Can the President pardon himself and his entire adminstration?

[cp#]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHQ7Prwh7Gc

Well it looks like he can and he will

[digitalErich]

Whether he can or can't is secondary. The fact that Bush and company think they might need provision is incredibly damning.

[IrishWhiskey]

Whether he can or can't is secondary. The fact that Bush and company think they might need provision is incredibly damning.This has happened a number of times, including in the incredibly retarded telecom immunity bill. In exchange for loosening certain restriction including those meant to prevent monopolies, the telecoms (except for Quest who should be praised for it) agreed to turn over all their customers private information to the government, including allowing the NSA to set up rooms in the AT&T offices in San Fransisco in which they funneled out huge amounts of telephone and internet data to the NSA for illegal surveillance and data-mining programs that were ordered to be shut down by Congress.

Democratic and Republican party leaders are trying to get a bill passed right now that would give the telecoms retroactive immunity for any crimes they committed (and because it wouldn't be illegal anymore, the politicians would be nicely shielded from prosecution).

Of course the telecoms and politicians swear blind that nothing illegal happened, and that this bill is necessary to protect them from the consequences of their illegal actions (which they didn't do remember). Given that the public generally doesn't give a shit and telecom lobbyists and their billions of dollars do give a shit, its likely to pass eventually, despite the best efforts of people like Chris Dodd to filibuster it.

[digitalErich]

The telecom thing pisses me off, too but like you said, most people don't care about telecoms and what they do. This is new retro-immunity clause touches on what was a widely reported on, hot button issue. I'm curious to see where it goes.

[Philonious]

Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Couldn't the next President come after him for it?

[digitalErich]

Couldn't the next President come after him for it?
Yes, but this rarely happens. I remember when Bush first took office a lot of right wingers were convinced the administration would go after Clinton on perjury charges.

I'm not why new Presidents are historically reluctant to do this, but I'm guessing it's a PR thing. They want to look like they are looking to future and not engaging in cross-party slapping matches. You also won't win over the other half Congress with stuff like that.

[Shadowstorm]

Do you guys realize if Hillary Clinton gets elected, it will be:

Bush Sr. - Bill Clinton - Bush Jr - Hillary Clinton?

I'm sure you do, but yeah ...

[digitalErich]

Yeah, I read somewhere that if Hillary gets elected to at least one term, something like over 25% of the US population will had only had a Bush or a Clinton as president for their entire lives. It might have even been without Hillary now that I think about it.

[Expugnare]

Yeah, I read somewhere that if Hillary gets elected to at least one term, something like over 25% of the US population will had only had a Bush or a Clinton as president for their entire lives. It might have even been without Hillary now that I think about it.

I know that I am included in that number.

[IrishWhiskey]

I'm not why new Presidents are historically reluctant to do this, but I'm guessing it's a PR thing. They want to look like they are looking to future and not engaging in cross-party slapping matches.Presidents generally care more about their agenda than trying to correct past injustices (what benefit is that to them?). Plus they don't want anyone pulling that on them when they leave office.

[Matthias]

Presidents generally care more about their agenda than trying to correct past injustices (what benefit is that to them?). Plus they don't want anyone pulling that on them when they leave office.

Yeah it's part occupational courtesy (same reason cops are reluctant to write other cops tickets), and part not wanting to set the precedent. What's worse is a number of procedures and laws that haven't been challenged as being unconstitutional, simply because both parties want the option of using them if they get a chance.

[cp#]

Do you guys realize if Hillary Clinton gets elected, it will be:

Bush Sr. - Bill Clinton - Bush Jr - Hillary Clinton?

I'm sure you do, but yeah ...

Then Jeb? Or the twins?