Discuss
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If it pays, it stays -
Because Obama was blasted for the reason and the way he negotiated the trade for Bergdahl, I think he will pardon him. That way he can say it's for Bergdahl's mental health, thinking it will justify why he gave up five high-level terrorists in the exchange. Prediction...it will again backfire on Obama again.
We need a sticky thread until 01/20/17 on who people believe Obama will pardon on his way out.May we raise children who love the unloved things - the dandelion, the worm, the spiderlings.
Children who sense the rose needs the thorn and run into rainswept days the same way they turn towards the sun...
And when they're grown and someone has to speak for those who have no voice,
may they draw upon that wilder bond, those days of tending tender things and be the one. -
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Not where I breathe, but where I love, I live...
Robert Southwell, S.J.
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Polite posters include a link with the OP THEY post. It is obvious you members in the Celeste Cult of Insult have excluded yourselves from the need for politeness.Originally posted by phillygirl View PostComment
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The "Fake News" content of the original bargain was extraordinary, what with the Rose Garden promo featuring Bergdahl père speaking Pashto since Bowe was "having trouble speaking English." The little bit of Arabic didn't make it into the official transcript, but it caused a bit of a dust-up at the time.Originally posted by Michele View Post
Most of the public didn't know at that moment that Bowed was a deserter, but the principals certainly did, including Obama at that little show and tell. It was not unlike the dissembling right after the Benghazi murders, also in a little Rose Garden show, immortalized by "Fake Journalist" Candy Crowley. The administration wanted no charges brought against Bergdalh, but the military went ahead anyway.
So does Obama want to dredge all this up again? Is it worth refreshing the public on this horrible example of Obama's hopelessly poor diplomacy, just to stick his thumb in the military's eye?
It's impossible to know. At this point in their term of office, presidents feel free to follow their impulses, whether it's to pardon Marc Rich or Bowe Bergdalh. I suspect the missing piece here is, What does Valerie Jarrett think?- "I'm a hell of a lot smarter than most of you guys." — Joe Biden, at Jesse Jackson's funeral, March 2026.
- "That's all I do in my life. I make deals. I'm really good at it." — President Donald Trump, Oct. 13, 2025.
- “Inside every progressive is a totalitarian screaming to get out,” — David Horowitz.
- "We [Democrats] are all willing to work with anyone who is serious about doing the work of censoring the American people, and advancing progress." — Ayanna Pressley, explaining progressives.
- "Florida is where Woke goes to die." — Ron DeSantis.
- "No one is above the law, and everyone has the right to a trial to prove innocence." — Nancy Pelosi, explaining Lawfare.
- “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”— Ben Franklin, who got it right.
- "The way I see it, there's always, c'mon, there's always money. It's there." — Elizabeth Warren, explaining socialism.
- "The interesting thing about the Green New Deal is it wasn't originally a climate thing at all.... We really think of it as a how-do-you-change-the-entire-economy thing." — Saikat Chakrabarti, then AOC's Chief of Staff.
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Link.President Gerald Ford, who assumed office on the heels of President Richard M. Nixon’s resignation, pardons his predecessor for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.
Congress had accused Nixon of obstruction of justice during the investigation of the Watergate scandal, which began in 1972. White House tape recordings revealed that Nixon knew about and possibly authorized the illegal break-in and wiretapping of the Democratic National Committee offices, located in the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. Rather than face impeachment and removal from office, Nixon chose to resign on August 8, 1974.
There were no historical or legal precedents to guide Ford in the matter of Nixon’s pending indictment. In the end, he decided to give Nixon a full pardon for all offenses against the United States in order to put the tragic and disruptive scandal behind all concerned. Ford justified this decision by claiming that a long, drawn-out trial would only have further polarized the public. Ford’s decision to pardon Nixon was condemned by many and is thought to have contributed to Ford’s failure to win the 1976 election.
Or Richard Nixon.At this point in their term of office, presidents feel free to follow their impulses, whether it's to pardon Marc Rich or Bowe Bergdalh."Since the historic ruling, the Lovings have become icons for equality. Mildred released a statement on the 40th anniversary of the ruling in 2007: 'I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, Black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about.'." - Mildred Loving (Loving v. Virginia)Comment
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I think the rationale for pardoning Nixon is far more significant than pardoning Bergdahl.Originally posted by Celeste Chalfonte View PostNot where I breathe, but where I love, I live...
Robert Southwell, S.J.
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Transcript says:Originally posted by Newman View Post
Worst cover-up ever.MR. BERGDAHL: I'd like to say to Bowe right now, who is having trouble speaking English -- (speaks in Pashto) -- I'm your father, Bowe.
