruling by decree.

Is there a limitation to their use, aside from the fact that can be stricken down easily by the next President along?

[Saturna1ia]

Executive Orders are a similarly odd idea to me - I understand some circumstances can't wait for the proper procedure and must be implemented immediately, but the way they're used often seems like ruling by decree.

Is there a limitation to their use, aside from the fact that can be stricken down easily by the next President along?

The judiciary can strike an order down as unconstitutional, but it is often hesitant to do so and judicial appointments being up to the President creates a small conflict of interest.

[The East Marches II]

Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.

Based and Nixon pilled

[Maineiacs]

Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_lRg8MsB0k

[Vassenor]

Executive Orders are a similarly odd idea to me - I understand some circumstances can't wait for the proper procedure and must be implemented immediately, but the way they're used often seems like ruling by decree.

Is there a limitation to their use, aside from the fact that can be stricken down easily by the next President along?

Yes - they can only direct actions of organs of the Executive Branch.

[Fartsniffage]

Executive Orders are a similarly odd idea to me - I understand some circumstances can't wait for the proper procedure and must be implemented immediately, but the way they're used often seems like ruling by decree.

Is there a limitation to their use, aside from the fact that can be stricken down easily by the next President along?

Yes - they can only direct actions of organs of the Executive Branch.

The Executive branch appears replete with organs. Or members if you prefer.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

Executive Orders are a similarly odd idea to me - I understand some circumstances can't wait for the proper procedure and must be implemented immediately, but the way they're used often seems like ruling by decree.

Is there a limitation to their use, aside from the fact that can be stricken down easily by the next President along?

The executive order isn't really a power in and of itself, but rather the result of the president being the chief executive. It forces the executive to act in a certain manner. It cannot create new power for the president or the secretaries, since that power is reserved for Congress, and it also cannot go against Us law, including but not limited to the constitution. But since there is a lot of freedom afforded to the president in these matters, the president can rule effectively just by pin-pointing his branch, which is rather clever.

In European nations, this power is far more limited, since the executive has far less leeway. They are bound to use certain powers whenever they can, and cannot choose not to use a power given to them by law. This limits the executive power enormously.

[Crockerland]

Remember when Trump first proposed pardoning Blagojevich and people booed? Or did I dream that.

Goldfish memory.

If the fish were white would you still insult its memory? I doubt it.

Trump has pardoned former 49ers Owner, Eddie DeBartolo Jr.. DeBartolo pleaded guilty to fraud back in 1998 for paying former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards $400,000 to help secure a casino license.

Trump will also grant clemency to former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and former NYPD Commissioner, Bernard Kerik. Blagojevich was sentenced on corruption charges for trying to "sell" Obama's Senate Seat while Kerik committed tax fraud, lied to White House Officials, and received lavish gifts in exchange for giving up his authority (Text in spoiler).

All of these cases have one thing in common: they were all corruption cases, either people accused of abusing their power or involved in bribes. Hmm, this sounds very similar, I sense a pattern here.

Edit: Damn it, Ninja'd by Shrill...

Edit 2: I'm also seeing he commuted Michael Milken, who pleaded guilty on security violations; it seems he was originally charged with racketeering and insider trading. He's barred for life from the Securities Industry by the SEC.

WHITE PLAINS — Bernard B. Kerik, a former New York police commissioner who rose to national prominence, was sentenced to four years in prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to eight felony charges, including tax fraud and lying to White House officials.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, the prosecution and the defense recommended that Judge Stephen C. Robinson sentence Mr. Kerik to 27 to 33 months in prison. But the judge departed from the sentencing recommendations, giving Mr. Kerik a longer sentence because he said he had betrayed the public’s trust.

“I think it’s fair to say that with great power comes great responsibility and great consequences,” Judge Robinson said. “I think the damage caused by Mr. Kerik is in some ways immeasurable.”

Federal prosecutors had denounced Mr. Kerik, a former police detective who rose to the upper echelons of power, as a corrupt official who sought to trade his authority for lavish benefits. He pleaded guilty on the eve of his trial in November.

