“It’s a clemency process for the well-connected, and that’s it. Trump is wielding the power the way you would expect the leader of a banana republic who wants to reward his friends and cronies.”
—Rachel Barkow, professor and clemency expert at New York University School of Law, following Trump’s issuing pardons to 11 people, including former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who had attempted to sell Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat after he was elected president.
“Extortion by a public official is a very serious crime, routinely prosecuted throughout the United States whenever, as here, it can be detected and proven. That has to be the case in America: a justice system must hold public officials accountable for corruption. It would be unfair to their victims and the public to do otherwise. While the president has the power to reduce Mr. Blagojevich’s sentence, the fact remains that the former governor was convicted of very serious crimes.”
—Chicago attorneys Reid J. Schar, Chris Niewoehner and Patrick J. Fitzgerald and Cook County Judge Carrie E. Hamilton, in a statement in response to Trump’s pardon of Blagojevich.
“There are plenty of issues that we are concerned about.”
—U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe of Philadelphia, on the emergency meeting called by the Federal Judges Association to address concerns over Trump’s and Justice Department officials’ intervention in politically sensitive court cases.
Louisiana Voice 
President Trump has now declared himself the chief law enforcement officer in the nation. Think about the implications.
It’s worse than frightening. If his 40% base embraces that concept, we will have that 40% wreaking havoc because they will think they’re following their Dear Leader’s will. Law & order will become a cruel joke, enforced upon a select few.
At least, Dear Leader has no authority over state courts—yet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_granted_executive_clemency_by_Barack_Obama
Well, Trump certainly has some catching up to do as he is lagging a bit behind Obama.
The reason for everything he says or does is very simple (harmful or detrimental to the country as it may be). Simple. It’s all about him. According to John M. Grohol, Psy. D., the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder are:
1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).
2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love..
3. Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
4. Requires excessive admiration.
5. Has a very strong sense of entitlement, e.g., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations.
6. Is exploitative of others, e.g., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends.
7. Lacks empathy, e.g., is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
Regularly shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
One interesting quote in today’s WAPO in a column by Jennifer Rubin regarding Trump’s pardon of 11 people yesterday, “The latest outrage should also serve as a wake-up call for Democrats: Choose the candidate who can deliver a victory, a commanding victory, over Trump and his ethically degenerate party. Do not get distracted by fundraising methods or ideological purity. Win. Just win. Our democracy (not to mention our collective sanity) depends on it.”
Zoe, there you go again with your obsession with Obama. But what you conveniently ignore is on that partial list of 55 cases contained in the link you provided, every single one of those pardoned or commuted by Obama were sentenced in 2002 or earlier to terms ranging from simple probation (33) to 1 year or less imprisonment (8), 1-3 years (4) Life (3). So, all but the life sentences had long been served and the offenders already released. Two of the lifers were already scheduled for release in 2014 and 2015. Oh, and all three of the lifers were in for non-violent drug offenses (not murder or rape).
But I’ll say it for you: Obama issued more commutations (1,715) than the previous 13 presidents combined. A commutation is not the same as a pardon: it’s the mitigation of a sentence without vacating the conviction itself.
Obama issued 212 pardons during his term (to Trump’s 30), but again, you have to look at the individual cases. Most of those pardoned by Obama had already completed their sentences and some were pardoned from the harsh mandatory sentences imposed during the failed war on drugs (instead of trying to help addicts, we chose to warehouse them—as if that was going to solve the problem).
Trump, on the other hand, pardoned murderers (you can look it up, as Casey Stengel would’ve said), crooked sheriffs and other politicians.
Now, Zoe, you are free to come back with Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama…and, oh, yes, Obama.
And don’t forget: Obama.
LOL Doremus. Zoe doesn’t have much, if anything good to say about the black president.
Blago and Trump…must be something about the hair, don’t you think? Stone’s pardon is coming (as is Flynn”s), just sayin’. Silence from Cassidy, Kennedy (self appointed, righteous guardian of our legal principles), and Scalise? Isn’t the Rep Party the party of “law and order”? Does the base care? Hold to your seats–this is only the beginning, a preamble to an unbridled
second term. CJG, don’t hold your breath..the Dems are slowly but surely working on handing Trump a second term.
Wow, heats up, love it! Do you believe in God??? You precious Christians better watch Putin! He’s Catholic….plus everyone knows that Kennedy went to Moscow to get to the bottom of the “russia’ investigation. He should tell us. My analysis, You know what happens when you stop learning??? You become a f*****king republican, they know everything and can’t even spell Narcissistic, (did I spell it right?/) ron thompson
🙂