Trump 64: He's Finally In Front Of A Judge

[GreyhoundFan]

He’s commemorating January sixth by calling for his followers to do it again.

[church_of_dog]

I think the pants thing is supposed to be a reference to how even famous people "put their pants on one leg at a time like the rest of us", but he totally failed to make the reference, plus what's his point?  He doesn't even try to appear down to earth like everyone else.  Oh I suppose he does make the claim, it just doesn't hold up.

[47of74]

Far as I am still goddamned concerned anyone who directly participated in January 6 or provided support like Handjob Lauren or MTG should've been prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 2381.  No meely mouthed deals.  No political calculus bullshit that too many in the democatic party like to engage in.  Each and every one of the people who attacked or helped out with the January 6 attack is guilty of goddamn treason, up to and including the orange fuck stick.  Anyone who got a headshot that day deserved it (and I'll fucking believe that to the day I goddamn die).  And instead of be scared to stand up to the Branch Trumpvidians and the fuck stick the universal response of the DOJ should've been either the terrorist pleads guilty and maybe they'll get out in 25 years or if not the prosecutor's gonna go to fucking war and push for these to face the death penalty.  

Up to me every one of them would've already been hanged like the people who helped the guy kill President Lincoln.   

Edited January 6 by 47of74

[Ozlsn]

3 hours ago, 47of74 said:

Far as I am still goddamned concerned anyone who directly participated in January 6 or provided support like Handjob Lauren or MTG should've been prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 2381.

Agreed. Still against the death penalty but being suspended from Congress and tried is something that should happen. If this had indeed been an antifa attack on the Capitol I can't imagine it would have been business as usual for anyone suspected of assisting them.

[fraurosena]

16 hours ago, GreyhoundFan said:

He’s commemorating January sixth by calling for his followers to do it again.

Not surprised even one little bit. Of course he will do it again. All the signs are there and he's not shy about saying it out loud.

Donald Trump didn’t sign loyalty oath for Illinois ballot that pledges not to ‘advocate the overthrow of the government’

Spoiler

President Joe Biden’s campaign condemned former President Donald Trump Saturday for sidestepping a decades-old, Illinois ballot-access tradition in which candidates pledge not to “advocate the overthrow of the government.”

Biden’s statement came in response to a WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times report published earlier Saturday that Trump didn’t sign the voluntary loyalty oath as part of his package of ballot-access paperwork submitted Thursday to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

That omission — days before the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection in which Trump has been charged — marked a departure from 2016 and 2020, when Trump signed the oath.

“For the entirety of our nation’s history, presidents have put their hand on the Bible and sworn to protect and uphold the Constitution of the United States — and Donald Trump can’t bring himself to sign a piece of paper saying he won’t attempt a coup to overthrow our government,” Biden campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said. “We know he’s deadly serious because three years ago today he tried and failed to do exactly that.

“This is the same man who thinks American troops who died protecting the ideals outlined in the Constitution are suckers and losers — yet calls the convicted felons who violently assaulted and killed police officers on January 6th ‘hostages,’ ” Tyler said. “He can’t fathom putting anything — our country, our principles or the well-being and safety of the American people — above his own quest for retribution and power.”

In response, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said: “President Trump will once again take the oath of office on January 20th, 2025, and will swear ‘to faithfully execute the office of president of the United States and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” [*whispers* Despite this, they claim he's not a federal officer]

Under Illinois law, presidential candidates wanting to be on the March 19 primary ballot had to turn in nominating petitions to the Illinois State Board of Elections on Thursday or Friday. Though no longer mandatory, the loyalty oath has long been part of that process.

Biden and Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis both signed the oath — as did several lower-tier Trump acolytes in Illinois.

“Why wouldn’t he sign it?” asked former Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who served on the House Jan. 6th select committee and said he signed the state loyalty oath for each of his six terms in Congress.

“Has he been advised maybe not to sign it because maybe there’s some legal exposures…given that oath, if he signed it, would be a violation of everything he actually did on Jan. 6, 2021, and leading up to it?” Kinzinger said.

The oath is a vestige of the red-baiting era of former U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s.

In it, candidates swear they are not communists nor affiliated with communist organizations. They also attest that they “do not directly or indirectly teach or advocate the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this state or any unlawful change in the form of the governments thereof by force or any unlawful means.”

Signing is optional since federal courts ruled it unconstitutional on free-speech grounds, but Illinois lawmakers have left the oath in state law. Countless candidates, in flag-waving fashion, have continued to sign it even though it’s no longer compulsory.

