“On the pardon decision, like his stubborn insistence on running for a second term he couldn’t win, Biden chose to prioritize his own feelings over the defense of his country,” writes Jonathan Chait: https://theatln.tc/uGy4XNW0
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If you need another reason, you oughta see how they sanewashed the leaders of the DC Jail J6 grifting “vigil”. I used to respect that rag, too. Disappointed.
Because it became a political hit job. Nobody gets tried on gun charges that hasn’t used the gun in a subsequent crime or tax evasion after it was paid back with interest. This was disproportionate. Do better Atlantic.
Throwing a name around, if that is true, is nothing.
Peope in Trump’s orbit are selling pardons and appointments and nobody is talking about that. At least be equally outraged.
Kinda like Jared Kushner getting $2 BILLION from Saudi Arabia -6mths after leaving White House- to invest in his new, private equity firm & a business completely new to Jared🤔
What a hack job Atlantic. “Stubborn insistence “. He got us through a fvcking pandemic. Kept the economy from going into a full blown depression. Ageism is alive and well at the Atlantic. Ugh sick of you whiners who got what you wanted (Forced Joe to quit) and now bitch about it.
We are so beyond taking the high road. I don't give a shit what happens to Hunter, but when the electorate said "Fuck it!" and elected the man who has repeatedly spat in the face of Democracy, why shouldn't the outgoing President do this? Have at it, Joe. This article is garbage.
WTF Talk about ignoring the history leading up to this point. Like Trump pardoning his father-in-law and a multitude of cronies. Like the agreement that DOJ reneged on, and then prosecuting Hunter on charges that are normally not pursued.
I used to enjoy your articles. Not so much anymore. 👎
Chait is blind to reality, Hunter committed no crime. Our nation is about to fall off a cliff and you are printing crap like this? I just turned off the auto renewal on my subscription to The Atlantic.
Counterpoint - pardoning his son doesn’t make America a worse place. What makes it a worse place is electing a person who promises to go after their enemies, journalists, media personalities and anyone else who has criticized them.
The pearl clutching is now just embarrassing
Allowing a well-documented pathological lying bank/insurance/tax fraud to lie for 4 years STRAIGHT about winning an election SIXTY-THREE JUDGES confirmed he lost then concocting a FAKE ELECTORS scheme in MULTIPLE STATES followed by an insurrection BACK into the PEOPLE'S HOUSE is the ONLY crime here.
Did y’all forget what Trump did to Cohen? Unjustly sent him back to prison & solitary confinement b/c Cohen wouldn’t promise not to write a book. Now Trump has declared himself retribution personified. Biden had to protect his son from an unhinged Trump & his henchmen.
Not only that, he sent him back at the height of Covid, when the disease was rampaging through prisons and Cohen had been been released because people were dying. Make of that what you will, but I know what it says to me.
Then have I got a deal for you. You go back over 2016-2020 with Trump & fix it. Then you go back over all Trump stooges decisions from 2020 to 2025 & fix it. And you BAN a Felon from running for President & redo election
We'll all be suitably horrified about Biden doing this for oh.. 10 seconds.
Yes, not pardoning Hunter would ensure that crimes are being punished (unless you buy judges to delay your criminal cases or invent criminal immunity for you). Not like Trump just APPOINTED HIS DAUGHTER'S FATHER IN LAW, WHOM HE HAS PARDONED, AS HIS SENIOR ADVISER ON ARAB AND MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS.
Oh, I wasn't talking about THIS father in law of one of his daughters whom he elevated into a leading position - I was talking about the father in law of his OTHER daughter, whom he put into a leading position.
Rarely has such hypocrisy and deceit reeked so foul. To see a journalist twist reality is a betrayal of their purpose. This isn’t reporting, it’s obscuring the truth, leaving the people blind in the face of what’s coming.
A dark omen indeed.
Ridiculous He’d have been a fool to allow his son to be selectively prosecuted by the the office is of an AG who ignored a huge amt of GOP criminality He was a father with he took office He will stil be a father after he leaves office
Excuse me, but there's this felon in Florida who just gave his two daughters' father-in-laws (one of whom was also a felon he pardoned) important govt positions.
That felon's son (the other's son in law) was a key aide who then got $2 billion from the Saudis.
Could you please look into all that?
