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'Innocent' until proven guilty.
I don’t think that applies to bail conditions though.
I would love to see Trump locked but I do worry that it lead to some serious trouble in the US and the vacuum filled by an even worse right wing nut job.
I would love to see Trump locked but I do worry that it lead to some serious trouble in the US
Damned if you do, half a dozen of the other.
If you try convict and sentence Trump there will be rioting and people are going to lose their lives. If you don't do those things, you're admitting that the US is no longer a democracy and is becoming a dictatorship.
I would love to see Trump locked but I do worry that it lead to some serious trouble in the US and the vacuum filled by an even worse right wing nut job.
If prosecuting criminals leads to their supporters causing trouble, you just gotta deal with the trouble. Otherwise you'll never be able to prosecute anyone.
The thing with Trump is, he doesn't have policy goals that he wants to implement, he just has grievances. He's popular with his base because he's quite a talented showman and he articulates the grievances they feel. People like Ron Desantis hope to inherit his MAGA base voters and have an agenda they want to implement, but that's why the base don't like them. They try to put on a show of being the champion of the little guy, etc. but they all went to elite universities, most have law degrees, and they just suck at the showmanship side of things. (FFS, watch some videos of Desantis trying to pretend he's a normal guy, it's just painful.) They think Trump voters want to hear about polices, they don't, they want to hear about grievances and they want to be entertained.
Placating the Nutters is NEVER the answer.
If you try convict and sentence Trump there will be rioting and people are going to lose their lives.
There was a senator on channel 4 news the other week who said that the worse case scenario is civil war. Not long ago making a claim like that would seem utterly preposterous but given the millions of paranoid, conspiracy theorising, thick-as-shit, right-wing nutjobs, who possess more firearms than all the European armies combined, who knows what they could do? They hardly held back last time, did they?
Because one things for sure, Trump will go all out in inciting them to do something completely insane because he just doesn't care
Placating the Nutters is NEVER the answer.
Just look at the STW Jeremy Corbyn thread....
watch some videos of Desantis trying to pretend he’s a normal guy, it’s just painful
But can he eat a sandwich?
There was a senator on channel 4 news the other week who said that the worse case scenario is civil war.
My son attenfed the 2019 Scout jamboree in the US and met lots of American kids from both sides. He came home convinced that there would some kind of armed conflict in the not too distant future.
If you try convict and sentence Trump there will be rioting and people are going to lose their lives.
I'm not so sure. His supporters outside courts have been heavily outnumbered by press. I think people will vote for him but I don't think that many will riot for him.
Because one things for sure, Trump will go all out in inciting them to do something completely insane because he just doesn’t care
He's been doing that every time he's been hauled into court but the crowds of supporters never showed up. I think his supporters actually learned from the January 6 insurrection that they face serious jail time for lawbreaking and they're much more into cosplaying than doing actual jail time.
A chunky proportion - say, 30% - of the US adult population appear not to trust in the justice system.
Is that a good indicator of a failing/failed democracy?
I would say yes, it is.
Is there a way back? Not IMO - even if trump was never seen or heard ever again.
I think his supporters actually learned from the January 6 insurrection that they face serious jail time for lawbreaking and they’re much more into cosplaying than doing actual jail time.
Agreed.
Might it also be that some of the republicans now see past all this - they support an "extreme" view of the world/US/Politics, but are realising that support for Trump himself may ultimately be fruitless?
I do wonder how many discussions there are among republicans about how to come out of this clean and not be dragged down with the orange turd on his 10th flush...
Just listening to Americast on BBC Sounds and its insane. Truly unhinged
Its not just Trump, its a large chunk of Republican senators who are still advocating the theory that Trump won the election, it was stolen from him and this is all a grand conspiracy by the state. Clearly there are millions who are only too ready to believe that
Have a listen to this one, The News Agents USA, some really good insights on the insanity.
Well Trump may not be a legal candidate according to the 14th amendment - though there would have to be a legal challenge each state.
THEGUARDIAN.COM BBC reporting he's holding a news conference Monday to unveil the report that will show the election was stolen and exonerate him.
Where can I buy popcorn from by the tonne?
Coming soon...
Trump says he will host news conference on Monday
A few moments ago, Donald Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying he would hold a news conference in New Jersey on Monday.He wrote: "A Large, Complex, Detailed but Irrefutable REPORT on the Presidential Election Fraud which took place in Georgia is almost complete & will be presented by me at a major News Conference at 11:00 A.M. on Monday of next week in Bedminster, New Jersey.
