May 31, 2024

"That 12 Americans could sit in judgment of the former and potentially future president is a remarkable display of the democratic principles that Americans prize at work."

The Editorial Board of The New York Times declares, gesturing at the dubious notion that Donald Trump was treated the same as anyone else.

"[T]he greatest good to come out of this sordid case is the proof that the rule of law binds everyone, even former presidents."

Proof? Binds everyone, perhaps, but not in the same way. 

I agree that the case was sordid, but which way was it sordid? The NYT has taken a position on what is the "greatest good" to come out of this case. Tell me also: What is the greatest evil?

115 comments:

R C Belaire said...

"What is the greatest evil?" I'll go with Joe Biden for $1000, Alex.

Paul Zrimsek said...

As Americans, we should all be able to agree that Trump should be held to the same laws they might or might not get around to prosecuting someone else for someday.

Todd said...

Well it is the NYT. They have never met a fascist or communist they didn't love nor a person not considered a leftist that they didn't hate.

They are loving this case because they got their "Orange Man Bad" show trial and because 12 Democrats let their over-riding hate for Trump (and possibly their fear of individual reprisals) willfully blind them to the shame of a show trial they were involved in by going along with the evil and crooked DA and judge to "get Trump".

Oh happy day! Trump was convicted of "something" (a non-federal crime [that the feds did not even consider worth doing] that was past its statute of limitations even if it were the crime they claimed it was, at the state level (which has no authority to do that) along with a number of other bookkeeping charges (like Trump does his own books) that would typically be misdemeanor, using a shaky legal theory AND allowed the jury to [cafeteria style] decide for themselves (non-lawyers) what possible crime(s) he could have been covering up (must have been something, right? TRUMP) and never had to specifically say what it was so that the Trump team could mount a valid defense and who were never allowed to bring their own witnesses (experts) to refute that the original thing this all started with was any crime at all. But SURE, Justice and the courts WORK in the banana republic that is NYC, USA! Yeh TEAM!

Hey, NTY, now do Biden(fat chance that)!

Jeff Vader said...

I would totally agree with them if they can point to a single other person who has been tried under the same legal theory, just 1

mezzrow said...

Not playing their game, so I'm taking refuge in comedy this morning.

Robert DeNiro is right, Duncan!

Breezy said...

Hopefully about 150 million of us will sit in judgment as well on Nov 5, and issue a distinct correction to the NYC court. By running this case, Biden and the Democrat party have admitted they are political losers.

This whole “no one above the law” schtick is a blatant lie. A jury is supposed to determine guilt or not of a defendant based on presented evidence of a crime. They’re not supposed to determine the crime, with no presented evidence, based on who the defendant is.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Maybe the hatred was always there but like in so many other areas Trump acts like the catalyst. The chemical reaction is revealing the widespread hatred that Big Media and the Leftists and their Uniparty enablers have for Trump. For norms. For equal justice under the law. And for the Law itself.

The Law is simply another institution that they can kill and parade around in a skin suit made of it demanding respect.

(Analogy credited to Iowahawk.)

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

We all know that someday when the verdict is overturned it will not be a page one story that they wax on about being so “meaningful.”

Dave Begley said...

The MAGA crowd needs to encircle the courthouse on 7/11; just like for the George Floyd trial. If Trump gets jail time, they don’t let him be taken to jail. If he doesn’t, Trump leads them in a parade through the streets.

wendybar said...

The truth about MAGA is in the pudding. Were there riots last night?? We ALL know there would have been if he had been acquitted, as usual with the childish Progressives who get violent when they don't get their way. Us adults will face you babies at the voting booth...that is if the election isn't rigged for a delusional old man covering for an Anti- American guy with a fake social security number who promised to fundamentally transform America. Looks like the Chicago bastard won (by cheating as is the Chicago way). Happy now ugly Progressives??

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

what was the crime?

Why were different "crimes" that were not allowed to be defended - tossed in at the last minute?
The judge instructed the jury to find him guilty.

Leland said...

12 New Yorkers selected by a partial judge = Democracy for 300+ million Americans.

I don’t think that will age well.

But when in Rome… let’s start charging politicians and bureaucrats for their lies. We wondered yesterday why SCOTUS had to remind bureaucrats of the 1st Amendment, well it is because we aren’t throwing them in jail for violating our rights.

Iman said...

What a farce, but it shows the lengths to which these clowns are prepared to go. May they reap what they’ve sown.

MartyH said...

Trump was convicted because of a “crime” he was never alleged to have committed and never tried for.

Each juror could decide what this “crime” was-it did not have to be unanimous.

This is like a hate crime enhancement where each juror can decide if the victim was shot, stabbed, punched, poisoned, hung, buried alive, shot out of a cannon, tossed out an airplane, drowned, or choked to death.

Heartless Aztec said...