Thx
Can no one at The Atlantic, read a fucking room? Jesus, how did pardoning Hunter ruin ll of Biden’s efforts to “defend this country”. We’ve got a felon, sexual predator headed to the WH—pay attention the real threats!
Actually- @theatlantic.com has been doing excellent reporting of late. It’s nearly the only pub I can still stomach reading post election. I’ve cancelled most everything else. And haven’t turned on TV news since election night.
I subscribe so I can read @radiofreetom.bsky.social pieces. I will give Mr Chait time to consider feedback he receives, then will think about my options.
Drug "offenses" are victimless crimes, first of all. Secondly, it was a political prosecution. Thirdly we need less self sacrifice on the part of non-Republicans, if we are ever going to grow the spines we need to end the authoritarians.
How naive to think he isn’t just protecting his son from a witch-hunt during a second Trump administration. Considering how the DOJ will be weaponized, it was the only common sense thing to do.
Biden shouldn’t have said he wouldn’t pardon Hunter but it’s completely understandable. And considering how Micheal Cohen was treated (solitary confinement) Hunter would have been the prey to Trump‘s and his criminal administration’s whims.
Absolutely, and he will certainly spring the jail doors and start letting (singing choir boy) "hostages" out.
I thought you were a better news entity than this. What a disgrace. 👎
Bad take from TA. We don't live in a normal time. Trump is installing a nepotist dictature and he is out for revenge & retaliation. In these particular circumstances, Biden did the correct thing. We know that the Republicans' relentless & absurd attack on Hunter Biden was an act of pure retribution.
Relax Jon, you now have Trump 4ever. You and the media normalizing Trump and dissing an historic president and presidency is a little too much to take.
This is why people are leaving legacy media in droves. It's absolute bullshit like this attempt at holding one group accountable for norms while completely ignoring anything the other group is doing. It's absurd, outrageous and blatantly obvious
Fuck that. They went after Hunter to hurt Joe. The whole case was political. Trump wouldn’t have thought twice and wouldn’t have even been because he loved his son.
I understand Joe's choice, and I'm left wondering what the fuck is up with our Justice System.
Folks, we are at war with the MAGA cult. Will you stand with us to end these bastards?
WHO CARES???? Trump is a pardon machine who is stuffing the incoming admin with liars, criminals, and grifters who will go after anyone he doesn’t like.
Horrible take. America just decided that norms and character don’t matter. This was a father protecting his son from a maniacal traitor and his band of criminals.
No, f_ this.
I fully believe if Trump had been sentenced he would have let his son face his consequences, which is why he even let this go this far; he didn't want to make it look bad while the other guy was on trial.
Now that it's out the window, Dems need to stop self-flagellating & play the game.
FFS, Atlantic, WTF is this?!? Is JChait a MAGAt in disguise? Joe Biden did the right thing. Hunter was unfairly target by the MAGAts and prosecuted for things that nobody is prosecuted for by themselves. Read Biden's statement. Read. FFS.
What a stupid and narrow minded view - if Biden had left his son in a position to be used as a weapon to damage the outgoing president, I'd see that as a failure on his part. He did the right thing.
Good grief. Joe Biden did the right thing. A minor crime the Republicans were hoping would land Hunter Biden in jail for several years. No other citizen would have gone to court. Maybe focus should be on Trump’s family members he is putting in positions.
Get over yourself, you give the American people way too much credit. The people chose Trumpism. The right wingers complaint is Biden didn’t let Trump pardon Hunter.
Yeah, yeah. Clutch those pearls harder, Jonny. Trump has never one time done anything but prioritize his feelings over the defense of his country. Biden gets a mulligan on this one.
Of course he does. I could have made a list of all the performative, self righteous, sanctimonious weasels who were going to jump on this. Where the hell is your humanity, folks? They came after Hunter only to hurt Joe and they weren’t going to stop. He had an obligation to protect him.
Chait soiled himself in public and The Atlantic is COMPLICIT. WHAT A CROCK OF SHIT! Of course Hunter should've been pardoned, he never should have been prosecuted.
Nearly 50% of the entire country voted to prioritize their feelings over defense of the country. Why, at that point, should Biden be any different? The American people spoke and self-interest (and preservation) is now the political norm. What's good for the goose…
You know what, if Trump had lost, I'd be pissed at this. Now, I truly and honestly couldn't care less. The American people chose a fucking rapist, criminal as their president...this means nothing to me. I say, perdon anyone you want. I dont trust anyone
Are you kidding me? Trump is a serial criminal as are most of his cabinet picks. Hunter was railroaded by the grossly ineffective GOP. our nation will soon be run by a slew of criminals, and you have the GALL to question Biden?
