If the $2000 goes through, that’s great. Trump will have helped people in spite of himself. (That’s a reason to pray for “bad” people).
However, I think it will be used by Republicans as a reason to undercut Biden’s efforts at a second relief/stimulus bill early next year. I do think that is a motivator for Trump in this.
I think you're right about the first part, but I don't think Trump thinks further ahead than the next 185 characters on Twitter.
Given my budget projections for the next few months which includes that dental procedure I hadn't counted on, our family really, really needs the $600 per person. $1200 per person would be fantastic. And $2000 per person would change our fortunes considerably. At this point I don't care which one passes - I just need one to pass! (okay, I do know which one I want to pass - go big or go home!) - And we're a middle class family who weathered all of this relatively unscathed thanks to our profession. I cannot imagine all the people who are not as lucky as we have been if politics screws over the entire country.
This season finale of 2020 is terrible. I give it 1 star, am boycotting all of the show's sponsors, and hoping the network cancels it for good and brings back something heartwarming like Extreme Makeover Home Edition for 2021.
Extreme Makeover United States of America Edition for 2021.
Just a thought... When we have had big dental bills we have used CareCredit so we don’t have to come up with the whole amount at the checkout desk. I hope this is helpful. In case the bottom falls out of the relief bill. ?
Trump is in trouble no matter what. Despite his ability to give these pardons to his friends, it will not benefit him. First of all, these pardons can't cover state charges or civil lawsuits. So even if Trump tries to pardon himself, it won't work. He can still be indicted and/or sued in New York, and there is nothing he can do about it.
Also, the pardons only protect for (1) past crimes and (2) current charges that the person isn't convicted of yet. So, if one of Trump's underlings is called before a grand jury, they must tell the trust about the crimes because, since they are pardoned, they lost all fifth amendment protections (they can't remain silent). So, if they refuse to answer or lie, then they can be charged with a new crime of either obstruction and/or perjury. A pardon will not protect them.
So, basically, Trump has just made the situation a lot worse for him. If, for instance, Roger Stone is dragged before a court and made to answer questions about his involvement with Trump and Russia, he can't argue he has the right to remain silent (because he was pardoned). But if he lies again, then he is charged again and there is nothing Trump-o can do about it. There is no such thing as a blanket pardon that protects against future crimes.
Personally, I hope he tries to pardon himself. It will go to the Supreme Court, who will throw it out (no man can act as judge over his own trial). Also, thanks to his insistence about voter fraud, he can no longer resign and allow Pence to pardon him (as Ford did for Nixon), else the Democrats will gleefully point it out and use it to say to Trump's base that he conceded the election (why would Trump resign unless he lost). And even if Trump tries to take a temporary leave (such as Reagan did when he was in surgery for being shot), he will be destroyed because Democrats will say that he isn't "healthy" enough to be president. So either way, he is screwed.
Trump's actions will have long lasting consequences. Democrats will gleefully work to take him down behind the scenes. Republicans will pretend to be outraged but secretly support it (remember, many of them want to be on the 2024 ticket, and they can't if he runs). And even his recent pardons may make him a target for assassination from Iraqi (for pardoning those killers) or Iran (for killing that general). And thanks to his actions, many of his followers are dying or facing financial ruin in deep red states. This will allow Democrats an edge in 2022 and in 2024, especially if Trump continues to make himself newsworthy (which he is guaranteed to do.)
So don't let these pardons upset you too much. Sometimes you have to let some of the smaller fish go before you get the big fish. And it is Trump who deserves to be prosecuted by the courts for the rest of his life. Even if he never sees the inside of a jail cell, the hope that the courts and the press will keep him from sleeping peacefully at night will be a small measure of justice.
@allyn The pardons don't upset me...well, okay, they do, but not because I think he's going to get away with anything. The only thing in your post I would take issue with is the following statement:
Also, the pardons only protect for (1) past crimes and (2) current charges that the person isn't convicted of yet.
Ford's pardon of Nixon included "all offenses...which he...has committed or may have committed or taken part in", thus including crimes that may not ever have been investigated or charged.