• themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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    24 days ago

    Depends on the critique. “Joe is a hypocrite for pardoning his son” is reasonable. “Joe proves that it’s normal for politicians to act unethically, therefore criticisms of all unethical behavior are invalidated by the rule of whataboutism” is a transparent defense of Republican corruption.

    • AnneVolin@lemmy.ml
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      24 days ago

      The pretense that the Hunter pardon is the first time that Joe Biden has acted unethically is rich given he’s instrumental in a current genocide that he’s lied repeatedly about.

      Also you know his entire history from being anti-bussing and eulogizing Strom Thurmond then turning around an telling people they aren’t black if they don’t vote for him.

      He’s the best at being part of a big mess, saying that everyone was doing it, then pretending to be the solution, wiping his hands clean and not even rectifying half the damage he’s personally caused.

      Just look at his involvement with finance, war on drugs, Iraq, etc.

      He’s a good retail politician which is why he’s a classic beneficiary of “we didn’t know any better when we were doing this horrible thing but we were the good guys” type shit that Americans love to do.

      • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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        24 days ago

        I assumed that this meme was just a reference to his latest bullshit. I’m well aware of Biden’s record, and have been a consistent critic of his for my entire adult life. The earliest memory I have becoming aware of him was when he presided over the Anita Hill testimony.

    • smackjack@lemmy.world
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      24 days ago

      I hate this discourse that what Joe did is okay because Trump did something similar. Trump did a lot of horrible things. That doesn’t make it okay for the next schmuck to come along and do the same thing. Two wrongs don’t make a right. I shouldn’t have to explain this to people.

      • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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        23 days ago

        I don’t think it’s OK, but I think it was entirely expected. I agree that his prosecution was political, and that most other defendants would have gotten much less focus. I also agree that he broke the law and should serve his time.

        Ultimately, our entire system is corrupt and we should do something to fix it. Sadly, we’ll have to wait at least two years for the next election to hopefully at least take back the House and/or Senate. But even if Dems take both, nobody seems to be interested in actually addressing the injustice baked into our government.

        • smackjack@lemmy.world
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          23 days ago

          There needs to be a constitutional amendment that says that presidents can’t pardon themselves, family members, or anyone that worked for them.

          • Eiri@lemmy.ca
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            22 days ago

            The supreme court, after such an amendment miraculously passes:

            “Well actually, this sentence doesn’t mention the president of the United States in particular, so it means every president of every company ever. But a company president doesn’t have pardoning powers, so this makes no sense. So this amendment is invalid!”

      • Serinus@lemmy.world
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        24 days ago

        Yeah, there’s a reason for that. One has motives outside of the current situation.