Posted on 11/16/2016 7:26:05 AM PST by dirtboy
Donald Trump's election has raised deep concerns, even among his supporters, that he may misuse the vast powers of the presidency. We believe that he can take early steps now, even before he takes office, to signal that he will use executive power to unify the country, despite a campaign that emphasized differences within the Republican Party and among American voters generally.
Trump should look for policy initiatives where he can appeal to both Republicans and Democrats. He will need Congress' support for tax cuts, regulatory reform, and a rejuvenated military. We believe he can make three commitments, well within the president's constitutional authorities, to show that he will use the office in the public interest and to respect democracy, rather than lean toward authoritarianism.
First: The president-elect should promise a pardon, on day one, for Hillary Clinton. Article II of the Constitution places no limit on the president's power to "grant reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States," except for impeachment. Many Americans believe Clinton was guilty of conduct that would trigger prosecution of a lesser figure. But an actual prosecution would create the terrible appearance of pursuing his political opponents with criminal law. A prosecution would divert attention from all other Trump initiatives and discourage any compromise and cooperation from Democrats.
Saving the country from bitter turmoil is one of the reasons why the president has a pardon power. [snip] It would signal that Clinton violated the law with her private email server and mishandling of classified information. Nor would a pardon bar the Justice Department from fully investigating any corruption involving the Clinton Foundation. A pardon would show that a President-elect Trump can win with grace, put the nastiness of the campaign behind us all, and focus our energies on the future.
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
I agree with this idea. If Trump is going to really drain the swamp, it must be clear to all citizens that the law applies equally to everyone. The privileged elite should not be seen as such in a court.
Trump should stay far away from any investigation of Hillary and leave strict orders with his DOJ to stay out of it too. If Hillary is indicted, convicted, and sentenced, Trump could consider commuting her sentence. While it would be enjoyable seeing the smug, corrupt Hillary in prison, commuting her sentence might be more advantageous. The convictions still stand and Hillary's reputation is shattered beyond repair, so the rule of law is maintained, but Trump comes across as being above the normal politics of vindictiveness. He would appear gracious which would shock his political opponents and create some political capital which can used elsewhere.
Lock her up.
Then throw a bone to the DNC, and all of her sycophants, and commute her sentence.
5.56mm
it’s like a spell was over the land and the clintons had people believing that this was only petty mischief at worst.
what does one do about a situation like this anyhow?
getting rid of the spell is the most paramount consideration. whatever action Trump takes needs to look like it is born of utter integrity, that it completely transcends a political rivalry. better minds than mine may be needed to determine how to do this, my sole suggestion being that the case be made perfectly public and then polls be taken, with an explanation made that Trump doesn’t want this to be personal, about him.
I know Yoo is supposed to be some sort of a conservative and he’s a law professor, but his positions to me often seem idiotic and completely warped for whatever result he feels he wants to see.
Yep...But I don’t think she deserves to be able to walk the streets, travel the world, spend all her swindled, stolen money...
With her ego, I don’t think she gives a sh*t what real, hardworking, everyday people think of her...
With a pardon, she’ll still attend elitist parties and laugh and joke with them.
Just my view...
Obama and Hillary pay these people to say such things, no one with a functioning brain would come with these things on their own!
If pardoning Hillary would reduce the tensions in the country, you can be certain Obama won’t do it.
Well, America once before appealed to a “Candid World” (in the Declaration of Independence).
Hang this would-be Queen’s dirty laundry out for all to see and ask the “Candid World” what ought to happen.
She might die of frustration before she even goes to a trial.
“As much as I would enjoy the spectacle of a prosecution, I would accept a plea deal where she cops to a long list of charges and spends 30 days in the clink. The deal would have to require full cooperation with prosecutors and 30 days behind bars. Same deal for Bill.”
Heck, I’d even be willing to dispense with the jail time as long as we can get a picture of her and Bubba in orange jumpsuits and a full set of bracelets in front of a judge at the sentencing hearing.
Which one?
That also works for me....
No; let President Obama pardon her for any crimes against the United States, but no pardons for her aides. The American people deserve the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. After that. redemption and leniency are possible to the repentant.
This is obviously not appropriate for all cases, but for something uber-notorious like this maybe it’s the most satisfying moral outcome. It can’t be slander or libel because these would be real charges under consideration.
There is a point to not setting a precedent for prosecuting one’s political opponents. Pardon her for her email crimes AND the crimes of the Clinton Foundation. Issue the pardon and make her acknowledge her guilt AND freeze and confiscate the assets of the Clinton Foundation.
She won’t have to go to jail but she won’t have much money either. Let her live out her days in shame and poverty.
Trump comes out as compassionate while still levying a powerful punishment...
” But an actual prosecution would create the terrible appearance of pursuing his political opponents with criminal law. A prosecution would divert attention from all other Trump initiatives and discourage any compromise and cooperation from Democrats.”
Bullshit. An actual prosecution would affirm the sanctity of the justice system and the validity of our entire system of government which she defecated on not hundreds, but thousands of times. It may divert attention from Trumps’ initiatives but the good that would come from showing how horrifically HRC violated the law with apparent impunity would go a long way towards restoring faith in the nation and the integrity of its institutions. And that would far outweigh the idea that a whole country is brought to its moral knees and dragged through the dirt for the sake of a lying criminal skank traitor.
The left sure is bossy when its no longer in power.
One of the great supposed principles of a land like the USA is that it doesn’t privilege the great or penalize the small on the basis of said status.
Of course leftism would like to penalize the great and privilege the small, something that makes no more sense.
She had a responsibility to the people, however, with the post she held. Maybe asking the people what ought to be done with her situation would be fairest of all. She was denied the presidency. Should she be offered the chance to do a mea maxima culpa and a promise to spend the rest of her life in restitution (through attitude when not possible through money), then get a slap on the wrist? This feels to me like the Christian thing to do.
Why does she need a pardon? They keep telling us she’s innocent, pure and did nothing wrong.
Shut the foundation down and distribute all the ill be gotten money to a legitimate charity. Seize the Clinton assets in return for no jail time.
The final act of quid pro quo.
The left begging for her pardon puts them in the picture too.
I pray a supernatural, Solomonic wisdom to Donald Trump and his advisors here.
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