A watershed moment yesterday. And that water was our Rubicon. No going back now. No apologies accepted.

Jeff said...

Once the election is over, all the legal war against Trump will go down the same memory hole as Occupy Wall Street, Russiagate, Black Lives Matter, and Antifa: Political theater to advance the interests of politicians, government, and the oligarchs who pay for and benefit from them.

rhhardin said...

Never Trumper Richard Epstein says he's voting for Trump.

Promises made Promises kept said...

Trump and the GOP lost 63 cases on their alleged election fraud, despite the relentless and aggressive assertions from the Orange Man that the evidence is overwhelming. All of those cases were thrown out, In the current case, on bizarre business record fraud, he and his legal team put their evidence forward to a jury and he lost.

He lost civil cases on sexual assault and financial misrepresentation.

I think we can all agree that Trump is as dishonest as they come and that he is a loser. He is an embarrassment to the American political system.

He should stick to Truth Social and Golf (where he also cheats).

lonejustice said...

This was a sham trial, but Trump didn't help himself by calling everyone "scum" and other sordid names. I was a prosecutor for most of my legal career, and the behavior of a criminal defendant makes a big difference to the jury and judge. I remember one of my jury trials where at sentencing the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything he wanted to say, and the defendant stared at the Judge and said: "You can kiss my ass." Needless to say, he was given the maximum sentence.

jaydub said...

For the first time I’m ashamed of my country. Not sure what I am going to do about it, but right now I’m going to prepare for chaos and wait.

Promises made Promises kept said...

Ignoring crimes committed by powerful people is THE prime hallmark of a banana republic. So, is explaining away convictions as politically motivated. Without a shared belief in the rule of law no democratic republic can survive. So, obviously, America is in trouble. But the Republicans are clearly the main problem. They elected a criminal and wish to do so again.

Trump was convicted by a jury of his peers on all 34 felony counts. His defense attorneys objected to only one potential jurors during jury selection. That this is somehow a rigged verdict or trial by the Biden administration, as Trump and his toadies argue, is beyond ridiculous and entirely without evidence.

The case was brought by a New York district attorney without help or direction from the Biden administration, and the verdict rendered by 12 jurors. There is absolutely no evidence of jury tampering by the Biden administration.

So, as a duly convicted felon, in addition to having been convicted in civil court and ordered to pay $83 million in damages for sexual assault, and with multiple much more serious felony cases awaiting him, Trump may find his campaign increasingly challenged.

Trump, as a convicted felon, will likely find it more difficult to raise money, to get endorsements, and win over undecided and independent voters. He'll also likely lose some Republican voters as well- although not as many as would be the norm 20 years ago, when his political career would've ended in disgrace before it ever began.

It may only impact a small percentage of voters — probably not more than 5% or so, but that may well be the difference between winning and losing the election. There is no indication that becoming a convicted felon will help his election chances.

Paul Zrimsek said...

Now do Bukharin.

Iman said...

This is what they do when they have no candidate, when they’ve lost any shred of credibility or a sellable track record.

It will be them waging lawfare from this day forward. They have nothing else.

Rusty said...

Iman said...
"What a farce, but it shows the lengths to which these clowns are prepared to go. May they reap what they’ve sown."

As i've been saying since Obama. There is no rule of law for the opposition. If you disagree with the Democrat Soviet you are a non-person. Let's become ungovernable. Should be fun.

typingtalker said...

What was the financial cost of this trial to Donald Trump? Lady Justice may be blind -- but those scales are there to hold the gold spent by the prosecution/taxpayers and the defendant.

Win or lose, there is a cost.

The TV coverage is paid for by advertisers.

wendybar said...

"The Democratic Party is now officially the party of Stalin. Its operatives and functionaries have long tilted much closer to Sovietism than Adam Smith and Thomas Jefferson. Today they have fallen fully into the arms of Uncle Joe. Maybe it’s merely a coincidence that the titular head of the party is also known as Uncle Joe."

https://issuesinsights.com/2024/05/30/kangarooed/

wendybar said...

lonejustice said...
This was a sham trial, but Trump didn't help himself by calling everyone "scum" and other sordid names. I was a prosecutor for most of my legal career, and the behavior of a criminal defendant makes a big difference to the jury and judge. I remember one of my jury trials where at sentencing the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything he wanted to say, and the defendant stared at the Judge and said: "You can kiss my ass." Needless to say, he was given the maximum sentence.

5/31/24, 6:06 AM


As usual, Progressives can't HANDLE THE TRUTH. They are SCUM and they proved it to the world yesterday.

imTay said...

"All of those cases were thrown out"

Lie. In PA, their Supreme Court ruled that Democrats had violated their laws by using government resources to cure ballots in heavily democratic districts, but not in Republican ones. But the judges said that it was too late to do anything about it.