To the people of Afghanistan, the same -- (speaks in Pashto) -- the complicated nature of this recovery was -- will never really be comprehended. To each and every single one who effected this, in this country, in the service branches, at the State Department, throughout the whole of American government, and around the world, international governments around the world, thank you so much. We just can't communicate the words this morning when we heard from the President.Comment
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Oh, I didn't know we were weighing excuses. It appeared the point was to trash Democratic Presidents for pardoning high-profile criminals. I just thought I'd even it out a bit. After all, it turned Tricky Dick loose to become a "statesman" and get us into the mess that China is now.Originally posted by phillygirl View Post"Since the historic ruling, the Lovings have become icons for equality. Mildred released a statement on the 40th anniversary of the ruling in 2007: 'I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, Black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about.'." - Mildred Loving (Loving v. Virginia)Comment
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Did I miss something? Was what Robert Bowe said in Pashto included somewhere?Originally posted by Norm dePlume View Post
I think what I wrote is correct: "The little bit of Arabic didn't make it into the official transcript...."
Perhaps it's your "cover up" straw man that is akilter.- "I'm a hell of a lot smarter than most of you guys." — Joe Biden, at Jesse Jackson's funeral, March 2026.
- "That's all I do in my life. I make deals. I'm really good at it." — President Donald Trump, Oct. 13, 2025.
- “Inside every progressive is a totalitarian screaming to get out,” — David Horowitz.
- "We [Democrats] are all willing to work with anyone who is serious about doing the work of censoring the American people, and advancing progress." — Ayanna Pressley, explaining progressives.
- "Florida is where Woke goes to die." — Ron DeSantis.
- "No one is above the law, and everyone has the right to a trial to prove innocence." — Nancy Pelosi, explaining Lawfare.
- “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”— Ben Franklin, who got it right.
- "The way I see it, there's always, c'mon, there's always money. It's there." — Elizabeth Warren, explaining socialism.
- "The interesting thing about the Green New Deal is it wasn't originally a climate thing at all.... We really think of it as a how-do-you-change-the-entire-economy thing." — Saikat Chakrabarti, then AOC's Chief of Staff.
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Not my intention. Ford's pardon certainly deserves mention.Originally posted by Celeste Chalfonte View Post- "I'm a hell of a lot smarter than most of you guys." — Joe Biden, at Jesse Jackson's funeral, March 2026.
- "That's all I do in my life. I make deals. I'm really good at it." — President Donald Trump, Oct. 13, 2025.
- “Inside every progressive is a totalitarian screaming to get out,” — David Horowitz.
- "We [Democrats] are all willing to work with anyone who is serious about doing the work of censoring the American people, and advancing progress." — Ayanna Pressley, explaining progressives.
- "Florida is where Woke goes to die." — Ron DeSantis.
- "No one is above the law, and everyone has the right to a trial to prove innocence." — Nancy Pelosi, explaining Lawfare.
- “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”— Ben Franklin, who got it right.
- "The way I see it, there's always, c'mon, there's always money. It's there." — Elizabeth Warren, explaining socialism.
- "The interesting thing about the Green New Deal is it wasn't originally a climate thing at all.... We really think of it as a how-do-you-change-the-entire-economy thing." — Saikat Chakrabarti, then AOC's Chief of Staff.
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But Celeste, Nixon's work with China didn't follow the Ford pardon. He broke "the Rice Curtain" while in office. For this he was praised long and loud by most people, and certainly by the mainstream media, now in such a state of disrepute.- "I'm a hell of a lot smarter than most of you guys." — Joe Biden, at Jesse Jackson's funeral, March 2026.
- "That's all I do in my life. I make deals. I'm really good at it." — President Donald Trump, Oct. 13, 2025.
- “Inside every progressive is a totalitarian screaming to get out,” — David Horowitz.
- "We [Democrats] are all willing to work with anyone who is serious about doing the work of censoring the American people, and advancing progress." — Ayanna Pressley, explaining progressives.
- "Florida is where Woke goes to die." — Ron DeSantis.
- "No one is above the law, and everyone has the right to a trial to prove innocence." — Nancy Pelosi, explaining Lawfare.
- “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”— Ben Franklin, who got it right.
- "The way I see it, there's always, c'mon, there's always money. It's there." — Elizabeth Warren, explaining socialism.
- "The interesting thing about the Green New Deal is it wasn't originally a climate thing at all.... We really think of it as a how-do-you-change-the-entire-economy thing." — Saikat Chakrabarti, then AOC's Chief of Staff.
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The actual words spoken and their translated meaning also didn't make it into your post, so whatever it is you're accusing the White House of, you're equally guilty. Well, actually way more guilty, since their transcript wasn't floating some nebulous accusation of "fake news" like you were.Originally posted by Newman View PostComment
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And after the pardon became some sort of born-again political hero who persuaded Carter to give it MFN status. I don't care what the media had to say at the time, or now. I was against it then and I was right, IMO. China is a major human rights violator and the fact that Clinton extended MFN status in spite of that miserable human rights record is a way bigger crime than anything he did with his dipstick.Originally posted by Newman View Post"Since the historic ruling, the Lovings have become icons for equality. Mildred released a statement on the 40th anniversary of the ruling in 2007: 'I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, Black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about.'." - Mildred Loving (Loving v. Virginia)Comment
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