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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#279926: May 7th 2019 at 8:02:28 PM

Considering how the right tends to close ranks, if they remain loyal and don't squeal, "you won't work in this town again" probably won't even apply.

Plenty of Fox News positions (hey, they hired Oliver North for fuck's sake), think tanks and Super PA Cs out there.

Edited by Rationalinsanity on May 7th 2019 at 12:02:43 PM

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#279927: May 7th 2019 at 8:08:07 PM

I don't know.

Not sure if it matters. Nobody in the Executive branch will ever have to formally apply for a job or do anything that might be adversely affected by a criminal black mark anyway.

Criminal records are for the poor.

It doesn't matter, what's matters is that Trump's AG is being indicted because he refused to provide the full Mueller report to Congress.

Assuming that this indictment means that the report will now be in Congress' hands then things will get interesting.

Not to mention I doubt it will help Trump's political capital that his AG has been indicted for contempt of Congress.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on May 7th 2019 at 8:08:46 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#279928: May 7th 2019 at 8:14:23 PM

I'm thinking that Trump's best move, now, would probably to release his own Tax Returns. Like, I don't know what's in them, but his cronies aren't gonna be willing to go to jail to protect those, so they're probably coming out. So best to release them on your own terms, and give yourself the chance to take control of the narrative around whatever they say.

Hylarn (Don’t ask)
#279929: May 7th 2019 at 8:18:14 PM

This'll depend on how long Barr goes away for. If the sentence is short I don't think it'll do too much to discourage future misbehaviour, and he may even get a pardonnote 

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#279930: May 7th 2019 at 8:24:12 PM

Former Trump staff have actually been having serious issues getting jobs, even in the Republican leaning private sector.

As for turning over the taxes, I think that would be suicidal for Trump. Because he isn't just a small criminal, he's a MAJOR criminal like Bernie Madoff.

We joke about the rich not paying taxes and they don't but Trump has certainly committed innumerable instances of verifiable fraud.

This'll depend on how long Barr goes away for. If the sentence is short I don't think it'll do too much to discourage future misbehaviour, and he may even get a pardonnote With Trump's weird fixation on "winning", I think pardons are more likely for someone receiving a light sentence then a heavy one

Trump can't pardon House crimes.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on May 7th 2019 at 8:25:10 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#279931: May 7th 2019 at 8:30:22 PM

As has been said, Trump can't pardon Barr for this sort of thing. He'll try, no question. But he can't actually do it.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#279932: May 7th 2019 at 8:41:45 PM

Is anyone else kind of disturbed by the anger at the Democratic Congresspeople for not charging Barr as fast as they want even though they're simply following proper legal procedure?

This frustration with red tape and the desire to get things done NOW...that's the kind of attitude that leads to strongmen getting into power.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#279933: May 7th 2019 at 8:49:11 PM

[up]*raises hand*

I agree with you (and repeat your signature). I want to make a Pelosi meme based on the Obama ones: "Chill the fuck out, I got this."

The wheels of justice are moving slowly because the Democrats want to make very, very sure that all the i's are dotted and t's crossed before they bring Barr down, because when you arrest a Cabinet member, you'd better make very, very sure to bring your A-game. But they will put Barr's ass in jail if he doesn't cave.

Edited by Ramidel on May 7th 2019 at 7:50:27 AM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#279934: May 7th 2019 at 8:52:17 PM

Is anyone else kind of disturbed by the anger at the Democratic Congresspeople for not charging Barr as fast as they want even though they're simply following proper legal procedure?

This frustration with red tape and the desire to get things done NOW...that's the kind of attitude that leads to strongmen getting into power.

Nope. I'm definitely disturbed at the lack of anger and placating that has continually been shown.

Also, there's a difference between being angry at acquiescence to tyrants and tyranny.

If they do arrest him tomorrow, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Believe me, no one will give the Citizen Kane clap more than me.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on May 7th 2019 at 8:54:22 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#279935: May 7th 2019 at 8:55:58 PM

I'm more annoyed than disturbed. To me it feels like their anger betrays an ignorance of just what's going on in all this. Arresting an attorney general, precedents or not, isn't something to be done lightly. Take every preparatory step and nobody can claim this wasn't done up and up and by the book.

Realistically speaking, is there any reason to think they won't go through with what they're threatening when they've already committed themselves to going through with what they're threatening?

Edited by sgamer82 on May 7th 2019 at 9:56:51 AM

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#279936: May 7th 2019 at 8:56:28 PM

I can understand frustration considering all the shit the Trump administration has pulled and will continue to pull, but I also find myself somewhat bewildered when people say things like "Ugh, the Democrats are still bothering with procedure and red tape", because my thought is "Shouldn't they? How else are they supposed to handle things?"

Edited by LSBK on May 7th 2019 at 11:04:41 AM

wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#279937: May 7th 2019 at 8:57:56 PM

[up][up][up] This. We’ve been in impeachment level territory since last year. Remember the kids in cages? Yeah, that’s still happening, and a million other things as well.