It’s not clear why Trump chose not to sign this year at a time his nominating petitions are being challenged based on claims that he’s disqualified from running by the 14th Amendment, which bars insurrectionists from seeking public office.

Biden observed the Jan. 6 anniversary Friday with a blistering speech in which he characterized Trump as a mortal threat to democracy and described his conduct on Jan. 6 as “among the worst derelictions of duty by a president in American history.”

In August, a federal grand jury charged Trump with conspiracy and obstruction of justice in connection with what it said were his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election by spreading lies about election fraud and sending a crowd of supporters to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 with directions to “fight like hell.”

The ensuing overrunning of the Capitol, as presidential election results were being certified, was linked to seven deaths, attacks on more than 140 police officers and charges against 1,265 people for crimes including assaulting peace officers with deadly weapons, entering restricted areas with weapons and obstructing an official government proceeding.

More than 700 of those charged have pleaded guilty and entered plea agreements, and 140 went to trial and were convicted.

Challenges against Trump are pending in 15 other states, according to an organization tracking them. For now, his name has been struck from the ballot in two others — Colorado and Maine.

On Friday, the Supreme Court said it will hear Trump’s appeal of the Colorado Supreme Court decision barring him from the ballot in that state. The case is set for arguments Feb. 8.

On Friday, a campaign spokeswoman for Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a frequent Biden surrogate, belittled Trump for not signing the oath. “Pledging not to overthrow our democracy is a hard thing to do when you’ve already attempted it once,” Pritzker spokeswoman Christina Amestoy said.

State election records show Trump’s other Republican primary opponents, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, did not sign the state loyalty oath. Christie signed the document during his 2016 run for president.

Some of Trump’s Republican political allies in Illinois signed the oath. State election records show U.S. Rep. Mary Miller and her husband, state Rep. Chris Miller, R-Hindsboro, did for this year’s elections. Trump’s endorsement was pivotal in the congresswoman’s 2022 election win against Republican U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis.

Chris Miller attended Trump’s Save America Rally on Jan. 6 but said he did not enter the Capitol or participate in violence. Still, the Illinois House passed a resolution in March 2021 denouncing Miller for having “participated and publicly promoted his role in a rally that led to a violent insurrection of the Capitol.”

The Millers’ Trump-endorsed ally Darren Bailey, a former Republican gubernatorial nominee now running for Congress, also signed the loyalty oath. Running to unseat fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost in the March primary, Bailey signed the document for 2022 and 2024, state records show.

Of Trump’s having signed the loyalty oath before the insurrection and not now, Kinzinger said: “What was the world like when he signed it in 2016 and when he signed it in 2020? Well, at that point, there had not been an attempted insurrection on the federal government 

“The difference between the last two times he did it and this time, when he didn’t, is he has a track record of trying to overthrow the government.”

 

[GreyhoundFan]

Once again, TFG demonstrates that he is absolute trash.

 

[apple1]

37 minutes ago, GreyhoundFan said:

Once again, TFG demonstrates that he is absolute trash.

 

So disgusting. McCain was a tortured POW for 5+ years.

I doubt Trump even has enough brain function to understand what the problem is with making this (and similar) statements.

I can't even think of enough (printable) words to express my reaction to this.

[47of74]

5 hours ago, apple1 said:

So disgusting. McCain was a tortured POW for 5+ years.

I doubt Trump even has enough brain function to understand what the problem is with making this (and similar) statements.

I can't even think of enough (printable) words to express my reaction to this.

The former guy is a goddamn motherfucking fuckstick piece of shit.  The day that four flushing piece of shit leaves this existence will not be a day of mourning for me but a day of goddamn celebration.  And I doubt even the Klingons would have any printable words they could use to describe this goddamn piece of shit garbage.

[Ozlsn]

11 hours ago, fraurosena said:

“The difference between the last two times he did it and this time, when he didn’t, is he has a track record of trying to overthrow the government.”

Ok that amused me slightly. The oath itself is a bit weird to me (similar to the declaration as you enter the USA that you are not mentally ill or have ever been a member of the communist party - all in one sentence with a yes/no option), and normally it would be reasonable to assume that people refusing to sign it are not in fact intending to overthrow the government but are protesting the nature of the oath itself.

Donny though appears to not want to leave himself open to any legal liability if he does sign and then stages an attempted coup? For some reason I am giggling a lot at this.

[WatchingTheTireFireBurn]

It's so strange to me that you wouldn't sign it....cuz it seems to me that he's so far, as per his usual, not had any real consequences to his treason. So why would he think signing that would have any real consequences?

