America's first King...

Good evening! Tonight, Grandpoppy and I are sipping diet Coca-Cola and dining on hand-tossed, thin crust, meat lovers pizza for him and an extra Mozzerella covered, vegetarian pizza for me! We have been alternately watching the MSNBC and CNN "Breaking News", from the worn seats of our comfy living room dual recliners.

There seems a plethora of more disturbing news tonight than normally delivered on what has become the expected chaotic news of the day, every day, on a regular basis under the leadership of Donald Trump.

This southern stormy night, veteran news anchor, Brian Williams professionally engages his audience, succinctly delivering reports that predominantly includes Category 4 Hurricane Harvey approaching landfall soon.

Grandpoppy and I anxiously share our fellow man's fears and apprehensions, as we await the most up-to-date news coverage. We kneel in prayer tonight, lifting up supplication for blessings on the people living in Texas with heart-felt hope that everyone, in the affected areas have heeded the government warnings to evacuate the area for their own safety and well-being! It was reported that some people were turned away from shelter due to the various near-by locations being filled to capacity. We pray that those who were turned away, quickly found shelter around the corner and were embraced into girded safety from the storm.

Pres. Trump pardoned the convicted Maricopa County ex-Sheriff Joe Arpaio and announced his Presidential pardon supplanting coverage of Hurricane Harvey via Twitter messaging. Why would Trump do this? Is he afraid Hurricane Harvey will get more media coverage than him? Is he using an oddly timed opportunity during an impending natural disaster, to try to blatantly transmit his message to racists, fascist, KKK, white supremacist friends and Republican base supporters implying that he will give special favors in exchange for their loyalty?

Bill Clinton appointed U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton, who tried Arpaio's case in her court. Judge Bolton found Arpaio guilty and promptly handed down Arpaio's sentence. Perhaps, it was a collection of several factors that compelled Trump to grant Arpaio his Presidential pardon. Trump may have done so as an effort to solidify his base supporters, perhaps...to immaturely even, thumb his nose at the Clintons, in his show of one-upsmanship of Presidential power. Why he chose tonight to announce granting his Presidential pardon to Arpaio, seems to defy the spirit and genuine intention of the Constitution. Maybe, Trump is simply trying to prove that he has the ultimate power and can hand down edicts and do whatever he wants as President of the United States? Did America elect our first King?

A few morsels of food for thought:


What a Pardon Does Not Do

BY JOSH CLARK

Despite being such a broad and unique power, presidential pardons do have limitations.

When it was established that the pardon is to be used solely to grant reprieve from affronts committed against the United States, a loophole was opened. Pardons have been demonstrated to not legally have an effect on contempt of court charges since, like a civil case, a contempt charge isn't considered an affront to the United States; instead, it's considered an affront to the court.This caveat also provides Congress with a way to get around the presidential pardon. This resulted in the relatively modern concept of the pardon and its use as a political tool. Check out the next page to learn about how the modern pardon has become a double-edged sword for Congress and the executive branch.

The Heritage Guide To The Constitution:

The President...shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

ARTICLE II, SECTION 2, CLAUSE 1

The power to pardon is one of the least limited powers granted to the President in the Constitution. The only limits mentioned in the Constitution are that pardons are limited to offenses against the United States (i.e., not civil or state cases), and that they cannot affect an impeachment process. A reprieve is the commutation or lessening of a sentence already imposed; it does not affect the legal guilt of a person. A pardon, however, completely wipes out the legal effects of a conviction. A pardon can be issued from the time an offense is committed, and can even be issued after the full sentence has been served. It cannot, however, be granted before an offense has been committed, which would give the President the power to waive the laws. 


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