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So, now that the most recent indictment is unsealed, and the opening volleys have been fired by both sides, I must admit that I'm impressed by the tactic that the defense have revealed.
Trump attorney John Lauro is going to try to make this into a First Amendment case.
Specifically, a broad simplification of the defense argument is that, even if then-president Trump knew that his claims as to election fraud were false (which is questionable, but unquestionably consistent with the left-driven popular narrative at present), it doesn't matter because it was still constitutionally-protected political speech.
It's clever, and it's also gutsy. Partly because it means that Lauro has had to convince Trump to make an argument which could be construed as an admission that the 2020 election may have been valid, and partly because of the former President's history of... not really being a big fan of the First Amendment.
Specifically, does anyone recall back in early 2016 when The Donald promised that "One of the things I'm going to do if I win, and I hope we do and we're certainly leading. I'm going to open up our libel laws so when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money. We're going to open up those libel laws. So when The New York Times writes a hit piece which is a total disgrace or when The Washington Post, which is there for other reasons, writes a hit piece, we can sue them and win money instead of having no chance of winning because they're totally protected."
Way too early to be making any predictions on this one. But we should be stocking up on popcorn for when the trial proper actually gets underway.
There is a difference between a civil and criminal. Trump's libel comment was about civil matters.
You guys that post often are really fantastic at analyzing the fine details about politics. It is very entertaining. I don't have the same ability to pick them apart.
There are still the 155 million votes which is the 800lb gorilla. It is not unprecedented, it is absurd. Republicans and Trump have many reasons to question the 2020 election. The sheer number of votes, Biden did not have a good reputation, he was not charismatic and did not campaign well.
Jan 6 is something that is being tailored to fit the needs of the incumbent and the current admin. It's a distraction for the masses so they can develop plausible deniability. The negative affect to Trumps image and campaign is just the side benefit. My prediction is that Trump will not be found guilty of anything that would cause more than a fine. I do believe we might be faced with another outcome that will be extraordinary and that is where the plausible deniability will come into play.
I went back and read the transcripts from Trump and I just don't see anything that is truly incriminating. The litmus test is what outcome would you expect if you or a loved were accused with the same?
I went back and read the transcripts from Trump and I just don't see anything that is truly incriminating. The litmus test is what outcome would you expect if you or a loved were accused with the same?
here's 24 minutes of "erod[ing] trust in the administration of the election":
It appears that both sides are using whatever they can no matter how insignificant it is to bludgeon the other party. The question is who is doing it more or to a higher level? I'm trying to adjust for which party is in power at the moment. The other question is why is it so important to be in control? The parties seem so desperate, and we all can agree it is not for the wellbeing of the people. At least not directly. I have often thought the two most powerful entities on the planet were the US Citizens and the US military. Are we missing the big picture?
It appears that both sides are using whatever they can no matter how insignificant it is to bludgeon the other party.
Yes.
Originally Posted by LeoNA
The other question is why is it so important to be in control?
Money, and ego.
When you hold political power, you get to use it to enrich yourself, your associates, and those who helped you to purchase the political office which you occupy. There are certainly other ways to become wealthy, but politics carries a relatively low risk as compared to most other criminal enterprises.
Likewise, being in control just feels good. The more power, the bigger the high. Again, other ways to get there as well (be the CEO of a space-launch company, build a real-estate empire, etc), but most of those require actual work to achieve.
Last edited by Joe Perez; 08-03-2023 at 10:24 PM.
Reason: way =/= ways
Help me out here... Biden is accused of taking bribes, and there's been a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth that he's been lying for years to the American public about having no knowledge of Hunter's business dealings. Now, the latest indictment against Trump claims he's been lying for years to the American public about election fraud. Did I read that right?
The headlines about the F-150 genuinely surprised me.
Like, I knew that electric parking brakes were a thing, but in my mind, I'd only ever associated them with Audis and BMWs. Overly-complex luxury cars designed with a focus on gadget-heaviness without regard for usability.
And I have generally held Ford in rather high esteem when it comes to the design and build quality of its trucks.
But as surely as politicians fear a well-informed populace, Ford has in fact gone and put electrically operated parking brakes on all of its new trucks. Even the super-dutys.
All the new GM vehicles have it as well. No recalls on GM's parking brake stuff. The system is rather nice. On some aspects. However I don't like how even though there is a mechanical link between the brake pedal and "master cylinder" The pedal feel is simulated and not actual. GM is using a Brake System control module which incorporates the MC, ABS pump, and EBCM into one unit. The rear calipers have an electric motor to actuate the piston for the parking brake.
Plus labor times haven't changed for these systems. A standard brake job pays 1.5 hours. That includes pad replacement (one axle) with rotor resurface. Now with electric parking brakes you have to use a scan tool to command them released and applied plus calibration after a repair. That's extra time that manufacturers aren't covering nor is the consumer. As a technician I feel like I'm getting screwed over sometimes.
Or you can do like me and forget to release the rear pads and take off the calipers and rotors first. then when you realize your mistake and you go to make the car retract the calipers, the stupid thing first tries to calibrate them and proceeds to shoot the piston out...
There are some who would manage to feel uncomfortable / threatened by living in Mayberry.
That having been said, there are some consequences to demanding that criminals not be prosecuted.
Interestingly, San Francisco doesn't actually score all that highly in terms of violent crime in the US. It's in 66th place for murder, 34th for rape, 81st for robbery, and 35th for assault.
It seems to get a bad rep based solely on the number of homeless crackheads, despite the fact that they are relatively harmless as compared to an average person in, say, Wichita or Milwaukee.
08-02-2023, 07:26 PM
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