# I'll throw you in jail when I become President **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 10, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168 "2016-10-10T18:53:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/141 "2016-10-13T15:51:14Z")
More of an observation than anything, but I see incredible similarities between Trump and [David Miscavige](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Miscavige). Specifically, these points: > [@](#): > > A 1991 Time magazine cover story on the church described Miscavige as “ringleader” of a “hugely profitable global racket that survives by intimidating members and critics in a Mafia-like manner.” > > Robert Vaughn Young, had previously asserted that Miscavige emotionally tormented staff members on a regular basis. “His viciousness and his cruelty to staff was unlike anything that I had ever experienced in my life,” she said. “He just loved to degrade the staff.”[64] I’m not quite sure what to make of it, just that the similarity scares me. And the thought that one of them could be president makes me feel even worse. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/142 "2016-10-13T15:52:06Z")
> [@HeweyLogan](#): > > Bryan H. Nishimura Who “knowingly” removed and housed classified materials, which is not what Clinton did. Clinton received 3 emails which, unknown to her, contained classified information. Not the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/143 "2016-10-13T15:56:26Z")
Remember after 9/11 and the “Truther” movement started and both Rep and Dems condemned it as silly and so ridiculous that it doesn’t deserve comment? I miss the days when both sides could at least agree on what was “crazy” and what wasn’t. The worst part of this story is that even if Trump did win, he wouldn’t actually do this. he knows it, his team knows it, and his party knows it. But his supporters don’t. So when it doesn’t happen (like everything else he said) they will think its a conspiracy and just buy more guns. makes me sad. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/144 "2016-10-13T15:58:02Z")
> [@HeweyLogan](#): > > [https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/sacramento/news/press-releases/folsom-naval-reservist-is-sentenced-after-pleading-guilty-to-unauthorized-removal-and-retention-of-classified-materials](https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/sacramento/news/press-releases/folsom-naval-reservist-is-sentenced-after-pleading-guilty-to-unauthorized-removal-and-retention-of-classified-materials) Clinton has claimed that she didn’t know that the material was classified at the time, and FBI Director Comey told Congress that none of the emails had proper markings to indicate it was classified, so it would be difficult to prove her claim incorrect. Meanwhile, Nishimura admitted he knew the material was classified and was properly marked classified at the time he downloaded 200 MB of satellite imagery to his personal devices. He pled guilty to deliberately and knowingly mishandling classified material. “Knowingly” is a key element of the crime. See the [Wall Street Journal comparison](http://www.wsj.com/articles/fbis-hillary-clinton-decision-draws-comparisons-to-past-prosecutions-1467762367) (login required) ---
**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:** [October 13, 2016, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/145 "2016-10-13T16:30:02Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > Clinton has claimed that she didn’t know that the material was classified at the time, and FBI Director Comey told Congress that none of the emails had proper markings to indicate it was classified, so it would be difficult to prove her claim incorrect. For accuracy, he also said that the content was clearly of a classifiable nature even if not marked. As in: “I’ve attached the plans to bomb the Kremlin. Please review and advise.” ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/146 "2016-10-13T16:37:09Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > For accuracy, he also said that the content was clearly of a classifiable nature even if not marked. Sounds like the benefit of hindsight to me. I receive maybe 100 emails a day, which means I do a detailed read of only a relatively small percent of them. Some never get read, some get skimmed, and maybe a handful get read in depth. I suspect Clinton probably receives 10 times as many emails a day as I do. Someone could send me classified information and I’d never know. And then if a team of 30-40 people dug into my emails they could find it and say “look at this! You should have known!” ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/147 "2016-10-13T19:21:17Z")
I hope my own analysis has some weight here. I am NOT a Clinton supporter, except in the very narrow sense that I feel constrained to vote for her as an alternative to voting for Trump. But I would have happily voted for almost any other GOP candidate, and unhappily voted for the others. Trump alone strikes me as such a disaster that I feel a Clinton vote is mandated. That said, and even before Trump and Clinton had secured their respective spots as party nominees, I started a thread opining that Clinton’s conduct would not expose her to criminal liability. I’d suggest that I had no motive to whitewash her conduct. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/148 "2016-10-13T22:07:01Z")
