Joe Biden, like Punxsutawney Phil, emerged from his hole on Monday to explain his latest post-presidential crisis, the autopen.
He saw the shadow of the wreckage of his former administration, so I guess that means six more months of scandal.
It should have gone so well. After all, the source was a simpatico one: The New York Times, which — a little over a year ago, and six days before the presidential debate — published a piece titled “How Misleading Videos Are Trailing Biden as He Battles Age Doubts.” That was meant to explain how Republicans were improperly playing around with video to make him look senile. Less than a week later, he proved to America that he didn’t need the help from the GOP.
This time, it was a little more straightforward: “Biden Says He Made the Clemency Decisions That Were Recorded With Autopen.” Don’t question any of the pardons or commutations or clemencies he issued in his end-of-presidency spree, because even though he didn’t appear to be in his right mind to the casual observer, he was the one making the shots.
He and others then go on to say that the one making the shots was effectively chief of staff Jeff Zients.
“Mr. Biden did not individually approve each name for the categorical pardons that applied to large numbers of people, he and aides confirmed,” the article read. “Rather, after extensive discussion of different possible criteria, he signed off on the standards he wanted.”
However, he insisted that he gave oral permission for every pardon, including categorial pardons for entire classes.
Hellbound and Down 