Impeachment coming

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VRAMdemon

Diamond Member
Aug 16, 2012
7,926
10,430
136
Republicans - "He’s still president because the election was stolen".

Republicans - "He can’t be impeached because he’s not the president"

:rolleyes:

The most damning evidence against Trump isn’t what he said before the riot; it’s what he said and did during and after. That is to say: nothing. A normal (non-criminal) president, when informed “Mr. President! A violent mob is attacking the Capitol! Congress is in danger!” would:

Send in National Guard reinforcements, immediately.

See to the safety of Congress and their staff

Ask about his VP

Go on TV/Twitter and demand that this outrage stop, and vow that the pepetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Trump did diddlysquat : Because it was all going according to plan. After 4 hours, he addressed his followers and said “we love you. You’re very special.”

Whether his speech technically meets the legal standard for inciting violence doesn’t matter that much. Whether it meets the legal standard may hinge on intent, and while IANAL, his rather unhurried reaction to the actual storming of the Capitol sure says a lot about his intent.

Here's some intent ....


And ...AFAIK ... Having the only daytime rally in 4 years, caliing it Stop The Steal, and timing it so it coincides with the certification of the election you are arguing is ‘stolen’ and needs to be ‘stopped’ ALSO goes a long way in signaling intent.
 

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
33,388
12,991
136
Republicans - "He’s still president because the election was stolen".

Republicans - "He can’t be impeached because he’s not the president"

:rolleyes:

The most damning evidence against Trump isn’t what he said before the riot; it’s what he said and did during and after. That is to say: nothing. A normal (non-criminal) president, when informed “Mr. President! A violent mob is attacking the Capitol! Congress is in danger!” would:

Send in National Guard reinforcements, immediately.

See to the safety of Congress and their staff

Ask about his VP

Go on TV/Twitter and demand that this outrage stop, and vow that the pepetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Trump did diddlysquat : Because it was all going according to plan. After 4 hours, he addressed his followers and said “we love you. You’re very special.”

Whether his speech technically meets the legal standard for inciting violence doesn’t matter that much. Whether it meets the legal standard may hinge on intent, and while IANAL, his rather unhurried reaction to the actual storming of the Capitol sure says a lot about his intent.

Here's some intent ....


And ...AFAIK ... Having the only daytime rally in 4 years, caliing it Stop The Steal, and timing it so it coincides with the certification of the election you are arguing is ‘stolen’ and needs to be ‘stopped’ ALSO goes a long way in signaling intent.
...If only Republicans valued country above party, I'm afraid 😕
 

alien42

Lifer
Nov 28, 2004
12,869
3,299
136
Apparently they are going to reveal new footage from the insurrection that has not been shown before today. Wondering if someone's been busy parsing all that Parler data

from what i have heard, the new footage is security footage.
 

Sunburn74

Diamond Member
Oct 5, 2009
5,076
2,635
136
Republicans - "He’s still president because the election was stolen".

Republicans - "He can’t be impeached because he’s not the president"

:rolleyes:

The most damning evidence against Trump isn’t what he said before the riot; it’s what he said and did during and after. That is to say: nothing. A normal (non-criminal) president, when informed “Mr. President! A violent mob is attacking the Capitol! Congress is in danger!” would:

Send in National Guard reinforcements, immediately.

See to the safety of Congress and their staff

Ask about his VP

Go on TV/Twitter and demand that this outrage stop, and vow that the pepetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Trump did diddlysquat : Because it was all going according to plan. After 4 hours, he addressed his followers and said “we love you. You’re very special.”

Whether his speech technically meets the legal standard for inciting violence doesn’t matter that much. Whether it meets the legal standard may hinge on intent, and while IANAL, his rather unhurried reaction to the actual storming of the Capitol sure says a lot about his intent.

Here's some intent ....


And ...AFAIK ... Having the only daytime rally in 4 years, caliing it Stop The Steal, and timing it so it coincides with the certification of the election you are arguing is ‘stolen’ and needs to be ‘stopped’ ALSO goes a long way in signaling intent.
On this note, can someone explain to me why trump was impeached instead of just prosecuted in a court of law with a real jury?
 