> [@HeweyLogan](#): > > My point would be, and I think others would agree, is that she’s been in politics almost her entire life. How could she not know the rules? > > I get that you and your office have made mistakes that might/could have been gone after, or at least been a pain to explain or make up for, but those to me sound like honest mistakes. I don’t have a problem with leniency or a pass when it comes to what you describe. > > Again what I have a problem with is she should have known better given her experience and time served in office. How could she be so dumb? And if she’s dumb and misinformed why vote for her for president? > > Following your link iiandyiiii states “carelessness and boneheaded mistakes are never prosecuted.” > > I find that hard to believe, but ok, I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. > > When I’m told I should vote for Hillary because of her temperament, experience, and knowledge of the system of government, I have a hard time turning around and ignoring her “careless and boneheaded mistakes”. They completely contradict each other. > > Bryan H. Nishimura > > [Comey’s FBI Helped Convict Navy Reservist who “Handled Classified Materials Inappropriately” | Judicial Watch](http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2016/07/comeys-fbi-helped-convict-navy-reservist-handled-classified-materials-inappropriately/) > > She’d be in jail if he were in charge of the justice department at the time. And I assume after a proper trial. > > Not that she’d be tossed in jail regardless of anything but him being in office. He’s saying he’d hold her to the standards other have been held to. I agree. She’s dumb and should have known better THEREFORE I’ll vote for this bigger bonehead who doesn’t know anything? How does that make sense? ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/149 "2016-10-14T05:57:34Z")
> [@HeweyLogan](#): > > A lot like the Israelis have done to counter Palestinian terrorists and others. > > Works for me. > > I like the idea of ramping it up. Taking it to them in terms of hitting them where it hurts and making those that want to slaughter us think before they act. That it would have consequences. > > Something, anything, other than what’s been done so far. It’s ineffective. 1. What you are suggesting is disgusting and it’s a war crime, the fact that other countries do it doesn’t make it right. 2. You’re wrong, the US and Iraq have gained a huge amount of territory back from ISIS and are going to recapture Mosul shortly [http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/13/world/iraq-mosul-after-isis/](http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/13/world/iraq-mosul-after-isis/) [Iraq battle for Mosul with ISIS looms as US Army trains and equips Iraqis at Qayyarah airbase - CBS News](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/iraq-mosul-isis-us-army-american-troops-train-equip-iraqis-qayyarah-airbase/) Your chance of being killed in a terror attack is minuscule, more US citizens were killed by lightning than by terror attacks in 2015 > **[The Terrorism Statistics Every American Needs to Hear - Global Research](https://www.globalresearch.ca/the-terrorism-statistics-every-american-needs-to-hear/5382818)** > > This article was first published on May 19, 2014.  Calm Down … You Are Much More Likely to Be Killed By Boring, Mundane Things than Terrorism McClatchy reported in 2010: There were just 25 U.S. noncombatant fatalities from terrorism worldwide.... The entire idea that the war against ISIS is in-effective is a blatant lie from the Trump camp, it is being won, and it’s being won without having to resort to war crimes. Sorry if that doesn’t satisfy your warped sense of revenge. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/150 "2016-10-14T09:25:08Z")
Well, [he keeps saying it](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-conspiratorial-picture-florida): > [@](#): > > “The Clinton machine is at the center of this power structure,” Trump continued. “We have seen this in the WikiLeaks documents in which Hillary Clinton meets in secret with international banks to plot the destruction of U.S. sovereignty in order to enrich these global financial powers, her special interest friends, and her donors." > > The crowd chanted “Lock her up!” in response. Trump said "she should be locked up.” I guess this, too, was shorthand for “her handling of classified emails should be investigated impartially, and if the evidence warrants prosecution, she should be prosecuted, and if she’s convicted for offenses of sufficient severity that most people who commit them get imprisoned, then she should be imprisoned.” :dubious: Even though he wasn’t even talking about her handling of classified emails, but rather about a global conspiracy of international bankers. It’s like transubstantiation. > [@HeweyLogan](#): > > [https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/sacramento/news/press-releases/folsom-naval-reservist-is-sentenced-after-pleading-guilty-to-unauthorized-removal-and-retention-of-classified-materials](https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/sacramento/news/press-releases/folsom-naval-reservist-is-sentenced-after-pleading-guilty-to-unauthorized-removal-and-retention-of-classified-materials) I’ve read it. And your point is…? ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/151 "2016-10-14T09:46:27Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Well, [he keeps saying it](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-conspiratorial-picture-florida): > I guess this, too, was shorthand for “her handling of classified emails should be investigated impartially, and if the evidence warrants prosecution, she should be prosecuted, and if she’s convicted for offenses of sufficient severity that most people who commit them get imprisoned, then she should be imprisoned.” :dubious: Yes and in the second debate he replied bluntly to her “you’d be in jail” to Clinton directly, not “you’d be tried in court”, he clearly is presuming guilt by stating that directly which is not something a President should ever do. There is a very very good reason for having seperation of powers between executive and judicial system. If you think the President should have the power to jail people arbitrarily or indeed have any influence over the judicial process (especially for political opponents) then you’re a fascist, no doubt about it. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/152 "2016-10-14T12:11:57Z")
