Donald Trump the Megathread part II - threadbans and mod warnings in OP

Vicxas

Im not hopeful on this one. Even the Journal is saying he's unlikely to see jail time on it.

If he walks free he'll be deified. Absolutely untouchable in the eyes of the MAGA cult.

everlast75

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122193498#Comment_122193498

it was considered to be the weakest of the cases against him. However, there are two lawyers on the jury, who could explain the more complex legal issues to the rest.

With Trump's conduct, that of his lawyers and indeed his sole defence witness, on a human level, I suspect strongly that they will convict if possible.

However, there is always the possibility of a rogue jury member who wants a book deal after this, so I remain cautiously optimistic.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122193505#Comment_122193505

Agreed on the impact of him being found not-guilty.

There are multiple charges but not all of them are felonies so he could be found guilty for some of the civil accounting breeches which I don't think will matter to most voters.

It's the felony charge that is potentially the big deal.

Something I'm not clear on is what the judges options are if he is found guilty of a felony offence.

Does he have the option of not jailing him if he's found guilty - Can he make it a suspended sentence or fine him instead?

Vicxas

Seemingly for first time offenders jail isnt normally given, so make of that what you will

duploelabs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122193639#Comment_122193639

On a felony?

Vicxas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122193641#Comment_122193641

Sorry im paraphrasing from the Journal Article:

If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison on each of 34 counts,
but legal experts say that as a first-time offender he is unlikely to
get jail time.

Flaneur OBrien

Not a chance Trump is seeing jail, or being found guilty in this case. For all his warbling about Merchan outside the courthouse, Merchan should have been slapping him around the head over contempt. I can guarantee everybody here that should we EVER talk about a judge like that, that is presiding over a case we're involved in, it'll be the slammer for us normal folk.

Sorry all, but Merchan has very much shown his hand on this one.

Flaneur OBrien

The worst part is we will have the usual "centrists" gloating in here, "We told you he was innocent" 😑

Boggles

Mistrial, I reckon.

Then they will have to decide to do it again or forget it.

Trump will paint it that he has been found completely innocent - best innocent ever, Bigly!

Flaneur OBrien

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122193739#Comment_122193739

It would be hilarious if Merchan called a second trial before the election and Trump had to sit there with his scowl on him for another few weeks.

duploelabs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122193694#Comment_122193694

The journal isn't the best source for American politics, yes they've Larry Donnelly writing their opinion pieces but their day to day stuff is badly sourced.

Aside from the misdemeanor bookkeeping charges he's indicted for; The main charge trump is facing, in my understanding, is utilising the catch and kill policy to affect the 2016 election, which is a felony charge

HakunaJuanMata

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122193294#Comment_122193294

You still haven't explained how he manages to get any of this through the house and senate?

Someone please explain how Donald Trump will manage to become a dictator and get the two floors of Congress to go along with it?

The Democrats will likely hold one of those floors of Congress which makes your wild claims even harder to believe.

Flaneur OBrien

Defence says their closing will be 2 1/2 hours and prosecution says, depending on the defence, will be around 4 1/2.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122194004#Comment_122194004

Who says he bothers "going through the House/Senate" ?

Trumps Modus Operandi is to ignore the law , not to try to use it.

He just says "I'm not leaving" and declares martial law - Who stops him?

The Courts and Supreme court that he's stacked with apologists?

The DOJ that he will have filled with yes men?

Every other Government official that , according to the Project 2025 plan will have been replaced by people who have sworn absolute fealty to him?

Tell me , who actually stops him from doing what he wants?

The ONLY reason that he didn't get to over-throw the last election was because a very small number of people put the rule of law ahead of their loyalty to Trump.

He will not make that mistake twice.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122194004#Comment_122194004

The Republicans control the House.

That's how.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122194207#Comment_122194207

It's simpler than that , he just ignores them - Tells his base that it's all a Socialist/Communist plot and that he has to stay on to finally fix everything and remove the "evil deep state" and they will lap it up.

He will have kneecapped or removed every person/body that could take action to remove him and he just brasses it out because he is utterly without shame.

