Some Democrats are frustrated over Joe Biden reversing course and pardoning his son Hunter

[Polybius]

Source: Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — Already reeling from their November defeats, Democrats now are grappling with President Joe Biden’s pardoning of his son for federal crimes after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who disregarded the law.

“He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who along with Biden and other White House officials insisted for months that Hunter Biden would not get a pardon.

That explanation did not satisfy some Democrats, angry that Biden’s reversal could make it harder to take on Trump, who has argued that multiple indictments and one conviction against him were a matter of Biden and Democrats turning the justice system against him.

“This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis wrote of Biden on the social media platform X.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-pardons-his-son-hunter-biden-267044df999f1944c05e0ed6c95957cd

[Ray Bruns]

1. I think Joe Biden has no fucks left to give.

[Think. Again.]

29. and neither should we.

[SWBTATTReg]

60. Absolutely. There are tons more important issues than Biden Jr. Let them go in peace.

[kacekwl]

51. And nor should he.

Suddenly we're concerned about lying.

[Roy Rolling]

106. Right

Ring me up when those with a case of the vapors reach 30,000 President Biden reversals lies like Oranganus.

Like the Casper Milquetoast Senator from Maine, when the total reaches 30,000 I’ll be concerned.

[City Lights]

2. This Democrat is frustrated with the Democrats who are frustrated over that pardon.

They can pound sand.

[yardwork]

13. Well said!

[pspro]

73. exactly

This is another mistake from those who are Dems who are afraid of their own shadows. No one who's a regular person, non-DC insider, cares about PJB pardoning his son.

It's like when Al Gore was all worried about B. Clinton's impeachment and went with Joe Lieberman as his VP candidate. Literally *no one* who wasn't an insider cared! Certainly not any serious Dems. And Gore had to deal with that JL albatross who ended up being no friend to Democrats. The election was stolen from Gore but my point stands.

These concern troll Democrats can pound sand (as City Lights said). HB was railroaded and no one cares if he is forgiven for his 'crimes.' Meanwhile in the cabinet nominee group we can call Felon's Row...

Let's get on with important matters rather than feeding the beltway drama queens and "DC mean girls/boys." F--k *all* of those douches. They're the problem.

[MadameButterfly]

109. It's another case of both siderism

Trying to claim there is any comparison between what was done to Hunter and what was done to Trump.

If we can't claim there's a difference between prosecuting someone more harshly because of politics (HB) and prosecuting someone who actually committed dangerous crimes then there will be more innocent Democrats going to jail witih felonious Republicans being set free.

I'm not saying we can stop this from happeneing, but speaking out against it is a start.

[LymphocyteLover]

3. Too bad. We have bigger fish to fry. There are no "norms" anymore

[Klarkashton]

4. They would Simon Pure us right into the gas chamber.

Enough of this hand wringing bullshit.

[Magoo48]

67. "Some Democrats" can wax profound, it's easy when one has no flesh and blood in the game.

[durablend]

5. Polis not done fellating TFG I see

[ificandream]

6. Given who Trump pardoned in 2020, I don't see how anyone is complaining.

Presidential pardons always raise eyebrows. But the nature of how Republicans went after Hunter to get to Joe made this necessary.

[union rep]

7. Are you kidding

Precedent really that ships all ready left the port. Get over it, Biden finally showed some real balls, I was thinking he would wait till Jan 5th you know what Im saying. This could be a good sign of things to come, just kidding. What about the rest of us? You know Trump Shits his pants is going to do a blast of adderol and pardon the fascists. Jared Polis is still using X that speaks for its self

[marshall]

47. He ought to issue an addendum pardon on January 5

Covering anything from December 2 to January 5--cut them off at the pass.

[niyad]

92. Sighhhhh. Could we PLEASE stop using slang for male genitalia as a

synonym for courage?

[Cha]

8. Ohh I'm Sooo Sorrrrry!

GO Joe! & Hunter! Glad you're Not listening to "some dems" and let Hunter get Rolled by TSF.

[BlueKota]

9. The "justice system," under tsar tsf

in my opinion couldn't be trusted to keep Hunter Biden safe, if he had went to prison. President Biden has every right to protect him.

[Think. Again.]

30. the "justice" dept. can't be trusted to keep ANY of us safe.