SMOGZINN

Lifer
Jun 17, 2005
14,359
4,640
136
On this note, can someone explain to me why trump was impeached instead of just prosecuted in a court of law with a real jury?
Ah, yes. You see with impeachment a bunch of lawmakers get to stand up before cameras and make long impassioned speeches aimed directly at making soundbites for their favored news outlet, and then vote down party lines and make sure nothing actually happens.
In a court of law the judge would probably not allow cameras, only people that had some reason to address the court would be allowed to speak, and Trump would be found guilty. Then the Parties would have to deal with the fall out of a President convicted for things he did while in office. If a President is held accountable for his action Americans might get ideas that Congress Critters should be too.
We can't have that.
Therefore the dramatic, but safe, impeachment.
 

hal2kilo

Lifer
Feb 24, 2009
26,220
12,404
136
Bottom line is, he will be in court for the foreseeable future in the both the state of Georgia and New York. I just hope he preoccupation will keep him politically dead.
 

woolfe9998

Lifer
Apr 8, 2013
16,242
14,243
136
Ah, yes. You see with impeachment a bunch of lawmakers get to stand up before cameras and make long impassioned speeches aimed directly at making soundbites for their favored news outlet, and then vote down party lines and make sure nothing actually happens.
In a court of law the judge would probably not allow cameras, only people that had some reason to address the court would be allowed to speak, and Trump would be found guilty. Then the Parties would have to deal with the fall out of a President convicted for things he did while in office. If a President is held accountable for his action Americans might get ideas that Congress Critters should be too.
We can't have that.
Therefore the dramatic, but safe, impeachment.

I don't think any decision has been made about prosecution yet. The new AG hasn't been confirmed yet, and the various AUSA's aren't all even in place.

But what I think we're going to find is that there isn't solid legal grounds to prosecute. While Trump's 1A defense is nonsense in an impeachment trial, it will probably prevail in a criminal court because incitement speech is a very narrow exception to the 1A and the incitement has to be quite direct.

I hope I'm wrong about this and that it's a broader exception, as I'd like to see him go to jail for this. I do doubt that the new AG will refrain from prosecuting just for "unity" or some such crap though. Not for this. If they don't prosecute, it will be because they believe a conviction is unlikely.
 

ewdotson

Golden Member
Oct 30, 2011
1,295
1,520
136
I don't think any decision has been made about prosecution yet. The new AG hasn't been confirmed yet, and the various AUSA's aren't all even in place.

But what I think we're going to find is that there isn't solid legal grounds to prosecute. While Trump's 1A defense is nonsense in an impeachment trial, it will probably prevail in a criminal court because incitement speech is a very narrow exception to the 1A and the incitement has to be quite direct.

I hope I'm wrong about this and that it's a broader exception, as I'd like to see him go to jail for this. I do doubt that the new AG will refrain from prosecuting just for "unity" or some such crap though. Not for this. If they don't prosecute, it will be because they believe a conviction is unlikely.
Well, I mean, I doubt he can be realistically be criminally indicted for incitement, but there are plenty of other things he could be criminally indicted for. I mean, even just sticking within the context of his election interference, his phone call with Raffensperger is already under criminal investigation.
 
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zzyzxroad

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2017
3,264
2,287
136
Bottom line is, he will be in court for the foreseeable future in the both the state of Georgia and New York. I just hope he preoccupation will keep him politically dead.
Yes and probably some civil suites to follow as well? I bet he doesn't have access to a lot of cash so might have trouble retaining good legal help. His being insane and also never paying his debts might just be catching up with him.
 
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Feb 4, 2009
35,862
17,405
136
What I love about this trial is the heavy use of video by the Democrats. The former Presidents preferred way of getting information and his general ratings obsession.
His legal team is using no video....
I love it.
 

Uhtrinity

Platinum Member
Dec 21, 2003
2,263
202
106
What I love about this trial is the heavy use of video by the Democrats. The former Presidents preferred way of getting information and his general ratings obsession.
His legal team is using no video....
I love it.
His legal team is scrambling to get some supporting video together, good luck with that.

 
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soundforbjt

Lifer
Feb 15, 2002
17,788
6,041
136
His legal team is scrambling to get some supporting video together, good luck with that.

I’m sure Hannity & Friends has offered to help.
 
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sportage

Lifer
Feb 1, 2008
11,492
3,163
136
Republican only defense at this point is to attack THE VIDEO’S. Fox News WELL SCRIPTED HOLLYWOOD VIDEO IS ALL THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE. Republicans in congress ALL THEY HAVE ARE HOLLYWOOD PRODUCED VIDEO. Well folks, when Donald Trump’s entire presidency has been based on video and social media THAT is what you use in an impeachment. Either video, or pages and pages of Twitter postings. And so.... in the opinions of Trump supportive loyalists, they can not defend the actions of Donald Trump, they can only attack and minimize the source of the evidence. IF THE GLOVE DOESN’T FIT, YOU MUST ACQUIT. Sound familiar?