# A Perfectly Reasonable Amount of Schadenfreude about Things Happening to Trump & His Enablers (Part 2) **URL:** \ **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:** 56
**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 30, 2023, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1101 "2023-07-30T22:30:25Z")
Nor do I. All the ambitious Republican presidential prospects have assuredly been taking notes since 2016, and many of them are younger, smarter and/or more disciplined than Trump. Not to say that all of them are authoritarian wannabes, but some almost certainly are. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2023, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1102 "2023-07-30T22:42:33Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > many of them are younger, smarter and/or more disciplined than Trump. Nitpick: and/or is and. Only and. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2023, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1103 "2023-07-30T22:53:06Z")
Nevermind. I missed the real point. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2023, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1104 "2023-07-30T23:09:38Z")
Why photoshop when [Pinterest has you covered](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/12173861473428937/)? ---
**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:** [July 30, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1105 "2023-07-30T23:19:37Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > How this country gets the R party and the R party faithful to climb down off the authoritarian tree limb they’re now out near the tip of is the 64 Bajillion dollar question. IMHO, I think the answer is, they won’t. Which means all we can do is prevent them from gaining access to power until the party is completely destroyed. I say this with no joy. I think it’s important to have a functioning opposition, and it will be a long time until we do again. But for now, they’re just too dangerous for the country to give them the levers of government. If we do, our days as a democracy – nominal as it already is – will be over. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1106 "2023-07-30T23:44:18Z")
In my more negative moods I’ve certainly posted the same idea\*. They will either burn themselves out while in power in an orgy of destruction, or out of power in an orgy of impotent rage. But burn they must; it’s the only way they’ll ever calm down. You and I agree the latter is the preferable path. A _different_ opposition could arise to replace the formal organization called the “Republican Party”. And standing for a different and more mainstream grab-bag of policies. But even that must be after the immolation is well under way. The legal arrangements in all 50 states mean they can’t be displaced by the voting public as can happen in other systems. * * * \*. See here for example. Although the thread was about a different topic, my post was about Authoritarianism: > [@If there really any point to mass shooting threads in MPSIMS anymore?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-any-point-to-mass-shooting-threads-in-mpsims-anymore/982460/16): > > Yes. This is day to day life. And it is insane. But there’s no point in us here on SDMB wasting further electrons on it. Y’all can help yourself as much as you’re willing, but I won’t. Since you’re the OP it sounds like you won’t either. You’re frustrated, but you’re not in a head-banging mood any more. IMO: Until we’ve had a revolution and new constitution, and following the deaths of millions, not thousands, nothing can change. Because the idjits who like things as they are now are … ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1107 "2023-07-30T23:53:57Z")
While I can’t place the reference for the “tooting party favor” reference, I do remember reading somewhere that if the country ever needed an enema, Texas would be where they’d stick the tube. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2023, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1108 "2023-07-31T00:38:59Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I urge you to consider backing away from this level of despair, mostly because it will only hurt you. Seconded. This is a fight you fight, not a fight you win. A general “you.” ---
**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:** [July 31, 2023, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1109 "2023-07-31T04:28:19Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > > [@LSLGuy](#): > > > > How this country gets the R party and the R party faithful to climb down off the authoritarian tree limb they’re now out near the tip of is the 64 Bajillion dollar question. > > IMHO, I think the answer is, they won’t. > > Which means all we can do is prevent them from gaining access to power until the party is completely destroyed. > > I say this with no joy. I think it’s important to have a functioning opposition, and it will be a long time until we do again. But for now, they’re just too dangerous for the country to give them the levers of government. If we do, our days as a democracy – nominal as it already is – will be over. I wouldn’t worry about that _functioning opposition_ issue. The Democratic Party practically has one built-in. I’d say about twelve nanoseconds after the GOP is declared extinct, a schism will occur. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2023, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1110 "2023-07-31T04:34:49Z")
That could be true. We can hope. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1111 "2023-07-31T07:37:02Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I think it’s important to have a functioning opposition We do have a functioning opposition. The Republicans are not the only game in town. Once they self-destruct, another party will grow stronger to fill in the gap. ---