In fact they will probably be trump's hitmen against us, just like they were to Hunter.

[Fullduplexxx]

10. Anonymous accusations

[Polybius]

14. Not really

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis wrote of Biden on the social media platform X.

[Cha]

26. And this one... Bet There Ae More than Khana

Link to tweet

[in2herbs]

36. How are/were Democrats expected to reform or curtail a President's pardoning power when

the USSC just expanded it!!!

[LudwigPastorius]

94. There is not going to be a whole lot of "reforming" the president's pardon power without a...

constitutional convention.

I suppose Congress could write a law forbidding a president from pardoning himself, but all that would do is make the Supreme Court decide the issue before Trump brings it up.

[Montauk6]

66. I know Colorado is a state noted for its high elevation...

But can this man's head be THIS far in the clouds???

[Cha]

97. IKR.. Yeah, I was born and raised in the Mile High City

And really interest in all things Colorado... but this is a Real Disappointment!

Here's a small sample of Rsponses to Gov Polis' statement on Pres Biden Pardoing his son..

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=19782734

[Cha]

25. NO Not "anonymous".

Link to tweet

[Think. Again.]

31. These people keep pretending everything is going to be fine.

[Montauk6]

65. Thank you, Just-Us Democrats... smh

Maybe Biden's Day-1 should have been ending pardons for those damn turkeys everything November as well.

[Cha]

72. Right.... agenda. Not working .

GO JOe

[iemanja]

11. Meh

In ordinary times it might be seen as out of line, but compared to Trump, it's nothing.

[Clouds Passing]

12. Shame to those Ds. All of them would pardon their children if given the opportunity.

[Dulcinea]

62. President Biden has lost 2 of his kids.

Maybe he was worried about losing a third. Just sayin'.

The loss of a child is something I wouldn't wish on anyone.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

15. Giving pardons is part of being President.

Outgoing presidents have done this for several years now. While I can't understand why Joe even brought up not pardoning his son in the first place, it's ok to change his mind. This is not foreign policy or some administrative decision.

[JohnSJ]

16. Because he didn't think the sociopath would win.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

68. Then all the more reason to pardon him.

The Orange One would have pushed for jail for Hunter...........

[JohnSJ]

69. I agree.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

78. My thought EXACTLY!!

[Stargazer99]

89. If I was president Biden I would worry his son might not make it alive out of jail

[ShazzieB]

111. Absolutely.

I shudder to think what would have become of Hunter if Joe didn't pardon him.

My chief emotion hearing the news of the pardon was RELIEF.

[ramedy]

17. Oh, FFS.

It is no wonder that Democrats got their asses handed to them.

[claudette]

34. Exactly

At least Biden showed he has bells!😉

[yankee87]

18. Use a firehose

Democrats should follow the MAGA lead and just do ten outrageous things per day. Who cares what anyone thinks, just do what's best for the party and your family. We will never get a fair deal.

[Think. Again.]

33. I agree, now is the time to use ANY power we have...

...to try to protect Americans and our constitution.

[truthisfreedom]

19. Biden should declare war on maga

This should be his final 40 days of terror.

[Joinfortmill]

20. The goal was to torture Joe thru his son. He did what he had to do. I'd like to think most parents would.

Also, a little bit less self-righteousness on the left would be good. Let's keep it real, people.

[TBF]

21. That Gov. Jared Polis is still on X says a lot about him. nt

[ramedy]

24. DINO

n/t

[TBF]

50. yup, agree. nt

[we can do it]

22. Who cares

[CousinIT]

23. "bad precedent...abused by future presidents".... SERIOUSLY?

Goddamned SHitler set all the bad precedents that could be set, and the FACT IS that he is going to abuse his power regardless of what Biden does or does not do. EITHER WAY, SHitler would have used it against the Bidens.

That whining is so freaking out of touch, it's SHOCKING.

Jesus Christmas.

[Prairie Gates]

39. Trump pardoned his daughters father-in-law for no reason, and Steve Bannon

All of Steve Bannon's co-conspirators were convicted and sent to prison, by the way. Timothy Shea is still in prison.

[kacekwl]

54. I agree. Also

Kudos on the Jesus Christmas I have used it forever but include the middle initial. Jesus H. Christmas.

[Think. Again.]

