Michael Conway Why Biden should pardon Trump -- and we Democrats should want him to

[Algernon Moncrieff]

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/why-biden-should-pardon-trump-we-democrats-should-want-him-ncna1247986

Democrats already know what the mirror image of that looks like. When Trump called for the jailing of his political opponents, he was justly condemned as promoting a vendetta characteristic of a banana republic. Despite the efforts of Trump’s Justice Department, no basis was found to prosecute his political rivals. Trump tried anyway; Biden can, and perhaps should, be better than that.

American democracy cannot tolerate the prosecution of political opponents.

But the justification for a pardon can also be grounded in a higher purpose. The 73 million Americans who voted to re-elect Trump two weeks ago will be just as angry about a good faith federal investigation of Trump after he has left office as Democrats were angry about Trump’s baseless chant to lock up his former political opponents.

Right now, even after the Trump presidency that Americans believe was divisive, polls suggest that enormous numbers of Americans still believe that we have more in common with one another than what separates us. There is an opportunity to rediscover our common ground with one another — and the way forward does not involve relitigating the last four years in federal criminal court.

54 votes, 1 pass | Time left: Time expired
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	0 (0%)
	The author is a moron
	54 (100%)
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[bdtrppr6]

1. f*ck that n/t

[TheBlackAdder]

3. x2

[Bucky]

2. First "moron" vote. I'm assuming the headline isn't disingenuous.

I'll go ahead and read the article now. But the headline alone seems like it's either trollery or tomfoolery.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

5. It is a legit MSNBC article

I can only speculate as to whether the writer started the holiday drinking early.

[Bucky]

23. Haha!

I did a little research on who Michael Conway is. I posted it down below. (#22)

He's not a Quisling. But he's definitely a Chamberlain.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

32. I'm struck by that reference

Well played!

[dweller]

4. fun poll

✌🏻

[Algernon Moncrieff]

6. I try!

[BainsBane]

8. What I don't understand

is why there are two options. One is sufficient.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

10. My better half echoed that sentiment

She then shouted "No Pardon! No Mercy!"

I'm guessing MSNBC is getting interesting responses.

[Bucky]

24. Because we're not a banana republic

I think DU needs to be a safe space for unpopular opinions, even if that means allowing room for dumb ones.

[dweller]

9. I rec'd it

✌🏻

[htuttle]

7. Biden is going to do the appropriate thing and not get involved

Whether Trump is charged is up to the Attorneys General and the DOJ.

[spooky3]

11. Check out his photo and bio:

https://www.foley.com/en/people/c/conway-michael-m

He’s a retired lawyer representing corporations against consumers and the IRS.

Quelle surprise, n’est-ce pas?

[Algernon Moncrieff]

14. Yet he was a DNC delegate

Go figure?

[LeftInTX]

25. More than a delegate, he was on the Rules Committee

[Bucky]

26. See my post #22 below

He's a Democrat. He helped prosecute the Watergate conspirators. And ever since then he's been raking in the bucks as an insider Washington lawyer.

People who grew up under Ike tend to think the modern Republican Party is more loyal to the country than to their partisan success. It's a charming anachronism.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

31. Giving the Devil his due....

The NY charges are probably a clear path.

Trump has a dilemma though with Stone, Flynn, and Manafort. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it they are pardoned, they (by definition) can't incriminate themselves. So they can be compelled to testify and don't enjoy 5th amendment protection. But if they get caught lying under oath, perjury is on the table.

[Bucky]

34. Hmmm, that may be the reason why he hasn't pardoned them yet

Considering what Deutsche Bank probably intends to do to get their loaned money back from Trump, he might be better off going into the hoosgow

[spooky3]

38. Yes, Neal Katyal was just in MSNBC saying the same thing. Nt

[Proud Liberal Dem]

12. FFS

Biden may not actively pursue him but he sure doesn’t have to give him a hand.

[mr_lebowski]

15. Exactly ... put someone trustworthy at USAG and as FBI Director and leave them to do their jobs ...

I suspect people in government are going to come out of the f***ing WOODWORK with accounts of Mango Mussolini's illegal and immoral deeds, and Justice is going to have little choice but to act.

You know how much the NSA has probably been sitting on all this time? You think they don't have EVERY conversation he ever had on a secure server somewhere?

[PJMcK]

13. Can I vote twice? (n/t)

[Algernon Moncrieff]

16. Then Trump might sue

Earl G would potentially have to delay certification. We would have to see if Hugo Chavez voted. Then we'd have to book Four Seasons Landscaping for the presser. It'd be a mess.

[PJMcK]

21. So, the answer would be...

Yes?



Just kidding.

[Bucky]

28. ...

[OneBro]

17. Reaching out to that 73 million is wasted energy better spent getting Democrats to vote.

After the last 4 years, they either know what we know about Trump and his enablers and don't care, or they are so deep in the Right-Wing media's cosmic rabbit hole that they are unreachable without a 50/50 deprograming mix of LSD and electro-shock therapy.

[fearnobush]

18. Sure let's all pardon every mass murderer from here on out.

Gotta be the stupidest article I’ve ever read. And enough of these 73 million losers. Fuck them fuck you you fucking lost get the fuck over it.