Most of the cases were thrown out on technicalities, and the evidence has never really been examined in them. Rich must be pretty confident that they are going to imprison Trump, and keep him off the ballot, or he wouldn't be riling up every voter with any sympathy at all for Republicans, and those who despise Biden, even more.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

the behavior of a criminal defendant makes a big difference to the jury

1. Trump never spoke in front of the jury did he?
2. The jury members were ordered to not consume media during the trial weren’t they?
3. The judge acted outrageously before Trump had even been arraigned so stuff your opinion about the judge reacting to Trump where the sun don’t shine, the same place your opinion originated.

Stop pretending anything about this show trial is normal or proper.

imTay said...

Good thing we don't have Putin for a president. He puts opposition candidates in jail!

imTay said...

I guess we are supposed to get dispirited over this. I am pretty sure that that is not going to work.

doctrev said...

The main difference between Donald Trump and Nelson Mandela is that Mandela was convicted of serious crimes which he didn't deny committing. The overwhelming leftist response this morning, even among the most rabid, is "MAYBE this will finally work."

Maybe this will finally wake the soft and comfortable upper crust up, but maybe it won't. It doesn't matter: Sam Adams already said what kind of people they are and what it took to keep them free. Perhaps in the next American Revolution, the new Founders won't bother to recognize such people as citizens.

Fredrick said...

"What is the greatest evil?" The Democratic party apparatchiks losing power.
Most outrageous is going to be his getting elected after his 'conviction', just like Alcee Hastings.

rastajenk said...

Rusty said...
As i've been saying since Obama. There is no rule of law for the opposition. If you disagree with the Democrat Soviet you are a non-person. Let's become ungovernable. Should be fun.


A major part of his "fundamental transformation."

imTay said...

"The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Well, the louder they talk about "protecting democracy" ...

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Now you know why the #3 guy at the DOJ would step down from that lofty job to be an assistant deputy DA in Manhattan. He has now accomplished what his master in the White House sent him there to do. I wonder what skeletons are hiding in Colangelo’s closet…

Rocco said...

Rich said...
"Ignoring crimes committed by powerful people is THE prime hallmark of a banana republic."

Thanks for reminding us that the day it was clear that we had become a banana republic was when Hilary Clinton was merely called "extremely careless", Rich.

Dave Begley said...

Off the top of my head, I can think of ten successful assignments of error.

1. Judge didn’t recuse himself.
2. Judge didn’t grant a directed verdict.
3. Instructions about pick-a-crime.
4. No instruction re: that verdict must be unanimous on the follow-on crime.
5. Not allowing FEC expert to testify.
6. Not striking DA’s closing argument of misstating Cohen’s crime.
7. Allowing prejudicial Stormy Daniels testimony.
8. Gag orders.
9. Flawed indictment; defendant never told of the exact follow-on crime.
10. Not allowing evidence that Trump was following lawyer Cohen’s advice.

dbp said...


The greatest evil to come out of this sordid case is the proof that the rule of law is only as good as the people who apply it. Anyone, even a former president, can be convicted of anything by a sufficiently motivated prosecutor, judge and jury.

imTay said...

"Ignoring crimes committed by powerful people is THE prime hallmark of a banana republic."

Projection is all they have. It works on the normies.

MartyH said...

David-

By the new discovered Merchan standard, he could be censured for all of them if each peer judging him decided he was guilty of one of them.

R C Belaire said...

At this point on, Trump should make his public appearances in an orange prison-like jumpsuit, or something similar. I can also see the orange t-shirt business exploding.

MartyH said...

Spoiler alert:

Today’s Wordle is an appropriate answer to our hostess’ question.

dbp said...

The NYT is once again demonstrating that David Burge is a prophet:

1. Target a respected institution
2. Kill & clean it
3. Wear it as a skin suit, while demanding respect

Krumhorn said...

Rich, the wheel will turn, buddy. The results of this have been bought and marked ‘paid’.

- Krumhorn

typingtalker said...

... a remarkable display of the democratic principles that Americans prize ...

Those Americans that have the money ...

wishfulthinking said...

Lonejustice

Of course, of course. Spoken like a good commie: Our words are violence and your violence is free speech.

William said...

The same lofty principles that were applied in the OJ acquittal were applied in this case. In the OJ case, however, only the jury was oblivious of justice. Here the judge, the prosecutors, and the media that reported on the case were all slanted....Any halfway plausible tale that is damaging to Trump will be believed by a Manhattan jury. The E J Carroll story wasn't even halfway plausible and Trump lost that case....The Democrats don't think they have any obligation to prove Trump's guilt to any Republicans or, for that matter, to any people who don't also hate Trump. The Fulton County case is being brought by a woman who is patently corrupt, and she will win that case if it comes to trial.....The Democrats are underestimating the amount of anger these trials are generating. I think Republicans know by now how much the Democrats hate not just Trump and his supporters but just generic Republicans.

