The Sean Spicer story is dominating the news today, but in other news, Trump makes an appointment to head up science at the USDA. And it’s just the sort of stellar individual you might expect from Trumpland. Congressional rules say that the USDA science head should be selected “from among distinguished scientists”. Trump picked Sam Clovis, who wouldn’t know science if the fat bastard tripped over it and smashed all 17 of his chins on it. What Sam has to recommend him is being a fawning sycophant and former Trump campaign manager.
I’m thinking that it’s going to take years of concerted effort after the Trump train wreck to get the government reasonably operational again. It’s not going to happen within the next four years, because even if the asshole in chief gets impeached or gets bored and quits, half the pictures I see of Trump have Pence in the background with a sort of imbecilic canine grin permanently plastered on his face, like a pet dog that Trump is walking on an invisible leash. The only thing missing is his tongue hanging out. So even if Trump buggers off, this highly Christian dog-like thing is not going to be that much of an improvement.
Presumably this is true and is why Reince Priebus hasn’t yet been kicked to the curb–he’s got those solid RNC ties. Otherwise we’d have an all-Mafia-or-Breitbart White House by now.
Pardons only cover past crimes. You can’t pardon someone in advance for future crime.
Or, let’s declare them to be terrorists and send them to GITMO with no trial or hearing. I like that idea. Say it’s a secret tribunal and all the evidence is just too secret to divulge.
He had plenty to say back then.
“He’s got a big mouth,”
“You’re an inherited money dude from Queens County. Bring it, Donald.”
And now he’s all but giving the fat orange bastard a tongue bath.
That’s true but who said anything about future crimes?
They’re ordered to testify. They refuse to do so. They are then charged for refusing to testify. Trump then pardons them of that crime, after they’ve committed it.
As long as they know that they can count on Trump to pardon them, they can refuse to testify.
They can count on him to do so because not doing so will make others afraid to refuse.
Granted, they may agree to testify just to avoid all that hassle, but they can’t be compelled if they know that Trump’s got their back.
I don’t think Donald is going to get a chance to issue too many pardons. If I was going after him, the very last thing I’d do would be to prosecute his minions first and work my way up. No, you start at the top with these things and work your way down. Cut off the head of the snake first. Then all the little ones will be begging for deals and turning on each other in a frenzy of self-preservation.
… or start “leaking” information to the New York people who are investigating Rrump. He can’t fire them, they don’t work for him down at the state level. Also his pardons are useless there against state charges, if I am right.
So, if they refuse to testify, and/or violate court orders to appear and they get a pardon, order them again and again and again. Keep it coming so fast and furious Dump can’t keep up - or decides “who knew pardoning was hard”.
One thing to think on though - the very idea he intends to give out pardons like candy - and that the fucking idiot even thinks he can pardon himself - means they are ALL guilty as fuck and they know it will all come out.
This was another one of those days (is there any other kind any more?) where if you’re away from the news for several hours, you get gobsmacked when you do turn it on.
I heard on NPR driving home that the upside of <whoever> being pardoned, is that the person then has no more Fifth Amendment protection, so when they’re subpoenaed, they have to testify or go to jail. That gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. I’m picturing a family group portrait in orange jumpsuits.
“The Donald J Trump Family and Associates Federal Penitentiary”.
I think it has a good ring to it.
I’m even going to suggest a location. Techout Island in Lake of the Woods, right near the Canadian border in Minnesota. Very isolated and the cold winters would be awesome for those fuckers.
Couple of things.
Presidential Pardons are only for Federal crimes.
People who who are compelled to testify and refuse are not charged, but held in contempt of court. IIRC, Contempt is not an offense against the United States, and is not pardonable.
Trump has never had anyone’s back.
I hear you. I got home today at around lunchtime and I was planning on going out and doing all kinds of stuff, but I kind of got caught up in the news cycle. So I’m still here and I just ordered dinner from Seamless.
There’s a new one, but I can’t find a link yet. But some Russian diplomat claims to have talked about sanctions with Jeff Sessions.
And I can’t help but wonder how long it’s going to take him before T is caught talking or tweeting smack about SHS’s weight. Cause I’m pretty sure it’s going to happen the first time she pisses him off.
Edit – story is now online
And now there’s another one about the Kush disclosing more contacts. Might be easier if he just lists everyone in Russia he didn’t meet with.
Latest speculation is that the White House leaked the Sessions story. They want him gone because he recused himself from Russia and therefore, can’t fire Mueller.
So, what do you call a cracker that’s just been thrown under a bus?