[meadowlander]

19. What a difference an independant DoJ makes!

[AleksS]

20. So...because we were pissed about a fake and bullshit investigation....

We shouldn't pursue real investigations for real crimes because it might hurt the feelings of the people who ACTUALLY DID THE FAKE INVESTGATIONS?

AM I IN CRAZYLAND??

They DID the bullshit investigations. They DID THEM! Why is THAT a reason for us NOT to do them? That article makes me feel like I'm taking crazy pills!!!!

The author should be explaining to them why they should NOT do bullshit investigations...because they are bullshit, not explaining to us why we shouldn't pursue real investigations because we might hurt their feelings!

The author misses the fundamental difference here:

Trump, et. al. DID the crimes, therefore they have no moral standing to be offended by investigation.
Joe Biden did NOT do the crimes, and therefore DOES have moral standing to be offended by bullshit investigations.

Investigating those who did the crimes should not be dissuaded by thoughts of whose feelings will be hurt.

[Bucky]

22. Here's a little background on Michael Conway

https://www.foley.com/en/people/c/conway-michael-m

Michael has been Peer Review Rated as AV® Preeminent™, the highest performance rating in Martindale-Hubbell's peer review rating system. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is listed in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2008-2014). From 1991 to 2014, he has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in the field of first amendment law* and has been selected for inclusion in the Illinois Super Lawyers® lists (2005, 2007-2014). Only five percent of the lawyers in the state are named by Super Lawyers.*

For 38 years, he has focused his practice on media, commercial arbitrations, business disputes, corporate and federal tax litigation with a particular emphasis on emergency injunctive cases. More than 200 reported decisions in the federal and state court systems have involved civil cases in which he had primary litigation responsibility at the trial court or on appeal, including First Amendment, commercial, business tort, ERISA, RICO, airport environmental, and federal tax disputes

Tldr: big-business-friendly fatcat, specializes in making corporate malfeasance seem like exercising first amendment rights by Corporate-American-Citizens. Doesn't want to see Trump truly punished after all the favors he's done for corporate America


See this video of Conway being interviewed about his role in investigating Watergate. At 12:50 he describes himself as a mostly a political "moderate to conservative Democrat". Which is, of course, code for establishment big business from a very early age.


To be fair, he's arguing that prosecution Trump should be limited to state-level actions. As Mediaite summarizes:

https://www.mediaite.com/news/nbc-news-hot-take-watergate-lawyer-says-biden-should-pardon-trump-and-democrats-should-like-it/

The argument is, essentially, that a. Trump accepting a pardon would be an admission of guilt; b. Trump could still be prosecuted for state and local crimes; c. such a pardon would insulate Biden from the ugly whiff of political vendetta; and d. It would be a healing gesture that would mollify the 72 million or so people who voted for Trump “despite his misconduct (or the election results).”

The suggestion hasn’t gone over well with blue-check Twitter.

Avoiding political vendettas is good advice, actually. But excusing an alleged criminal from all federal prosecution prior to any evidence in a trial of fact is an offense to law and order.

I would not want Biden to nominate any special prosecutor tainted by a desire to "get even with" Trump. But you have to punish criminals for their crimes, and do so in the appropriate jurisdictions. Duh.

[LeftInTX]

27. This guy rests his laurels on Watergate, but what has he done for Democracy since?

As a corporate attorney, he's done alot for big business..

He did serve on the Rules Committee at the DNC in 2016.... Does that count???

[lastlib]

29. Fuck the author, and the horse he rode in on.

And tRump.

Maybe pardon him after he dies in prison. MAYBE.

[IsItJustMe]

30. The author of this article assumes that 73 million people have strong attachments to dump.

I don't believe that at all. Firstly, with a two party system, it's one or the other. Secondly, we end up voting for people we don't even like (I know I have). Thirdly, lots of people vote and takes who wins or looses with a grain of salt (because they don't believe that politics is going to truly change their lives or believe there is not a whole lot of difference in any of them). And lastly, my best guess is that about 20 to 30 percent of that 73 million are truly attached to dump and it will not make a bit of difference what Biden does or doesn't do because they are extremists. They live and breath Newsmax and pox news and have already boarded the crazy train.

Just my thoughts.

[Vivienne235729]

33. Let me guess. He got paid $150,000 by Trump to suggest this?

[yonder]

35. nope, Nope and NOPE!

[RainCaster]

36. We needed an option for "Fucking Moron"

Really, words are not strong enough.

[William769]

37. We are a nation of laws where no one is above the law.

Nuff said.

[budkin]

39. FUCK NO

He belongs in prison.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

40. Not Just No, But HELL No!

[myohmy2]

41. "American democracy cannot tolerate the prosecution of political opponents."

...not 'political opponents', criminals...there's a huge difference between imaginary crime and real crime...if we keep looking the other way, turning the other cheek, keep tolerating fascism, we will wake one morning to find our democracy and freedom gone...

...flirting with fascism is not the way to go...

...

[Takket]

42. pardoning drumpf makes Democrats enablers to treason. HELL NO