# How should Biden finish out his Presidency? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 25, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791 "2024-07-25T20:42:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![GulfTiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e79b87/32.png) [@GulfTiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GulfTiger)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/61 "2024-07-27T00:45:26Z")
I picture he and Hunter working on a ‘pardon for cash’ list for that final haul. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/62 "2024-07-27T00:46:39Z")
> [@GulfTiger](#): > > I picture he and Hunter working on a ‘pardon for cash’ list for that final haul Sure, why not? It worked for the previous occupant of the office. ---
**Author:** ![GulfTiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e79b87/32.png) [@GulfTiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GulfTiger)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/63 "2024-07-27T00:48:07Z")
exactly, he’s got near total immunity so what the hell? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/64 "2024-07-27T02:00:29Z")
Moderating: > [@GulfTiger](#): > > I picture he and Hunter working on a ‘pardon for cash’ list for that final haul. From concern-trolling to open trolling. You’re not moving in the right direction. Your posting privileges are being suspended for a day while we further review whether to make that suspension permanent. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/65 "2024-08-01T15:29:07Z")
Did anybody have get Gershkovich and Whalen released from Russian custody on their bingo card? Because Biden just did it. I am giving him all the credit for this one. I guess he’s not quite so senile after all. (Still did the right thing stepping down but apparently not the lamest duck in town). ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/66 "2024-08-01T15:30:59Z")
I haven’t read the story-who did we release in turn? Was it a good deal? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/67 "2024-08-01T15:36:08Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I haven’t read the story-who did we release in turn? This breaking-news WaPo story doesn’t say (or I can’t find it), but it’s a huge exchange: > [@](#): > > In the largest prisoner exchange since the height of the Cold War, officials of the United States, Russia, Germany and other countries met on an airfield tarmac in Ankara, Turkey, on Thursday and were swapping at least two dozen people, the Turkish presidency said — capping months of painstaking diplomacy involving negotiations at the highest levels of multiple governments. > > Those to be released included American journalist Evan Gershkovich of the Wall Street Journal, who was accused of espionage without any known evidence, and Paul Whelan, a former Marine jailed for more than five years after an espionage conviction the United States called baseless, as well as several Russian dissidents who demanded freedom and democracy or criticized the war in Ukraine, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post Opinions contributor. Gift link: [https://wapo.st/4dogyuG](https://wapo.st/4dogyuG) ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/68 "2024-08-01T15:36:15Z")
It involved 24 prisoners from at least 6 countries. The biggest Russian one was that hit man who shot someone in a Berlin park. It’s breaking news so I don’t know who else was involved except that Biden apparently went to countries holding Russian prisoners and persuaded them to release them as part of the trade. There were apparently about a dozen Germans released along with other reporters. This was a massive deal. MSNBC is reporting four Americans total. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/69 "2024-08-01T15:39:38Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > It’s breaking news so I don’t know who else was involved except that Biden apparently went to countries holding Russian prisoners and persuaded them to release them as part of the trade. Can you share where you saw this? I am not doubting you, but I want to be sure this is the case before accruing this to Biden. From the reports I have seen, none have even mentioned Biden or his involvement. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/70 "2024-08-01T15:42:39Z")
Biden will make a statement at noon. > Blockquote President Biden—about an hour before he notified the world he was [dropping out of the presidential race]on July 21—called the prime minister of Slovenia, whose country was contributing two convicted Russian spies to the swap, to secure the pardon necessary for the deal to proceed. CIA Director William Burns traveled to Turkey last week to meet his counterpart there and finalize the logistics for the swap. At the center of the deal was Krasikov, a convicted murderer that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been pushing to free since 2021. The former intelligence officer, a veteran of the Soviet-Afghan war, had shot and killed a Chechen rebel leader in a Berlin park, and was serving a life sentence. > Blockquote > **[WSJ Reporter Evan Gershkovich Is Free — The Wall Street Journal](https://apple.news/AZrIXnJf2R2S8R7MkpmIg2w)** > > Release of 32-year-old American from Russia secured as part of largest East-West prisoner swap since Cold War ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/71 "2024-08-01T15:52:16Z")
Damn, this is a hell of a great thing! I’ve thought a lot about the three you named (Gershkovich, Whalen and and Kara-Murza) and am so glad if their torment is over. I’m sure Putin got bad people in return back, but this is more important, in my view. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/72 "2024-08-01T16:03:13Z")
And I’d have to imagine that Harris was involved in some aspect, even if it was just briefings. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/73 "2024-08-01T16:09:47Z")
MSNBC has the most detailed coverage. Of course Trump will say that if he was elected he would have them released immediately but the reporting is that the Berlin assassin was the key and Andrea Mitchell is saying that Biden has been trying to arrange this for two years and in March the Chancellor apparently told him “For you, I will do it”. The countries involved are US, Germany, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Russia , Belarus and Turkey which is where the exchange took place. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/74 "2024-08-01T16:14:38Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > Of course Trump will say that if he was elected he would have them released immediately Of course he’ll say that, conveniently ignoring the fact that Whelan was imprisoned by Russia in 2018, and remained in custody for the final two full years of Trump’s presidency. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/75 "2024-08-01T16:35:38Z")
So Biden just gave his speech and sang happy birthday to a girl who turns 13 tomorrow and will have her mother home for her birthday. He took a few questions and the last was: “What do you say to President Trump who said he could get them freed without any concessions?” Biden just said “Ask him why he didn’t do it when he was President” :mic drop: His speech was great but he still looks old and frail. I give him all the credit but still glad he passed the torch to Kamala and I’m supporting her extra hard to honor Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/76 "2024-08-01T17:26:45Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > His speech was great but he still looks old and frail. Exactly right. At this point, I just hope he lasts until next January. Frankly, he doesn’t need to ‘do’ anything between now and then. A few soundbites like this one would be sufficient. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/77 "2024-08-01T17:28:22Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > At this point, I just hope he lasts until next January. November 5th would do it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/78 "2024-08-01T17:29:42Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > November 5th would do it for me I want to see him officially pass the torch to Kamala. ---
**Author:** ![Beesnest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@Beesnest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beesnest)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/79 "2024-08-01T17:39:02Z")
Jake Sullivan is speaking for the administration now. He is always remarkable to me in his ability to stick to a point without answering the idiotic press . I hope he continues to serve in the Harris administration. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791/80 "2024-08-01T19:19:37Z")
Trump can always try and get Marc Fogel back. I bet Putin kept him back to give Trump a card to play. > **[Live updates: Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan are freed in massive prisoner...](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/prisoner-swap-russia-us-live-updates-rcna164665#rcrd50085)** > > A prisoner swap is underway today between the United States, Russia, and other countries, according to a senior Biden administration official. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-biden-finish-out-his-presidency/1004791.md?page=5)