**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 31, 2023, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1112 "2023-07-31T22:27:01Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > And here I must respectfully disagree with you. They’re all on the same page. Trump was just the convenient stooge whose butt happened to hit the chair in the Oval Office in 2016. Any other Republican butt that hits the chair going forward will be as destructive to our democracy – if not more so – than Trump I’m not this is technically accurate, DeSantis and Abbot could indeed be worse, both seem to relish the cruelty to racialo minorities and LGBTQ even more than Trump, but I think if Pence or Nikki Halley got it (maybe Scott too I don’t know enough about him), it would be not good, but survivable. Unfortunately unless Trump is in prison and a meteor hits DeSantis they don’t have the slimmest of slim chances of winning the primary so for all practical purposes you are correct. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1113 "2023-08-01T01:40:17Z")
> **[Judge Rejects Trump’s Effort to Short-Circuit Georgia Election Case](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/31/us/trump-georgia-prosecutor-election.html)** > > A Fulton County judge chided Donald Trump’s lawyers for “unnecessary and unfounded legal filings” ahead of indictments expected in mid-August. [Free link here](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/31/us/trump-georgia-prosecutor-election.html?unlocked_article_code=99g40myv6Tgcu1d4zP9pgk0j8RR2sF7JUSKA5IaQm9RmJYx64v_7oOjE2EP1DC1Z72zMbRRD8zTWWT-Lj8yboGwyWZ7BWcSJ59oKUCPRI_SW99V3hiqknxXQGSdvxGrpPwSTF9N4q_k6mQdmXWUvJ-IsdP8yUo3HV-C02DeOTrvXcL-hP7sSyWS0b6rOoQcO17pV8qHXkt5bnIRxKwrsKTQ8oXUt0hlBi3EaPUPVNrFcXQWqn_cfFVTlL0bliJM9TLzj-E419Jax-ZkuvxW7qTZVt2kO28lU1jyg5dn4f0FMynNdAPfweT0t6JpQFB1Hp8fhgGHK-98xv8d91A-viB7p7iNpuA&smid=url-share): Just chock full of invigorating schadenfreude > “In the future, counsel is encouraged to follow the professional standard of inquiring with chamber’s staff about timing and deadlines before burdening other courts with unnecessary and unfounded legal filings,” Judge McBurney wrote > To the Trump team’s assertions that Mr. Trump would be injured by an indictment, Judge McBurney appeared to allude to the fund-raising that Mr. Trump’s campaign had done, highlighting the criminal cases against him. > > “For some, being the subject of criminal investigation can, à la Rumpelstiltskin, be turned into golden political capital, making it seem more providential than problematic,” he wrote in a footnote. Plus more where they came from! ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1114 "2023-08-01T01:54:13Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Judge McBurney I think I like this guy. One more money quote from that article: > “The drumbeat from the district attorney has been neither partisan (in the political sense) nor political, in marked and refreshing contrast to the stream of personal invective flowing from one of the movants,” the judge wrote. Gee, I wonder who he was talking about? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1115 "2023-08-01T13:04:15Z")
If a judge gets too creative with their opprobrium, they can end up creating grounds for claims they are biased. Or at least that they cannot be involved in future cases involving that defendant or counsel as the well has been throroughly poisoned. Although I too lurves me some good bashing from the bench. I am anxiously awaiting my favorite legal blogger’s take on this order. Which I’ll share here as soon as he deigns to post. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2023, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1116 "2023-08-01T14:14:11Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If a judge gets too creative with their opprobrium, they can end up creating grounds for claims they are biased. I think as long as he doesn’t sign off the judgement with, “You’ve just been _McBurned!_”, we’re fine. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1117 "2023-08-01T14:37:20Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > “For some, being the subject of criminal investigation can, à la Rumpelstiltskin, be turned into golden political capital, making it seem more providential than problematic,” he wrote in a footnote. An example of life imitates art. The good judge beat The Onion to the punch. > **[Trump Campaign Worried There Might Not Be Enough Indictments To Meet All...](https://www.theonion.com/trump-campaign-worried-there-might-not-be-enough-indict-1850692369)** > > PALM BEACH, FL—Though new charges are expected soon from both special counsel Jack Smith and a Georgia investigation of the former president, the Trump campaign was said to be privately worried Monday that there still might not be enough ... ---
**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:** [August 1, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1118 "2023-08-01T14:56:21Z")
> At press time, the campaign had reportedly decided on a fundraising strategy of having Trump threaten the lives of federal judges at a rally. Are we doing an over/under on how long before this becomes true? I’ll set the point at four months. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1119 "2023-08-01T20:23:22Z")
Former Michigan AG candidate charged with illegally attempting to access voting machines. [Matthew DePerno is charged in Michigan voting machine scheme : NPR](https://www.npr.org/2023/08/01/1142599350/deperno-michigan-voting-machine-breach-charges#:~:text=Elconin%2FGetty%20Images-,Matthew%20DePerno%2C%20the%202022%20Republican%20nominee%20for%20Michigan%20attorney%20general,to%20tamper%20with%20voting%20machines). ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1120 "2023-08-01T20:43:49Z")
As Dirty Harry almost said: > Nuthin’ wrong with stealin’ votes. As long as the right votes get stolen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250.md?page=55) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250.md?page=57)