MartyH said...

My secret fantasy is that the Supreme Court unanimously announces that each member has found a procedural error in the handling of the court case, recommends Merchan be disbarred for it, and then puts
a gag order on him.

mikee said...

I recall Republican House Speaker Tom Delay stepping from power under indictment (before conviction!) thanks to the ministrations of the law by Ronnie Earl, local Austin TX (Travis County) DA. Ronnie had to try three different grand juries to get an indictment on his spurious charges, so more a cheese sammich rather than even ham sammich of an indictment, but the local liberal jury convicted anyway. Delay found exoneration upon appeal, years later after untold sums in legal fees. Tom fell into lobbying afterward, so landed softly, but the Republican party lost his service as Speaker and let this debacle of lawfare stand as a precedent. All they did was change their standard from "resign upon indictment" to "resign upon conviction" rather than burn, say, Ted Kennedy for sexual assault in retaliation. So here we are.

Conan the Barbarian may have had something in his analysis of what is best in life, if only because it prevents enemies from continuing their attacks.

BUMBLE BEE said...

Think anybody will write a song about this verdict?
Perhaps titled, 'Any Means Necessary'?
Yeah, I guess not.

Howard (not that Howard) said...

Rich said:



TLDR: The doddering incompetent liar has a slightly better chance of retaining his figurehead "presidency." Yay democracy.

MountainMan said...

Blogger typingtalker said...

What was the financial cost of this trial to Donald Trump? Lady Justice may be blind -- but those scales are there to hold the gold spent by the prosecution/taxpayers and the defendant.

In fighting their unjust conviction for corruption - led by Jack Smith and ultimately overturned in an 8-0 vote by SCOTUS - former VA governor Bob McDonnell and his wife (who was also charged and convicted) spent a total of $27 million in legal fees. So even though they were ultimately vindicated, McDonnell's political career was ruined and they suffered a severe financial setback. But that was OK for the Dems, that's their playbook, so it was "mission accomplished." And now Smith is trying it again with Trump.

Rusty said...

Rich discharged,
"TLDR: The doddering incompetent liar has a slightly better chance of retaining his figurehead "presidency." Yay democracy."
Show us, in the constitution, where it says we have a democracy.

MountainMan said...

Good commentary this morning from Scott Johnson.

doctrev said...

The greatest good is the likely permanent shattering of "rule of law" as a governing principle for at least half of the country. Hopefully the last judge will be strangled with the entrails of the lastl lawyer soon.

The worst part is realizing that the Talmudic cretins ruling over us can't organize a proper show trial, which removes a lot of optimism for "efficiently" bureaucratic evil. America is likely going to suffer six months of total decline, assuming the election is held at all.

Dude1394 said...

The democrat party mouthpiece speaks.

Tank said...

What is the greatest evil? Yesterday was a worse day for America than 911.

imTay said...

Rich is so textbook. I bet he got very good grades in school. He never deviates from the basic precepts of the science of propaganda. Don't give him credit for believing anything he writes, he doesn't.

rhhardin said...

The guilty sheet doesn't say what the underlying crime was. Since it didn't matter, they didn't even discuss it. It was just an Airy Crime of some sort, and the question was whether Trump falsified his business records, for which the statute of limitations had expired.

gilbar said...

it took a while to come up with the guilty verdict, so presumably SOME jurors were in doubt..

Serious Questions: *IF* a juror HAD NOT voted guilty..
a) how long before that juror's name and address was public?
b) would that juror have feared for their life?
c) if NOT.. WHY NOT? How stupid Are NYC jurors?

Quayle said...

What is the greatest evil?

Pride is the root of all evil. Our individual pride is causing the divisions in our families, our social groups and institutions, and our nation. And the pride is universal. We are all subject to pride to one degree or another.

The root of pride is enmity - a state of hostility and opposition to others, of deep-seated dislike or ill will. It is a mindset that is decided. We decide to leave our home each day with an attitude of enmity, or not. If you want to see where your pride exists, look at the motives for the things you do. Is your motive to elevate yourself above others and diminish them, or to elevate them and raise them to your level or higher?

But we should all be warned. The Greeks knew well: hubris always brings nemesis.

Howard (not that Howard) said...

Right with ya, Rusty. That was sardonic, as morons like Rich love to yap about "muh democracy."

Temujin said...

The only thing missing from this 'display of democracy' was the noose.

gilbar said...

Rich, who wants us to think of as an intelligent person, said..
Trump, as a convicted felon, will likely find it more difficult to raise money..

HOW MUCH money did the Trump campaign receive yesterday? Enough to break their servers.. Repeatedly
But they got them back up.. and people KEPT donating

Yancey Ward said...

The beginning of this case and all the others was this:

"Here is Donald Trump, scour the lawbooks and find a way that we can indict and convict him for something, anything."