27. Disarray! it's Disarray I tells ya!

Polis has quite a libertarian lean, doesn't he?

[intheflow]

44. He didn't used to.

Or maybe he just hid it well behind his being gay and out. He's certainly seems to be getting more conservative as he ages and it's not a good look.

[andym]

28. Trump will use his powers in a partisan way no matter what, BUT he will use Hunter Biden's pardon as a justification

and there will be a lot of virtual ink on this in the coming weeks and months. You can bet that the GOP will use this to influence the American public. Just the way American politics now are conducted.

[Think. Again.]

35. Protecting ANY citizen from further persecution by the right...

supercedes trying to stop any nazi P.R. B.S.

[Justice matters.]

77. The convicted new king will go after both Bidens no matter what.

I would recommend someone close to the first family convince them to leave the country before they're both kanguRoo-courted with made-up fake evidence.

[claudette]

32. Too bad

President Biden did the right thing. Maybe he could have been silent or coy when asked if he would instead of saying he wouldn't pardon him. Doesn't matter. It's done and I'm glad it is. He loves his son more than any Dem or magat that attacks him for it.

[Raven123]

37. You can disagree with a decision and stay quiet

And that’s what should have happened here. Nothing gained by voicing their displeasure.

[OldBaldy1701E]

115. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. And, the attention.

S.O.P. in this country.

[Prairie Gates]

38. LOL...probably would have 90+% approval among rank and file Democrats

if they did a poll.

[Blue_Tires]

40. Fuck 'em....

[Ocelot II]

41. With Democratic friends like that, who needs Republican enemies?

[maddogesq]

42. Dear Wimpocrats,

In an age where half the adults can’t read above the 6th grade level, where 40 percent worship the Orange Sociopath, the days of holier than thou as a political strategy just ain’t gonna fly.

That double standard that has existed since Reagan exists because we “fair minded Democrats” keep buying into it.

I’m not suggested criminal behavior is good: no, I am suggesting we call the double standard for what it is, and point out targeting the minute it happens.

It doesn’t pay to be nice anymore.

And maybe, just maybe, this case will point out the need for more resources to help those with addiction issues.


.

[intheflow]

43. Holy fuck, what is going on with Jared Polis?

First he supports RFK, Jr., and now he's bitching about Hunter Biden's pardon? I thought he was a solid human, but but this is some bullshit.

[spudspud]

49. Probably auditioning for his grand party switch. He seems like a pure political animal. /nt

[Blue Dotty]

45. That ship has sailed

There were so many precedents set in his first term, so many things that the DOJ let slide, he should be known this time as Precedent trump.

[muriel_volestrangler]

46. it'd be lovely to think that an unbending decision to hold the moral high ground, however painful

and damaging it would be to an individual, would somehow get the Democrats more respected. But the reality of 2016 and 2024 (and some midterms too) shows that's a pipedream. So why sacrifice Hunter for no reason?

Polis, of course, doesn't hold the moral high ground; he's already tarnished his reputation by being too admiring of some Trump appointments, and should never try to pontificate to another Democrat again. This does not set a "bad precedent"; it was preceded by Trump pardoning Bannon for a far more definite crime. Fuck, it was preceded by a pardon for Kushner, which Trump has no turned into farce by proposing him as an ambassador.

[spudspud]

48. Still too many Dem leaders with their heads up their ass...

pretending we still live in a pre-Trump world.

[gay texan]

52. Two words

Fuck em

[Paladin]

55. My sentiments exactly: Fuck em. (nt)

[Yavin4]

53. Such Democrats need to be primaried

They fundamentally do not understand the times that we are in.

[Scrivener7]

56. Really, AP? Four Democrats. Quelle horreur.

[VegasVet]

57. This is the kind of stupidity that allows the GOP to divide and conquer.

Democrats have this odd need to wring their hands and cry and whine. The majority of the GOP would either not say anything or strongly support Trump. There's something to be learned from that. Most normal people will either not know or care about this. "This is a bad precedent that could be..." Just STFU. It's already been done to a far greater degree by Trump and other past presidents -- Democrats and Republicans. And I have never cared when the pearl clutching eggheads have emerged. I don't care now either. Most Americans won't. We've got far bigger fish to fry like how we will resist and fight the insanity of a second Trump term.

