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Can the President Pardon Himself?

Today the President Tweeted, "As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?  In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!"

Don't get me wrong, he Tweet Stormed many other Tweets over the weekend and today, but this is the one that stood out to me the most.  Why?  Because the President wants to make it clear to the world that he is above the law.  The President wants everyone to know that he feels he has absolute power in his position.  That is not OK.  The President is not Omnipotent or above the law.

With the Pardon talks lately it has seemed as though Trump has been sending a message to those who are under investigation to ride it out and he will pardon them.  That is a way of controlling the narrative and stopping those with dirt on you from sharing that dirt.  The Tweet above takes that even a step further. 

To add to the ridiculousness and spark a bit of concern were Rudy Giuliani's comments. 

Back before he was elected, Donald Trump bragged that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose any support.  Rudy Giuliani 'Trumped' even that statement when he said during an interview, "In no case can he be subpoenaed or indicted, I don't know how you can indict while he's in office.  No matter what it is."  Giuliani said, "If he shot James Comey, he'd be impeached the next day.  Impeach him then you can do whatever you want to do to him."

Aside of the unbelievably concerning picture that statement from Rudy painted, it is the big picture that truly concerns me as an American.  The President and his followers are attempting to take control of a narrative and spin the reality of facts into some alternate lie based world where everything they say and do is OK.  Trump and his followers continue on a daily basis to try to discredit the President's self-proclaimed 'Witch Hunt' of an investigation that has, to this point, led to indictments and guilty pleas.  Not only that, but connections to Russia are prevalent throughout the findings to this point. 

The very 20 Page letter that was released by Trump's lawyers touting all of the powers of Trump even admits that Trump himself dictated, yes I said DICTATED, one of the false responses to the Russia/Trump Tower meeting.  The White House and Trump's former lawyer said on numerous occasions that Trump had nothing to do with that response, and the White House eventually said that he did not dictate but did weigh in.  So now it comes out that he indeed dictated a response to something he was completely unaware even occurred because Jr. made it clear that he didn't talk to his father about the meeting at all.  It stinks, just like everything else this administration touches. 

I have never been sick to my stomach when following politics.  I am to the point with Trump that I cannot sit through one of his speeches any longer.  I cannot even stand to listen to the man speak.  I wait for the transcript, read it and listen to highlights, because physically sitting through a speech is too gut wrenching for me to endure.  I can't handle the lies, misdirection, disrespect toward others, and every other thing that comes out of Trump's mouth when he speaks. 

People complain that he has been negatively covered in the press.  That's correct.  That happens when everything you do and say is negative.  That happens when you lie, tell falsehoods, denigrate people on a daily basis, make bad policy decisions, appoint people to cabinet positions who have no business in those positions, etc.  Trump would receive good press from the media outlets that matter if he would simply do good things.  He isn't capable of that, so it will never happen, but at least he has FOX News and Hannity to suckle up to him and spread the joy of Trump.

I am sorry, but this is really getting to me. 

The sad thing is that even if things come to a head and Trump is Impeached, the nation isn't in any better hands with the individual who currently holds the second most powerful position in Washington.  Pence is equally fear provoking.

Well, on that happy note...

DUNK

Please let me know what you think by leaving a comment, or sending me an email at Stephendunkel@gmail.com.

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