Why the President's Pardon of his Son Hunter Was the Right Thing to Do

Let's make this absolutely, pellucidly, crystal clear.  Under no circumstances is any argument from conservative Republicans regarding this pardon acceptable, or even tolerable.  They have forfeited any and all rights they may have thought they had to make a comment on this issue and the best thing they can do for themselves when it comes to this issue is to sit down and shut up.  This is only up for discussion among Democrats, and even then, only among those Democrats who are willing to stop playing by a set of political rules the Republican party abandoned decades ago.  

The thought that in America, no one is above the law is a laughable assertion.  Of course people are above the law.  There are individuals, usually those with a larger share of wealth than they earned or deserve, who use their influence, usually money, sometimes combined with political power from relatives and friends in the community with common interests, sometimes backed with threats of physical violence and death, who get away with everything because of who they are.  Because behind all of the lofty idealism and the idealistic language, corruption of the law is a common American trait, and there are those who can break it and get away with it.  They are prevalent in every community in this country.  

The legal system in this country is no longer capable of prosecuting genuine criminals.  Justice, which takes on a different form when it can be bought for a specific amount of money or influence, doesn't really exist in its intended form.  It has been corrupted by a legal system which has instituted all sorts of tactics, such as delays, changing venues, manipulating which judges hear which cases because of their known biases, and getting favorable rulings because enough money found its way under the table to make it happen.  

But I digress.  

Hunter Biden's Case Was Purely Political

I'll answer my own rhetorical question here.  Do I think Hunter Biden would have been charged and prosecuted if his father hadn't been President of the United States?  The answer to that question is, simply, "no."  

Let's be honest here.  Hunter Biden is privileged above those of us who are just ordinary, everyday Americans because of who his father was, and is.  Looking at all of the circumstances surrounding this case, would he have been in the position he was in if his father had not been an influential senator, former Vice-President and President of the United States?  No, he wouldn't have.  Nor would Jenna Bush ever have been a morning show host were it not for who her parents are.  Would George W. Bush ever have been President if his father hadn't been an influential Republican, and a former President, and then used his influence to cover up a lot of low life behavior his son engaged in while growing up with a famous politician parent?  

None of Trump's kids would have been where they are without the use of their father's name, influence and money.  Nor would they have the political advantages they now have if it wasn't for who their father was.  

That's what happens in America.  Wealth and power change the circumstances for the people who have them.  

Justice Does Not Get Served, and No One Gives a Damn

When President Biden first announced that he did not plan to pardon his son Hunter, after an amazingly quick special prosecutor investigation at a justice department that has seemed to be excruciatingly slow on just about everything else it has investigated, I thought that was a remarkable demonstration of respect for the law that put him on a level well above Trump's complete lack of integrity or morality.  Frankly, it would take a lot more than a pardon of his own son to bring Biden down to Trump's level, that's just not possible with the way we measure integrity, morals and ethics, at least how some of us do.  

But the Republicans who were going after Hunter Biden didn't do it because they had any kind of respect for the rule of law.  It was a way to attack a President they didn't like, and whom they resented because, well, because he got the better of them, and did it honestly.  Under normal circumstances, the plea bargain would have held and Hunter would have walked away with what happens to most accused criminals of crimes at that level, a fine and having it put on his record.  And legal experts tell us that would have been more than most people who commit the same crime would get for it.  

Well, I thought, O.K.  They want to get their pound of flesh, and the President is not going to make it a big deal, and he's going to keep his integrity.  

And then, the same justice department that got Hunter's case through and prosecuted in a matter of months could not get Trump's cases through and prosecuted at all, because the same attorney general dragged his feet and stonewalled and made it impossible.  I have no interest in listening to any more defenses and apologetics for Merrick Garland, he is the man to blame for Trump being eligible to be re-elected to the Presidency, and for getting off scot-free.  And it is because of Merrick Garland that I am glad the President had pardoned his son.  Now, he doesn't have a single accomplishment to point to as attorney general of the United States.  He leaves as an utter failure.  

The Pardon is an Expression of the Desires of the American Electorate

This is what the voters wanted.  Maybe they didn't specifically mean Hunter Biden should get off, but they did vote against the rule of law, at least half of them did, in affirming Trump for a second term.  So Hunter being pardoned by his father is exactly the same thing, it is right up that very same alley.  Important, prominent people should be immune to prosecution for their crimes, that's the message.  There is no respect for the rule of law, powerful, wealthy people should be able to do as they please without limits.  So no limits, here, the President pardoned his son and that is perfectly consistent with the voters wishes.  

It would have been patently unfair for Hunter Biden to spend any time at all in prison, while Trump spends no time in prison for committing crimes much worse in their offense to the American people, considering that so many voters don't give a damn about it.  So if they don't care, why should anyone else?  I sure don't.  

So President Biden presented those voters who supported Trump with an early Christmas present.  Someone getting away with a crime simply because of their money, power and influence.  Merry Christmas, MAGAts.