"Based on the results of this CONCLUSIVE Report, all charges should be dropped against me & others - There will be a complete EXONERATION!
"They never went after those that Rigged the Election. They only went after those that fought to find the RIGGERS!"
He then posted again one minute later writing "witch hunt" in capital letters.
MCTD - I think tj has cornered the market for bulk deliveries of popcorn and I've got the hobnobs.
I think tj has cornered the market for bulk deliveries of popcorn and I’ve got the hobnobs.
Gah - just Ryvita for the rest of us. Again. When will we learn.
“A Large, Complex, Detailed but Irrefutable REPORT....
Yes Donald, that's gonna be some hilarious reading...
BBC reporting he’s holding a news conference Monday to unveil the report that will show the election was stolen and exonerate him.
Thats a REPORT not a mere report.
I am sure him doing a press conference will go down a treat with the judge.
And that's the last us sane folk will ever hear about this nonsense, but for all the Trumpers out there they've now heard there is a report that totally exonerates him and that's all the proof they need.
Thats a REPORT not a mere report.
Not to be confused with
“witch hunt” in capital letters.
which is very different to 'WITCH HUNT'
Would be amusing if Mark or one of his IT elves could arrange to randomly CAPITALISE words in posts.
11am over there will be 4pm here; right, that's my late afternoon sorted on Monday.
Should be a giggle.
I wonder how many hours his rambling speech will go on for as he presents his EVIDENCE?
As LONG as it takes.
I wonder which of the US tv channels are CLEARING their schedules to take this LIVE.
11am over there will be 4pm here; right, that’s my late afternoon sorted on Monday.
Was thanking of working from home on Monday....
MCTD – I think tj has cornered the market for bulk deliveries of popcorn and I’ve got the hobnobs.
I was robbed, it was stolen from me, and I've got a REPORT to prove it...
Do you think he has done his own research? Bet he won't have even read the report, assuming it actually even exists anywhere other than his head.
Hoping the news conference is as memorable as the one at Four Seasons
We will know it has been doctored when it states that 'President Trump won bigly'
assuming it actually even exists anywhere other than his head.
Some poor intern is being tasked to "write" it as we speak...well, when I say "write", I mean firing up ChatGPT....
Actually, that gives me an idea....!
Who can use ChapGPT to produce the most Trump-like report?
Perfect Matt, apart from lack of RANDOM cApitaliZatiOn
Courtesy of chatgpt....
Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you about this tremendous website, singletrackworld.com. It's an absolutely fantastic site, folks, just tremendous. I mean, they've got the best mountain biking content, believe me. Nobody, and I mean nobody, has mountain biking content like they do. It's incredible, folks.
I've heard people say that their gear reviews are the greatest. The best gear reviews you'll ever see. And let me tell you, I know gear, I've got the best gear. They cover everything, from bikes to accessories, all the best stuff. Nobody knows biking gear like they do, that I can tell you.
And the community, oh boy, it's a tremendous community. They've got people who are just so passionate about mountain biking, it's like nothing you've ever seen. They talk about trails, techniques, and all the things that make mountain biking great. People tell me it's the best community out there, and I believe them, I really do.
So folks, if you're into mountain biking, if you're a winner who loves adventure and excitement, you've got to check out singletrackworld.com. It's a winner's website, just like me. Thank you, thank you very much!
Great post Matt.
trump has only ever been a cheap crook who made money by stiffing others and playing with the NY mafia.
It's fitting that the principal (?) charge against him is under racketeering legislation.
Teflon don? I think your cover is wearing very thin
RICO legislation is brutal, and arguably a bit unfair/draconian in some respects.
So the perfect way to put a pin in the orange balloon.
Thank you. Thank you very much. It's great to be here with you today. You are amazing people. The best people. I love you all.
You know, a lot of people ask me, how do I write such great speeches? How do I come up with such brilliant words? How do I inspire millions of people with my voice? And I tell them, it's very simple. It's very easy. Anyone can do it. Anyone who is smart, like me.
You see, I have a very special talent. A very rare talent. A talent that nobody else has. I have the best words. The best words in the world. Nobody has better words than me. Nobody. And I know how to use them. I know how to put them together. I know how to make them sound beautiful. I know how to make them sound powerful. I know how to make them sound true.
