The Question Remains

Pres Trump says hell be looking at a pardon for former campaign advisor Roger Stone, scheduled to begin prison term next Tuesday. In response to a question on departing WH, Pres said Stone was unfairly treated.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 10, 2020

Why doesn't he just do it?

Trump suggests Obama and Biden, but not Roger Stone, should be facing prison terms pic.twitter.com/jRil32V3yn

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 10, 2020

Again, he'll be "looking at it."  Notice the passive voice, once a subject of great interest in political analysis.  Trump hasn't looked at it already?  Trump hasn't come to a conclusion yet?  What, he's too busy tweeting and flying to rallies to just order up a pardon and have it on his desk to sign when he comes down to work by noon on a day when he's not flying somewhere?

According to Maggie Haberman, Barr has told Trump the DOJ would "revolt" if he pardoned/commuted the sentence on Stone.  Is that staying his hand?  So why does he keep blustering about it?

I think he's talking about it so he doesn't have to do it.  Pretty typical for Trump:  all talk, no action.  He likes to look tough: actually being tough is another matter.  Why hasn't he pardoned Manafort?  Or Flynn?  His pardons have gone to obscure figures (Arpaio; DeSouza; the Navy Seal, who was closer to national prominence than anybody, and that didn't win Trump the universal accolades he craves).  He won't do it because he fears reprisal.  He wants to do it because he hopes for praise and congratulations, for big men, strong men, coming up to him with tears in their eyes and thanking him for that brave, brave act of pardon!

And he knows he won't get it.  He's like a kid who wants to touch the hot stove, and knows he shouldn't, but he wants to anyway.  Or the proverbial person put in the round room and told to go sit in the corner.  'Round and 'round he runs.....