Donald Trump

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

He didn't because......
It was protected under (an amendment) to the Constitution.
A small child knows challenging that that isn't going to pass. Ever.
Obama would have to try to amend the amendment to the constitution.
He didn't.

Presidential Pardons - that's Para 2 of the Constitution. The original wording is "reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States" So Obama is relying on Supreme Court interpretations & extensions to pardon drug dealers whereas Trump is using it for what it was for assuming you think his mates did something against the US. If not, why are they in prison.
Presidents under the US system are allowed to pardon their mates. Like US Citizens can carry guns.

I bow down to your greater knowledge based on the fact that you lived there.














I dont really. Youre talking shit.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

I think it was mainly drug dealers. But I could look it up for you if you haven't got t'internet.
He was lovely though so I don't think he had a lot of opportunities.

If you are American (I lived there, loved the place but some of the constitutional / federal / state stuff is a bit strange for us),
1) is what Trump is doing OK in accordance with your laws (I made no comment that it was right, just that it was his right), and if not
2) why did Obama + govt not ban assault rifles?????

So the answer to my question was . . . no.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

The pardon system is an absolute disgrace and an affront to the rule of law.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Did Obama pardon anyone convicted in a case that directly involved him or his administration?

Did Richard Nixon?

It’s still an absolute joke, though.

 

[SWP's back]

 

[I'm With Stupid]

Not if your system has a modicum of checks and balances against such behaviour. If there's one good thing Trump has done, it's demonstrate how blatantly broken their system is. From when he declared a state of emergency to fund his border wall (yep, turns out he can do that for any reason, and it just relies on the good judgement of the president to decide what counts) onwards, he's shown that tradition and convention are worth fuck all if they're not backed up with laws.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Did Obama pardon anyone convicted in a case that directly involved him or his administration?

Did Richard Nixon?

Not being American I'm very surprised at the Obama figures, the bottom line though is pardons certainly for fraud shouldn't exist.

I'm guessing these people who Trump is pardoning aren't in jail or even suffering hardship anyway.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Not being American I'm very surprised at the Obama figures, the bottom line though is pardons certainly for fraud shouldn't exist.

I'm guessing these people who Trump is pardoning aren't in jail or even suffering hardship anyway.

My understanding is that Obama was making a point about drug offence laws/policies or how they were enacted, and that most were pretty low threat offences.

 

[Vic]

But he is not a bitter racist of course

Blames Congress for delay, adds a third onto a $900 billion package, and seems ok if that delays the relief a month until the next administration ("which may be me").

I can see that our UK use of "off his chump" is going to be misheard as "off his trump".

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

My understanding is that Obama was making a point about drug offence laws/policies or how they were enacted, and that most were pretty low threat offences.

I don’t doubt Obama’s were handed out in a more benign fashion, but even so, it’s an absurd system. Originally provided for (somewhat ironically) to give the President the power of Kings - and I guess, tbf, that power needs to be exercisable somewhere; but look at the U.K. (whose constitution is a long way from being perfect, or even exemplary) where that power is excercised extremely rarely and following an extensive process, rather than via a politically motivated stroke of a pen. It’s genuine tinpot State stuff.