# 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:** 475
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9487 "2023-03-31T13:31:37Z")
I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean? You mean you want the Feds to bring up charges they know won’t stick to give some people a sense of catharsis that ‘progress’ is being made, even though it would set things back overall? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9488 "2023-03-31T13:46:47Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > > [@enipla](#): > > > > He and his supporters will of course screen ‘WITCH HUNT!!1!’ > > Meh, that was the weakest of the WITCH HUNT!! series. > > They really should watch them in the order: > > ‘WITCH HUNT!!2!’:The Witch Hunts Back > ‘WITCH HUNT!!4!’: The Witchening > ‘WITCH HUNT!!5!’: Witch Force Five > ‘WITCH HUNT!!3D!’ (but mostly for the cheezy effects) ‘WITCH HUNT!!6!’: Witch Hunt Saves Christmas ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9489 "2023-03-31T13:49:28Z")
It means I don’t think Merrick Garland is going to bring any charges at all, ever. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9490 "2023-03-31T13:54:28Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > ‘WITCH HUNT!!2!’:The Witch Hunts Back Surely: “WITCH HUNT!!2!: Losing In New York” ---
**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:** [March 31, 2023, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9491 "2023-03-31T13:55:00Z")
I think being disappointed is a bit, let’s say “misguided” to be charitable. This wasn’t the start. The start was the takedown of so many Trump associates (including Cohen) which occurred since the beginning, really. The next step was suing the Trump Organization itself, which was starting to get closer to the mark. Now we finally have charges against the man himself, though I expect this to have the least impact among his personal legal consequences. It’s not the end either. We have the Georgia election tampering, the document theft and cover-up, and the capitol insurrection attempt at the very least. Any one of those or maybe even all three may lead to stronger consequences. I don’t know if all will lead to a conviction of some kind but it’s doubtful that none of them will. If you look at the situation from the beginning, it’s like a legal noose tightening on him over time as investigations multiply and escalate, and more evidence and testimony comes to light. It also is surely not a coincidence that nothing hit Trump directly until after he was no longer in the White House. Anyone who bemoans the fact that this is the “first thing” hasn’t been paying attention, because it hasn’t been. And anyone who is convinced that this is the end of it is being willfully ignorant of all that’s going on and/or cynical past reason. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2023, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9492 "2023-03-31T13:55:03Z")
A good overview of the Trump investigations now underway: > **[Trump's legal worries extend far beyond charges in New York](https://www.aol.com/news/trumps-legal-worries-extend-far-092837261.html)** > > The hush money case in New York that has led to criminal charges against Donald Trump is just one of a number of investigations that could pose legal problems for the former president. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9493 "2023-03-31T14:03:05Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Any signs of protest demonstrations yet? They were already protesting the grand jury. Here’s a protester who got arrested outside the building on Tuesday: > **[Trump supporter charged with pulling knife on family with children outside...](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/28/trump-supporter-knife-manhattan-00089313)** > > The female protester began arguing with the couple before she allegedly threatened them. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9494 "2023-03-31T14:07:42Z")
I especially like this colorful phrase: “The woman yelled, ‘Knife, knife’ and the court officers were on the Trump-supporter like Voltron,” the bystander said. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9495 "2023-03-31T15:04:52Z")
WITCH HUNT!69!!: A Porn Parody Except maybe it’s not spelled “hunt.” ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9496 "2023-03-31T15:10:19Z")
And the poorly-conceived comedy reboot “Which Hunt?!!?!”, following the mass confusion over exactly _which witch_ they were hunting. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9497 "2023-03-31T15:18:53Z")
Every Witch Way. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9498 "2023-03-31T15:21:48Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Every Witch Way. - But Lose. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2023, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9499 "2023-03-31T15:35:25Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > The Feds ultimately got Al Capone on tax evasion. And even that took a few years of fruitless attempts to get him on more serious crimes. But the tax evasion charges against Capone were serious felonies, and they threw the book at him, sentencing him to 11 years. It’s possible that all or most of these charges are misdemeanors, or will be plead down to such. That’s why many of us are anxious to see the orange traitor face charges for the much more serious transgressions. Also, the arguments about “political persecution” start to ring hollow when he’s facing a cascade of different charges from multiple different sources. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9500 "2023-03-31T15:37:40Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I especially like this colorful phrase: “The woman yelled, ‘Knife, knife’ and the court officers were on the Trump-supporter like Voltron,” the bystander said. The one made up of Lions, or the shitty 15-vehicle one? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9501 "2023-03-31T15:44:36Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > That’s why many of us are anxious to see the orange traitor face charges for the much more serious transgressions. I don’t disagree with any of that, but the simple fact of the matter is that it seems a lot of people are of the “it’s obvious to me, why hasn’t it happened yet?” I hate it when my bosses, who haven’t done any of that sort of work personally in years if ever, do that sort of backseat driving (“It’s simple, just do this. Why is it taking so long?” - and then having the temerity to later complain that shortcuts were taken and customers are complaining when they were the ones insisting we “just do it”). Yes, I’d love to see some visible signs of progress. But I don’t expect anybody in the DOJ to reveal their hand publicly or keep to my preferred timetable, especially when I’m ignorant of nearly all relevant information and lack any sort of legal experience. I see neither reason to either despair it will never happen nor the need to second guess the professionals at this stage of the proceedings. If absolutely nothing has happened in another couple years, then, yes, I will conclude the whole thing was a shambles from the beginning. But signs rather point to at least some progress being made, albeit slower than many would have preferred. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9502 "2023-03-31T15:55:07Z")
I think a common concern is that time for further indictments may be running out, given that he’s seeking the Republican nomination and there is a small but non-zero chance that the orange fuckstick could once again be president. Remember the speculation that he absolutely had to win the 2020 election, because there was so much malfeasance hanging over him that without the protection of the presidency he was toast? And that was _ **before** _ Jan 6 and the shenanigans in Georgia. It’s now been nearly three years. There’s lots of smoke but no toast. It’s frustrating. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9503 "2023-03-31T16:01:27Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > ‘WITCH HUNT!!6!’: Witch Hunt Saves Christmas ‘WITCH HUNT!!7!’: Witch and the Martians ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9504 "2023-03-31T16:01:46Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > It’s now been nearly three years. There’s lots of smoke but no toast. It’s frustrating. It’s only been 2 years hasn’t it? Jan 6 was in 2021, and “the perfect phone call” was Jan 2, 2021. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9505 "2023-03-31T16:09:44Z")
Merrick Garland was confirmed March 10th, 2021. So two years and three weeks. I don’t think anyone expected Bill Barr to do anything. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/9506 "2023-03-31T16:21:13Z")
Well, OK, more than two years, depending on exactly what you’re measuring. Still a long time. Events in Georgia appear to be moving painfully slowly, with the prosecution now having until May 1 to respond to a Trump challenge to quash the grand jury report and potentially much longer until the challenge is resolved. Meanwhile Jack Smith has been working away for four months. I know these things can be much more complicated than they seem, but from the outside looking in it’s like pouring molasses in cold weather. And the Stormy Daniels thing seems like a simple slam-dunk and that one has been in the works since the WSJ broke the story more than five years ago. [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=474) [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=476)