# A Perfectly Reasonable Amount of Schadenfreude about Things Happening to Trump & His Enablers (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 14, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537 "2020-11-14T00:09:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 302
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6027 "2022-07-17T23:59:44Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > He may well end up pardoning all these people, but it won’t be part of a grand scheme. It’ll be because somebody whispers in his ear that his ratings will go up or that he can charge people $1000 a pop to attend a rally where he announces it or some other reason that inflates his bank account or his ego. How much could he make selling pardons outright? Over 800 people have been arrested. Most of them aren’t rich, but that’s why God invented home equity loans. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6028 "2022-07-18T00:22:28Z")
Just a WAG here, but I think the reason why Trump didn’t preemptively pardon the 1/6 rioters while he was in office was because he didn’t think they had done anything wrong, and wouldn’t need pardons. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6029 "2022-07-18T00:30:56Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I think he’ll do it (pardon everyone associated with January 6th) because it fits into his narrative of the “the REAL crime was the stolen election. The righteousness of the January 6th insurrectionists is already a big theme at his rallies, and if he runs again he’ll be promising those pardons on the campaign trail. This is quite plausible. In the documentary _Unprecedented_ (which, disappointingly, didn’t have much new in it) the final interview with the Orange Peril had him opining that January 6 was an uprising of legitimately angry patriots who had a lot to be angry about. In fact, a likely pardon for these traitors is perhaps one of the _least_ frightening prospects of Trump unleashed in a nothing-to-lose second term. The damage from the first term is already turning out to be incalculable; the potential damage from the second defies imagination. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6030 "2022-07-18T08:45:05Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Just a WAG here, but I think the reason why Trump didn’t preemptively pardon the 1/6 rioters while he was in office was because he didn’t think they had done anything wrong, and wouldn’t need pardons. He probably also thought there would never be an actual court case. Bunch of weak ass democrats are just gonna “let bygones be bygones” or some such. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6031 "2022-07-18T16:48:14Z")
He didn’t for a couple of reasons. First off, the arrests didn’t happen right away and its hard to pardon people that you don’t know who are. Second, the Republican spin on the riot hadn’t coalesced. People on both side of the aisle were initially in a state of shock. It looked like this might finally be a bridge too far, and would be the point that would finally make extreme conservatism unpalatable to main stream Americans. It even looked like McConnell might vote for Trumps impeachment. So in this environment the last thing that Trump would want to do was to tie himself more fully to the rioters. Eventually they got enough polling to show that the base supported them even despite the violence, and with memories fading the Republicans have been able to pretend that, nothing bad happened, and that the insurgents are patriots who are being persecuted for legally expressing their first amendment rights. But in the first couple of weeks after Jan 6th it wasn’t clear that that would work. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6032 "2022-07-18T17:20:02Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > First off, the arrests didn’t happen right away and its hard to pardon people that you don’t know who are. I’m curious because I honestly don’t know; when Carter pardoned all of the draft dodgers in 1977, was each one pardoned by name, or was it just written that if you committed that crime, you were pardoned? I thought it was the latter, but I can’t seem to find the answer. And if that’s the case, Trump wouldn’t need their names. But again, that might not be the case. > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Second, the Republican spin on the riot hadn’t coalesced. Good point. At first the story was that it was all Antifa in disguise doing it. Trump wouldn’t be pardoning Antifa superspies. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6033 "2022-07-18T17:30:54Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > At first the story was that it was all Antifa in disguise doing it. That’s still the story. The insurrectionists were Antifa false flag agents. The insurrectionists were also Reich Wing fascist Trump supporters. You may think this sounds mutually exclusive; but Trump supporters can and do believe both, depending on what the puppeteers tell them to believe at any given time. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6034 "2022-07-18T17:39:42Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > ’m curious because I honestly don’t know; when Carter pardoned all of the draft dodgers in 1977, was each one pardoned by name, or was it just written that if you committed that crime, you were pardoned? I think in Carters case he could just specify the crime of avoiding the draft between such and such years and you would get precisely the effect he wanted. With the insurgents Trump would have had to give a blanket pardon with respect to both crime and name. Basically, he would have to pardon anyone who was charged with anything in the vicinity of the Capitol that day, and that would have a huge probability of blowing up in his face. But I think the main reason was that the riot just wasn’t as popular among conservatives back then as it is now. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6035 "2022-07-18T20:05:57Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > He probably also thought there would never be an actual court case. Bunch of weak ass democrats are just gonna “let bygones be bygones” or some such. He knew Garland better than we did. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > You may think this sounds mutually exclusive; but Trump supporters can and do believe both, depending on what the puppeteers tell them to believe at any given time. Orwell’s doublethink. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6036 "2022-07-18T20:36:00Z")
We have always issued pardons to the patriotic Americans who did absolutely nothing wrong on Capitol Hill that day. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6037 "2022-07-18T23:30:18Z")
And there was always one person that Trump couldn’t pardon - himself. He could’ve tried, but the prevailing legal opinion was that it wouldn’t work. And if he pardoned everyone else, there would be only one avenue left for any kind of justice, and law enforcement and the DOJ would be freed up to focus all their efforts on him. Besides, the coup didn’t work and Trump’s not the type to reward failure. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6038 "2022-07-19T00:17:12Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > And if he pardoned everyone else, there would be only one avenue left for any kind of justice, and law enforcement and the DOJ would be freed up to focus all their efforts on him. > > Besides, the coup didn’t work and Trump’s not the type to reward failure. He doesn’t reward success either, but Great points. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6039 "2022-07-19T01:13:48Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > He knew Garland better than we did. Whether or not they are going after the big guns it can’tI be denie that Garland’s DOJ is doing a pretty good job going after the rank and file who are the focus of this pardon discussion. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6040 "2022-07-20T16:00:21Z")
[Rudy Giuliani ordered to testify before Georgia grand jury investigating Trump on August 9 - CNNPolitics](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/20/politics/rudy-giuliani-fulton-county-georgia/index.html) looks like georgia is the tipping point. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6041 "2022-07-20T17:33:33Z")
Oh, please please please… ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6042 "2022-07-20T18:13:56Z")
With all of the disappointments (I’m lookin’ at _you,_ Mueller and, Garland, you’re next) I’m hoping, too, but not expecting. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6043 "2022-07-20T20:33:37Z")
[Georgia prosecutors say all 16 fake Trump electors are targets in criminal probe - CNNPolitics](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/19/politics/georgia-grand-jury-trump-electors/index.html) one or two of them have got to take a deal to squeal, yes? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6044 "2022-07-20T20:38:48Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > one or two of them have got to take a deal to squeal, yes? Oh, for sure. Each of them gets told that the deals only go to the first one or two people to flip, but feel free to roll the dice and take your time thinking about it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6045 "2022-07-20T22:06:33Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > [Georgia prosecutors say all 16 fake Trump electors are targets in criminal probe - CNNPolitics](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/19/politics/georgia-grand-jury-trump-electors/index.html) > > one or two of them have got to take a deal to squeal, yes? I wonder what they will be charged with? Election tampering? Fraud? I would think at least that much. Hope they come up with some other stuff too. And really, that’s one of the stupidest schemes I’ve ever heard of. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/6046 "2022-07-20T23:53:33Z")
Gotta give Trump an A+ for effort. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/i84HByljL18/maxresdefault.jpg "Trump Allegedly Called A Wisconsin Official About Overturning The 2020 Election ... Last Week") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i84HByljL18) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537.md?page=301) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537.md?page=303)