[Basso8vb]

58. Those will make excellent candidates to be primaried.

[MichMan]

59. What will the reaction be when he pardons his brother ?

[RandiFan1290]

110. I hope it bothers you even more

than the Hunter pardon

[PSPS]

61. LOL. "Some democrats." LOL. Biden was forced to do this.

The media is all over this, of course, because they still want to tarnish Biden. His promise not to pardon was made when he was still going to run for re-election. When that changed and trump won, he knew that trump would use his freshly-corrupted justice department to keep the pressure on indefinitely, jeopardizing lives. The post-inauguration landscape in the US will be something nobody has seen or can imagine. I would have questioned Biden's sanity if he had NOT issued the pardon.

[The Unmitigated Gall]

63. Joe Biden, I have no doubt at all...

Saved his son's life.
There WAS a process to be respected, which has been infected.
Disgusted BEYOND ALL LIMITS, by weak-kneed Vichy democrats who EVEN now can't find the strength to stand up.

[GiqueCee]

64. Malicious bullshit...

... is expected from Republicans; lying is all they know how to do. But when the call comes from inside the house, I get very, very pissed off.

The harassment of Hunter Biden after he had agreed to a deal with prosecutors, who subsequently welshed on it, was a political hatchet job of the lowest sort. But that Republicans all over.

For some of our own to take their side is... well, I don't want to get spanked, so just dredge the darkest corner of your imagination, then double it.

[GP6971]

71. Welcome back!!! Bye again!!

[Prairie Gates]

75. The fact that we're being inundated by trolls over this guarantees that it was the right move

[GP6971]

91. Yep...and I wasn't surprised by the reaction.

[mzmolly]

74. Are these Democrats also 'frustrated' by tRump pardoning

Kushner and giving him a six figure job in government?

[MacKasey]

76. President Biden saw the people 45 is putting in his cabinet

Hunter Biden would be prosecuted to no end.

This was the only solution.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

80. 100%

[BunkieBandit]

79. What father would not pardon

his son or daughter? What have we become? Irregardless of political side, a President when faced with his own flesh blood being in prison should not have to answer to his decision. Shame on Democrats, republics and Independents who think otherwise. What father would not pardon his son? Dammit it's insanity!!

[bamagal62]

81. Fuck them.

I’m glad he pardoned him.
Donnie dumbass pardoned Kushner’s Dad and now he’s making him ambassador to France. So, fuck all of them.

[Oopsie Daisy]

82. Boo hoo hoo!

[ZZenith]

83. Who can possibly read that first sentence and not realize that the Associated Press

has been thoroughly corrupted as a news organization?

JOE BIDEN WAS NOT DISREGARDING THE LAW. He used it as it was meant to be used - to correct the mistakes made by our justice system.

Do they mention anywhere in that screed that Donald Trump was selling pardons FOR TWO FUCKING MILLION DOLLARS A POP?!

[Hope22]

84. Once again you can't reason or rationalize anything regarding TSF!

He spends his days lying and stealing while pointing fingers at everyone else. It’s like me telling my favorite joke…..but that’s for another day!🤣😁

[Botany]

85. He did the right thing

Hunter Biden would never have been charged with anything if his Dad
wasn’t President.

[BigDemVoter]

86. They can get the fuck over it. . . .

[cstanleytech]

87. Biden said that when he believed his son would be treated fairly though.

Instead the Republicans stepped in and interfered because they saw an opportunity to hurt Biden.

[Quanta]

88. Well then, they are stupid

As long as we keep allowing the repigs to run all over us while we try to "be better than them," they will continue to stomp us into the dirt. He needs to not only stand by his pardon of his son, but pardon anybody else this evil MF will try to torment, torture, or harass, in my humble opinion. Finally, our boy hits back, and all he gets is flack? Fuck that noise.

[azureblue]

90. it was a farce from the beginning

Entirely made up from nothing, based upon someone hacking Hunter's iCloud, then dumping the data to a hard drive and calling it "Hunter's laptop". There is no repair receipt, their is nothing with his signature on it, that proves he left it (an Apple computer) at an unauthorized by Apple shop.

The Repubs had to show HB's dick pics on the floor, to try to keep their charade going..