I agree with Warren’s comments in the Senate today- “There is no political inconvenience exception to the United States constitution. If any other human being in this country had done what's documented in the Mueller report, they'd be arrested and put in jail.”

EDIT: to clarify, I’m saying that the same principle should apply re: Barr.

Edited by wisewillow on May 7th 2019 at 9:05:09 AM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#279938: May 7th 2019 at 9:00:16 PM

[up][up]It's a bit like people always going on about how we should be willing to debate and compromise...unless it's about something they care about.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Steven (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#279939: May 7th 2019 at 9:00:19 PM

@LSBK

I have a feeling people want the Democrats to go tit-for-tat on the Republicans, figuring of the Republicans can be cheating dirty bastards, then the Dems should fight fire with fire.

Remember, these idiots drive, fuck, and vote. Not always in that order.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#279941: May 7th 2019 at 9:01:53 PM

They want to punish the Republicans, plain and simple.

Edited by M84 on May 8th 2019 at 12:02:49 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#279942: May 7th 2019 at 9:02:46 PM

I saw a tweet a while ago that brought up when the Republicans impeached Bill Clinton, all they got was... the House, Senate, and the presidency.

But I'm more concerned with impeachment because of things like what Willow mentioned above. Impeach because it's the right thing to do.

Do not obey in advance.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#279943: May 7th 2019 at 9:03:38 PM

[up]Didn't we already have the mods call for impeachment not to be brought up again?

We've already demonstrated multiple times that we simply cannot keep a cool head about this topic.

Edited by M84 on May 8th 2019 at 12:04:12 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#279944: May 7th 2019 at 9:09:01 PM

Exclusive: Mueller fought release of Comey memos to prevent Trump and others from changing stories – Special counsel Robert Mueller's prosecutors didn't want former FBI Director James Comey's memos released because they feared that President Donald Trump and other witnesses could change their stories after reading Comey's version of events, according to an argument they made in a January 2018 sealed court hearing.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/07/politics/mueller-comey-memos/index.html

House Oversight Committee threatens salaries of Interior staff who block interviews – The committee’s threat ratchets up the pressure on Interior in the latest skirmish between House Democrats and the Trump administration.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/07/interior-department-salaries-threat-1414201

Edited by sgamer82 on May 7th 2019 at 10:12:13 AM

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#279945: May 7th 2019 at 9:09:43 PM

[up][up][up]Considering that I'm fairly certain that Bill Clinton became more popular after impeachment, and the shenanigans of the 2000 Presidential elections, that sounds deliberately disingenuous to attribute all of that to impeachment.

Edited by LSBK on May 7th 2019 at 11:09:58 AM

Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#279946: May 7th 2019 at 9:15:40 PM

@Charles: Man, if they're not planning to go through with it, why the hell would they not have taken the deal the White House offered? Which wasn't what they were asking for, but it's a lot more than they'd get for chickening out; i.e. nothing.

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#279947: May 7th 2019 at 9:19:57 PM

The House was Republican when they impeached Clinton, but they lost seats (which they regained after 9/11 and they lost the Senate to an effective dead heat, which didn't mean anything since they got the presidency.

Edited by tclittle on May 7th 2019 at 11:22:15 AM

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#279948: May 7th 2019 at 9:35:52 PM

Regarding impeachment; Part of the issue is plain timing; these kinds of things necessarily take a long time to do and at this point it's not unreasonable to consider voting him out the most efficient way to get him out. The other major part of the issue is: MITCH MCCONNELL, which though mentioned before, I feel like people are not bringing up enough. Sure, the House can indict, but if Mitch Fucking Mc Connell remains in his position, nothing is going to happen simply because he can single handedly prevent it. Pelosi seeing it impeachment as an unviable plane at this point is not an unreasonable position to have.

And as a corollary to all this: THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE STILL HAPPENING. Barr is getting subpeonaed and called into contempt. They're trying to get Mueller in (or have already scheduled it, I forget.) The investigations that would lead up to an impeachment is still happening, which as far as I'm concerned is the far more important thing here. What we need to do, mostly, is encourage that effort in whatever way we can, and pay attention to what comes out of it.

There's other things, too. That stuff in New York regarding Kushner? Not being reported on often, but still happening. That stuff about the inauguration and the weird finances surrounding that? Still happening. At this point it's less about impeachment specifically, but more about the wider effort to get those facts out there where it can't be ignored.

Edited by AceofSpades on May 7th 2019 at 11:36:34 AM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#279949: May 7th 2019 at 9:43:11 PM

Yeah, calling the Democratic Congresspeople spineless cowards for going through the proper procedures seems like the wrong thing to do.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#279950: May 7th 2019 at 9:56:27 PM

Nadler is warning Mc Gahn that he'll be brought up on contempt charges too if he doesn't show up to his hearing in two weeks.


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