And that's what speechwriting is all about. It's about using the best words to tell the truth. To tell the truth about what's going on in the world. To tell the truth about what's going on in this country. To tell the truth about what's going on in this administration. And let me tell you, we are doing great things. Great things for America. Great things for the world. Great things for you.
And nobody can stop us. Nobody can stop us from making America great again. Nobody can stop us from making the world great again. Nobody can stop us from making you great again. Because we are unstoppable. We are unbeatable. We are invincible.
And that's why they hate us. That's why they are so jealous of us. That's why they are so afraid of us. Because they know we are right. They know we are strong. They know we are winning.
And they can't stand it. They can't stand it when we speak the truth. They can't stand it when we expose their lies. They can't stand it when we show them who we are.
And that's why they try to silence us. That's why they try to censor us. That's why they try to cancel us.
But they can't do it. They can't do it because we have something they don't have.
We have freedom of speech.
We have freedom of speech and we will never give it up.
We will never give up our right to say what we want, when we want, how we want.
We will never give up our right to express ourselves, to share our opinions, to voice our concerns.
We will never give up our right to speak the truth, to speak from the heart, to speak for the people.
Because that's what speechwriting is all about.
It's about speaking for the people.
It's about speaking for you.
And I will always speak for you.
Because you are my people.
You are my friends.
You are my family.
And I love you all.
Thank you and God bless America.
Hahah, are you trying to break the AI?!
It's gonna have an existential crisis at this rate, if people keep asking it to write trump speaches.
Maybe AI will just end up like the depressed robot from hitchikers, afterall!
What query did you ask, did you have to ask chat to be more A and less I?
Plea bargain struck, but there is another case in the works.
I think thats an example of going after a cog to implicate a bigger cog further down the line.
More here
ROLLINGSTONE.COM News of McGonigal’s arrest and his ties to Deripaska sparked rampant speculation that McGonigal was Russia’s inside man with a hand in the FBI’s dual investigations of the Trump campaign and Hillary Clinton’s emails during the 2016 presidential campaign
What query did you ask, did you have to ask chat to be more A and less I?
My one was done by Microsoft Bing Chat. I asked it to "write a speech in the style of Donald Trump about speechwriting." I tried some other queries before that, stolen elections, Hunter Biden's laptop, etc., but it refused to write anything on those topics because they are controversial.
When it first came out, I got it to write an excellent essay in the style of singletrackworld on the dangers of riding a bicycle after taking Picolax, but then it seemed to learn and refused to write anything else relating to laxatives and bicyles.
How "close" is that FBI case / person to the orange buffoon?
Isn’t there a wire fraud case as well, where Trump fraudulently asked for donations to pay to investigate the election when he knew there wasn’t any fraud?
Do you think he has done his own research?
Most nutters do their "research" sitting on a porcelain throne, trumps probably been doing his on a gold one.
Though he'll hopefully have to switch do doing "research" on a stainless crapper that's bolted to the wall.
How “close” is that FBI case / person to the orange buffoon?
Im not sure, but if there's a plea bargain, the evidence gained might be enough to flip someone closer to the Trumpet if not the Trumpet himself
How “close” is that FBI case / person to the orange buffoon?
I think if you played a business/politics version of "7 degrees of Kevin Bacon", there's probably a whole bunch of folks that they both have met, have had lunch with, are at the same tennis club/sex dungeon every week, have sons/daughters at the same schools. Its why they are so incontinent when it comes to speaking with folks they shouldn't; so-and-so introduces you at lunch one day to this other guy, and they in turn ask for a favour for this 3rd guy they both know, and then before you know it you're accepting bundles of untraceable used notes in a car park.
I hope the shameless bastard is seriously restless and fidgety about the walls closing in. I know he’s a narcissist and sociopath but surely they have their limits too.
He's keeping up his standards on the way down though.
By not helping the lawyers who have committed crimes for him with their defence costs.
Apparently RICO in the great state of Georgia carries a mandatory 5 year jail term. And there are approximately 30 or more people indicted alongside Trump who may be desperate to avoid that. <rubs hands>
Obviously polls this far out don't mean very much, but the Republican party has got to be worried about these numbers. Even if that 11% just stayed home and didn't vote for Biden, that's still 53/36 for Biden, which equals 60/40. If half them vote for Biden, that's still 60/40. That would be an absolute thrashing and almost certainly mean a large majority in the house for Democrats (so Republicans can't keep holding spurious impeachment votes or investigations), plus the Democrats probably holding the Senate (which they are quite likely to lose if the election is close).
