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Do you believe there should be limits on the President's power to issue pardons for federal crimes?

Do you believe there should be limits on the President's power to issue pardons for federal crimes?

  • The President should be able to issue pardons at any time.

    Votes: 10 15.4%

  • Pardons should only be issued at the end of a President's term.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • The President should not have the power to issue pardons.

    Votes: 18 27.7%

  • Only symbolic pardons (e.g., the Thanksgiving turkey) should be allowed.

    Votes: 5 7.7%

  • I’m not sure / No opinion.

    Votes: 3 4.6%

  • Other, please specify in comments

    Votes: 29 44.6%
  • Total voters
    65
lynnwinslow

lynnwinslow

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Under the U.S. Constitution, the President has the power to grant pardons for federal crimes. This poll asks your opinion on whether that power should be limited.
 
quip said:
Not sure.
Should we tie the hands of future presidents because Trump has poor judgement and lacks restraint?
Click to expand...
To be fair, Biden's last minute pardons were controversial as were many of Clinton's. Trump, as per usual, has thumbed his nose at norms. And a future President could do the same. Do you think it should be addressed?
 
lynnwinslow said:
Nobody forgot. That's the point. Do you have any opinion? Or do you not care as long as your side is in power?
Click to expand...
I do not support presidential pardons.

Where were you when Biden issued them to his own family members and in a blanket fashion?
 
quip said:
Not sure.
Should we tie the hands of future presidents because Trump has poor judgement and lacks restraint?
Click to expand...

In my lifetime, Clinton, Biden, and now Trump have abused this power in corrupt and damaging ways.

I'd say the issue is systemic, vice being limited to one man, and likely to get worse as each new abuse sets new norms.
 
lynnwinslow said:
Under the U.S. Constitution, the President has the power to grant pardons for federal crimes. This poll asks your opinion on whether that power should be limited.
Click to expand...

What's your opinion?
 
lynnwinslow said:
To be fair, Biden's last minute pardons were controversial as were many of Clinton's. Trump, as per usual, has thumbed his nose at norms. And a future President could do the same. Do you think it should be addressed?
Click to expand...
Should an ethics based conflict of interest, subject to congress approval, be enacted?

Or did Trump set such standards for future presidents?
 
quip said:
Should an ethics based conflict of interest, subject to congress approval, be enacted?

Or did Trump set such standards for future presidents?
Click to expand...
It theory, adding some parameters to the pardon power seems like a good idea but I have no idea how that would be accomplished in this political environment.
 
lynnwinslow said:
Based on current trends, I think it should be abolished, I just forgot to click the answer. What's your opinion?
Click to expand...

Glad I could job your memory! I think it definitely can and has been abused, but I wouldn't say that getting rid of that power altogether is the answer. I'd be for a limit to how many a president can issue.
 
I don't think they should but since they already have the power to do it, I don't find it realistic that we could set limits on pardons.
 
quip said:
Not sure.
Should we tie the hands of future presidents because Trump has poor judgement and lacks restraint?
Click to expand...
The American people chose Trump, they are capable of choosing more equally moronic and corrupt presidents in the future.
 
lynnwinslow said:
Under the U.S. Constitution, the President has the power to grant pardons for federal crimes. This poll asks your opinion on whether that power should be limited.
Click to expand...
Just a reminder: Dear Leader is deliberately blowing past every check, balance and guardrail that limits his power, and Congress is abetting him. Meaning whatever constitutional or statutory limits you imagine putting on this power, it's not going to stop a wanna-be dictator from giving out illegal pardons anyway.
 
lynnwinslow said:
Under the U.S. Constitution, the President has the power to grant pardons for federal crimes. This poll asks your opinion on whether that power should be limited.
Click to expand...
I don't have a problem with Presidents issuing pardons...as long as it is actually the President issuing them.
 
May I suggest that presidential pardons be similar to presidential vetoes?

A presidential veto is usually the end of a congressional bill, except in the event of a congressional veto override.

I think every presidential pardon (nomination) ought to get an up or down vote FROM BOTH HOUSES in a timely manner with a 2/3 majority in each house to quash the pardon.

This way, the president is not omnipotent, and congress critters have to go on the record, thereby being accountable to their constituents. Since a presidential pardon is in reality an act of mercy, every congressman and senator would have to decide if this is the hill they want to die on.

Of course, this would require a constitutional amendment, and I won't hold my breath.
 
Mycroft said:
I don't have a problem with Presidents issuing pardons...as long as it is actually the President issuing them.
Click to expand...
Do you think there have been some Presidential pardons that were made without the President's input? If so, which ones?
 
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