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

Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#166251: Jan 11th 2017 at 5:37:03 PM

[up]x16 If Trump were to do a American Tienanmen Square, he would probably be instantly impeached, especially if he kills white Americans. Also, don't forget civilians can buy guns in the US too, unlike China where only the police and military have them...

edited 11th Jan '17 5:37:20 PM by Bat178

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#166252: Jan 11th 2017 at 6:09:17 PM

[up]Now somehow I can't help but imagine some sort of insane situation where the GOP actually tries to justify this. "Well, were they white real Americans? No? Well, then what's the problem? As far as we're concerned, we did America a favor!"

And if some of the GOP had a little too much to drink...

"Seriously, what's wrong with a little ethnic cleansing every now and then, huh? Huh?"

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#166253: Jan 11th 2017 at 6:20:07 PM

The man behind the sensational story concerning information the Russian government had supposedly collected about Donald Trump is a former British intelligence operative and was a longtime intelligence source for the U.S. government who had assisted the FBI during an investigation into corruption by FIFA, the world soccer association, according to sources familiar with the matter.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/the-man-behind-the-trump-dossier-was-former-british-spy-004221154.html

Holy shit. FIFA AND Trump? James Bond ain't got shit on this guy

New Survey coming this weekend!
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#166255: Jan 11th 2017 at 6:41:53 PM

Can we stop comparing Trump to Benedict Arnold? One of them was actually sympathetic, and had understandable motivations for his actions.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#166256: Jan 11th 2017 at 6:45:05 PM

I think that in a better world, Benedict Arnold would get a fair shake. Also, Trump would not be president despite losing the goddamned popular vote by three million.

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#166257: Jan 11th 2017 at 6:50:00 PM

I think the main reason people do it (myself included) is simply to constantly denote him as a traitor to the country, and express our contempt for him and his actions. Fair or not, Benedict Arnold is loathed by most Americans for his actions, and this as an attempt to pass that loathing on to Trump.

"Fuhrer Trump" may be a little more appropriate, though.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
carbon-mantis Collector Of Fine Oddities from Trumpland Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Collector Of Fine Oddities
#166258: Jan 11th 2017 at 7:05:53 PM

While the media was all about Trump today, Republicans in the House have quietly passed their "Regulatory Accountability Act". 5 dems also voted in favour of it, apparently.

edit- After reading a bit on it, one of the most damning parts is that it would apparently prevent any new regulation from being approved if there was any sort of legal dispute against it.

If no person seeks judicial review of a high-impact rule during any period explicitly provided for such review under the authorizing statute or during the 60-day period after the rule is published if no such period is explicitly provided, the rule may take effect as early as the date the applicable period ends.

edited 11th Jan '17 7:14:15 PM by carbon-mantis

iflewaway someone from somewhere Since: Dec, 2016
someone
#166259: Jan 11th 2017 at 7:51:32 PM

[up][up] I still like Cheeto Benito.

[up] They want to return to the good old days of The Gilded Age.

edited 12th Jan '17 12:04:56 AM by iflewaway

something
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#166260: Jan 11th 2017 at 7:56:48 PM

I'd prefer "Traitor Trump" myself for the alliteration, though apparently it's technically only treason if he's working for an enemy of the state, and Russia is officially not an enemy of the USA. For now.

Manchurian President might work too.

edited 11th Jan '17 7:59:09 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#166261: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:00:37 PM

I prefer, orange maduro for being venezuela or the human size mango, it fit better.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#166262: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:15:17 PM

He isnt a traitor because he didnt spill any government secrets, merely those of certain private citizens. I'm not even certain that's illegal.

I just had this crazy idea of Hillary suing Trump in civil court, for defaming her with the Russian government.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#166263: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:19:53 PM

[up][up] I'd rather not, seeing as how I actually like mangos. I don't want to be reminded of Trump every time I try to eat a mango.

Disgusted, but not surprised
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#166264: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:22:27 PM

He isnt a traitor because he didnt spill any government secrets, merely those of certain private citizens. I'm not even certain that's illegal.

That's definitely illegal. Not only that but documents says he helped pay for the DNC hacking and bought secrets from the Russian government about America's politicians to win.