TWITTER.COM and then before you know it you’re accepting bundles of untraceable used notes in a car park
I hate it when that happens!
Obviously polls this far out don’t mean very much, but the Republican party has got to be worried about these numbers
I'm sure the sensible wing of the GOP is really worried....but what can they do? I'm not sure there is a mechanism for them to stop Trump standing for the nomination, is there? I suppose they could chuck him out of the party....but then what...risk him running as an independent and splitting the Republican vote?
Reap what ya sow GOP Muddy Funsters
I’m not sure there is a mechanism for them to stop Trump standing for the nomination, is there?
They have asked all the candidates to sign a undertaking that if they don't win the nomination that they'll "stand behind" the winner. So far all the candidates have signed (as they all know that in reality they're auditioning for vice president) apart from Pence, DeSantis, and Trump.
None of those will sign anything like that, so in theory the party can refuse to nominate them
Reap what ya sow GOP Muddy Funsters
**** around to find out
Obviously polls this far out don’t mean very much, but the Republican party has got to be worried about these numbers. Even if that 11% just stayed home and didn’t vote for Biden, that’s still 53/36 for Biden, which equals 60/40
I'm suprised by this, until recently Trump and Biden had been neck and neck. I'm guessing 4 indictments with 91 criminal charges are finally starting to take their toll?
I’m sure the sensible wing of the GOP is really worried….but what can they do?
The sensible wing of the GOP is vanishingly small right now, or at least they are towing the Trump line until it suits them not to, which unfortunately currently relies more on the Trump fan base than the population as a whole
I’m suprised by this, until recently Trump and Biden had been neck and neck. I’m guessing 4 indictments with 91 criminal charges are finally starting to take their toll?
A lot of it will depend on how the poll is conducted. For example, if people are asked in isolation whether they think Biden is doing a good job, they aren't comparing him directly against Trump, just against how they would like things to be going so his favourable versus unfavourable ratio will look much worse. Trump is very good at motivating the Republican base, but it's difficult to see him winning over any voters who voted for Biden last time while also driving moderate Republicans to either stay home or switch to Biden.
Anyone who supported Trump last week isn't going to change their mind this week. The Republican base and the Trump lobby are going to show up and vote whatever happens. The real question is how many Democratic-leaning voters are going to look at a 2020 rerun election between two ancient white men and not be enthused enough to show up and vote for Biden.
The real question is how many Democratic-leaning voters are going to look at a 2020 rerun election between two ancient white men and not be enthused enough to show up and vote for Biden.
I think you badly underestimate how motivating Trump is for Democratic voters and how unpopular the Republican base issues are with centrist voters. Here's just a couple of examples:
In Ohio a couple of weeks ago, a Republican effort to make it harder to amend the state constitution (so that it would be easier to ban abortion) got rejected by 57% to 43%. That's in a state that Trump won by 53%, so a huge number of people who voted for Trump either stayed home or voted against the resolution. Republicans are losing swing voters and driving them to vote for Democrats. Abortion will be a major issue in the next election and Democratic voters won't give a rat's arse about how old Biden is, they know that they have to turn out to vote if they want to have any chance of getting Democratic policies enacted.
In other special elections, MAGA candidates have generally underperformed compared to the performances of non-MAGA Republican candidates. There a lot of people who want moderate Republican leaders but are turned off by the crazy stuff. Problem is, the Republican base voters dominate the primaries so they keep nominating unelectable crazies.
I’m guessing 4 indictments with 91 criminal charges are finally starting to take their toll?
Problem is, the Republican base voters dominate the primaries so they keep nominating unelectable crazies.
So Trump may well be nominated, but should hopefully have a real trouncing in the real vote while also trying to fight multiple criminal charges?
Yet more good news - it's being reported that giuliani is unable to cover his various bills - not just legal - and with trump's PAC bleeding huge sums to cover the odious orange one's legal bills rudy could be staring into a very deep and dark hole.
it’s being reported that giuliani is unable to cover his various bills
So Trump may well be nominated, but should hopefully have a real trouncing in the real vote while also trying to fight multiple criminal charges?
We've just spent two weeks Stateside visiting family and that's pretty much their view (though they are staunch Democrats and actively fundraise and campaign so there's a definite bias). There was a ton of MAGA and Trump merchandise at the airports though, but I think that's mainly as tourists think it's funny. I was tempted by a MAGA cap just to see the look on my father-in-law's face when I walked in. I have to say, the general atmosphere around the country and welcome we received this time was great, everyone was really friendly, it felt more relaxed than when we were last there (which was mid-term Trump). Even immigration was a relatively pleasant experience. Stark difference when we returned to Heathrow...
