# I Don’t Care If Trump Doesn’t Spend a Day in Prison **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 27, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915 "2023-01-27T18:28:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/61 "2023-01-29T13:41:56Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > I’m stating that of the two desirable outcomes, Trump going to jail and his enablers going to jail, it is far more useful to society that his enablers go to jail. The thread title may be the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/62 "2023-01-29T13:53:03Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > There are several possible outcomes, some more plausible than others. Indeed, regardless of what I’d like to happen I have a sinking feeling that any of the options 2’s are more likely than (1). I think 2D) would be the worst outcome of those you mention. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/63 "2023-01-29T16:52:37Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > The thread title may be the problem. It always pays off to read the entire OP and not just go by the thread title, I’ve found. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/64 "2023-01-29T16:56:52Z")
_“but if he gets off scot-free, I won’t mind.”_ Yeah, that’s a real winner on clarification. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/65 "2023-01-29T17:00:46Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > It always pays off to read the entire OP and not just go by the thread title, I’ve found. True, but I think a superficial reading of the title could lead people to think that you are totally ambivalent on whether he should go to jail or not. And, on further clarification, that doesn’t seem to be your position. A polarising title can lead people to come into the thread with hackles already up and positions already decided. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/66 "2023-01-29T17:18:49Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > And I hate his orange guts as much as anyone I know. If he had to do a life sentence at hard labor pounding boulders into dust on nationwide free 24/7 TV, I would enjoy the spectacle, **but if he gets off scot-free, I won’t mind.** > > Because the object of punishment, to my mind, is deterrence rather than revenge, and I think the more effective way to deter future fascist coups is to punish severely all of those who helped him in his coup. I want to see Meadows, Barr, Eastman, Giuliani, and about 40 others I could name behind bars, their lives forever ruined. > > Because I want, above all, to deter future coups, and the best way to accomplish that end is to make all future putschists remember what happened to this band of putschists… See what a little context can provide? I added the preceding and succeeding sentences to the part you lifted from its context (bolding your quotation for clarity) and it’s remarkable how clear my qualifications become. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/67 "2023-01-29T17:20:45Z")
Closed on January 29, 2023, 5:20pm UTC ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/68 "2023-01-29T17:22:48Z")
**Modding** : Let’s get off the critique of the thread title now. And back to whatever the thread is about. But, take the critiques to heart, as titles like this are very click-baitish and far more likely to get a thread in GD or P&E shutdown/moved to the Pit. As almost happened this time. _Thread will reopen in 5 minutes._ ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/69 "2023-01-29T17:27:13Z")
Opened on January 29, 2023, 5:27pm UTC This topic was automatically opened after 4 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/70 "2023-01-29T17:28:03Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > See what a little context can provide? I added the preceding and succeeding sentences to the part you lifted from its context (bolding your quotation for clarity) and it’s remarkable how clear my qualifications become Yes, it is. It is remarkably clear that you stated that you won’t mind if he gets off scot-free. I _do_ care whether he gets off scot-free; it’s not about qualifications or context, I just — _do care_. You can ring it with context or qualifications or whatever, but you said you — _won’t mind._ ::shrugs:: ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/71 "2023-01-29T17:33:05Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Yes, it is. It is remarkably clear that you stated that you won’t mind if he gets off scot-free. I think it is equally clear from the OP’s other comments that he would actually love it if Trump were jailed. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/72 "2023-01-29T17:48:01Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I think it is equally clear from the OP’s other comments that he would actually love it if Trump were jailed. To me, that’s as jarring as starting a new thread making clear that _‘hey, I think this other guy is an innocent man, but don’t care whether he winds up in prison; I’d genuinely love for him to walk free, but won’t mind if he stays behind bars.’_ ---