The above was the root of the evil that culminated yesterday in the verdict. That so many of my fellow citizens don't understand the above isn't the way a criminal indictment is supposed to start in this country is depressing and it is apparent to me that they won't ever understand it until it is done to them or at the end of gun. I view the people celebrating this travesty as blood enemies now and will treat them appropriately from this point forward- we aren't countrymen any longer.

StoughtonSconnie said...

I think Quayle has it mostly correct, Nemesis always follows Hubris. To transition from Greece to Rome, I fear the greatest evil is that by this prosecution (not to pre-ordained verdict), a Rubicon has been crossed. There are myriad jurisdictions where opposing political parties can now by precedent take opponents to the judicial woodshed on the flimsiest pretext. Never-Trumpers can claim, with some justification, that GOP voters knew what could happen and brought this on to themselves, but it's the other side that has now brought it to full fruition, and onto the whole of the nation. That's the greatest evil.

TrespassersW said...

Before talking to me about "nobody is above the law," explain why nobody on Jeffrey Epstein's list has been charged with anything.

Explain to me why Hillary wasn't prosecuted for her blatantly illegal private server.

Explain to me why Antifa rioters weren't prosecuted for attempting to burn down federal buildings WITH PEOPLE IN THEM.

The list is damn near endless. So don't give me that "nobody is above the law" bullshit.

gilbar said...

Blogger Quayle said...
What is the greatest evil?
Pride is the root of all evil.

Just a reminder, that June 1st is Tomorrow.. the start of "Pride is the root of all evil" month!

Yancey Ward said...

Shorter Lonejustice:

"If only Trump had sucked the cocks of his persecutors like I would have, he might have been acquitted."

That, from a self-proclaimed Republican, is unsurprising to me these days. Lonejustice admits the trial was a sham but criticizes the target of the sham for not respecting the trial process. If the trial is sham, Lonejustice, then nothing Trump or his lawyers could have done would have changed the outcome. Following Lonejustice's advice would have ended yesterday with Trump still convicted but only after spending 5 weeks groveling before the judge and persecutors.

That is what you really wanted to see, isn't it, Lonejustice- Trump groveling and begging for an acquittal.

tcrosse said...

A bunch of hot-heads in New York have fired on Fort Sumter.

RNB said...

It seems telling to me that Trump was convicted on ALL 84 counts. Like those '99% of the vote' victories they used to have in Nazi Germany and still do in North Korea. Very credible.

hombre said...

The Editorial Board of the NYT is shameless, stupid or evil, or all three. This just carries the pretext too far.

"[A] remarkable display of the democratic principles that Americans prize"? Really? A Soros prosecutor and bogus charges, a conflicted, corrupt judge, a porn star, a serial perjurer and a biased jury selected from a pool of Trump haters who reduce a six-week trial to little more than a day of deliberations to convict a former President and the leading opposition candidate?

I'm quite sure that polluting the legal process to disenfranchise half the population is a display of Democrat principles. Democratic principles? Not so much.

Leland said...

Geez Yancey; don't you know that was the purpose of the struggle sessions. To be humiliated until you finally gave in and agreed with the humiliation so that everyone would feel better about your subsequent execution. Its ok if Lonejustice identifies with the communist model. But I'm glad to know you are not a commie Yancey.

Sebastian said...

"proof that the rule of law binds everyone"

Actually, proof that the rule of law means nothing--or rather, that it can be invoked as yet another prog tool to justify yet another prog persecution and binds only those who are useful prog targets. Now, rule of law = rule of prog power.

Greg Hlatky said...

New Yorkers are collectively responsible for this travesty. They formed the jury. They elected Bragg, knowing he vowed to get Trump.

New York shouldn't expect any sympathy when the next attack happens. They've thumbed their noses at the idea of justice. They should not be surprised when half the country gives them the finger back.

Meade said...

tcrosse said...
“A bunch of hot-heads in New York have fired on Fort Sumter.“

My thought exactly.

NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...

"[T]he greatest good to come out of this sordid case is the proof that the rule of law binds everyone, even former presidents."

Except Hunter Biden when he lies about his drug use on BATF from 4473.

They forgot to mention that part!

imTay said...

Not only did Hunter lie on the form, that is a crime that is not usually prosecuted, but he then committed a crime with the weapon, by brandishing it in a restaurant, when his girlfriend took it from him and threw it in a trash can. That's when he stepped over the line that made the infraction subject to prosecution.

Night Owl said...

Do people actually believe their own lie when they dare to say no one is above the law?

Hillary clinton set up an illegal email server in a bathroom and illegally destroyed emails, and no charges were brought. The Obama administration spied on Trump during his campaign, and no charges were filed. Joe Biden had classified documents illegally stored in his garage, but no charges were filed. The media told lie after lie about hunter biden's laptop during an election in order to sway the outcome and no one was charged with anything. We could go on and on.