Flaneur OBrien

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122194224#Comment_122194224

How people find that far-fetched given everything that has happened over the last 8 years is beyond me.

everlast75

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122194004#Comment_122194004

the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

the road to authoritarianism is paved with people saying "he'll never get away with that!"

randomuser02125

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122193178#Comment_122193178

Hi Alanis

HakunaJuanMata

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122194251#Comment_122194251

If a president can't:

• make laws.
• declare war.
• decide how federal money will be spent.
• interpret laws.
• choose Cabinet members or Supreme Court Justices without Senate approval.

How is it you expect him to become a dictator?

Flaneur OBrien

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122194400#Comment_122194400

You are wilfully not paying attention to the other posters here.

Trump has already taken over the GOP.

Everything else, he doesn't give a sh*t about.

Who will stop him? There's no more dissenting voices in the GOP.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122194400#Comment_122194400

It's already been explained - He just ignores them.

All he needs are a relatively small number of people in key positions to help him either push through his decisions or block the attempts to stop him.

Last time around had Pence bottled it and given in to his demands then Trump would be President today , illegally.

Because he already had enough lackeys in the House and Senate to throw out the Electoral college votes if given the opportunity and push the decision back to the GOP controlled house where on State by State basis he would have been confirmed as President.

Literally all it takes is a few dozen people in key roles and the plans in Project 2025 ensure that those key positions would be filled with people loyal not the to USA, but to Donald J Trump.

And if he gets his way in the Supreme court and they decide that "Presidents have absolute immunity for all time " then absolutely nothing can stop him.

Flaneur OBrien

Looks like Blanche is knocking it out of the park today.

https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-05-28-24/index.html

Todd Blanche is speaking from a lectern angled towards the jury. He’s calm and conversational. There are no histrionics and he’s methodically taking the jury through his argument with the repeated use of excerpts from the court transcript and exhibits including entries in Trump Organization business ledgers. He’s had a week to prepare this, and he is ready. 

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122194400#Comment_122194400

Who says he can't?

It has already been explained to you multiple times by multiple posters, he will have yes men in place and anyone else he will just ignore.

That's how you become a dictator.

So who is going to stop him and how?

Outline the sequence of events, because saying "he can't" at this stage isn't convincing or credible.

Leroy42

If a president can't…

Anyone can do anything as long as others are willing to let them. As we have seen with Trump, previously understood conventions are just that. You weren't supposed to hire family members until he did. You were supposed to put your business interests aside until he didn't. Nobody thought anyone could openly declare an election illegal until Trump did it. And he had plenty of people willing to go along with him on it. Senators, House members and even members of the public who stormed the capital which they profusely claim to love more than anything.

We saw in his last term that the GOP were unwilling to do anything that might hold Trump to account, not even pretending to investigate the truth behind the claims that led to his two impeachments. Since Jan 6th, the GOP has done nothing to hold him to account for trying to overturn democracy.

He was working with lawyers who actively planned to override the Constitution so that he could cling to the office. He has lawyers arguing in the Supreme Court that a POTUS should be immune from all laws. Since he is openly arguing that laws shouldn't apply to him, why would you think that laws would get in his way?

HakunaJuanMata

I was expecting a more compelling argument than "he just ignores everyone" but I can not get blood from a stone as they say.

I disappointingly digress.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122194476#Comment_122194476

You missed the bit where the GOP control the house.

Flaneur OBrien

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122194476#Comment_122194476

The only thing I can think of is that you have everyone here on ignore and haven't seen the many, many posts directed at you.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122194476#Comment_122194476

And where was your 'compelling argument'?

Have you not being paying attention to how Trump hasn't suffered any actual legal consequences for all the laws he has ignored, going back to conduct from 2016 and we are now at 2024? That is playing out in front of your eyes, yet you don't see it? So don't talk about "blood from a stone" when you are ignoring the evidence directly in front of you.

Leroy42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122194476#Comment_122194476

But what more do you want? You saw his attempt after the last election. The main reason that failed was VP Pence. Had he gone along with it then the GOP as a whole would have and the Supreme court would have backed it up.

And it isn't just he ignores everyone. He is actively supported by the GOP and his supporters. And people like you that will argue that it is only a small bit of dictarorship, and its required because of 'place whatever excuse they make up' and sure with all the other protections in place its not like it can actually do anything.

You are looking for how its going to be done, you already know how. This time they will be better prepared and make sure they don't have people with conscious objections like Pence. Replace them, which is a given, and the way is entirely clear.