One way or the other you will get one. It’s just a question of whether it is that bad politicans can break the law with impunity or if they can go to prison for their actions, and I’d say the first is a far worse option.
When i was in jr high, every living ex-gov of WV was in prison. I think precedent is not as much of a problem as some think.
Two things.
If a “former leader” commits a crime they should be held to account. Whether this means jail time, civil penalties, etc., they should be held to the same legal standard as you or me or else this just further cements “two justice systems”. The venue-shopped and Trump-appointed judge that started this whole mess tried to set a legal precedent here by literally stating in her ruling that the potential harm Trump’s reputation was more important than the harm to the nation by him being investigated. The 11th circuit may have struck down this ruling but it’s not over yet; Trump can still try to take this up to the Supreme Court and if they let the initial decision stand that would have severe legal repercussions.
If Trump isn’t indicted for anything that comes from this investigation then, fuck, what’s the point of investigating him? If you or me had one single page of one of those documents Trump had, we’d be in a federal prison right now but he gets to fuck around on Fox News and scream about how he’s being oppressed by The Man.
That would just give more tools to the fascists.
There seems to be this ongoing belief that “we can’t do something because if we do something against them, then they will do it against us when given the chance.”
We’ve seen their playbook. They don’t need to be “given tools”. They will either use what’s already there and exploit it until it breaks, or they just create new tools out of thin air. Like all fascists, they don’t care about laws, norms, or tradition.
If R’s take over congress this November, expect an impeachment of Biden and Harris (for “reasons”), and a Jan 6-style investigation into Hunter Biden’s laptop to start. This isn’t conjecture. Leading Republicans have literally said that this is what they will do if given a majority. These are things they hope will get them elected this November.
If this gets combined with an R president in 2024, then we’re all well and truly fucked and it doesn’t matter if they were “given” tools or not.
Exactly. They are already doing it against us. The relentless smearing of Hillary Clinton helped cost her the Presidency. McConnell slowwalked all Obama’s judicial nominees for 6 years and stole a SCOTUS seat, ffs (and Obama threw up his hands). They are right now rigging electoral processes at the state and local level. I wouldnt put it past GQP to themselves courtpack the SCOTUS preemptively; if they have the power to do so, why wouldn’t they?
We know they are going to impeach Biden if they get the House (twice probably, to “get even”).
There is no bottom to the GQP. So, there is no risk for Democrats, now, to seek justice while they have the tools to do it. GQP “retribution” is on the way, however the Democrats presently act.
Bush launched a full invasion for no essentially no reason, got away with it scot-free, all because Obama didnt want to “make waves” and “what if they do it to us.” I still dont get it. There were, and will not be, no consequences for Iraq.
Judicial remedies won’t accomplish much if we vote in another just like him. I’d like to see him rot in jail, sure. And I’ll cheer if DOJ pulls it off, but it’s not going to happen.
How do you think that happens? The best way is to put the fucker in prison and throw away the key. Show the Desantises and Abbotts where they will end up if they try to pull the same shit.
If it were my choice I would happily see jail time for Trump, DeSantis, Abbot and Paxton right now for the crimes they’ve committed, but no one is going to ask me.
Ken Paxton was indicted in 2015 and he’s still in office.
Remember when Susan Collins said he learned his lesson?
I’m sure her disappointment is intensifying right now. Soon she’ll be mildly annoyed.
which is much less likely, if he has consequences for his actions… Standing up to the bullies works. That’s how we ensure that another one like him does not come alone. Voting them out helps, but there needs to be consequences for breaking the law. Letting white men off has NOT helped to curb the re-emergence of white supremacy. It HAS in fact emboldened those with those views.
I’m sorry, but YOU don’t and can’t know the future.
Yes, actually, the democratic party IS asking you (or at least some of them are). Vote for and support democratic candidates who support consequences for these past few years.
Oh, it’s well past that! I read somewhere she composed (and sent!) a sternly worded letter.
If we look at the US system, just one level down from the federal government there are a number of state governors that have been convicted on corruption charges while in office. I’m not certain how many more were charged and convicted after leaving office.
Impressive run South Korea pulled off there.
They’re the Illinois of nations, apparently.
Right on. Reagan was merely a less crude version of Trumpy.
But he had jelly beans!?! He was like Grandpa!!! He was in bed by 8! He said funny things are pressers and in debates! /s
Obligatory…
I don’t get to see SNL much. Did they ever do anything similar for T, pretending that he wasn’t a complete buffoon in private?
I guess the version for him would be for him to turn suddenly very empathetic, kind, and humble.
I’d forgotten about Spiro Agnew - from what I’ve just read, he believed a sitting VP couldn’t be indicted but then made a plea deal & resigned. (What I’m not sure of is whether he was indeed indicted - wouldn’t that have to be the case, for there to be charges & to take a plea deal?) But I don’t think he ever served time (not after the plea anyway).