Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Breccia]

"Each day spent relitigating the past is one day less we have to seize the future."

...he knows he's a conservative, right?

[Azadina]

...he knows he's a conservative, right?

Should praise his honesty for admitting they are not.

[Breccia]

So that "disingenuous" court finding a few days ago?

It led to McGahn testifying to House Democrats. Remember, he was the star witness. Simply put, Trump/Barr did nothing but stall by Trump saying "Executive Time" and Barr saying "that's privilege, and I just choose to accept that". Biden's DoJ has no reason to continue this.

Oh, and remember that whole thing about Trump's DoJ saying "We can't move against Trump because he has total immunity"? Trump doesn't have that anymore.

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Things do not look good for Rudi Giuliani. He can't find a lawyer to save his life -- nearly literally, since dying in prison is an option here.

First of all, he's broke. We've all see the stories that he's begged the Trump campaign for money, and therefore, we've all seen the stories that so far he's been denied. I'm guessing there are a lot of lawyers who are taking a pass on the case purely on the motivation of "we won't get paid". I can't think of a more fitting punishment for a member of Team Trump -- the stigma of not paying leaving them high and dry.

But.

There's also the merits of the case. Giuliani's position is so poor, that even lawyers who have talked to him, have then refused to take on the case, due to a mix of "we're going to lose on the merits" and "this g uy directly attacked democracy and he did it on purpose".

Which means he's stuck with the dregs. How bad? Giuliani hires Arthur Aidala and Barry Kamins.

Who are they? They defended Harvey Weinstein.

"Wait, I thought Weinstein went to jail."

He did. The current appeal is based on "the jury wasn't impartial". Which is a way of saying "they knew he was guilty due to evidence".

Giuliani, do to consequences of his own actions and the actions of those people he chose to stand with, is now stuck with two lawyers whose claim to fame is "also tried to defend creepy monster in baggy skin, and failed".

Now, while Aidala and Kamins willingly took Weinstein's case so I'm just going to say they're horrible people, I have no reason to believe they're horrible lawyers. An Olympic-quality fencer is probably one of the best swordsmen of the 21st century, but if you put them against a bulldozer, they're going to lose. And let's face it, no lawyer specializes in treason, so I don't even know if this is, to continue the metaphor, an Olympic fencer who even knows where the weak spots of a bulldozer are.

Maybe they'll try to win the case in the court of public opinion, but that only amounts to saber rattling against such heavy federal charges. Guiliani clearly has hell epeé, and will soon be foiled again, if you...um...

"Something about defending a rapier?"

No, I wanted to use "douché" but couldn't find a good point, or counter-point, to use it.

[Benggaul]

Wednesday's report:

35,816 new cases, around 10k fewer than last Wednesday.

Top 5:

Fuck Florida.
Michigan: 2,765 new cases; 15 deaths
Texas: 2,466 new cases; 70 deaths
New York: 1,989 new cases; 54 deaths
Pennsylvania: 1,882 new cases; 64 deaths

Things continue to look better on the national level, for the most part. Even Texas' cases seem to be slowly declining after about a month of plateauing, though given their testing never improved after the winter storm there's still no telling how inaccurate their numbers are. Most other states continue to see a steady decline, though Michigan remains at very high risk. As the vaccination effort continues we could see cases dropping into the 20k's within a week or so.

841 deaths is over 50 more than last Wednesday and brings the total to 597,785. This is partially off the back of California's 100+ total for the day that appears to be a correction. Their average is in the 50's. The trend is still overall down.

Related news:

Fears of contracting COVID-19 at lowest level in past year--To me this isn't a positive. States like Maryland and Ohio are relaxing (or talking about relaxing) various restrictions already and that's still too early for my liking. Until we get close to that 70% initial goal I think it's foolhardy to open things back up.

Many Americans don't trust their public health system during COVID-19 pandemic, survey shows--Man, if only someone had some sort of plan to improve Medical Care for all and one political party wasn't against taking care of people.

Stay safe, folks.

[cubby]

Florida looking into extradition procedures for Trump if/when he's indicted by NYC DA.

Trump is in New Jersey right now, supposedly for the summer. Extradition from NJ would be straightforward, as the only hindrances are political issues - and the NJ governor is a Democratic (see also sane). De Santis, the FL governor (see also Fuck Florida), apparently has the ability to step in and "review" extradition requests.

The circus is back in town!

[Breccia]

To me this isn't a positive.

It's either a bad study, or a bad description of one. Most people who have gotten vaccinated will say they're not afraid anymore. Funny that you mentioned 70% because the study said 30% are still worried, and that means there's a lot of people not vaccinated and not worried. The study should have had breakdowns of who is/isn't vaccinated.

