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Anthony Levandowski Pardoned

trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov

481–490 of 996 posts

Re: Anthony Levandowski Pardoned

#481
post #402

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Last night Trump also revoked his own 2017 executive order that prevented federal administration officials from becoming lobbyists after leaving government: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-lobbying-execu... This had been one of his only practical actions towards keeping his campaign promise of "draining the swamp."

I wonder how all the Trump supporters on HNs (maybe 30% or so of commenters, no idea about lurkers) are reacting to this. Levadowski pardon, the spy, the swamp, etc.

I voted for Trump because his policies more closely align with my beliefs than any other candidate on my ballot. I am very disappointed in his response to the election results after it was clear there wasn't proof of enough fraud to change the result, and I'm very disappointed in the pardons.

Re: Anthony Levandowski Pardoned

#483

No Assange, no Snowden. What a fool I am, I seriously envisaged that could happen... Instead it’s just more and more corruption.

The fact that all a POTUS does after presidency is enrich oneself, it's quite clear where the motives are. The moment when POTUS is unable to profit off of his presidency is the moment where these things wouldn't happen. POTUS becoming a multimillionaire after presidency is just a sad display of moral corruption. Edit: Not talking about Trump, just in general about POTUS. It's my impression that in the last 50 years…

He was already a billionaire before he got elected. What I find particularly disgusting is how lifelong politicians with relatively meager (compared with the private sector) salaries can become so wealthy while in office. But yes the revolving door is a thing and it should be addressed. Yellen earned over 7 mil in speaking fees in the last two years. It is impossible that that will not have any influence over her decisions when she's back at the Fed.

Re: Anthony Levandowski Pardoned

#484

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He was very clear about this goal even before his campaign in 2016. In 2000 Donald Trump told Fortune magazine, “It’s very possible that I could be the first presidential candidate to run and make money on it.”

Thankfully, he end up being the first presidential candidate bankrupted by the position. The dude's primary asset, his brand, is not completely toxic and can no longer be used to prop up his other failed ventures. And the only bankers wiling to finance him will the the predatory ones, who will all extract every penny left then leave him with nothing.

If there’s anything that Trump is actually good at, other than carnival barking, it’s shielding assets and wealth from bankruptcy, and remaining rich after “insolvency”. Don’t expect him to show up homeless on Venice Beach any time soon.

Re: Anthony Levandowski Pardoned

#485
post #382

I have to say there is quite a lot to learn from Levandowski.[0] I am not a fan of corruption but it's undeniable that he played whatever cards he had in life and played them hard. He'll probably be a shadowy billionaire quite soon. One quote stood out to me at the very end of the article: “The only thing that matters is the future,” he told me after the civil trial was settled. “I don’t even know why we study histor…

No argument there.

The story of Levandowski appears to be a story about consequences being something other people experience.

Re: Anthony Levandowski Pardoned

#486
post #356
post #322

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pardons don't work like that. They have to actually be delivered to the recipient to be effective. Pardoning everybody would be a massive printing and mailing operation.

"On January 21, 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter grants an unconditional pardon to hundreds of thousands of men who evaded the draft during the Vietnam War."

Carter was effectively offering a pardon to any eligible person who wanted it. Affected people still had to request the certificate for the pardon to have any legal effect.

An example: https://www.dcourier.com/news/2019/nov/10/veterans-day-dan-f...

Re: Anthony Levandowski Pardoned

#488

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe that the most useful parts of the history are the parts that are not taught in history classes. Especially monetary history and past enterpreneurs, inventors and scientists. Not history written by winners of wars. Here’s an example: https://nakamotoinstitute.org/shelling-out/

> winners of wars What do you think the global acceptance of capitalism is?

While there are temporary monopolies, great products win long term. Without capitalism we would live like monkeys in the forest. That would be an interesting life as well, but far not as interesting than what we have now.

Re: Anthony Levandowski Pardoned

#489

No Assange, no Snowden. What a fool I am, I seriously envisaged that could happen... Instead it’s just more and more corruption.

Pay attention to that list, each pardon has a list of people who supported each pardon. Nobody from the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the ACLU is on that list. We are wasting our time and energy caring about either of those organizations. Let them stick to filing Amicus Briefs in courts, but they clearly have no pull or influence or backchannel despite our tech scene thinking they do.

you're saying because Trump's pardons weren't influenced by the EFF or ACLU, nobody should support those organizations?

Re: Anthony Levandowski Pardoned

#490
post #402

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Last night Trump also revoked his own 2017 executive order that prevented federal administration officials from becoming lobbyists after leaving government: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-lobbying-execu... This had been one of his only practical actions towards keeping his campaign promise of "draining the swamp."

I wonder how all the Trump supporters on HNs (maybe 30% or so of commenters, no idea about lurkers) are reacting to this. Levadowski pardon, the spy, the swamp, etc.

My Republican friends are all angry that the last minute pardons are white collar criminals and hip-hop stars. They were really hoping for an Assange/Snowden pardon to stick it to the "deep state". But honestly at this point they're acting like drained husks and just feel so let down.

I personally look at the pardon list and I'm at a loss for words. What a weird mix of scammers and celebrities.

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