Pardoning Hunter Biden has nothing to do with the defense of the country. The pardon was designed for exactly this type of prosecution. Apparently, the Atlantic has no problem with the guilty by association slander the Right used to get at Biden.
Just goes to show that men have poor judgement. They always need a woman to help them through life.
Your pick for President will do all the awful things that he promised and it will come back to bite you in the back side.
Allowing Hunter to be tortured for the satisfaction of Republicans doesn't help the country, while pardoning doesn't hurt it. It's not about Biden's "feelings." It's about stopping the Republicans from yet another miscarriage of justice. When Trump pays for his crimes, you can revisit the issue.
Here you go… @theatlantic.com We knew MSM would be ready to attack this, while they have sane washed the incoming president for a long time, but this year especially. It’s all about numbers for all of you.
Can’t wait to see how you justify the pardoning of the insurrectionists and the self pardon for any past, present, or future crimes, with that part having the blessing of 6 justices on the Supreme Court.
So disappointing. Just stop it. I am so sick of the double standard. Trump would surely use Hunter to enact revenge on President Biden. He put a stop to it, and rightly so.
No, he protected his son from an administration that ran on promises of retribution. An administration that is full of convicts. An administration that is full of foreign agents and rapists. Joe Biden wasn't selfish, he was selfless. He knew he was going to get dragged but his son was more important
Tramp was indicted on 91 counts & convicted of 34 felonies so far. He didn't serve a fucking day in jail. He pardoned his co-consipirators in his former administration. Y'all didn't give a shit about that. The felon would execute Hunter because he hates Joe Biden.
Hypocrisy was investigating a civilian when the Speaker Mike Johnson said: "
...we are not in the business of investigating and publishing reports about people who are not part of this institutions.[Congress]"
Yet, the GOP investigated Hunter because his last name was Biden and his father was Joe.
Pls go Foqq off now into the dead journalism planet!! Hunter marked his gun purchase form w/something that 2 mill other people do every yr, no issue! He also paid all late fees and penalties for taxes! If you don’t understand, he got singled out you should not be in the journalism or democracy biz!
I would have been disappointed in Biden if he had not pardoned his son. I would argue Trump being able to run for President is a gross miscarriage of justice. I’m sure Biden could care less about what our opinion is. And he shouldn’t.
Oh, but tRump pardoning insurrectionists, Manfort, Bannon and countless other dirtbags is okay? Are you on your knees for him already? Hunter was all but ready to go home if not for Diaper Donny having a temper tantrum and throwing a monkey wrench in the entire process.
“Crimes by family members of powerful public officials are far more damaging to public confidence than similar crimes by anonymous people. Holding them to account through strict enforcement of the law is good and correct.”
Wrong wrong wrong. It was the only thing he could do to protect his son. Do you not understand what lies ahead?
One of the many reasons I no longer subscribe!
His son won't get a fair sentencing once Trump takes over. Hunter will be the target of more investigations under a Trump administration that will not be based on facts. Biden used his power in the same way presidents before him have. The media can chastise him, but Democrats stand with his choice
Chait has a visceral dislike of Biden that he's made little effort to hide. This article is at bottom petty. Considering questions about Chait's own publications during the campaign, it can be dismissed out of hand.
Disagree. Biden should not have intervened earlier. That definitely would have been wrong. A fair deal was made to settle the case and then nixed after republican pressure. This prosecution was politically motivated.
The Prez-in-waiting is the master of prioritizing his own feelings over the defense of his country, Biden was just trying to save his son from vindictive pricks.
To be fair. Who gives a flying f….k. This is the way the world turns now so go posture in a corner while DJT rips up the rules of decorum and integrity. Your high horse has bolted and is never coming back!
Go F yourself! What does Hunter Biden have to do with our country and Biden’s defense of it? Hunter Biden was hunted down by the Republicans and Merrick Garland fell for it. He should have been prosecuting the Coupt de Chief but he was too much of a coward do he went after low hanging fruit.
the hypocrisy in this article is mind numbing. Biden did the right thing. I hope he keeps doing these type of things before he leaves office. Autocracy is about to take over in 2025. Let Biden "swing away" now while he can.
