# A Perfectly Reasonable Amount of Schadenfreude about Things Happening to Trump & His Enablers (Part 2)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Tags:** trump\
**Created:** [May 19, 2023, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250 "2023-05-19T03:20:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 460

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**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:** [October 28, 2024, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9182 "2024-10-28T15:39:50Z")

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> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#):
>
> That same site also has [this suggestion that trump’s had a stroke.](https://www.politicalflare.com/2024/10/rumors-of-trump-having-a-stroke-reach-fever-pitch-after-hes-seen-walking-yet-again-with-a-pronounced-limp/) Given the clearly partisan bias of the writer, I’d withhold belief until/unless we see better evidence.

Andrew Simpson isn’t the only one.

> **[Did Donald Trump have a stroke? His new lisp and slurred speech, explained](https://wegotthiscovered.com/politics/did-donald-trump-have-a-stroke-his-new-lisp-and-slurred-speech-explained/)**
>
> After that Elon Musk interview all anyone's speaking about is the obvious change in Trump's voice.

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**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:** [October 29, 2024, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9183 "2024-10-29T00:03:00Z")

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> [@Cardigan](#):
>
> Anyone see Eric Swalwell’s Trump commercial yet?
> 
> [A Place For Trump](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiyGScJ7iWQ&t=67s)

That is just dripping with awesome.

> [@Odesio](#):
>
> Laura Loomer has filed a defemation suit against Bill Maher and HBO for claims he made on his show that her was having an affair with Trump. Loomer argues that Maher’s statements caused Loomer “unjust ridicule, embarrassment, loss of reputation and professional opportunity and prospects, as well as being damaged financially.”…

I can see why just about _any_ woman would be concerned about that, if people thought she’d had any kind of voluntary sexual relations with him.

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**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:** [October 29, 2024, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9184 "2024-10-29T13:40:00Z")

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Meanwhile, in the Keystone State:

> **[Musk Sued By PA District Attorney For Running Illegal Election Lottery -...](https://abovethelaw.com/2024/10/musk-sued-by-pa-district-attorney-for-running-illegal-election-lottery/)**
>
> But what if we call the winners subcontractors? Is that cool?

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**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:** [October 29, 2024, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9185 "2024-10-29T13:46:07Z")

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> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> Meanwhile, in the Keystone State

Good. My one big hope for after Harris wins is that the people with actual power to punish crimes get off their asses and punish this whole lot. No more foot dragging. These people need to learn that this kind of shit is unacceptable.

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**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9186 "2024-10-29T14:36:10Z")

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That’s my hope too. Harris is a prosecutor after all. I hope she doesn’t put up with any of this BS.

The “But I’m rich, this doesn’t apply to me!” crap must stop.

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**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9187 "2024-10-29T14:53:54Z")

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> [@Horatius](#):
>
> My one big hope for after Harris wins is that the people with actual power to punish crimes get off their asses and punish this whole lot. No more foot dragging. These people need to learn that this kind of shit is unacceptable.

Substitute “Trump” for “Harris” in the above. “These people” becomes us. Wholesale prosecution of one’s political enemies becomes normal and accepted.

What I think would be better is a judicious amount of prosecution (for purposes of lesson-teaching) combined with dedicated and persistent actions to strengthen the infrastructure of democracy in this country against future inroads by populists attempting to become dictators. This is far more important than individual retribution.

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**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:** [October 29, 2024, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9188 "2024-10-29T15:01:47Z")

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> [@Roderick\_Femm](#):
>
> Substitute “Trump” for “Harris” in the above. “These people” becomes us. Wholesale prosecution of one’s political enemies becomes normal and accepted.

Except we’ll be punishing actual crimes, as proven in a court of law, not stupid made up crap.

That’s the benefit of being the good guys.

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**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:** [October 29, 2024, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9189 "2024-10-29T15:07:21Z")

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> [@Roderick\_Femm](#):
>
> What I think would be better is a judicious amount of prosecution (for purposes of lesson-teaching)

The word ‘judicious’ is pulling a lot of weight there.

The Union decided on what they considered a judicious and restrained level of prosecution after the Civil War. It did not teach the intended lesson but rather led in almost a straight line to much of the behavior we’re seeing now.

They don’t need to be malicious but the lesson that needs to be learned is “don’t commit crimes”, not “you might catch a lucky break or not even be prosecuted at all”

There’s a sizable portion of the population who will take any prosecution at all as having purely political motives. There’s little need to show restraint solely on their account. Just follow the job description without any games-playing.

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**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9190 "2024-10-29T15:38:04Z")

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> [@Great\_Antibob](#):
>
> There’s little need to show restraint solely on their account. Just follow the job description without any games-playing.

Yup. Many of the J6 insurrectionists are in prison. Keep working on that and go to the top of the ladder.

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**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:** [October 29, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9191 "2024-10-29T15:44:04Z")

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> [@Great\_Antibob](#):
>
> There’s a sizable portion of the population who will take any prosecution at all as having purely political motives. There’s little need to show restraint solely on their account. Just follow the job description without any games-playing.

Yes. “The good guys should be careful, because they might give the bad guys license to be awful” isn’t a compelling argument. Trump _already_ plans on persecuting his opponents, based on made-up crimes and made-up facts. The good guys saying “We should be restrained” won’t have any effect on that. Nor will the good guys saying, “We’re going to prosecute everyone who did anything even slightly illegal.”