To those who are celebrating this "win", go on and revel in the moment while you can. But for the love of God, please stop pretending that people outside your bubble believe this was anything other than a peversion of our legal system. You may fool yourself but no one else is buying it.

dbp said...

Imagine if Biden was smart, had a lot of integrity and actually cared about the things he says he cares about? Stop laughing! This is a hypothetical.

What could he do in the wake of the Trump conviction, to further all of his goals? What can politicians do, other than give a speech? On second thought, maybe a press release would be better.

----------------------------
Fellow Americans, I feel compelled to address you in this unique occasion of a former and possibly future president being a convicted felon. For the good of the country, I call on Donald Trump to withdraw his nomination for the presidency. Now, some might rightfully say that I, Joe Biden, have a conflict of interest in this call. They are correct. Therefore as an act of good faith, I hereby withdraw my nomination for the presidency as of now. I will not re-enter the race under any circumstances. I have called on Trump to withdraw, but I have just withdrawn--This does not depend on Donald Trump doing the right thing for our country.

That is all. No questions and God bless the United States.
---------------------------------

Why is this smart?

--Any decent Democrat will do better against Trump than Biden.
--If Biden runs and loses, that is bad for leftist policies Biden favors.
--If Biden runs and wins, his presidency will seem illegitimate to lots of people and Biden is likely to be a lot less effective as a senile lame duck than any half-decent Democrat.
--If Trump decides to stay in the race and runs against anyone but Biden, his chances are weakened because Trump will seem opportunistic.
--If Trump drops out, this ensures someone better than Trump will win: From Biden's point of view--any Democrat and any Republican, that's not Trump, will be better than Trump.

Yancey Ward said...

I will just put it right here- the Hunter Biden prosecution on the gun charge is also ticky-tack case that shouldn't have been brought and I were I on the jury I would probably acquit for a lot reasons, but it isn't the political sham trial in the way that the Trump trial was.

The difference is that Biden is being prosecuted because the optics of not doing so were politically bad for the Democrats and his father- they let Biden skate on the clear-cut tax evasion by delaying and delaying bringing the case and letting the statute of limitations run out and tried to cut him a no penalty plea deal on the gun charge itself until it became a political problem for his father.

Yancey Ward said...

"If Trump drops out, this ensures someone better than Trump will win: From Biden's point of view--any Democrat and any Republican, that's not Trump, will be better than Trump.

Anyone other than Trump has no chance to win WI, MI, VA, PA, NH, NV. People keep forgetting that Democrats have an electoral lock against the GOP- it is only less certain against Trump. All you are likely to get with another Republican running is reclaiming AZ and GA, and probably only by a few percent in each case while having Ohio and IA return to being tossups along with FL.

Aggie said...

One wonders a little about those lifetime civil servants, the members of the intelligence community, the ones that swim upstream from politics, convening in their well-lit offices. Presumably they've laid all their groundwork, since this plan has been in motion for months now. Presumably the National Guard is now ready to deploy instead of being told to 'stand down', just in case, the district workers have loaded the trucks with the extra-high steel fence sections, ready to roll and erect around those white buildings, former institutions of government. Think of it as practice, for the next inauguration.

I wonder if they're licking their lips, these grey-faced men and women, quietly nervous but excited too, wondering if this poke of the stick will finally be sufficient. Try a few more pokes; Maybe that'll do it. Maybe if they jail him just before the Republican National Convention. Maybe that'll do it.

A special counsel investigation that burned Presidential credibility for years and found - nothing of substance. Based on a dossier that was known to the stacked team of investigators to be a fraudulent campaign dirty trick, because some of them were on the campaign team.

Two impeachments that resulted in nothing, because they were based on - nothing of substance. The second one rushed through in a race against the clock of an ending Presidential term.

A series of court cases, oozed through the system in ways intended to cloak awareness and their White House origins, jumping around the country in search of favorable venues, sympathetic grand juries, favorable jury pools, 'acting' judges-in-pockets. And in each of these cases, a curious 'sameness' to the cast of prosecuting characters behind the scenes and on stage, stretching all the way back - to the Clinton campaign, and before. Statute of limitations routinely revised to suit purpose, in special deference to these uniquely trivial offenses, breathing life into mummified allegations so old the complainants can't even remember when it happened, maybe even 'where'. You can do a lot, when you're determined.

Maybe the plebes are now just starting to get it, that the conspiracy theories are mostly true, maybe all of them. Pretty soon it will start to sink in, just how much bloody-minded methodical planning is required to make all these things happen. And at who's expense, besides the defendant. And, an expense that was judged to be an acceptable, manageable one - for the uninformed 'others', acceptable in exchange for the prize at hand.

