The hand-wringing indignation. The standard social media outrage. Nothing more than PR and marketing from those who crave all the attention they can gather.
The accusations and spit aimed at President Joe Biden over his decision to grant a complete pardon to his son, Hunter, should barely raise an eyebrow in light of how we got here.
First, let’s deal with that donkey in the room. In the case of the ones doing the most screaming about it, that would be an elephant in the room.
Mighty crowded in here.
When Joe Biden was still in the mix for another term as POTUS, he promised, without equivocation, there was no possibility he would give his only son a pass for the younger Biden’s legal foibles. In seeking to remain leader of the free world, there was no choice. He had to abstain, as any other course of action would reveal him to be no better or no worse than a plethora of politicians who would stoop to any low in order to pay off favors and give real crooks a pass.
We’ll get to Donald Trump in short order.
Hunter Biden has been the true black sheep of the Biden family. Better stated, he’s the family screw up. No need to dive again into the innumerable idiocies Hunter has inflicted upon his family. The man has done more to shame the Biden name than any other sons have done to bring disrepute and peals of derisive laughter to a family crest.
Sorry, no time to include Don Jr. and Eric in this commentary. We’ll drop those dimes at another date.
The 54 year old Hunter pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges dating back to a time the he was hooked on alcohol, crack cocaine and anything else he could do to find an easy buck and then shovel it into an open orifice. For those charges he faced 17 years in a Federal concrete block, though he likely would have been given something a bit less Draconian as the son of a President. He was also facing a max of 25 years behind bars, though likely no more than 16 months or so, for lying on a federal firearms application. Both of those trials exposed the shocking seamy side of Hunter’s life.
POTUS Biden wrestled with this, and in the end, decided family was more important than what was really nothing more than a campaign promise. Yet, he has every right granted to him to make that decision. The man would prefer to have his only son by his side in those waning years and have his family together.
Did POTUS Biden lie? No. At the time he made his initial statements about Hunter, I believe he meant to stand by it. That was, of course, before he was blindsided and betrayed by those he once called colleagues. Let us not discount that as a mitigating factor in what has now transpired.
Biden made his call, and within the blink of a greedy little eye, out came the barbs and hatchets from all sides to assail him. Joe’s been around, and he knew this would happen. He knows the landscape when it comes to political screeches and screams, and also knows that despite any good he’s done while in any office, there are those who will use this last stroke against him, destroying any legacy for their own political gain.
I’ll wager that in a quiet moment, if one were to ask POTUS Biden how he feels about the slings and arrow being shot his way, his answer might be simple.
“F*** ‘em”.
He has every right to answer in that manner, especially to any member of the Democratic Party now using their righteous spew to hammer someone they helped to basically orchestra a palace coup against in order to make up for all their own shortcomings and mistakes.
Joe Biden owes the Democratic Party absolutely nothing, certainly in light of how he was tossed aside as little more than rubbish in the Democratic panic to defeat Donald Trump.
How’d that work out?
Biden’s forced departure from the 2024 presidential race marked a despicable betrayal by his own party—a disgraceful abandonment of a president who delivered substantive progress during a tumultuous time. Biden kept the Democratic Party from imploding in on itself in 2020, and for that, he was spit out.
Biden may not have gotten everything perfectly correct, but he restored stability and enacted critical legislation after inheriting the mess of the Trump years. For all he did, he was cast aside following one subpar debate. The rush to replace him with Kamala Harris, who was completely untested at the presidential level and was only there by convenience, marks a disturbing lack of loyalty and foresight within Democratic leadership.
The decision to replace Biden with Harris, while historic, was the worst kind of gamble, set into motion by nothing more than sheer panic and grasping at political straws. Harris, though a capable leader in many respects, had not once demonstrated the gravitas required to lead a nation as president. By pushing her to the forefront prematurely, the Democrats weakened their electoral chances and fractured their delicate coalition.
A better gamble would have been to push all the chips in and ask for a hit on 19.
Let’s not forget what Biden accomplished during his tenure, or rather, let's not allow the dronesticks at places such as FOX to sully what was a fairly impressive record.
He managed an unprecedented pandemic recovery, passed transformative infrastructure legislation, addressed climate change through key investments, and rebuilt America’s standing on the global stage. His policies significantly reduced unemployment and bolstered the economy, all while navigating relentless partisan obstruction. Yet, these achievements were brushed aside in favor of political expediency.
For a party that frequently touts its dedication to justice and fairness, this maneuver reeked of hypocrisy.
The way Democratic leaders orchestrated Biden’s exit was chaotic, ruthless and undignified. Rather than rallying behind a proven leader, they undermined him at a critical moment. One lackluster debate performance—an entirely human moment—should never have overshadowed years of hard work and service to the country. Biden deserved a chance at his second term, or at the very least, the dignity of deciding his own political future.
What he got instead was public humiliation from a group of people who couldn’t wait to show their lack of loyalty. Trump’s Republicans may do it all for the wrong and insidiously greedy payoffs, but at least they know when to step in line and put up a united front, albeit for all the wrong reasons.
This decision already has far-reaching consequences, not just for Biden’s legacy but for the Democratic Party itself. By sidelining a sitting president, the party has projected an image of disarray and disloyalty. This move alienated moderate voters who value stability and leadership over hasty political calculations. It also set a dangerous precedent: if the party is willing to discard its own leader so easily, how can it expect voters to place their trust in it?
What’s to stop them from doing it again?
Nothing, save their own shame, for which they have little.
Biden has shown remarkable composure and grace, refraining from public bitterness even as his colleagues undermine his achievements. This restraint is a testament to his character and class—qualities that stand in stark contrast to the party’s handling of his exit.
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of this debacle is what it reveals about the Democratic Party’s priorities. Rather than supporting a leader who delivered tangible progress, they chose to focus on optics and political gamesmanship. This betrayal sends a message to voters: loyalty and accomplishments mean little in the face of political expediency.
If the Democrats hope to salvage their reputation, they must reckon with the fallout of their decision. They owe Biden—and the American people—an explanation for their actions. Moreover, they must work tirelessly to rebuild trust and unity within their ranks, lest they squander the progress made during Biden’s presidency.
Don’t hold your breath for any apology or explanation, and as I write this little or nothing has been done publicly to re-instill any level of confidence.
The decision by Biden to backtrack on a promise and pardon his son is the legacy Joe has decided upon in his own terms. He still has time to go, and I, for one, have no issue with his going out all guns blazing and even scorching a little Earth on his way out the door. The Democratic Party has earned it.
As for Donald Trump calling the pardon a “miscarriage of justice”, let’s see if we can address this succinctly without suffering explosive fits of dark laughter.
Trump issued executive clemency for 237 people in his first term. Among them were a number of convicted murderers, including disgraced members of the American military who killed unarmed civilians; convicted American traitors; individuals convicted of interstate arms snuggling and racketeering; and crooks who made a mockery of the American system of justice while doing Trump’s bidding aimed at propaganda and lies during the first administration.
Biden pardoned an only son for damaging no one but himself and his family.
Joe gets a pass. The Democratic Party? Never.
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