# How can Biden use the recent SCOTUS Immunity ruling to his benefit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 1, 2024, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589 "2024-07-01T18:29:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/122 "2024-07-04T18:36:45Z")
You don’t need the whole branch, though. Just enough to get it done. Of the hundreds of thousands of government employees, I’m sure you could find enough. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/123 "2024-07-04T18:38:39Z")
Maybe. But it would have to include the most senior leaders. I don’t think you can count on that. Well, in the new and improved GOP you could, but that’s an edge case. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/124 "2024-07-04T18:39:34Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Maybe. But it would have to include the most senior leaders. I don’t think you can count on that. But those people are all political appointees, and can be fired if they stand up to you. Just keep firing them until you find a suitable toady. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/125 "2024-07-04T18:40:28Z")
Yeah, we’re in banana republic territory now. GOP stuff… ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/126 "2024-07-04T21:49:36Z")
ANY quasi-legal acts the President indulges in will have to be accompanied by a blanket pardon for anyone who ever gets prosecuted for following his orders. POTUS pardoning powers are limitless by law (another thing that needs changing, IMO.) ---
**Author:** ![gytalf3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@gytalf3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf3000)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2024, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/127 "2024-07-05T13:47:19Z")
I agree. The country’s future is at stake. Drastic action is warranted, in this case. Stop playing by the rules. The Republicans certainly don’t care about them. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/128 "2024-07-22T13:13:50Z")
Bumping the thread now that Biden has quit the race. Now that he doesn’t have the strain of campaigning, he should have all the energy he needs to unleash Dark Brandon and take advantage of the rope granted him by SCOTUS to do whatever it takes to crush Trump and MAGA. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/129 "2024-07-22T15:56:58Z")
A lame duck Biden could serve the public good and act in an official capacity while drowning Clarence Thomas with molten Gold. Any other judge that has an issue can take the seat next. ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/130 "2024-07-23T16:13:52Z")
It’s almost unimaginable the beneficial mischief Biden can create after November 5, win or lose, to test the limits of what SCOTUS considers an official act and therefore legal. I still think it’s incumbent on Democrats to test those limits and do all the good they’ve been up until now reluctant to try because it’s damned sure that the next GOP President will test those limits and test them very hard. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/131 "2024-07-25T04:09:17Z")
> [@President Biden Dropping Out of Race](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/426): > > Didn’t the Supreme Court just decide that speeches are official acts of the presidency, and that such official acts are legal by definition? Hmm, so Biden could give a Harris for President Speech from the Oval Office? Man, MAGA heads would explode. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/132 "2024-07-26T18:18:03Z")
Go for broke. Since he took an oath to see that all laws be faithfully executed and six justices have ruled he doesn’t have to obey laws, arrest all 6 and throw them in the clink. Wait till after the election. See how they like a king rather than a president. Then appoint 6 replacements and don’t bother about confirmation since SCOTUS has also ruled that clauses of the constitution are not binding unless back up by a law of congress. The new court might want to revisit some of these rulings. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/133 "2024-07-26T18:22:39Z")
Such an act might kill Kamala’s chance of becoming President. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/134 "2024-07-26T20:45:07Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Then appoint 6 replacements and don’t bother about confirmation since SCOTUS has also ruled that clauses of the constitution are not binding unless back up by a law of congress. What? When did they do that? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/135 "2024-07-26T20:58:33Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > What? When did they do that? I can’t say what he had in mind but the Emoluments Clause comes to mind. Trump violated it but, since congress never bothered to make a law about it the clause is apparently worthless. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/136 "2024-07-26T23:31:29Z")
I don’t think so. As I recall the cases were tossed for standing. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/137 "2024-07-26T23:49:10Z")
Sure…but the underlying issue was no one on the planet has standing because congress never passed a law about it. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/138 "2024-07-26T23:52:23Z")
Are you sure? I thought the issue was that the plaintiff couldn’t provide sufficient evidence of harm. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/139 "2024-07-26T23:55:06Z")
Right…who could? The constitution says it is against the law. It is the highest law in the land. But the courts say no one can prove harm because congress never spelled it out. So the ultimate law has no teeth. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/140 "2024-07-27T00:09:05Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Such an act might kill Kamala’s chance of becoming President. True. Biden should wait until after the election. Harris wins, Biden should just make sure that all law enforcement is prepared for violent actions of MAGA on inauguration day. God Forbid Trump wins, Biden should have the 6 members of the Supreme Court arrested (as an official act), Order Vance immediately executed for wearing the wrong tie, and have Trump deported to Russia. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589/141 "2024-07-27T01:39:46Z")
The power of the presidential pardon is absolute, and unquestionably an official act. If Trump somehow wins the election, it would be entirely legal for Biden to issue a preemptive pardon for anyone who attempts to assassinate Trump. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-biden-use-the-recent-scotus-immunity-ruling-to-his-benefit/1003589.md?page=8)