Wearing a pinstriped navy-blue suit, Mr. Kerik was thinner and clean-shaven — without the mustache he was long identified with — as he entered the courtroom in United States District Court here. He surveyed the gallery, packed with friends and supporters, embracing some, nodding to others.

When Judge Robinson offered him a chance to speak before sentencing, Mr. Kerik rose from the defense table and spoke in a low and gravelly voice.

“I make no excuses,” he said. “I take full responsibility for the grave mistakes I’ve made. Believe me when I say I have learned from this and I have become and will continue to become a better person. I know I must be punished. I only ask that you allow me to return to my wife and two little girls as soon as possible.”

As the judge delivered the sentence, Mr. Kerik sat impassively at the defense table, flanked by his lawyers. Behind him, his supporters — including Geraldo Rivera and Steven McDonald, a former New York City police officer who was paralyzed from the neck down in 1986 — sat silently.

Mr. Kerik will begin serving his sentence on May 17. Prosecutors had requested that Mr. Kerik be sent to prison immediately, but Judge Robinson allowed him to surrender later to get his affairs in order in light of the length of the sentence. Mr. Kerik has awaited sentencing under strict house arrest at his home in Franklin Lakes, N.J.

The sentence follows a fall from a rarefied perch where he wielded power with a signature mix of brash confidence and tough-guy charm.

He was a close ally of former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, whom he served as a bodyguard and driver. Mr. Giuliani then tapped him for a senior position in the Correction Department, and he went on to become the agency’s commissioner. As testament to his clout, Mr. Kerik had a jail named after him in downtown Manhattan. (The name has since been changed.)

Mr. Kerik later served as police commissioner, and his performance after the 9/11 attacks turned him into a national figure, earning him the respect of President George W. Bush, who nominated him to lead the Department of Homeland Security. That bid quickly collapsed in scandal, marking the beginning of the end of Mr. Kerik’s career.

The case against Mr. Kerik centered on charges that a New Jersey construction company, the Interstate Industrial Corporation, which was suspected of ties to organized crime, had paid for renovations at his home in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. Prosecutors said company officials had hoped Mr. Kerik would help them obtain a city license.

In June 2006, Mr. Kerik pleaded guilty in State Supreme Court in the Bronx to two misdemeanors tied to the renovation of his apartment. He paid $221,000 in fines and penalties but avoided any jail time.

In the more recent federal case, Mr. Kerik pleaded guilty to two counts of tax fraud, one count of making a false statement on a loan application and five counts of making false statements to the federal government while being vetted for senior posts. Judge Robinson ordered him to pay restitution of $187,931 to the Internal Revenue Service.

Prosecutors had called for Judge Robinson to make an example out of Mr. Kerik, and to punish him for his “egotism and hubris.”

During the hearing, Judge Robinson said he admired much about Mr. Kerik, particularly his leadership in the 9/11 aftermath. But, he said, “the fact that Mr. Kerik would use that event for personal gain and aggrandizement is a dark place in the soul for me.”

Mr. Kerik’s lawyer, Michael F. Bachner, asked the judge for leniency, citing his years of public service, and the dozens of letters of support written by family members, former colleagues in the Police Department and even strangers who said they admired Mr. Kerik’s bravery.

When asked if Mr. Kerik intended to appeal the sentence, Mr. Bachner said, “No comment.”

After the sentencing, Mr. Kerik paused outside the courthouse, where he read a statement before being driven off in a black sport utility vehicle.

“I’d like to apologize to the American people for the mistakes I’ve made and for which I have just accepted responsibility,” he said. “As history is written, I can only hope that I will be judged for the 30 years of service I have given to this country and the city of New York.”

I hope he pardons Roger Stone and Leonard Peltier next.

[Neutraligon]

Executive Orders are a similarly odd idea to me - I understand some circumstances can't wait for the proper procedure and must be implemented immediately, but the way they're used often seems like ruling by decree.

Is there a limitation to their use, aside from the fact that can be stricken down easily by the next President along?

Executive orders are not ruling by decree, Executive orders are directions to the federal government how how federal agencies should act. Since those agencies are part of the executive branch of the government they are permissable.

[Albrenia]

Executive Orders are a similarly odd idea to me - I understand some circumstances can't wait for the proper procedure and must be implemented immediately, but the way they're used often seems like ruling by decree.

