What does the future hold for Donald Trump? - threadbans in OP

Fyi a very interesting latest edition of the podcast Talking Feds.

A point which stands out is how any one of the things trump did would torpedo the chances of any of the other candidates. Truly a cult of personality.

Before I scrolled down from the previous post, those words - decency and democracy - were the first two words that came to mind.

If they rule in Trump's favour, then they're basically declaring that a US President is a King/Queen and can do whatever they want without any consequence whatsoever. If that happens and Trump gets elected, it'll be the end of democracy in the States. Trump will appoint his successor and that'll be that.

....

Rudy repeated the claims outside court yesterday.

The defamation damages trial began Monday with jury selection and opening statements, but when court ended for the day, Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor and New York City mayor, continued to attack Freeman and Moss.

“Everything I said about them is true,” Giuliani told reporters.

“Of course I don’t regret it,” Giuliani then said when asked if he regretted his actions. “I told the truth. They were engaged in changing votes.”

When a reporter responded there was no proof of such an allegation, Giuliani said: “Oh you’re damn right there is. Stay tuned.”

Freeman and Moss want the trial judge to tell Giuliani that statements such as those are out of bounds in court from him or his lawyers.

I see Trump was basically doing a standup comedy routine about Desantis a few days ago, talking about how Desantis looks like a bobble head doll in his high heels, and all Desantis could do was respond with a tweet. It's hilarious and pathetic how Desantis essentially stands there and take it because he thinks there's a chance he will inherit the throne. He will never inherit the throne *because* he stands there and takes it. This is how MAGA eats its young.

If I was Trump, I'd nearly be tempted to see how far I could push my mockery of "the kids table" and watch them impotently respond. If Trump held a rally and presented a photoshop of himself having sex with Ron Desantis' wife, remarking, "this is what it would look like with a real man, honey..." what could Ron actually do more than a strongly worded tweet? I mean, there are lots of things he could do, but my sense is that he has too much sunk cost in the Republican party to actually do any of them.

Im sure many of you have watched The Comey Rule, starring Jeff Daniels. If you havn't I'd highly recommend it.

It dramatises very well the suspected interference by Russia into the 2016 election.

With the Republican controlled house denying further aid to Ukraine in their war of resistance against Russia. Surely someone in the FBI is wondering if there is further interference going on right now?

Has he really taken the gloves off? What stinging jabs has he sent Trump stumbling backwards with? I watched the 4th Republican debate and the only one I saw calling Trump what he is was Chris Christie. He's the only one saying that Trump and Trumpism are swallowing the American Conservative movement like a serpent, and he's paying for that stance by being the least popular of the four candidates on stage. Therein lies the problem - the other three are trying to take Trump down without alienating Trump's base. Sort of an unsquareable circle, really. I suppose it doesn't matter because Trump is, what, 50 points ahead nationwide?

Yes this occurred to me too.If SCOTUS rules that the President has immunity they are giving the present (or any )President carte blanche to do whatever they wish to prevent the election of ,in this instance Trump.

SCOTUS will ,presumably work out this "fine point" of constitutional law.

Perhaps their only choice is to refuse to take the case.

In that event ,would the Appellate Court be also practically obliged to refuse to take it ?

That would leave things as they stand with Trump going to trial in March.

(Or can Trump still find a way to delay the process?)

@Quin_Dub "announce that he was appointing Hunter as Attorney General to investigate the Trumps and Kushners"

That would actually be right out of Trump's playbook. ;-)

TBF the SCOTUS can still refuse to grant certiorari, they basically say 'get this crap out of our courtroom, live with what the Appelate court comes up with.'

Smith is engaging in a stare-down with the SCOTUS, this is going to be pretty interesting, and terrifying, too. Might be one of the most consequential days in SCOTUS history, moreso than Dobbs.

I think that if they could do that, then they would. There's no plan they're holding back on because it would lose them a GE. OK, they'd prefer to win a GE, obviously, but knocking Trump off his perch and becoming the new Republican royalty, would be a hell of a runner up prize, especially with respect to their current standing as pathetic worms who have to just stand there and take Trump's endless jibes.