You know it’s bad when Joe Biden tries to sound authoritative. In his big New York Times sit-down—a whopping ten minutes long, because let’s face it, that’s his cognitive limit—Biden assured America he personally approved all 1,500+ pardons and commutations in his final weeks in office. Sure, Joe. And I suppose he also wrestled a bear while marching with MLK. This isn’t just an eyebrow-raiser. It’s a full-on constitutional mess dressed up as “efficiency.” Let’s unpack how the “autopen presidency” went from bureaucratic convenience to a potential scandal of historic proportions.
“I Orally Approved It” – Biden’s Clintonian Word Games
When Biden told the Times he “orally approved” every single pardon, it was almost impressive—like watching Bill Clinton redefine the word is. Only this time, it’s not about an intern in the Oval Office; it’s about who was really running the country. By Biden’s own admission, aides used an autopen—essentially a robot hand—to sign the warrants. Why? Because there were too many for Grandpa Joe to scribble through. Instead of personally signing or even seeing all the names, he approved general criteria, and staffers handled the rest. Translation: Joe didn’t know half the people getting pardons. Probably couldn’t spell their names if you spotted him the vowels.
Staffers in Charge? The Shadow Presidency Strikes Again
Remember when Democrats hyperventilated over “who’s really in charge” during Trump’s term? Funny how quiet they are now that Biden’s legacy includes 1,500+ pardons rubber-stamped by unelected aides. This isn’t just a political nitpick. The U.S. Constitution vests pardon power solely in the president—not his chief of staff, not Ron Klain, and certainly not some autopen wielded by a mid-level staffer at 2 AM. Trump put it bluntly: “This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history.” Harsh? Maybe. Wrong? Nope.
Do The Math, Joe
One Fox panelist nailed it: even at Biden’s peak lucidity (which these days is about as reliable as a solar calculator in a blizzard), it’s mathematically impossible for him to review and decide on 1,500 cases individually in his last days. Let’s be generous and say it took Joe three minutes per case. That’s 4,500 minutes—or 75 straight hours of decision-making. Does anyone believe Biden was pulling all-nighters in the White House instead of hitting the early-bird special at his Delaware beach house?
“I Don’t Recall” – The Coming Chorus From Biden’s Aides
Here’s where it gets slimy. Biden’s careful lawyerly phrasing sets up the perfect defense for his aides when Congress starts calling them in. Did Biden approve each case? “I don’t recall.” Did staffers take liberties with the autopen? “I’m not sure.” You see where this is headed. We’re about to hear more “I don’t recalls” than a Biden press conference when asked about his son’s business dealings.
Why Speak Now, Joe?
So why break his silence now? Simple: damage control. With aides expected to testify on Capitol Hill, Biden’s inner circle—especially Dr. Jill—knows his legacy is on the line. Problem is, Biden’s comments only pour gasoline on the fire. Even the Times kept it short and sweet—a 10-minute softball interview—because stretching it to 30 might have exposed more cognitive decline than a Robert Hur report. This wasn’t leadership. It was spin control from a president whose signature had been outsourced like a bad DoorDash order.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just about pardons. It’s about trust, transparency, and whether a president can delegate Article II powers to staffers and still call it democracy. Biden’s defenders say it’s no big deal. Conservatives say it’s a constitutional crisis. Me? I say this: if a president can’t sign pardons with his own hand, maybe he shouldn’t be holding the office. Period. But hey, at least the autopen never forgot what day it was.
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS! PLEASE COMMENT BELOW.
JIMMY
Find more articles like this at steadfastandloyal.com.
h/t: Steadfast and Loyal
Leave a Comment