Just a question I still can't get an answer to...why did Trump commute the sentences of those two?

[Archae]

Just to spite Obama?

To shore up his far-right wing nutjob base?

Because Trump is simply a total asshole?

[JI7]

1. Because they are part of his fucked up base

[dhol82]

2. Sorry, I must be behind the news

Which two?

[Caliman73]

9. The Hammond's. The two ranchers up in Oregon who illegally burned on Federal lands...

They started the whole take over of the wildlife refuge the the Bundy ranchers supported.

[dhol82]

15. Well, shit! Was that today?

[Yonnie3]

3. Yes. All of the above are in play.

Also because it is one of the few things he can do on his own authority and gain instant gratification.

It makes him feel big.

[Trust Buster]

4. Red meat to his base.

[lapfog_1]

5. yes, yes, and yes

any more questions?

[Blue_Tires]

6. To "piss off the libs," naturally

Right now Trump is trying to retroactively pardon Timothy McVeigh and James Earl Ray

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. All of the above.

[Kajun Gal]

8. Because he is an idiot.

[SamKnause]

10. My thoughts:

Trump has been trying to start a race war since he rode down the escalator.

He needs white supremacists to back him up when the shit hits the fan.

He needs white anti government people to back him up when the shit hits the fan.

He needs heavily armed white people to back him up when the shit hits the fan.

He is sending his base a message.

They understand what that message is.

Good people on both sides in Charlottesville was a coded message.

[TeamPooka]

11. Putin told him to do it.

[magicarpet]

12. Because he can test the power of the presi-duncey...

.... to use the power of the pardon and there is damn little anyone can do to stop him. That will excite and make his base all foaming at the mouth Nazis.

Maybe hopes someone turns it into a court case so his Supreme Court can rule in his favor for a shit nothing pardon - then go in for the pardon of his entire criminal Fascist Oligarchic Administration.

Then down the road go hog wild against Mueller to abuse the pardon for his Fascist cronies, Fascist family, and maybe even his Fascist self.

Once trDump gets his Fascist Supreme Court in place then trDump can go all dictator on America - there will be little to nothing to stop him. He is just normalizing his powers of overreach and hoping to make Fascism ordinary, common, and the look of being very presi-Dunce-ial.

His rabid base will go wild with delight.

[kentuck]

13. It was just an oportunity...

...and he never misses an opportunity to divide people.

[Wounded Bear]

14. Because he could...