Board 8 > Politics Containment Topic 111: But, His Emails

(+) Yeah! (+)

Also we're getting a little sidetracked

This whole thing isn't about "we gotta convict Don Jr."

It's a piece of the puzzle, and it involves Jared Kushner, an active member of the administration, perjuring himself to hide dealings with a foreign government to influence an election.
---

Trump pardoning JR speaks to Trump's own corruption, and it's something that would shock nobody.

The entire GOP bending over for him is a far worse statement and taints the entire damn field. The GOP shouldn't be slaves to Trump, that's not their job, and the voters hailing at Trump's feet would do the same to literally any politician with an (R) next to their name.
---

Seph's question relies on Donald being unable to be impeached.

I don't believe that to be true -- it's hard to underestimate how low his party will go for him and we saw during Watergate that politics remained oartisan then too, but this is a long-running accusation of collusion/treason that Donald's son just made a huge confession on which also includes Donald's son-in-law and Donald's campaign manager. This confession also colors in a whole lot of what we've seen this past year too of Donald.

American cynicism might be the result, but for the moment the cynicism of this problem being remedied is only Seph's.
---

Nelson_Mandela posted...

Trump isn't getting impeached. He won't resign. "Justice" will not be served for DJTJ. It will only continue the sideshow that American politics has become thanks to Trump, rather than focusing energy on actual governance.

You say this like he's a force of nature. Impeachment is the power of Congress. While I agree with you that they are highly unlikely to impeach, that's on them, not Trump in this scenario. If national cynicism rises in this case, it's entirely the fault of Republicans for being derelict in their duty as seen by the public.

Also, while Trump has brought his own set of issues to how politics is conducted these days, this has been building up for a long time. See: Republican Obstruction during Obama's entire term. You could even argue back to 1994. Maybe even before that.

Dancedreamer posted...

Can't pardons be revoked?

Wait, no . Sorry. They can only be revoked if the President is impeached, and his replacement chooses to overturn them.

I... don't actually think this is true.

Once a pardon is served and delivered, it can't be revoked. Even by the President who issued it himself. There was actually a case where Bush 43 (I think) revoked one a day later and claimed he was legally allowed to because it wasn't officially delivered.
---

Corrik posted...

SupremeZero posted...

Like, Corrik, literally all of your examples there are crimes.

Just hiring a prostitute or a hitman is.

Going to a mall with the intent to beat up your exgf then deciding not to and going home is not a crime. Unless you vocalised it as a threat beforehand.

That's the equivalent of getting the email and reading it and not responding.

Don Jr absolutely "vocalized his intent" to collude with a foreign government to influence an election.
---

People seriously pretending Corrik isn't just lying out of his ass to look away from the fact that he got conned smh
---

Nelson_Mandela posted...

Oh well. Hopefully this DJTJ allows Mitch to ram through the healthcare bill while the flakier senators' constituents are distracted at least.

Didn't you hear? He cancelled 2 weeks of recess so they can't go home to hear from them, until they pass the bill.

Do YOU actually like the health care bill? Yeah it's a "win" but I think you, like most of us, are on the losing side of the actual contents of the bill
---

Regaro posted...

People seriously pretending Corrik isn't just lying out of his ass to look away from the fact that he got conned smh

He got conned so hard.

The depressing thing is that my grandfather also will go to his grave insisting that this isn't Trump's fault.
---

My parents have thankfully escaped the Trump con job, but their response has been to pretty much stop paying attention to or talking about politics altogether.
---

More new Trump tweets!

https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/885081181980590084
Is it still a hunt if a witch Tweets that she's a witch?

https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/885128373441355777
Here he is all but confirming the charges "but Hillary!"

https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/885131482397908992
That last sentence is one of his biggest lies ever
---

Peace___Frog posted...

Regaro posted...

People seriously pretending Corrik isn't just lying out of his ass to look away from the fact that he got conned smh

He got conned so hard.

The depressing thing is that my grandfather also will go to his grave insisting that this isn't Trump's fault.

Lol what did I got conned on? Lmfao
---

Jakyl25 posted...

That last sentence is one of his biggest lies ever

No kidding
---

Also how can the White House be "functioning perfectly" while at the same time Senate Democrats are supposedly obstructing dozens of critical administration appointments?
---

seems like every other week there's a new "biggest witch hunt in political history."
---

If he doesn't have time for Pokemon Go, who's to say he has time for TV
---

He certainly retweets a lot of TV show segments <_<
---

Jakyl25 posted...

Also how can the White House be "functioning perfectly" while at the same time Senate Democrats are supposedly obstructing dozens of critical administration appointments?

...

but executive appointments only require 50 votes in the senate

the democrats couldn't obstruct even if they wanted to

maybe that's the key? there's some parallel universes thing going on there?
---

xp1337 posted...

Jakyl25 posted...

Also how can the White House be "functioning perfectly" while at the same time Senate Democrats are supposedly obstructing dozens of critical administration appointments?

...

but executive appointments only require 50 votes in the senate

the democrats couldn't obstruct even if they wanted to

maybe that's the key? there's some parallel universes thing going on there?

https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/884728971530829824

Ask him
---

xp1337 posted...

Jakyl25 posted...

Also how can the White House be "functioning perfectly" while at the same time Senate Democrats are supposedly obstructing dozens of critical administration appointments?

...

but executive appointments only require 50 votes in the senate

the democrats couldn't obstruct even if they wanted to

maybe that's the key? there's some parallel universes thing going on there?

Shhhhhhhh

Don't question it
---

HaRRicH posted...