**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:** [January 29, 2023, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/73 "2023-01-29T17:49:48Z")
Moderating: > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > To me, that’s as jarring as starting a new thread making clear that _‘hey, I think this other guy is an innocent man, but don’t care whether he winds up in prison; I’d genuinely love for him to walk free, but won’t mind if he stays behind bars.’_ Let’s drop the myopic focus on what the OP meant. He’s clarified it. Move on. If you’ve nothing more to contribute to the actual discussion, perhaps it’s time to leave the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/74 "2023-01-29T18:13:02Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > And that’s not what it means. “Executive privilege” has a very specific meaning within the law… Thank you for the correction. That’s what I get for presuming that I understand based on what I read in the news! ---
**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:** [January 29, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/75 "2023-01-29T18:35:43Z")
I’m glad I could help fight some ignorance. Hopefully not just yours. 🙂 The concept of executive privilege is widely misunderstood. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/76 "2023-01-30T14:32:34Z")
In an attempt to get this thread in the direction I’d like it to go, I’m going to make up a list of the top co-conspirators I believe deserve long prison terms. If all of them get it, it won’t matter (much) if Trump skates freely. (NB: that’s NOT what I’m rooting for, just what I can make myself accept if his helpers get punished.) I’m going to try to rank them eventually, with no 1 being my top target, but for now I’m listing them as they come to mind, and I will revise it as I think of more, with your able assistance: 1. Mark Meadows 2. Lindsay Graham 3. John Eastman 4. Rudy Giuliani 5. Sydney Powell 6. Roger Stone 7. Jared Kushner 8. Bill Barr 9. Jeffrey Clark 10. Stephen Miller 11. Stephen Bannon 12. Mike Flynn 13. Paul Manafort 14. Jason Miller 15. Scott Perry 16. Marjorie Taylor Greene 17. Peter Navarro 18. Mike Pompeo 19. Lin Woods 20. Mike Lindell ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/77 "2023-01-30T15:28:40Z")
Good list. But if the DOJ can’t take down Trump with what we already know. It’s was broadcast in living color. Well. Good luck… to all of us. I know you go for the small fry first and hope to make deals to get more info on the head rat. I think we already have all the info we need. Would be nice to get your list of assholes too of course. Not directed at you OP, but those that want justice seem to have two theory’s of thought. 1. Go for justice and let the pieces fall where they may. All hell may break lose, or his supporters may fade away. I think we should just go for it. Justice maters. 2. Walk on egg shells. Don’t upset his supporters, because we don’t know what they will do. That route has already taken years, and will never end. At the very least get him on the Georgia stuff. We/they have the audio and a first line witness. Completely cut and dried. Abuse of power and election tampering/interference. Let him claim witch hunt, he’s been doing that for years. It’s a criminal hunt, and we found one. He’s right there. We have all the evidence. That’s a narrative that should be pushed. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/78 "2023-01-30T16:31:21Z")
Re-ordered list, the top of which features those we have the most evidence against, or the clearest involvement (or I think we will get the evidence against eventually): 1. Mark Meadows 2. John Eastman 3. Jeffrey Clark 4. Rudy Giuliani 5. Peter Navarro 6. Lindsay Graham 7. Sydney Powell 8. Roger Stone 9. Mike Flynn 10. Stephen Miller 11. Bill Barr 12. Mike Pompeo 13. Stephen Bannon 14. Jared Kushner 15. Paul Manafort 16. Lin Woods 17. Mike Lindell 18. Jason Miller 19. Scott Perry 20. Marjorie Taylor Greene ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/79 "2023-01-30T23:33:30Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > I’m going to make up a list of the top co-conspirators I believe deserve long prison terms. If all of them get it, it won’t matter (much) if Trump skates freely. (NB: that’s NOT what I’m rooting for, just what I can make myself accept if his helpers get punished.) You mention what it’d be like if Trump skates freely while everyone on the list gets a long prison term; I guess my question is, what about a contrived scenario where (a) Trump _would_ skate freely unless (b) one of the guys on the list, who’ll otherwise get a long prison term, would make all the difference when it comes to putting Trump behind bars — in exchange for, y’know, said guy on said list _not_ getting one of those “long prison terms” you’d just mentioned. Would you trade away a long sentence for Pompeo for such a Trump conviction — but not make that trade for, say, _Kushner’s_ sentence? Would you trade Barr’s, but not Clark’s? Would you trade any of them to keep Trump from skating free, or none of them? What’s your position? ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915/80 "2023-01-31T00:34:14Z")
Why should it matter to anyone what my position is? This isn’t about me. What’s your position? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-care-if-trump-doesn-t-spend-a-day-in-prison/978915.md?page=5)