There was nothing to pardon HB from, but a Republican circus.
Remember, he pleaded guilty, got a fine but the Repubs ignored it and tried to blow it up into something they could harm JB with.
Screw the GOP

[lees1975]

93. Oh you are? Gee I'm sorry.

Now get over yourself and move on.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

95. I agree with President Biden's decision because.....

when I consider all the horrible lies Republicans and right-wing media told about the President and his family members before and throughout his Presidency for which they have not been called to account and for which they've provided no apology or remorse, I think Hunter's pardon is quite fair and equitable.

KY.....

[MistakenLamb]

96. That's fine I won't vote for any of them

[33taw]

98. Gee, attack Trump with pardoning Jared's Dad, Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Mike Flynn, the list goes on.

[NotHardly]

99. Them and their felling can F 'off

[Karasu]

100. "Some Democrats." The way the media covers this shit pisses me off and I've been seeing through it for a long time now.

"Some Democrats are saying"

They use this language no matter how small the number in an attempt to stir up or amplify inner-party controversy where little to none actually exists.

Whereas whenever they use the phrase "Some Republicans think/believe...", it's practically always a deliberate attempt to avoid using the word "most", which is almost always the correct word...since they insist on continuing to treat the GOP like a legitimate political party and not the anti-democratic cesspool of fascist filth that it's been for the last 8 years and counting.

The overwhelming majority of Republicans didn't believe (and still don't believe) Trump lost in 2020, and the media still reported it as "Some Republicans," making it sound like they're a minority when the extreme has been running that party for a decade now. The differentiation between "right" and "far-right" also lost all fucking meaning back in 2016. There is NO need to differentiate anymore, but still they insist on pretending. Our media is a goddamn joke.

[Hassler]

101. Other than raising billions and losing elections, not sure what the party stands for.

[LoisB]

102. It won't tarnish his reputation with me. To hell with all of them, President Biden did the right thing.

[diane in sf]

103. Not me.

[BlueMTexpat]

104. No f*cks to give

about any of them!

Hunter Biden should never have gone to trial for what he did! The plea agreement should have sufficed.

[Keepthesoulalive]

105. Oh dear

Now we know who will replace Manchin as our latest turncoat.

[Afrocat]

107. Sanity has long left the building

This bothers me but it doesn't matter anymore. The Republicans and their voters have long pulled us across the Rubicon. They have, and will, pardon people who have, and will, do worse. Those they choose to give pardons to will be at their discretion and entirely unfettered by weather they should or shouldn't. No decision they make is ever constrained by the guardrails of morality.No decision we make will provide a teachable example to these people that will make them revisit the unjustness of their positions and the things they choose to do.

Does this mean that we just give up being upright in our choices, no. Which is why this particular act bothers me. However, in light of the fact of what the Supreme court and conservative judges have done to to bend the system in Trumps favor already. In light of the fact that "conservative" voters have given this an enthusiastic green light. I'm absolutely willing to give Biden a mulligan and continue on with the fight. The coming years are going to be packed full of nonsense that this one bad decision will pale in comparison to and will happen weather Joe had pardoned Hunter or not.

[Hope22]

108. This is the right CONTROLLING THE MESSAGE........AGAIN!

Let’s stand strong on that! Turn it around and focus on the pardons Trump sold on the way out of office. The targeting of Hunter Biden on day one and the fact that none of that is normal. Stop normalizing T and his out in far right field appointees!

[Hotler]

112. It's time to use the term Fascist sympathizer. nt

[LymphocyteLover]

113. Polis has been a real disappointment lately. This is all BS. Media loves Dems in disarray stories

[DownriverDem]

114. Let's See

Hunter is on trump's enemy list. trump has said they will go after him again. trump pardoned over 200 folks. trump will do what he wants no matter what. I'm glad Biden did it.

[ejbr]

116. Have they not read the room?

I would sacrifice my reputation from having my son's junk splashed in the halls of Congress again because of some bitter clowns. Full stop.

[OhioTim]

117. Screw Them...

These people along with those who supported Muslims voting third party should be shunned by Democrats in Congress.

[travelingthrulife]

118. Polis seems like a first class idiot.

Biden is a private citizen who was persecuted by the GOP.

[republianmushroom]

119. Some Democrats are frustrated over Joe Biden reversing course, damn that's to bad.

To relieve those frustrations take a double dose of caster oil, you will feel better in the morning. Jeez