Bad guys act bad no matter what we do, so let’s at least throw the book at the ones who’ve committed actual crimes, and let the chips fall where they may. I’m not going to lose sleep over what the bad guys “might” do in response.

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**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9192 "2024-10-29T15:49:50Z")

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> [@Horatius](#):
>
> “The good guys should be careful, because they might give the bad guys license to be awful” isn’t a compelling argument.

That’s not my argument. I didn’t say “restrained” I said “judicious” which to me means carefully applied where it will do the most good, both in retribution and in practical effects on other people.

> [@Horatius](#):
>
> punish this whole lot

> [@Horatius](#):
>
> Nor will the good guys saying, “We’re going to prosecute everyone who did anything even slightly illegal.”

Perhaps you can parse the space between these two.

Also, would you or anyone care to comment on the other part of my post, about the importance of strengthening the underpinnings of democracy (and justice)?

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**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9193 "2024-10-29T17:01:36Z")

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> [@Roderick\_Femm](#):
>
> > [@Horatius](#):
> >
> > punish this whole lot
> 
> > [@Horatius](#):
> >
> > Nor will the good guys saying, “We’re going to prosecute everyone who did anything even slightly illegal.”
> 
> Perhaps you can parse the space between these two.

My thinking is “punish the whole lot who committed crimes, even if they are wealthy or have powerful friends. Punish them through the court system, and don’t let them skate because you are afraid of reprisals.”

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**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:** [October 29, 2024, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9194 "2024-10-29T17:16:10Z")

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> [@Roderick\_Femm](#):
>
> strengthening the underpinnings of democracy (and justice)

That’s not something any President can do by themselves. It will require decades of reeducation to fix the damage that’s already been done.

But leading the way on encouraging prosecutions, and not letting them play games with dragging things out for years on end, is something the President can do, by appointing people who will actually do the job.

> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> My thinking is “punish the whole lot who committed crimes, even if they are wealthy or have powerful friends. Punish them through the court system, and don’t let them skate because you are afraid of reprisals.”

Yes, exactly. Trump has already been convicted in a State court, and would be in jail right now if he were anyone else. Similarly with the documents case. There’s no way that case should have been allowed to linger as long as it has. Make it clear that these cases are a priority, and stop fucking around.

In fact, if you put enough of the criminals in jail, I suspect that would go a long way towards “strengthening the underpinnings of democracy.”

“Now Little Johnny, don’t go committing voter fraud, you don’t want to end up in jail like Old Man Trump!” The Schoolhouse Rocks just writes itself.

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**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9195 "2024-10-29T17:22:34Z")

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> [@Horatius](#):
>
> Similarly with the documents case. There’s no way that case should have been allowed to linger as long as it has. Make it clear that these cases are a priority, and stop fucking around.

Tell me, how is this supposed to be accomplished? It’s not within the power of the DOJ, the president or anyone else _other_ than the judge who is handling the case once the case is assigned to her courtroom. Please, tell us how Aileen Cannon can be made to “stop fucking around.” I’d really, really like to know.

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**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:** [October 29, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9196 "2024-10-29T17:25:40Z")

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> [@Horatius](#):
>
> That’s not something any President can do by themselves. It will require decades of reeducation to fix the damage that’s already been done.

…maybe let’s not use the term “re-education”. That’s a bit loaded.

It’s decades of actual _education_ of the current group of kids and the ones that come after that will make a difference.

We’ve let basic civics education languish to the extent that many current adults don’t understand what basic representative democracy really is nor values it, especially if minorities groups get to play too.

It will take a sustained effort across a generation or more to get us anywhere close to where we want to be.

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**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9197 "2024-10-29T17:41:43Z")

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> [@Aspenglow](#):
>
> Please, tell us how Aileen Cannon can be made to “stop fucking around.” I’d really, really like to know.

Have President Biden send Seal Team Six to take her out. Easy peasy.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9198 "2024-10-29T17:48:28Z")

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> [@Stratocaster](#):
>
> Have President Biden send Seal Team Six to take her out. Easy peasy.

The Supreme Court has confirmed this would be an official act as President, ergo legal

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9199 "2024-10-29T18:04:42Z")

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> [@Frazzled](#):
>
> The Supreme Court has confirmed this would be an official act as President, ergo legal

No, they didn’t. They granted _themselves_ the power to determine if an act is within the scope of a president’s official duties.

How do you suppose they’d rule if Biden carried out the proposed action?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [October 29, 2024, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9200 "2024-10-29T18:23:42Z")

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> [@Aspenglow](#):
>
> Tell me, how is this supposed to be accomplished? It’s not within the power of the DOJ, the president or anyone else _other_ than the judge who is handling the case once the case is assigned to her courtroom.

Unless she’s the Supreme Court, someone somewhere has the authority to lean on her, or take the case away from her. Just because we don’t normally do this doesn’t mean we have to let an obviously corrupt judge just run wild. As President, you call _that_ person up, and make it clear that shit needs to move forward. If nothing happens, then you use the Bully Pulpit to name and shame those who are letting Trump get away with this shit.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9201 "2024-10-29T18:25:20Z")

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> [@Aspenglow](#):
>
> How do you suppose they’d rule if Biden carried out the proposed action?

Step 2: Biden sends in SEAL Team 6 to take out the conservative justices before they can rule it’s an unofficial act. Replaces them with justices who will rule it’s official.

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