LOL. Rudy thought Trump was going to pay him 20K per day for his services, Trump has stiffed a bunch of people who tried to help him.
Trump stiffed his alleged co-conspirators, whose false claims brought in $250 million
Rudy can't pay his phone bill. Still, at least he will be entitled to a public defender if he can't come up with money to pay his lawyers.
Giuliani struggling under massive legal bills after defending Trump
I like that Trump isn't keen on the state prosecuting in Georgia and wants it moved to a federal court. Still hoping to win in 24 and pardon himself :/ Though would be funny to see Trump going cap in hand to Biden for a pardon.
Not only that but he then gets to pardon others who might testify against him having done deals so he can use that as leverage.
then gets to pardon others who might testify against him
he’d be unwise to do that unfortunately. The 5th amendment allows people to refuse give evidence that would incriminate themselves. In a case with a lot of co-accused there’s not much you can say about another defendant that doesn’t also incriminate yourself. In big mafia trials and the like a useful tool prosecutors use is to give certain people immunity from prosecution. It doesn’t have to be a deal, nobody has to be ‘flipped’- you grant someone immunity whether they want it or not. Once you’ve done that, they can’t incriminate themselves so they can’t plead the 5th and if they don’t cooperate they’re in contempt of court. A pardon would have much the same effect.
In some cases, I believe that judges have said to the jury that they would be allowed to make an adverse inference if the defendant repeatedly pleads the 5th amendment.
Is this standard practice in US criminal cases or an exception to the norm?
Not only that but he then gets to pardon others who might testify against him having done deals so he can use that as leverage.
Apparently, he won't be able to pardon in these cases because these are violations of state law, not federal law. The trial can be moved to a federal court within the state, but the only benefit would be to change the juror pool to a potentially more sympathetic electorate.
I expect a lot more of this sort of thing - individuals losing their shit and getting locked up rather than a large-scale attempt to storm the courthouse.
Pardon in Georgia seems highly unlikely.
Trump faces a very tough road in Georgia if he wants a pardon. He can’t pardon himself, the gov can’t pardon him & the pardon board there requires a 5-yr waiting period *after* completing your prison sentence. And then there’s this:
Story w/@kyledcheney pic.twitter.com/U5XiygdtCl
— erica orden (@eorden) August 16, 2023
All very interesting.
I had thought that it was all a grift - that he's calculated that every day he holds-out, repeating the same bollocks about stolen elections and suggesting he'll run again earns him $X in donations, which he won't have to return if he later decides not to run. An I'm also expecting that the more his legal woes are in the press, the higher that X goes.
I had expected him to eventually cut a deal - he'll agree not to run, as long as the charges against him are dropped. Everyone wins: Don gets to keep the money and stay out of prison, GOP get a different candidate (who Trump endorses) and the country/world get to avoid the potential of a second trump term.
However, I feel like that's all backfired spectacularly - that the latest charges in Georgia (particularly the rico charges) can't just be made to "go away" without some fairly heavy handed political interference in the judicial process.
It's possible that they might have cornered him too effectively.
I had expected him to eventually cut a deal – he’ll agree not to run, as long as the charges against him are dropped
Luckily, the criminal system and the election process are independent of each other.
Although i dont know how this is all actually going to pan out.
The associated MAGA meltdown is quite fun to watch.
Good insights ^ ta!
History in the making.
Could biden him ?
Might stop some serious shit happening.
Could biden him ?
Pardon, you mean? Not for state crimes in Georgia. For federal crimes, yes, but I doubt he would. My understanding of pardons is that the offender has basically admitted that they were guilty. In the case of Richard Nixon, he left office in disgrace and his career was finished, he's basically only remembered now for leaving office in disgrace. Gerald Ford took a lot of criticism for pardoning him, but I think that it was the best thing to do. In the case of Trump, he seems to be incapable of grasping that he's committed serious crimes and has no intention of stopping. That disqualifies him from a pardon IMO.
the thought of 5 yrs in an orange jump suit might make him bite his tongue long enough and with a contrite statement from his lawyers.... Biden gets to look all cross party and a bigger man and saves the USA from the embarrassment of locking up a former President.