The show of not signing it seems to be purposefully to show his followers he WILL overthrow the gov and that he's purposefully planning to  - as seen by his refusal to sign that. What other purpose could there be to not sign it except as a show to his followers?

 

I hate this so much and as we get closer and closer and nothing really changes - my horror - which seemed maxed out - continues to grow.

[GreyhoundFan]

If TFG gets to be POTUS again, he’ll declare himself king , skip the indictments and just imprison or assassinate anyone he doesn’t like. 

[Xan]

He was looking for voter fraud and FINDING IT?  He really thinks that if he keeps repeating the lie it will become truth.  

Also, he wants us to know that Joe Biden is guilty of something and if you go after Donny, they'll go after Joe so nyah, nyah, nyah.  We better not start putting important Republican people in jail because they'll put our important people in jail.  So there!

We have a demented child running for president.  And he's getting worse.

[noseybutt]

On 1/5/2024 at 10:36 AM, apple1 said:

I thought this was a joke. No. He really re-shared it.

He uses Christianity and professing Christians for political influence and power, while not only understanding nothing, and living in a manner opposite to the teachings of Christ.

It is a rip off of Paul Harvey’s “God Made a Farmer.”

[fraurosena]

1 hour ago, Xan said:

We have a demented child running for president.  And he's getting worse.

The impending trials are scaring him shitless and he will get infinitely worse as time progresses. 

It's mindboggling that the Republican party still wants Trump to represent them.

[Xan]

I think we might be coming to some conclusion here soon.  If the Supreme Court refuses to hear his cases and if the appeals courts deny his "presidential immunity", he will see the writing on the wall.  Honestly, I still think he'll flee to Saudi Arabia.  After all, they took in Idi Amin.  They might as well shelter a scoundrel like Trump as well.  He will have to learn how to keep him mouth shut to a degree or else he might find himself in a wood chipper.

[fraurosena]

2 hours ago, Xan said:

I think we might be coming to some conclusion here soon.  If the Supreme Court refuses to hear his cases and if the appeals courts deny his "presidential immunity", he will see the writing on the wall.  Honestly, I still think he'll flee to Saudi Arabia.  After all, they took in Idi Amin.  They might as well shelter a scoundrel like Trump as well.  He will have to learn how to keep him mouth shut to a degree or else he might find himself in a wood chipper.

I'm putting my money on the Colorado case. It could well be that the decision on Feb 8 will be the end of Trump for good. If SCOTUS is an honest broker of the law, (to quote Glenn Kirschner) the chances of Trump winning that case are infinitesimally small.  This SCOTUS has ruled against Trump before, so even though three justices were appointed during Trump's tenure in the White House, it's not a done deal. And Trump (via his lawyer on Fox) issuing veiled threats a reminder that Kavanaugh owes his position to Trump and should vote accordingly, underlines the fact that Trump is well aware that things might not go his way.

I wouldn't be surprised if, in the end, the elections will be between Biden and Haley. (I'd prefer it to be DeSantis, because he's a moron and will lose because of it, but Haley manages to look like a less dangerous option --less Trumpy, if you will-- and therefore more acceptable.)

It's going to be an interesting year, that's for sure.

[church_of_dog]

I hope the Trump-appointed justices remember how relatively young they are compared to Trump, and that they will presumably want to remain on the bench long after he's gone.  I know they have lifetime appointments, but they can be removed by future administrations if they are found guilty of whatever is the SCOTUS version of "high crimes and misdemeanors" so I hope they think twice about aligning themselves with behavior they know damn well is illegal and unconstitutional and undermines the very concept of democracy.

[Ozlsn]

5 hours ago, GreyhoundFan said:

TFG gets to be POTUS again, he’ll declare himself king , skip the indictments and just imprison or assassinate anyone he doesn’t like.

Basically.  Political opponents, people he believes have slighted him, lawyers, journalists who haven't kissed his arse sufficiently. Under the existing system he'd be out in four years if elected anyway, so why bother with even the pretence of upholding it?

3 hours ago, Xan said:

Honestly, I still think he'll flee to Saudi Arabia.  After all, they took in Idi Amin

My guess would be Russia. 

[Xan]

18 minutes ago, Ozlsn said:

My guess would be Russia. 

Out of office, he isn't of much use to Putin.  Donny would probably end up with that dreaded falling-down-the-stairs-cancer or falling-out-the-window-cancer and Putin would blame Biden and say it was an assassination by the Democratic elites.  Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, has more disposable money and they've done enough deals with Donald to be cozy with how to control him.  My money is still on Saudi Arabia.  However, I'd be delighted if he left the country at all so I'm fine with him ending up in Russia.  I just hope he's in one of the colder areas.  Also, I'd be fine with him ending up in North Korea.  

