I get that there was basically no chance that a sitting president was going to jail. But it’s not like making him pay a fine would have caused a constitutional crisis.
About the only good thing I can say about this is that it’s at least being honest about the complete lack of consequences.
It could just be that the fine would have been disturbingly low, and by fining that amount it would actually be more embarrassing than waving their hands and saying no punishment for supreme leader.
If he had been fined, do you think he’d actually pay it? And what then? You can’t stick him in jail to make him pay it.
I think this was the real reason behind the decision. Any governmental punishment is ultimately backed by a threat of jail/prison for non-compliance, but if you can’t do that to the president, then he can just ignore it anyway.
As it is he is now required as a felon in NY to submit a DNA sample, which I am very doubtful he will do. Aint no way they’re going to he able to get him to even give up spit. So yeah, no way he would have given up actual money.
As a side note, if somehow he does submit a sample, imagine the chaos if the database got a hit on an open case. Absolute fantasy fodder, I know, but man would that be sweet.
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If this is the lesson a majority of people learn we will be ruled by fascists for more than the next four years. Refusing to exercise power is self-defeating and will not inspire any revolutions. If we let things get worse they will get worse, because there is no floor to how bad things can get.
Agreed. This is why I’m going to vote Democrats and downvote anyone who suggests third party candidates
Surely the Neoliberals next signature piece of legislation they won’t shut up about for decades as a “victory” won’t be a heritage foundation created plot to further enshrine for profit insurance leeches into healthcare! Hopefully!
I wonder how they’ll move to the right next cycle. “OK ok, we now support the death camps, but God damn it, line in the sand, those death Camps will have Taco Tuesdays! Vote Blue no matter who!”
I know it’s decades too late, but it’s still cathartic to finally see a lot of people waking up to the neolib/Republican good cop/bad cop con job routine warring over social wedges as they rob us blind since Reagan.
This country was dying before Reagan from our greed disease, and his administration killed any hope it had left. We need a new framework, this one is necrotic.
Revolution! Pain for us means a future for our children they currently don’t have. Not a life worth living anyway.
Judge Merchan is a fucking coward.
I understand the feeling, but I think this outcome is probably the best we could hope for, given the situation. If he had tried to impose fines or imprisonment, one of the higher courts would probably have intervened and the sentencing would never have happened.
That just means there’s more than one coward.
Not true. Their hands were tied. Same with the prosecutors. This was their best.
Yeah bullshit. This is something worth ending your career over. The judge should have done the right thing and accepted the consequences.
Probably because maga has started killing people.
That’s fine. If they want to start a war over their snowflake feelings let them. Giving away our freedoms to avoid a fight just guarantees someone can take all of your freedoms.
You’ll have a felon in the WH. Great job, America!
In the race to the bottom, we’re taking the charge! USA! USA!
Cause the weenymunch judge pussed out on his judicial duties
“A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.”
- Alexander Hamilton
Clown country
“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”
- Benjamin Franklin
A country founded on genocide and slavery was always ok with being a disgrace
Definitely an unpopular comment to make in this thread, but from what I read at the time, most people don’t get jail time for first offense of this type of crime.
Of course, most people don’t hold press conferences outside of the courtroom bashing on the judge…
From whatever you read, are most people convicted of such crimes unpunished in any way, like Trump?
Probably not, but there’s also this:
Prosecutors had recommended the sentence, saying in court Friday, “we must be respectful of the office of the presidency” and Trump’s pending inauguration.
Makes you wonder why the prosecutors wasted all their time and tax payer resources just to recommend zero punishment. At least fine the dude in the amount he defrauded people.
Well, he wasn’t President-elect during the prosecution. That said, seems to me that asking for no penalty is the opposite of “respectful of the office of the presidency.”
I certainly hope the 1st World countries will not allow a convicted felon to cross their border.
This is the same crime that Michael Cohen got three years in prison for. A crime he committed solely to benefit Trump. It makes no sense.
It makes perfect sense when you realize that the US punishment system is divided into two different systems.
You’re either in the system for those who happen to be rich, and are supporting the system, in which case you automatically get released with a slap on the wrist.
Or you’re rich or poor and happened to disagree with the status quo. In that instance you’ll be fed to the punishment meat grinder, having “the fictitious and imaginary book of laws” thrown at you for the harshest punishment that the US punishment system can imagine through “precedent.”
He just did what anyone would have done! He paid for sex. Now can we please get the stupid landing page off pornhub?! Like what am I suppose to say? Yeah I’m not 57? I’m 17 today?
Anyway congrats to our king! The law don’t apply the same.