Get fucked get fucked get fuckedGet fucked get fucked get fucked Get fucked get fucked get fuckedGet fucked get fucked get fuckedGet fucked get fucked get fucked
This is shameful bias. You should be embarrassed.
Unbelievable to allow this crap in print.
I will forever be grateful for Joe Biden and his enormous sacrifice to guide this country out of a pandemic.
Do better Chait.
You'd think someone who has been as wrong as Jonathan Chait has, as many times as he has, would eventually feel some modicum of shame and shut the fuck up.
This is a dickhead who worried endlessly about deplatforming the Proud Boys, who turned out to be the Nazis everyone said they were.
Comments
I can’t read it. But, just the same, your headline is a bad take.
Peope in Trump’s orbit are selling pardons and appointments and nobody is talking about that. At least be equally outraged.
I used to enjoy your articles. Not so much anymore. 👎
https://jonathanbchait.bsky.social
https://www.threads.net/@demsmight/post/DDD0309RUbb?xmt=AQGzzSxKZLYtnfKFjIf-wVCdmqs7wWgmLaJjNMrQWAnB_Q
The pearl clutching is now just embarrassing
We'll all be suitably horrified about Biden doing this for oh.. 10 seconds.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/11/30/why-charles-kushner-trumps-pick-for-ambassador-to-france-is-so-controversial/
Not easy to keep his nepotism positions straight.
https://bsky.app/profile/cnn.com/post/3lcbd24jssk2w
jfc
A dark omen indeed.
That felon's son (the other's son in law) was a key aide who then got $2 billion from the Saudis.
Could you please look into all that?
Thx
Go FYS
I’m not going to hold my breath, of course. I’ll believe that when I see it.
I might have to re-think if there is too much of this kind of nonsense.
The Atlantic and their ilk on survive through our type of demographic.
So let them feel the pain, cancel anything that has red wall behind its paywall.
And I’m sad yo do it.
Dropped NYT, WaPo last year.
Blocked CNN on cable.
I’m just shocked at how bad American media has become.
Hence, Trumpism.
Goddamn you to Hell.
I wish Hell existed for you.
Let's start naming and shaming these fucking creeps in the MSM who give fascists a pass while beating up on Democrats.
Fuck you.
Drug "offenses" are victimless crimes, first of all. Secondly, it was a political prosecution. Thirdly we need less self sacrifice on the part of non-Republicans, if we are ever going to grow the spines we need to end the authoritarians.
I thought you were a better news entity than this. What a disgrace. 👎
Then I may read your dreck on Hunter.
Folks, we are at war with the MAGA cult. Will you stand with us to end these bastards?
I fully believe if Trump had been sentenced he would have let his son face his consequences, which is why he even let this go this far; he didn't want to make it look bad while the other guy was on trial.
Now that it's out the window, Dems need to stop self-flagellating & play the game.
Trump pardoned Manafort who helped Russia elect Trump the first time around. Trump pardoned his daughter's husband's Dad. Go be enraged about that.
Wait till the orange lardass rapist pardons the j6 garbage. I guess you'll be ok with that. 🖕
So much broken in media.
Go wild. Just empty the prisons of all marijuana offenders. There's no point in holding back any more
Worthless trash!
Next?
Your pick for President will do all the awful things that he promised and it will come back to bite you in the back side.
Nobody cares
Your kind of crap belongs in the bad place.
Delete your account and your website. You're deliberately dishonest to the point of uselessness.
I wish Biden could pardon other targets in advance!
Tramp was indicted on 91 counts & convicted of 34 felonies so far. He didn't serve a fucking day in jail. He pardoned his co-consipirators in his former administration. Y'all didn't give a shit about that. The felon would execute Hunter because he hates Joe Biden.
...we are not in the business of investigating and publishing reports about people who are not part of this institutions.[Congress]"
Yet, the GOP investigated Hunter because his last name was Biden and his father was Joe.
no reason to read that shit
One of the many reasons I no longer subscribe!
Leaving him in the hands of Trump-elected clique is pointless.
Unbelievable to allow this crap in print.
I will forever be grateful for Joe Biden and his enormous sacrifice to guide this country out of a pandemic.
Do better Chait.
This is a dickhead who worried endlessly about deplatforming the Proud Boys, who turned out to be the Nazis everyone said they were.