But that's OK (pats hand). We all know he's been found criminally 'guilty', now. And now every American knows, as their country is given over to the rabble that's being invited in, staked and feted and granted a free pass and a 'court appointment' that they'll ignore, now we all know that we're 'guilty' too, we're just walking around temporarily unrestrained. But we're on the list. If the stakes are right, we're all slated to be found 'guilty' now, once that becomes a matter of preference and procedure for the people In Control.

Go ahead: Treat that as a conspiracy theory.

wendybar said...

I hope every jurist who fell for the Progressive lies has a relative who the justice system fails for, (who ends up in prison on made up claims because of their political affiliation) so they can see what they have done.

wendybar said...

imTay said...
Not only did Hunter lie on the form, that is a crime that is not usually prosecuted, but he then committed a crime with the weapon, by brandishing it in a restaurant, when his girlfriend took it from him and threw it in a trash can. That's when he stepped over the line that made the infraction subject to prosecution.

5/31/24, 8:48 AM

And THAT is a different gun than the one he was waving in his nudey videos on his self made porno's with his Russian hookers. Wonder where he got that one, and is it registered?? Hmmmm...an enquiring media would actually try to find out....if they were working for the Progressive party to censor the truth.

RCOCEAN II said...

Its outrageous this Biden supported "lawfare" with a Liberal democrat judge and a liberal democrat jury in one Liberal Democrat City were able to convict a former POTUS who's about to nominated for POTUS by the Republican Party.

Its election inteference and an attack on Democracy. If the positions were reversed it wouldn't stand for one second. But because its Trump, GOPe and the entire establishment silently approve and everyone else stands around with their thumbs up their ass whistling Dixie. Hope you liked 4 years of President Biden - because you're about to get 4 more years of him. Or President Kam.

Once again, we have to hope some Judge will save us from the Leftwing "lawfare" - certainly the Republican Politicans wont.

wendybar said...

weren't working for....

Promises made Promises kept said...

Trump will not win because he is a criminal. Imagine how illogical and ignorant you’d have to be to actually think that.

Achilles said...

Rich said...

Trump will not win because he is a criminal. Imagine how illogical and ignorant you’d have to be to actually think that.

Please let everyone you know who you are and that you support this "trial."

Achilles said...

imTay said...

Rich must be pretty confident that they are going to imprison Trump, and keep him off the ballot, or he wouldn't be riling up every voter with any sympathy at all for Republicans, and those who despise Biden, even more.

Pray they are stupid enough to throw Trump in jail. A convention speech from prison would be something history books remember for ages.

It would be even better if this judge is stupid enough to think he can put Trump in jail for a year or more.

Pray they remove him from the ballot in 2 or 3 states he doesn't need to win anyways.

Trump would get 45% of the vote(over 50% of non mail-in real votes) in New York State. It sunders the state of New York politically if they remove him from the ballot.

Not even California will continue to operate functionally on a state level if they remove Trump. This will put many failing blue state social contracts out of their misery.

Our social contract and our country requires the consent of the governed. It took something this blatant and evil to remind us of that.

Breezy said...

You know, it occurs to me that until we know exactly how the jurors voted regarding the second crime, we should not accept the verdict. It’s basically incomplete at this point. Merchan gave 3 options for second crime. We know the federal election crime was not viable (not state jurisdiction), the tax fraud may be not viable (not debated in court, may exceed statute of limitations a la Hunter) and the falsifying records option was essentially the first crime (can’t claim it’s the second as well). We should demand a full accounting of details of that second crime that crossed the line to the guilty verdict.

We the people have a right to full disclosure of this travesty, and should not feel powerless in the face of it. Make them spell it all out.

Rocco said...

tcrosse said...
"A bunch of hot-heads in New York have fired on Fort Sumter."

The first shot on Ft Sumpter has been credited to Edmund Ruffin, a 67 year old ardant secessionist, white supremacist, and activist who traveled to South Carolina because his native Virginians found his views too extreme.

"The First Shot" (Tulane University): https://www2.tulane.edu/~sumter/AndTheWarCame/AApr12.2.html

Wikipedia bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Ruffin

Rocco said...

Achilles said...
"Pray they are stupid enough to throw Trump in jail. A convention speech from prison would be something history books remember for ages."

I look forward to Trump writing Letter from Gotham Jail.

Promises made Promises kept said...

Convicted felon on 34 counts of felony business record fraud.

A jury in a civil defamation case found as a matter of fact that he committed sexual assault.

He faces 60 other federal and state felony counts in 3 jurisdictions.

This guy wouldn't pass a background check for the job of janitor in a high school. On what planet is this guy suitable to lead the US?

Promises made Promises kept said...

Convicted felon on 34 counts of felony business record fraud.

A jury in a civil defamation case found as a matter of fact that he committed sexual assault.

He faces 60 other federal and state felony counts in 3 jurisdictions.

This guy wouldn't pass a background check for the job of janitor in a high school. On what planet is this guy suitable to lead the US?

PM said...