Not that I expected anything but this, but I’ll repeat what I said when Merchan announced the sentencing delay until after the election,
Fucking pussies…
He should resign, clearly he’s not fit for his position if he’ll allow himself to be intimidated into inaction.
I’m not making excuses for Judge Merchan, but it’s easy to say what you’re saying when you’re not personally dealing with a guy who can and will send an angry mob of violent nutjobs to your house. Something to keep in mind.
EDIT: Can folks please stop using the downvote as an “I disagree” button. I upvoted Admiral Patrick because they’re providing a meaningful contribution to discussion even if I disagree with the point. That’s why it’s called a discussion. They understand we disagree with our words, we don’t need to downvote them to hell to get that point across, jeeze.
With all due respect, Admiral Patrick, this is a democracy, and the people who take these positions knowingly take them being public positions. By virtue of being a public position, they are respondent to the public.
If it was an “angry mob” of protestors outside of Aileen Cannon’s house, I doubt we’d have the same issue with it, but law enforcement would.
If you take such a position and care more about your own life and skin then, in my humble opinion, you do not meed the bare minimum requirements for this position. This is a democracy and you are sacrificing yourself to the alter of the public good when you take such a job, up to and including dying to protect democracy.
You don’t say “well I need to roll over to protect myself” when the outcome means you’re letting all the most at risk suffer even worse under the thumb of someone like Trump. You just threw the weakest under the bus to save your own skin, which means you should have never been given the job to begin with, because you’re supposed to represent everyone, not just the wealthy and well-to-do. The weakest deserve your representation and this is an abdication of that representation which means they were unsuitable for the job to begin with.
Literally, every time someone bends over and gives in because Trump might hurt them personally, that’s just one cut among a death by a thousand cuts of our democracy. Each time they do it, they’re sacrificing a stable society in the future to save their skins now, which in my eyes, is cowardice and antithetical to the entire position they took in the system.
We are literally slipping into fascism because of decisions like these and I do not care about Merchan’s comfort when millions are suffering far worse than him, and he has just condemned them to worse by allowing this monster to walk free. He is literally telling us very clearly he values his own life more than the future of this country. He was no Nathan fucking Hale, that’s for god damned sure.
Nathan Hale: “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country”
you guys turn on the downvote buttons ?
I’m on an instance that they don’t federate downvotes, but I had a sneaking suspicion and checked another instance and was correct. I hate seeing that same behavior here. Admiral Patrick is making a valid contribution, a viewpoint that is considering other people’s feelings and positions, and is trying to put themselves in someone else’s shoes to understand why they would be afraid in this situation. Every part of their post is made in good faith. Is that not enough to just get a neutral no-vote?
So you’re saying if I’m indicted I should use violence instead of trusting the system.
Oh, I get it, and I’d be scared as hell too. However, I can still say he should have done his duty and has failed to show the integrity that role requires. He could just as easily be presiding over a mob case, knowing that to convict a crime boss would mean similar threats to his and his family’s safety. What if he doesn’t do his duty then for the same reason? If that’s the best excuse, I still argue that he’s not fit for the job.
People shouldn’t get a pass just because they have power. All it takes for evil to win is for good men to do nothing.
All it takes for evil to win is for good men to do nothing.
We’ve literally watched it play out my entire adult life. The Republicans constantly win because the Democrats are do nothing motherfuckers who are more concerned with saving their own skins than any of their constituents.
Biden literally was given basically carte blanche to do whatever the fuck he wants by the Supreme Court. He could release Jack Smith’s report today, unredacted. It would be tied up in court for a decade to decide whether he broke the law or not. He would comfortably go to his deathbead before a decision was made.
Biden ain’t gonna release it because he’s committed to “nothing will fundamentally change.” Do nothing motherfuckers.
What a phenomenal argument for abandoning the rule of law in favor of terrorism.
Are you saying judges should be afraid to not do the right thing?
When George Floyd was murdered they had a battalion n of police outside of the killer’s house to protect him. Why can’t they do the same here using the national guard if needed?
…A thought that hasn’t occurred to me until now: are we effectively living under mob rule?
They might not make up a majority of people, but maybe they command a majority of angry mobs willing to show up at your house?
They addressed your point in the last sentence. If he’s too afraid to do his job, he should have recused himself.
The only jobs that convicted criminals can get in the US are in the White House.
Any GOP position will do, as long as it’s the right kind of crime.
Was he under oath for his remarks? Stated that he won the popular vote by millions.
Don’t worry, this will appear 4th on the news sites after we discuss transgender issues and how “triggered” Musk is for the 6th time
Don’t forget the Gulf of America!
“We will invade Puerto Rico and force them to join the USA!”
main stream media orgasms from all the clicks they’re getting
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Mario, perhaps?
Copies are obviously the Waluigeon