That said:

While worry has fallen among all partisans, Democrats' has fallen the most, from 69% in February to 43% now. At the same time, Republicans' level of concern has dropped from 27% to 14% and independents' from 43% to 27%.

That bolded is fucking suicidal. It's the Republican Party, lead by anti-vaxxer Trump, which is acting the most aggressively (yelling at people who ask them to mask up, threatening businesses that require social distancing, etc) and they also love conspiracy theories (see also: murderous insurrection) and are least likely to trust vaccines. So, they are/were the least worried and are/were the least vaccinated. Or at least, I will assume they are based purely on evidence we've all seen.

[Ripster42]

Looks like they're trying to nail trump's money guy with tax evasion.

[Breccia]

De Santis, the FL governor (see also Fuck Florida), apparently has the ability to step in and "review" extradition requests.

Suicide.

Not for DeSantis, this would get him votes. It's suicide for Trump.
a) He'll never be able to leave the state again. I say this without evidence, but I'm still 87.26% sure that getting on an airplane when there's an arrest warrant out for you isn't going to go well. Yes, including private jets.
b) Even if he does hide in his bunker, crying into his ice cream, there go his NY assets. NY will immediately move on what @Kellhound would call a "vendetta" by which he means "taking legal action that I don't happen to agree with" on everything taxes from the last 25 years. Again, I don't know the legal rules for this, but I'm pretty sure such a case would require Trump to take the stand -- and would be all the excuse needed for a directed verdict when the defense says "Your Honor, my client refuses to appear on the grounds that he'll immediately be arrested for treason".
c) And then there's that fun little issue with the Mar-a-Lago rules about living there. Heh. I'm pretty sure the locals, who hate him, are within their rights to say "there's a clause in the contract that says no harboring fugitives, so we're ending your license, come out with your tiny hands up"
d) And, purely for added fun, "aiding and abetting" could be used on literally everyone who walks in the front door indefinitely. Yes, even the taco truck guy.

If Trump tries to hide from this, it'll cost him even more than immediately complying, plus the fun for the whole family of seeing dragged, kicking and screaming like a spoiled toddler, to a helicopter with NY SWAT members and possibly Mueller.

[Breccia]

I doubt Trump will just stay in Florida for the rest of his pathetic existence.

Which is worse: going to prison forever, or going to Florida forever?

Bear in mind, while Trump currently owns Mar-a-Lago, he's about to become broke. Deustche Bank and the aforementioned NYState are the prime candidates to take all his ill-gotten money away when he breaks a contract (the former) or the law (the latter). No, @Kellhound, Deutsche Bank asking for their money back is also not a "vendetta". If Trump is lucky, he'll be able to structure some kind of payment that allows him to keep his self-imposed prison, which I will call "Bars-a-Lago". If not, because he's forced to file for personal bankruptcy and therefore cannot decide how his assets are sold off, he'll be thrown out into the street.

[Breccia]

Oh man, sometimes the stars align.

“The statute leaves room for interpretation that the governor has the power to order a review and potentially not comply with the extradition notice,” Joseph Abruzzo, circuit court clerk of Palm Beach County, told Politico.

Abruzzo is reportedly a former associate of President Biden's younger brother, Frank, but he told the outlet that “the full extent of the law will be followed and carried out appropriately, without bias.”

You can't make this shit up.

Once again, to jump out in front of any accusations of "vendetta" if a legal arrest warrant comes to Palm Beach and the person officially tasked with handling it just happens to be a friend of Trump's opponent's brother, it's not a "vendetta" when the legal arrest warrant is served. That's literally justice. Or, Abruzzo could just take a personal day and recuse himself.

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Trump's private life seems to be falling apart, too. I don't know how much Trump is paying Melania not to divorce him, but it's not enough to be seen with him.

[solinari6]

c) And then there's that fun little issue with the Mar-a-Lago rules about living there. Heh. I'm pretty sure the locals, who hate him, are within their rights to say "there's a clause in the contract that says no harboring fugitives, so we're ending your license, come out with your tiny hands up"

I thought they already ruled that "living there" clause didn't apply to trump. Something about there being an exception for employees, and they consider Trump an employee.

[Breccia]

I thought they already ruled that "living there" clause didn't apply to trump.

They did, at least for now. But the license is handed out by the city, and I would be shocked, shocked I tell you, if city didn't allow the license to be revoked if Mar-a-Lago started harboring fugitives.

[fwc577]

In other news, Black Republican Woman and Pot calling the kettle Black, Candace Owens called Chrissy Teigen a 'massive, disgusting hypocrite'

[DarkTZeratul]

Kevin McCarthy says "I don’t think anybody is questioning the legitimacy of the presidential election."