How could they write that when all their laptops were tossed in the air?

Hassayamper said...

What is the greatest evil? Yesterday was a worse day for America than 911.

It certainly has planted the seed for events that may dwarf the death toll of that day.

Well-fed people with jobs and homes don't start revolutions, but I would not count on that level of prosperity persisting. Our national debt goes up by trillions of dollars every year now, and the interest on the national debt will soon equal all income tax receipts.

A day is coming when the Treasury will have a bond auction and no one will buy any. That's the red flag. You will know then that our nation will soon fall.

When there is no more money to pay police and soldiers, and men are having trouble feeding their families, the politicians and shadow-government bureaucrats who brought us here are going to be hunted and punished. Moochers and looters and loafers, especially those who came here illegally, will find life much harder than they ever imagined, if they even survive.

Every nation is nine missed meals away from a revolution.

gilbar said...

Rich said...
Trump, as a convicted felon, will likely find it more difficult to raise money

remember! Rich CLAIMS to be intelligent!
BREAKING: Trump campaign raises record-setting $34.8 million in small dollar donations since conviction

Rich? to help you out, with the math.. that's more than A MILLION DOLLARS per felony

Rusty said...

gilbar said...
"Rich, who wants us to think of as an intelligent person, said..
Trump, as a convicted felon, will likely find it more difficult to raise money.."

We will not now. Nor shall we ever be in danger of Rich being intelligent. He rivals inga in mendacity and outright dumb.

Jupiter said...

"The NYT has taken a position on what is the "greatest good" to come out of this case."

I rather think that the greatest good that will come out of this case is the landslide re-election of President Trump.

Rocco said...

Rich said...
On what planet is this guy suitable to lead the US?

Planet Earth << Inserts “You are here” text and arrow >>

Iman said...

These lefty corksoakers should be more selective in choosing their precedents. They will soon be braying their lamentations in the street, while rending their soiled garments. I won’t lift a finger to help them and will be kicking them to the curb as I encounter them. And I will feel no remorse. I’d say it’s a terrible thing, but I would be lying.

imTay said...

"Convicted felon on 34 counts of felony business record fraud."

Could you point us to the statute that makes a misdemeanor past the statute of limitations a "felony"? I would like to read the law myself. you are presenting yourself as knowledgeable on the matter, so please inform us plebes which "felony" record keeping law he broke.

And for extra credit, you can explain why Hillary was allowed to report the money she paid for the concoction of lies against Trump in the "dossier," which was plainly a campaign expense, as "legal expenses" and when is she going to be dragged before a court in NYC?

imTay said...

If I understand the verdict properly, it's the second conviction on the same misdemeanor that makes it a felony.

Robert Cook said...

"This guy wouldn't pass a background check for the job of janitor in a high school. On what planet is this guy suitable to lead the US?"

Here, on Earth, our planet, the "Planet of the "Special" Apes, where imbecility reigns.

Michael K said...


Blogger Rich said...

Convicted felon on 34 counts of felony business record fraud.


"Rich", stupid as usual, tells us that business record "fraud" is a felony. We know you are not a lawyer, like your pal "Chuck" says he is but you need better reading skills. We don't even know what he was "convicted of."

loudogblog said...

Iman said...
"These lefty corksoakers..."

I agree about those fogging iceholes.

WA-mom said...

What horrifies me is that none of these people have any scruples -- not the jurors, the judge, the rapist complainants or most democrats apparently. No personal honor, no integrity, no morality, no honesty, no decency. How can a country like ours deal with that?

Barry Sullivan said...

According to the NY Times, no man is above the law; except Republican ex-presidents are below the law.

Jim at said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mikee said...

Rich: Trump is indeed NOT suitable to lead the US. Yet about half the country finds him, with all his known faults, MORE suitable than the sitting President. That should be cause for some introspection among Biden supporters, Democrats, progressives, liberals, marxists, and other useful idiots, but I doubt it will be.

Bunkypotatohead said...

Half the country is willing to put their opponents in jail in order to retain power.
There's no solution for this.

Rocco said...

Some uncited putz said...
"This guy wouldn't pass a background check for the job of janitor in a high school. On what planet is this guy suitable to lead the US?"

Robert Cook said...
"Here, on Earth, our planet, the Planet of the 'Special' Apes, where imbecility reigns."

You mean where a bunch of progressives are convinced of their superiority over humans and treat us with contempt as inferiors? Yeah, I can see that.

charis said...

They want me to trust the legal system here, just as they want me to trust the science on Covid and climate, just as they want me to trust the 2020 election results. If I express any doubt on these matters, they label me a 'denier', a poor soul duped by misinformation, which they want to regulate away. Whatever the issue anymore, the template is always the same.

Problem is, I have grown quite skeptical of institutions now, be it law, science, media, education, or religion, because I have seen repeatedly how they can be corrupted by partisan politics.