Is there a limitation to their use, aside from the fact that can be stricken down easily by the next President along?

Executive orders are not ruling by decree, Executive orders are directions to the federal government how how federal agencies should act. Since those agencies are part of the executive branch of the government they are permissable.

I see. I'm pleased to hear that said limitations exist, because if the President really did have a way to skip over all the checks and balances and just do as they pleased it would be an extremely bad thing.

[Fartsniffage]

Executive Orders are a similarly odd idea to me - I understand some circumstances can't wait for the proper procedure and must be implemented immediately, but the way they're used often seems like ruling by decree.

Is there a limitation to their use, aside from the fact that can be stricken down easily by the next President along?

Executive orders are not ruling by decree, Executive orders are directions to the federal government how how federal agencies should act. Since those agencies are part of the executive branch of the government they are permissable.

Out of interest, what are the federal agencies the President can direct?

[Neutraligon]

Executive orders are not ruling by decree, Executive orders are directions to the federal government how how federal agencies should act. Since those agencies are part of the executive branch of the government they are permissable.

Out of interest, what are the federal agencies the President can direct?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_f ... ted_States

[Aureumterra]

Out of interest, what are the federal agencies the President can direct?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_f ... ted_States

The president has minimal control over the CIA and FBI, meaning these organizations are controlled by bureaucrats and not elected officials

[Neutraligon]

Executive orders are not ruling by decree, Executive orders are directions to the federal government how how federal agencies should act. Since those agencies are part of the executive branch of the government they are permissable.

I see. I'm pleased to hear that said limitations exist, because if the President really did have a way to skip over all the checks and balances and just do as they pleased it would be an extremely bad thing.

That being said, federal agencies under the executive branch tend to have vast powers.

[Fartsniffage]

Out of interest, what are the federal agencies the President can direct?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_f ... ted_States

Thank you for a useful list. Really. Fucking waste of time

[Neutraligon]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_f ... ted_States

The president has minimal control over the CIA and FBI, meaning these organizations are controlled by bureaucrats and not elected officials

Those are the total list of federal agencies, an explanation is in the linked article. For instance the entirety of the cabinet is part of the executive branch. There are additional agencies that are not part of the cabinet but which are technically headed by the president, but which the president has little control over due to not being able to fire the head at will.

[Duhon]

Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.

the man they call god-emperor can bend reality to his will now
alternative fact, believe me

[Duhon]

Trump just commuted our behated former governor's sentence: https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-governor-rod-blagojevich-trump-commute-20200218-ktpeijxjmjavzldz43k4pbnp4q-story.html

And all because he was on The Celebrity Apprentice....

when you crime in the name of the lord our trump, you do not crime, you praise his name

all hail crime
all hail corruption
all hail indecency
all hail authoritarianism
hail satan
hail satan
hail satan

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

Trump just commuted our behated former governor's sentence: https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-governor-rod-blagojevich-trump-commute-20200218-ktpeijxjmjavzldz43k4pbnp4q-story.html

And all because he was on The Celebrity Apprentice....

Instead of draining the swamp he seems to be filling it.

[Imperial Joseon]

when you crime in the name of the lord our trump, you do not crime, you praise his name

all hail crime
all hail corruption
all hail indecency
all hail authoritarianism
hail satan
hail satan
hail satan

Trump. Make America Corrupt Again.

[Nakena]

Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.

the man they call god-emperor can bend reality to his will now
alternative fact, believe me

What would Nixon do?

Considering, Trump is past the point where Nixon was.

Trump just commuted our behated former governor's sentence: https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-governor-rod-blagojevich-trump-commute-20200218-ktpeijxjmjavzldz43k4pbnp4q-story.html

And all because he was on The Celebrity Apprentice....

when you crime in the name of the lord our trump, you do not crime, you praise his name

all hail crime
all hail corruption
all hail indecency
all hail authoritarianism
hail satan
hail satan
hail satan

And so it shall be.

The GOP going to be morally bankrupt.

Them to become a corrupt caricature of christian and conservative ideals.

The ultimative inversion of all their values into a twisted, perverted, grotesque version beyond hope or redemption.