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#166265: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:22:35 PM

@carbon-mantis: Ugh. So it seems like maybe the GOP have learned from their attempt to gut the ethics committee, which got them publicly shamed and drowned in calls from angry constituents. Now, they're keeping it quiet so that the outrage never has a chance to pick up.

This is why the few good journalists we have left in this country need to be watching them like hawks. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to sneak through a bill for Muslim incarceration piggybacking on some sort of budget reform. We can't let them pass their agenda by under the radar.

Also, another nickname I've seen used is "the Whore of Moscow." That one's arguably a bit misogynistic, though it also has a nice sort of Biblical quality to it.

[up] Oh yeah, he's definitely a traitor. If this isn't treason, what is.

edited 11th Jan '17 8:23:13 PM by RBluefish

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#166266: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:28:55 PM

Treason basically only applies during a state of war/armed conflict for you guys.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#166267: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:34:02 PM

Cyberwar is war. Just a new form of it. Maybe from a strict legal definition, it doesn't apply, but I'm not interested in semantics today. Conspiring with a hostile foreign power to take over the country makes you a traitor. End of story.

That's without even getting into their actual motives for doing so. Which is, in Putin's case, most likely the destabilization and eventual eradication of Western democracy. And in Trump's case, a monument to the skies with his name plastered all over it. (Yet another respect in which Trump is like a comic book villain.)

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#166268: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:34:37 PM

Technical definition of treason in the US is either taking up arms against the Nation or providing aid/comfort to enemies, with either a confession or witnesses. That is a very high bar, and you would have to prove aid to a hostile enemy power. Like, say, a 500 billion dollar oil deal set to line the pockets of a foreign leader of a nation currently under sanctions. Much easier to push a lesser but still terminal charge, like sedition under the Smith Act, which can be life imprisonment.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#166269: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:43:50 PM

[up][up] Maybe, but as of now there hasn't been an official declaration of war with Russia. So they're still technically not an enemy of the USA.

And as angry as I am with everything that's been happening, I still think declaring actual war with Russia would be a disaster. It could very well lead to the end of humanity.

edited 11th Jan '17 8:45:09 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#166270: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:45:31 PM

If Trump had been caught doing all this stuff with Iran or North Korea, then it would indeed be Treason. Technically, it's not treason because we're not at war, or have mutual hostility, with Russia. It is incredibly sketchy and terrible, though.

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#166271: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:46:14 PM

Again, I'm not interested in technicalities today. Russia are an enemy power whether we've formally declared them so or not. And what Trump did is not okay. I hope we can all agree on that last point, at least.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#166272: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:51:07 PM

[up] A lot of things Trump can be proven to have said and done are not okay. Unfortunately, so far none of it's actually enough to make a strong case for impeaching him. Yet. It certainly wasn't enough to prevent enough people from voting for him.

And by strong case, I mean "Gives the GOP an excuse to kick him out while also being awful enough to alienate even his diehard supporters so they don't end up screwing themselves over in the 2018 midterm elections."

edited 11th Jan '17 8:52:11 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#166273: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:52:13 PM

[up]If he starts actually locking up reporters or shooting up protesters en masse, I think that might do the trick.tongue

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#166274: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:56:11 PM

[up] Even if (and yeah, I still think there's a chance even that wouldn't be enough) that would be what shakes his support, I'm still hoping that doesn't happen. Mainly because it would mean people dying.

OTOH, that's probably going to happen anyway. Whether it's due to lax environmental and safety regulations, lack of health insurance, climate change, poverty, slashed social programs, or pointless wars...a lot of people are going to die thanks to this new administration.

I am really hoping the above doesn't actually happen, btw.

edited 11th Jan '17 8:56:54 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#166275: Jan 11th 2017 at 8:56:54 PM

[up][up] No, his supporters would still cheer him on every step of the way.

"Punish those dirty #FakeNews people! Yeah! Shoot those SJWs! Woo hoo!"

I wish I was joking. And I also wish I didn't think that could easily happen here.

As for impeachment, from a purely legal and ethical perspective, I think Trump will be impeachable from day one. From a political perspective, I don't even know what would have to happen before the GOP turned on him.

Seriously, if Watergate had happened in this political climate, Nixon probably would have remained President.

edited 11th Jan '17 8:57:39 PM by RBluefish

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."

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