I am going to anger a lot of folks on here, but I have mixed feelings about the indictment
       |           

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
March 29, 2024, 04:38:43 AM
News: Election Simulator 2.0 Released. Senate/Gubernatorial maps, proportional electoral votes, and more - Read more

  Talk Elections
  General Politics
  U.S. General Discussion (Moderators: The Dowager Mod, Chancellor Tanterterg)
  I am going to anger a lot of folks on here, but I have mixed feelings about the indictment
« previous next »
Pages: 1 [2]
Author Topic: I am going to anger a lot of folks on here, but I have mixed feelings about the indictment  (Read 1250 times)
Mr. Smith
MormDem
Atlas Superstar
*****
Posts: 33,080
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #25 on: March 18, 2023, 08:59:38 PM »
« edited: March 19, 2023, 09:33:13 AM by Mr. Smith »

The “mixed feelings” people like Gerald Ford had in 1974 are in part the reason we’re in this situation today.

That's a very different situation, that was going to be a no win-situation, and  given the exact magnitude at time.

Also, Nixon had the dignity to resign.

I just don't want to start the cycle of prosecuting former presidents for non-violent crime.   Expect every former president to be prosecuted by an ambitious blue/red state DA going forward if this sticks.

If I were the President of the United States and wanted to avoid going to jail, I would simply not commit a crime.

It's the Presidency, it's literally an office soaked with a crime in some way, literally any ambitious red/blue state DA can and likely will spam like Hillary Clinton and the Benghazi hearings.

Even if you can manage a perfect record with no questionable staff [which even Carter couldn't quite do]...one T crossed wrong could be a non-violent crime.

Of course I say bring it on anyway, it's time Dems take the fight and play the hardball for once.
Logged
oldtimer
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 3,216
Greece


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #26 on: March 18, 2023, 10:17:21 PM »

I personally am on the fence.

On the one hand, nobody is above the law.

on the other hand, there is this thing called prudence. This charge will be very hard to prove, and if trump is ultimately acquitted, it would be perhaps the worst thing to happen to the country in a long time. Is it worth the risk of pouring gasoline on our national fire for what amounts to (at best) a misdemeanor/minor felony?

To be clear, trump should face criminal exposure for jan 6th and the georgia stuff.

I just don't know if it is an example of prudence and wisdom to go forward with the stormy daniels stuff.

I am curious if anyone else shares my ambivalence?

I just don't see this ending well. The menace is already on truth social calling for protest. Somebody is going to get hurt.
I think the best compromise is that former Presidents, if in legal trouble, should be tried by the Supreme Court.

Since the political authority of the Supreme Court is higher than the Presidency.
Logged
oldtimer
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 3,216
Greece


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #27 on: March 18, 2023, 10:24:26 PM »

I just don't want to start the cycle of prosecuting former presidents for non-violent crime.   Expect every former president to be prosecuted by an ambitious blue/red state DA going forward if this sticks.

If I were the President of the United States and wanted to avoid going to jail, I would simply not commit a crime.
In practice I guess you would put nothing in writing and certainly not on tape.

At least that is what I believe to be the current standard practice of all Administrations since 1973.
Logged
LBJer
Jr. Member
***
Posts: 1,607
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #28 on: March 23, 2023, 12:49:08 AM »

There are sometimes good reasons not to prosecute someone even if s/he has broken the law.  But fear of violence because the person in question has fanatical followers is not one of them.
Logged
Crumpets
Thinking Crumpets Crumpet
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 17,586
United States


Political Matrix
E: -4.06, S: -6.52

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #29 on: March 23, 2023, 06:25:03 AM »

Personally, I kind of like the idea someone proposed (I think on here a while back) of just requiring every president to serve as much time in prison as they spent in office once they finish their term. Pretty much every president has done something at least in a legal gray area, and many presidential mistakes (even if legal) result in unnecessary deaths. Let them all serve some time and we can filter out those who only run for President for the glory from those who have a genuine passion from service that they're willing to sacrifice their own freedom to be in that role.
Logged
Pres Mike
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,243
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #30 on: March 23, 2023, 10:51:35 AM »

While I love the idea of Trump in jail, I womder if the American public will see this as jail worthy. Trump paying a porn star to keep quite isn't illegal, lying about it on taxes was. Do the typical Joe Q. Voter see that as jail worthy? This might create a slight sympathy support for Trump.

Look at the Clinton impeachment circus. He was being impeached for lying to a jury. But the average American saw it as impeachment for an affair, something the average american did not think was worthy of impeachment. Just saying.
Logged
Sir Mohamed
MohamedChalid
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 22,468
United States



Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #31 on: March 23, 2023, 10:57:33 AM »

While I love the idea of Trump in jail, I womder if the American public will see this as jail worthy. Trump paying a porn star to keep quite isn't illegal, lying about it on taxes was. Do the typical Joe Q. Voter see that as jail worthy? This might create a slight sympathy support for Trump.

Look at the Clinton impeachment circus. He was being impeached for lying to a jury. But the average American saw it as impeachment for an affair, something the average american did not think was worthy of impeachment. Just saying.

If Trump was going to jail, it should be for January 6 and not the hush money payments. He deserves some other form of punishment for latter though.
Logged
Pres Mike
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,243
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #32 on: March 23, 2023, 11:02:53 AM »

While I love the idea of Trump in jail, I womder if the American public will see this as jail worthy. Trump paying a porn star to keep quite isn't illegal, lying about it on taxes was. Do the typical Joe Q. Voter see that as jail worthy? This might create a slight sympathy support for Trump.

Look at the Clinton impeachment circus. He was being impeached for lying to a jury. But the average American saw it as impeachment for an affair, something the average american did not think was worthy of impeachment. Just saying.

If Trump was going to jail, it should be for January 6 and not the hush money payments. He deserves some other form of punishment for latter though.
Exactly! I think that is far more jail worthy. And the American public would support it far more, at least if it was done back in early 2021.

Of course, how would the Biden presidency turn out? Would we have gotten all these good bills if the news cycle was consumed with a Trump arrest and trial? ARP, BIF, IRA, CHIPS were all really good bills. Plus dozens of federal judges. Too bad we didn't get BBB though but we shouldn't change the topic of this thread.
Logged
Pages: 1 [2]  
« previous next »
Jump to:  


Login with username, password and session length

Terms of Service - DMCA Agent and Policy - Privacy Policy and Cookies

Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines

Page created in 0.025 seconds with 11 queries.