# Containing likely abuse of executive orders, pardons and broadcasting classified information by Trump on his way out the door if he loses election **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 30, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829 "2020-06-30T18:42:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/61 "2020-07-12T15:56:56Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It is possible no other country will take him. He’ll be left with the choice of returning home to face state charges or be an illegal immigrant in some other country. Brazil? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/62 "2020-07-12T19:35:55Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Instead, we’re likely to have Trump continue to be frequent front page news as he battles a New York State grand jury indictment. And after years of suspense, I think there would be a hung jury. If I’m wrong and he is convicted, there then will be years of appeals ending in a Supreme Court win, or him avoiding prison on grounds of by-then ill health. I think a smart lawyer is likely to argue that he is unfit to stand trial because of advancing dementia. I just read in the Times that Trump is now claiming he did very well in a test of cognitive ability. Wonder who he paid to take the test for him. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/63 "2020-07-12T19:54:14Z")
Oh lord, they are suffering so much already. If the virus doesn’t get him the people may remove Bolsanaro one way or another by next year. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/64 "2020-07-12T23:26:19Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I just read in the Times that Trump is now claiming he did very well in a test of cognitive ability. Wonder who he paid to take the test for him. I don’t believe for one minute that Trump would pay somebody to take a test for him… …when he could just lie about it for free. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/65 "2020-07-12T23:28:09Z")
Obama commutes /pardons more people than any other President…oh, that ok… ---
**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:** [July 12, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/66 "2020-07-12T23:29:31Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I just read in the Times that Trump is now claiming he did very well in a test of cognitive ability. Wonder who he paid to take the test for him. The idiot was bragging about taking (and acing) a test that’s specifically for dementia. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/67 "2020-07-13T01:30:28Z")
Did I miss something in the news lately about this “cognitive test”? I remember it was in the news a year (or more?) ago, and I think we even discussed it on this board, that he took some basic cognitive test. It was the kind of test where they ask you to draw a clock with hands pointing to a specific time, and identify some simple pictures of some animals, and repeat some words and numbers, really basic stuff like that. So did he take some such test AGAIN? If so, when and why? Or is all this current talk just bringing up that test he took a while back? And if so, why is it in the news now? ---
**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:** [July 13, 2020, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/68 "2020-07-13T01:35:50Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Did I miss something in the news lately about this “cognitive test”? > **[A curious boast: Trump brags about 'acing' a cognitive test](https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/curious-boast-trump-brags-about-acing-cognitive-test-n1233411)** > > Why would Trump's doctors be "very surprised" that he fared well on a cognitive test that most healthy adults could pass easily? The usual overblown blather. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2020, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/69 "2020-07-13T01:47:54Z")
My fantasy is that Trump does a runner to Saudi Arabia. He is promised a lavish lifestyle by some Saudi prince, and indeed does get to live in an opulent apartment with golden toilets and all the big macs and ketchup covered burnt steaks he can eat. One wall of the apartment is clear glass. Not a one way mirror, just pure glass. And on the other side of the glass are the visitors. After paying admission, they come and look at the pet president on display. Point and laugh. There are no handles on the inside of the doors in this “apartment”. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/70 "2020-07-13T02:19:46Z")
He’ll do more damage than Keith Moon in a motel room. ---
**Author:** ![tripthicket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripthicket/32/297_2.png) [@tripthicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tripthicket)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/71 "2020-07-13T02:59:06Z")
More damage than Yoko Ono. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/72 "2020-07-13T03:13:15Z")
> [@eenerms](#): > > Obama commutes /pardons more people than any other President…oh, that ok… No one’s complaining about how many pardons Trump will hand out, just who he may give them to. As for Obama, he mostly pardoned or commuted sentences that he thought were excessive. He had a program where anyone with a federal conviction could apply for one. He had a team of people who checked out the cases and recommended clemency. The only problem that I could see was that he probably didn’t do enough of them. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/73 "2020-07-13T04:26:54Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Did I miss something in the news lately about this “cognitive test”? It sounds like the test I get as part of my annual Medicare wellness check. I’ve never seen pictures of animals, but I do get the clock and the five words (the nurse gives me the words, then after a period of talking about other things she asks me to recite them back). If that’s it, then bragging about how well he did is like celebrating getting food in one’s mouth without stabbing oneself in the nose. And am I the only one who sees this as an attempt to explain away his soopersekret trip to Walter Reed? 'Cause it’s ridiculous to claim that this sort of test couldn’t be given in his living room. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/74 "2020-07-13T05:01:43Z")
If he’s no longer on office, would Fox actually want to talk to someone who only knows how to talk about himself? ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/75 "2020-07-13T14:30:35Z")
You think it’s about the _number_ of pardons? Did you actually read the thread? ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/76 "2020-07-13T15:51:41Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > himself? There have been past President that have pardoned questionable crooks, I’m no a Stone fan , and he’s still a felon. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/77 "2020-07-13T16:26:29Z")
Frankly, when Trump is out of there, I’m more worried what information he will have to sell to keep his stupid ass afloat. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/78 "2020-07-14T01:00:59Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Frankly, when Trump is out of there, I’m more worried what information he will have to sell to keep his stupid ass afloat This is why I hope that any information that comes across his desk relating to national security in the next 6 months contains a fair amount of disinformation and made-up crap, just to keep America’s enemies confused… Yes, a Canary Trap, if you will. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/79 "2020-07-14T09:37:42Z")
I was referring to Trump as a political commentator. Why would someone hire Trump as a political analyst when the only person he ever wants to discuss is Trump himself? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829/80 "2020-07-14T15:19:58Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > No, he’ll stay in the US, direct his attorneys to use every tactic available to push for plea deals that mean no jail time, and if that fails, delay every hearing, trial, and sentencing as long as possible. In the meantime, he’ll be tweeting like crazy and making big bucks off his real estate and his position as right-wing commentator on Fox or wherever and promulgating every wild QAnon theory out there. OR, he’ll somehow end up on Epstein’s personal island and bunker up there, tweeting how unfair it is that he has arrest warrants in the US and can’t travel to his 2024 campaign rallys. > [@eenerms](#): > > I’m no a Stone fan , and he’s still a felon. for now… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/containing-likely-abuse-of-executive-orders-pardons-and-broadcasting-classified-information-by-trump-on-his-way-out-the-door-if-he-loses-election/913829.md?page=5)