Biden should commute all federal death sentences. He claims to oppose the death penalty now, the risk of a political backlash is now moot, and it would be a historic, legacy-making move.
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im not knowledgeable about this stuff but i dont think they can blanket pardon future hypothetical crimes trump might try to attach to them, only previous ones
and pardon or commute many sentences, starting with Leonard Peltier
I don't know that he has it in him, though. I think he may end his term as a centrist believer in norms and institutions, even as they fall to pieces around him.
Too late for my friend Troy Davis. Troy missed our wedding, so I'm pretty confident he'd be good with it.
I don't know what to do with myself, despite all my privilege, so any recommendations are welcome. Currently I think it's going to be being drunk on work calls.
Mandate all weapons sold and held by civilians to be dyed bright pink with glitters, no exceptions. It'll probably lower gun deaths by 10% and does not infringe any constitutional rights. Fight the patriarchy using its own stupidity.
Seriously. The "their eating your cats, their eating your dogs" crowd won't change their minds because of extensive action, even -now legal- overreach by the chief executive. Let 'er rip feckless Democrats already. It's your last chance for a long time per the dictator on day one claimant.
He should also arrest convicted-felon Trump, and deport Musk—who committed immigration fraud.
But he’s too fucking pathetic to do anything significant.
I dunno, man. One thing the Roberts court makes clear is the political and policy preferences advantageous to or desired by conservatives/fascists (same thing at this point, imo) will prevail. I’d like to see Biden test the presidential immunity ruling, tho.
That wouldn’t stop him, but I suppose if nothing else it’d tie up resources that could otherwise be used for different shitty things.
So yeah, Biden should do this. He won’t, but he should.
Everything he’s talked about doing is a massive, resource draining bureaucratic project, and yet not a single reporter has stopped him to ask how he’s going to pay for any of it while cutting taxes for the rich.
he should be pardoning and commuting a LOT of sentences right now, transferring arms and aid to Ukraine, sending a maximum amount of aid into Gaza, but he won't do any of that shit, we just have to suffer because not enough of us pulled the biden lever again
He should just declare civil war honestly. If democracy is truly on the line, the his course of action may be necessary right now. Declare martial law or something. These animals can't be allowed to take control!
the review process is entirely optional and Trump cares nothing about norms. Not to mention commutations bc you sre anti-death penalty is fundamently different than pardons bc you don't want an ally punished.
I'd prefer Biden stick with the existing process instead of flexing at this point.
Either way. It's only a couple dozen inmates, so it feels to me like a pretty low priority.
Here’s the process: the death penalty is a barbaric system that has no place in civilized society therefore all federal prisoners on death row have their sentences commuted to life in prison without parole.
he could commute their sentence on a cocktail napkin with crayon. you can say its a low priority, but equqlly it's an extremely low effort thing to do.
There are about 1000 things “Biden” should do if he meant anything he has ever said, but instead he will do the bare minimum. His legacy is losing our country to a second Trump term, and Palestinian genocide. That was his choice. That is Joe Biden.
1 and half months to do as much as possible that Trump can't undo.
Give Ukraine everything.
Taiwan too.
Amnesty, Pardons, and commutations for as many as possible.
Release any classified information about Trump his family and business associates or other Republicans.
The fact that people’s lives could be tools of politicians like this is a major reason why I am against the death penalty. He totally should commute the capital death sentences, but the “tough on crime” conditioning is very strong.
Biden made all legacy making moves. disastrous moves. Garland and foreign policies. Ukraine will suffer even more, Europe will definitely soon be at war and Palestine state will never happen. in the end, Biden was a semi-food President.
There’s a lot of things he should do, but won’t for the sake of comity or some shit. Either way, what will stop the federal judiciary from reinstating the death sentences next year? They’ll probably expedite the executions and stream them on twitter now. Rogan will host.
sadly, my understanding is that he opposes making categorical grants but will consider people who have applied for commutation....hope that was bad information
I don’t think this would impact his legacy much but if legacy is important to him he has a lot of work to do in a short time. Right now it’s looking like a long, colorful career with many achievements, a fair amount of blunders, ending in tragedy.
My wife @lilianasegura.bsky.social
reported extensively on Trump’s execution spree with her typical depth and empathy. It’s one of the most barbaric, backward, and cynical things he did.
Biden can stop it from happening again, on a much larger scale.
But Mitch will complain that it's completely unprecedented to force through judicial appointments as a lame duck and the Senate Dems will be like "ok that's a good point."
And totally help us win the next election cycle. Because none of the electorate was motivated by the perception of crime. Jesus Christ no wonder we lost by 5M votes
I Biden should do a LOT of stuff right now. SCOTUS gave him near absolute authority to do whatever he wants and a fascist is about to take control of the country.
They also probably should be some broad, preemptive pardoning of people (and categories of people) on Trump’s “enemies list.” Not that the people actually committed crimes, but it limits the ability of a Trump DOJ to invent crimes for any action taken before 1/20/25.
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Courts are gonna do what they're gonna do, of course.
I don't know that he has it in him, though. I think he may end his term as a centrist believer in norms and institutions, even as they fall to pieces around him.
I don't know what to do with myself, despite all my privilege, so any recommendations are welcome. Currently I think it's going to be being drunk on work calls.
How many of you will take literally 3 or 4 minutes to write a polite email to the white house and your congressional delegation ?
right, this is why we loose: the GOP may be crazy but they work at it
Also, he should pardon Hunter. Because why the fuck not? We're moving to a world where the laws don't matter and justice is meaningless.
But he’s too fucking pathetic to do anything significant.
But, I shit you not, Trump would resentence them all
His vindictive nature means he will not let any Biden action stand without disproportionate retribution
IDTS.
"Arrest them all, put them in federal prison"
Who do you think is stopping that?
It's not the courts
And they will be very very far right
And someone as bad as Cannon will be the AG
So yeah, Biden should do this. He won’t, but he should.
All executive decisions are immune
Use of the military or FBI or CIA is a presidential power, so immune under SCOTUS ruling
It might well fail. But what if it doesn't.
But go down swinging, and force John to destroy the remaining legitimacy of his life's work.
I hardly think that's a consequence free idea.
So I don't think having Biden abuse it will help our cause too much.
Either way. It's only a couple dozen inmates, so it feels to me like a pretty low priority.
Give Ukraine everything.
Taiwan too.
Amnesty, Pardons, and commutations for as many as possible.
Release any classified information about Trump his family and business associates or other Republicans.
https://allmylinks.com/edgarbgarcia
reported extensively on Trump’s execution spree with her typical depth and empathy. It’s one of the most barbaric, backward, and cynical things he did.
Biden can stop it from happening again, on a much larger scale.
https://theintercept.com/2021/01/12/lisa-montgomery-federal-executions-death-penalty/
I really wish President Biden would grow a damn spine and stand up to the fascists..
He'd better spend the next 2 months doing more than issuing pardons to prominent Ds (which is probably all we'll see).
We didn't get where we are solely because of the Republicans...