Supreme Court rules 6-3 that Trump has immunity from prosecution for "official" acts

It will be included in the history of “the fall of the United States of America.” But that will likely only be studied overseas, or wherever there will remain a free press, or non-Theocratically approved ‘fact.’

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Would things be better if the government was dissolved at the start of the campaign, therefore no confusion?

Would also eliminate the lame-duck period, which I think is uniquely a USA thing? Which usually leaves the prez impotent, except for TFG. And TNextG.

Here in Canada when the election is called the government is dissolved until the new one is elected and parliament starts the new session.

I know there are differences:

  • ours are called by PM or other means (non-confidence vote), with 5-year max., whereas USA is clockwork every 4 years.
  • the functions of the government continue as well or not as before; parliament just disappears and a new one is selected.
  • it’s 6 weeks from election start to election, so relatively brief; USA seems to never really stop campaigning.

But do any of these prevent this?

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Considering how long our election cycles are, I don’t think that would be tenable. There would be total collapse before the ~2 year election cycle was concluded.

Better would be limiting campaign finance and the duration of the campaign.

The so-called Lame Duck period is not as inactive as it used to be.

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… so why have a president at all then :thinking:

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I Mean Law And Order GIF by SVU

No, no, no, I don’t actually mean that…

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Maybe perma-campaigning isn’t such a good idea? Maybe cut it down to 3 months?

Cheques still go out, taxes are collected, the military still functions, and all the rest. Just no new legislation, all old business dropped, and everyone concentrates on election.

The UK managed the recent one in ~6 weeks.

Other than American Exceptionalism, why not?

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it’s exactly that. the conservatives decided that money is speech, and that corporations are people, and since people’s frozen peaches can’t have restrictions - neither can campaigning.

under the current interpretation of “personal expression” there’s no way to limit the window of when an election takes place. ( or how much money and advertising can be brought to bear )

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Sure. And while we’re at it, let’s bring back the idea that the runner-up in the presidential election gets to be the vice president.

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Most of the folks here want to both limit the money and the duration of campaigns. But it’s one of those things - both politicians currently in office and the media want the opposite. It would take a Herculean effort to change it. Our best bet of doing so is a little at a time. Dumps Citizen’s United for something sane. Re-establish the fairness doctrine and apply it to cable, streaming and social media news organizations. Etc. Chip away at it.

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