Everyone and their mother calls bullshit.

[Breccia]

Weren’t we just talking about them wanting to clap him in NJ instead of FL?

Yes. But I don't think the warrant is a few minutes away. This particular criminal needs to be caught more securely than any.

[Kellhound]

Suicide.

Not for DeSantis, this would get him votes. It's suicide for Trump.
a) He'll never be able to leave the state again. I say this without evidence, but I'm still 87.26% sure that getting on an airplane when there's an arrest warrant out for you isn't going to go well. Yes, including private jets.
b) Even if he does hide in his bunker, crying into his ice cream, there go his NY assets. NY will immediately move on what @Kellhound would call a "vendetta" by which he means "taking legal action that I don't happen to agree with" on everything taxes from the last 25 years. Again, I don't know the legal rules for this, but I'm pretty sure such a case would require Trump to take the stand -- and would be all the excuse needed for a directed verdict when the defense says "Your Honor, my client refuses to appear on the grounds that he'll immediately be arrested for treason".
c) And then there's that fun little issue with the Mar-a-Lago rules about living there. Heh. I'm pretty sure the locals, who hate him, are within their rights to say "there's a clause in the contract that says no harboring fugitives, so we're ending your license, come out with your tiny hands up"
d) And, purely for added fun, "aiding and abetting" could be used on literally everyone who walks in the front door indefinitely. Yes, even the taco truck guy.

If Trump tries to hide from this, it'll cost him even more than immediately complying, plus the fun for the whole family of seeing dragged, kicking and screaming like a spoiled toddler, to a helicopter with NY SWAT members and possibly Mueller.

Again, Trump is an individual. De Santis cannot prevent Trump from being arrested by the federal government and transported out of the state. He also cannot legally decline to extradite Trump if New York has a valid warrant.

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Which is worse: going to prison forever, or going to Florida forever?

Bear in mind, while Trump currently owns Mar-a-Lago, he's about to become broke. Deustche Bank and the aforementioned NYState are the prime candidates to take all his ill-gotten money away when he breaks a contract (the former) or the law (the latter). No, @Kellhound, Deutsche Bank asking for their money back is also not a "vendetta". If Trump is lucky, he'll be able to structure some kind of payment that allows him to keep his self-imposed prison, which I will call "Bars-a-Lago". If not, because he's forced to file for personal bankruptcy and therefore cannot decide how his assets are sold off, he'll be thrown out into the street.

You really fail to grasp the difference between an organization and a person...

[Zan15]

Again, Trump is an individual. De Santis cannot prevent Trump from being arrested by the federal government and transported out of the state. He also cannot legally decline to extradite Trump if New York has a valid warrant.

You really fail to grasp the difference between an organization and a person...

But its not the feds its the state of new york right?

Also one state can deny extradition, especially in florida thanks to their specific laws.

NJ has the same law, but they won't do anything about it

New York itself has been in a lot of fights over trying to get criminals brought to NY to stand trial.

[Edge-]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/barry-...uzanne-morphew

FOUND ANOTHER CASE OF VOTER FRAUD!!!

Woman disappears into the forest and is missing for months.
She then submits a ballot for the election, with her husband as a witness.
Apparently this raises no eyebrows, even though it came across the desk of local law enforcement.
Later, after the husband has been charged with first-degree murder for killing his wife, they bother asking him about the ballot.

He just wanted Trump to win, so he voted illegally on behalf of his wife whom he allegedly murdered.

Only. The. Best. People.

[kaid]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/barry-...uzanne-morphew

FOUND ANOTHER CASE OF VOTER FRAUD!!!

Woman disappears into the forest and is missing for months.
She then submits a ballot for the election, with her husband as a witness.
Apparently this raises no eyebrows, even though it came across the desk of local law enforcement.
Later, after the husband has been charged with first-degree murder for killing his wife, they bother asking him about the ballot.

He just wanted Trump to win, so he voted illegally on behalf of his wife whom he allegedly murdered.

Only. The. Best. People.

Go big or go home!

[zorkuus]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/barry-...uzanne-morphew

FOUND ANOTHER CASE OF VOTER FRAUD!!!

Woman disappears into the forest and is missing for months.
She then submits a ballot for the election, with her husband as a witness.
Apparently this raises no eyebrows, even though it came across the desk of local law enforcement.
Later, after the husband has been charged with first-degree murder for killing his wife, they bother asking him about the ballot.

He just wanted Trump to win, so he voted illegally on behalf of his wife whom he allegedly murdered.

Only. The. Best. People.

See? Trump told you so. Cancel the election results. It was rigged.