I'd want to know how Donald Jr., Kushner, and Manafort had their expenses for this meeting covered before saying they didn't pay anything for this crime too. Food, travel, time away from other work (Junior isn't on the staff but still), etc.

https://twitter.com/pbump/status/884808051819151360

Oh hey
---

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-administration-appointee-tracker/database/

A few stats on Donald's appointees thus far.
---

Jakyl25 posted...

HaRRicH posted...

I'd want to know how Donald Jr., Kushner, and Manafort had their expenses for this meeting covered before saying they didn't pay anything for this crime too. Food, travel, time away from other work (Junior isn't on the staff but still), etc.

https://twitter.com/pbump/status/884808051819151360

Oh hey

Who'd have thought
---

---

HaRRicH posted...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-administration-appointee-tracker/database/

A few stats on Donald's appointees thus far.

Key takeaway is that both Obama and Bush had more sent but not confirmed nominees at this point in their respective presidencies.
---

Regaro posted...

HaRRicH posted...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-administration-appointee-tracker/database/

A few stats on Donald's appointees thus far.

Key takeaway is that both Obama and Bush had more sent but not confirmed nominees at this point in their respective presidencies.

And therefore trump has experienced less resistance.


By the way, Trump's own pick for fbi is saying that jr should have immediately contacted the fbi.
---

Regaro posted...

Key takeaway is that both Obama and Bush had more sent but not confirmed nominees at this point in their respective presidencies.

Greatest witch Hunt ever
---

https://www.facebook.com/colbertlateshow/posts/1180043212140428

Andy Serkis reads Trump Tweets as Gollum

So great
---

Jakyl25 posted...

https://www.facebook.com/colbertlateshow/posts/1180043212140428

Andy Serkis reads Trump Tweets as Gollum

So great

expected cofveve. was not disappointed.
---

Is it actually illegal for a campaign to solicit information on the other candidate from Russia? We are not at war with Russia so I don't think they should be considered an "enemy."
---

I don't think they should be considered an "enemy."

You have the right to be wrong.
---

I mean, if Donald Jr. got the same information from Israel, or another country who is expressly our ally, would it change anything?
---

I mean we weren't at war with the Soviet Union either.
---

red sox 777 posted...

I mean, if Donald Jr. got the same information from Israel, or another country who is expressly our ally, would it change anything?

We've been over this. According to the letter of the law, any foreign entity would be problematic.
---

And I'm not aware of any convictions in the US for merely talking to the Soviets, or receiving information from them. Giving national secrets to them is another story, and clearly falls under espionage.

(h)Providing substantial assistance.

(1)No person shall knowingly provide substantial assistance in the solicitation, making, acceptance, or receipt of a contribution or donation prohibited by paragraphs (b) through (d), and (g) of this section.

(2)No person shall knowingly provide substantial assistance in the making of an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement prohibited by paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section.

(i)Participation by foreign nationals in decisions involving election-related activities.A foreign national shall not direct, dictate, control, or directly or indirectly participate in the decision-making process of any person, such as a corporation, labor organization, political committee, or political organization with regard to such person's Federal or non-Federal election-related activities, such as decisions concerning the making of contributions, donations, expenditures, or disbursements in connection with elections for any Federal, State, or local office or decisions concerning the administration of a political committee.

This is pretty vague but on its face doesn't seem to apply unless Russia was actually in a decision-making role at the campaign. Does the person who creates an advertisement indirectly participate in your decision to buy a I-phone? At least based on the emails disclosed, there doesn't seem to be evidence for anything more direct than that, yet.

As for intent, the defense obviously has to be that there was no intent to do anything illegal, nor was anything illegal done. Saying they intended to commit a crime but failed isn't going to fly.
---

Hmm, on second thought it looks like it turns on the question of whether information is a thing of value contemplated by the campaign finance laws. And, maybe whether those laws are even constitutional.
---

red sox 777 posted...

the defense obviously has to be that there was no intent to do anything illegal

His own words negate this as a defense.
---

maybe claim ignorance that it would be a crime?
---

red sox 777 posted...

And I'm not aware of any convictions in the US for merely talking to the Soviets, or receiving information from them. Giving national secrets to them is another story, and clearly falls under espionage.

Or falls under "Trump is spouting off in a private meeting in the Oval Office."
---

Isn't that particular case one in which legally it really is "If the President does it, it's not illegal"?

In that the President can declassify anything.
---

Yes, just making the joke that he's dishing out national secrets for funsies
---

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEi38JqWsAAnyIN?format=jpg&name=large

Jeff Sessions may be bringing back D.A.R.E. because "it worked before; it can work again."

What dimension do these people come from?
---

a daring one.
---

Jakyl25 posted...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEi38JqWsAAnyIN?format=jpg&name=large

Jeff Sessions may be bringing back D.A.R.E. because "it worked before; it can work again."

What dimension do these people come from?

Pretty sure they hail from a river in Egypt.
---

Hey they even have the perfect mascot fighting crime on Netflix.
---

But he's satanic if he's a devil
---

I loved D.A.R.E. just because the Cop who ran it was so cool, even to the stoners.
---

Jakyl25 posted...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEi38JqWsAAnyIN?format=jpg&name=large

Jeff Sessions may be bringing back D.A.R.E. because "it worked before; it can work again."

What dimension do these people come from?

I could use a new D.A.R.E. T-shirt. Mine's starting to show its age.
---

https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/885196229642268676

Spelling, the greatest recurring Trump Team nemesis
---

My DARE shirt said "peoples natural gas" on the back and we were all like "thats a fart"
---

https://twitter.com/sopandeb/status/885204686420234240

The replies on the embedded pearl-clutching tweet are ass-tounding.
---