If he’d just said it once, then backtracked, one could at least make the argument that it had been something he’d just blurted out on the spur of the moment because he doesn’t have much of a filter, if any, between his brain and his mouth. But when he keeps coming back to that line, over and over again, with no effort to define it down to something like what I wrote that you quoted, there’s no getting away from the intentionality of it. I don’t think Trump would throw Hillary in prison without a trial. But would he turn the DOJ and the FBI into instruments of his personal vendetta against her, with instructions to find whatever excuse possible to prosecute and imprison her? I’m not _certain_ that he would, mostly because he seems to have a short attention span, and there’s the real possibility that after winning the election, he’d forget about it because he’d have a lot of new toys to play with. But I’m many miles from certain that he wouldn’t, and I think any people who say they’re certain he wouldn’t are fooling themselves. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/153 "2016-10-14T12:38:51Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > If he’d just said it once, then backtracked, one could at least make the argument that it had been something he’d just blurted out on the spur of the moment because he doesn’t have much of a filter, if any, between his brain and his mouth. It’s beyond all doubt, he blatantly encourages his followers to chant “lock her up”. That’s not a call for justice, that’s a call for a kangaroo court. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/154 "2016-10-14T12:41:27Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > It’s beyond all doubt, he blatantly encourages his followers to chant “lock her up”. That’s not a call for justice, that’s a call for a kangaroo court. Right - he (and they) are already convinced of her guilt - regaurdless of what the laws say. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/155 "2016-10-14T13:48:06Z")
And it doesn’t even seem to have any particular locus anymore: if the issues surrounding the emails were wiped from everyone’s mind, they’d still be chanting “Lock her up!” and he’d still be saying she deserves it. Just because she’s eeeeeviiillll. Between this and the latest dive into “Hillary Clinton meets in secret with international banks to plot the destruction of U.S. sovereignty” conspiracy theories, it’s really time for the GOP to abandon the Trump ship. Most of them won’t, even now, and those that don’t deserve to be permanently retired from public life on that account. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/156 "2016-10-14T13:56:12Z")
Just want to comment on the ‘Ken Bone’ thing. This guy gives me hope for the political process. He’s become a viral sensation because he asked an intelligent question and looks like a big teddy bear and seems like a nice guy. (plus of course the obvious puns and double meaning of his last name). It gives me some hope, no matter how slim, that the ‘silent majority’ is actually sick of the polarized partisan games and wants some rationality in politics again. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2016, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/157 "2016-10-14T14:01:43Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Just want to comment on the ‘Ken Bone’ thing. This guy gives me hope for the political process. He’s become a viral sensation because he asked an intelligent question and looks like a big teddy bear and seems like a nice guy. > > It gives me some hope, no matter how slim, that the ‘silent majority’ is actually sick of the polarized partisan games and wants some rationality in politics again. I read last night that he’s still undecided. Seriously? Tell me he’s saying that to prolong his 15 minutes of fame. And if that’s the case, there goes some of his aura of fresh-faced ingenuousness. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/158 "2016-10-14T14:20:39Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I read last night that he’s still undecided. Seriously? Tell me he’s saying that to prolong his 15 minutes of fame. And if that’s the case, there goes some of his aura of fresh-faced ingenuousness. Woops, I meant to post this in the stretch run thread not this one, my bad. Although it is actually relevant to this thread, so no problem… He’s extremely wise to say he’s undecided, if he states a decision for one or the other he will get relentlessly attacked by partisans. Instead his message is “just go out and vote”, a message which no one can disagree with. Direct quote from him “There’s 2000 candidates for President, there must be one you agree with, just vote”. That’s real media savvy. I’m sure privately he has made up his mind, but if I was in his position, no way would I make my decision public. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/159 "2016-10-14T14:56:40Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Just want to comment on the ‘Ken Bone’ thing. This guy gives me hope for the political process. He’s become a viral sensation because he asked an intelligent question and looks like a big teddy bear and seems like a nice guy. (plus of course the obvious puns and double meaning of his last name). > > It gives me some hope, no matter how slim, that the ‘silent majority’ is actually sick of the polarized partisan games and wants some rationality in politics again. I’m sorry-I think it was a softball question worthy of a third grader. It had nothing to do with the presidency at all, and neither answer really revealed anything of substance. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168/160 "2016-10-14T15:10:55Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’m sorry-I think it was a softball question worthy of a third grader. It had nothing to do with the presidency at all, and neither answer really revealed anything of substance. You completely missed my point, his popularity has very little to do with what he asked. Anyway, he is a hit with the millennials and he’s telling people to register and go out and vote, that’s a good thing. And yeah sorry, energy policy is absolutely one of the most relevant policy questions for a President, it’s not his fault that he got non-answers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-throw-you-in-jail-when-i-become-president/768168.md?page=9)