[livinginthelight]

He would never leave his adoring masses.

[Alisamer]

27 minutes ago, livinginthelight said:

He would never leave his adoring masses.

I'm not sure... he despises those adoring masses, and only sees them as people he can use. And, he can continue to communicate with them (and grift money from them) just fine online from wherever he ends up. Actual real consequences (like prison) being on the table might be enough to send him running. I could see him fleeing to somewhere like Saudi, attempting to form his own TV network for his followers, and continuing to attempt to build support from there, if it came down to prison vs. running.

I think the chances of prison for him are sadly slim, no matter how much he deserves it. It'd be house arrest at Mar-A-Lago or something similarly lenient. 

[Xan]

35 minutes ago, Alisamer said:

I'm not sure... he despises those adoring masses, and only sees them as people he can use. And, he can continue to communicate with them (and grift money from them) just fine online from wherever he ends up. Actual real consequences (like prison) being on the table might be enough to send him running. I could see him fleeing to somewhere like Saudi, attempting to form his own TV network for his followers, and continuing to attempt to build support from there, if it came down to prison vs. running.

I think the chances of prison for him are sadly slim, no matter how much he deserves it. It'd be house arrest at Mar-A-Lago or something similarly lenient. 

I agree.  I think he'll flee and tell his followers that he just can't get a fair trial from the corrupt Democrats.  He'll tell them that he's staying away until the Republicans retake the White House and the new president pardons him and restores his property.   (Haley has already said that she'd pardon him.)   He might hope for mass rebellions and lots of violence so that he could be installed as emperor but I don't see that happening.  He might be okay just settling for kingmaker while playing golf at Mar-a-Lago again.

I also agree that he doesn't love his followers.  He just uses them.  He appreciates their love but he'd settle for money and freedom.  He will, of course, keep asking them to send money for "legal bills" and his great "fight for freedom".  He doesn't mean the freedom of average Americans.  He only wants freedom for himself.

He'll never spend a night in jail.  I don't know what he'll do about those state charges that can't be pardoned.  My guess is that he'll make a deal to never run again and he'll pay some fines.

[livinginthelight]

1 hour ago, Alisamer said:

I'm not sure... he despises those adoring masses, and only sees them as people he can use. And, he can continue to communicate with them (and grift money from them) just fine online from wherever he ends up. Actual real consequences (like prison) being on the table might be enough to send him running. I could see him fleeing to somewhere like Saudi, attempting to form his own TV network for his followers, and continuing to attempt to build support from there, if it came down to prison vs. running.

I think the chances of prison for him are sadly slim, no matter how much he deserves it. It'd be house arrest at Mar-A-Lago or something similarly lenient. 

I hope you're right. The assumption in your prediction is that he will actually get some legal consequences. I guess that's where I'm pessimistic. I'm so depressed about all this. I think he'll find a way to blackmail people, and ultimately he'll get off completely, possibly with the presidency/dictatorship in hand.

There have long been rumblings in some non-Fundie Christan circles that he is actually the antichrist. Though I loathe him, I've always stayed away from such conjectures.  I can tell this is all getting to me because the other night I was actually wondering about the possibility.

[noseybutt]

3 hours ago, fraurosena said:

I'm putting my money on the Colorado case. It could well be that the decision on Feb 8 will be the end of Trump for good. If SCOTUS is an honest broker of the law, (to quote Glenn Kirschner) the chances of Trump winning that case are infinitesimally small.  This SCOTUS has ruled against Trump before, so even though three justices were appointed during Trump's tenure in the White House, it's not a done deal. And Trump (via his lawyer on Fox) issuing veiled threats a reminder that Kavanaugh owes his position to Trump and should vote accordingly, underlines the fact that Trump is well aware that things might not go his way.

I wouldn't be surprised if, in the end, the elections will be between Biden and Haley. (I'd prefer it to be DeSantis, because he's a moron and will lose because of it, but Haley manages to look like a less dangerous option --less Trumpy, if you will-- and therefore more acceptable.)

It's going to be an interesting year, that's for sure.

I agree with this except I think SCOTUS is much more of a wildcard. This is an extremely conservative court and originalism plays out in odd and unpredictable ways. Lots of similarities to how fundamentalists do biblical interpretation. It’s always the most strange when dealing with new scenarios and this one is certainly novel. 

[GreyhoundFan]

It's sad that his moronic followers will believe this: