# Trump Might Have Called for the Termination of the Constitution **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [December 3, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990 "2022-12-03T23:31:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2022, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/21 "2022-12-03T23:53:31Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Poor poor Ol’ Yeller… Shouldn’t that be Ol’ Orange? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/22 "2022-12-04T00:03:47Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > > [@John\_DiFool](#): > > > > Poor poor Ol’ Yeller… > > Shouldn’t that be Ol’ Orange? - He does a lot of yelling. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/23 "2022-12-04T00:04:39Z")
I read the thread title and my immediate response was to ask, “What, again?” As to how he plans to do that, it’s rather simple. He and his minions will simply do the same thing they did on January 6, 2021: armed insurrection. And they’ll cloak it in their usual nonsensical commentary: “The constitution should not be a suicide pact, so it is no longer valid”. They’re not painting themselves as “stalwart defenders of the constitution”; they’re going to say they’re “stalwart defenders of real Americans”. This is yet another attempt on the part of the criminal enterprise known as the Republican Party to turn the United States of America into a banana republic. (Actually, they’re trying to turn it into the one and only orange republic.) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/24 "2022-12-04T00:17:11Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > That probably happened because I split the threads. You could, of course, have crossed the streams. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9wrEEd1ajz4/hqdefault.jpg "Ghostbusters : Crossing The Streams") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wrEEd1ajz4) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/25 "2022-12-04T00:21:33Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I just heard on CNN that the Manchurian Cantaloupe wants the Constitution “terminated”. And exactly how does he plan to accomplish that? With extreme prejudice. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/26 "2022-12-04T00:29:29Z")
While you CAN read his post as calling for the termination of the Constitution, I don’t think that’s clear. It looks to me as if he’s calling for selective enforcement of the Constitution, presumably specifically in areas that would benefit him. What he said is “A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.” “Allows for termination” isn’t the same as “I call for termination.” As usual, he says something incendiary but vague, generating controversy and (above all) attention, without actually articulating a coherent… anything. A responsible journalist would have read the tweet (or whatever you call it), contacted Trump or his spokesperson, and said “Hey, you published this statement. It appears to mean X. Did you mean X? If not, what did you mean?” and then kept pressing until she got an answer. Instead, it’s “ooh! Did you hear what Donny said about Consty? Can you believe how awful he is!” So he said something along those lines, though nothing definitive, which may or may not express what he actually thinks or is agitating for. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/27 "2022-12-04T00:37:54Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > This is yet another attempt on the part of the criminal enterprise known as the Republican Party to turn the United States of America into a banana republic. No, Trump is — a guy. The Republican Party, which isn’t a criminal enterprise, didn’t make the statement in question; a guy, who often says stuff that isn’t true, did. That’s it. That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/28 "2022-12-04T00:37:57Z")
Of course he didn’t say anything specific. He never does. That way, plausible (for lack of a better term) deniability is built in. It’s how he says everything. And for Trump to have said anything specific about the constitution would require him to have read it at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/29 "2022-12-04T00:47:11Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And how on Earth will the Republicans spin that as them being the stalwart defenders of the Constitution? They’re defending America. That liberal Constitution thing (remember Obama taught Constitutional Law) is getting in the way of defending America. Given the choice between defending the liberal Constitution and defending America, every right-thinking American will choose to defend America. This really isn’t that complicated. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/30 "2022-12-04T00:51:13Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > A responsible journalist would have read the tweet (or whatever you call it), contacted Trump or his spokesperson, and said “Hey, you published this statement. It appears to mean X. Did you mean X? If not, what did you mean?” and then kept pressing until she got an answer. Any responsible journalist who’s been paying attention for the last 7 years knows there’s no chance of getting a straight answer out of either of them, and even if one of his spox were to come up with a “well what he MEANT to say is”, Loser Donald would immediately double down on his twooth and declare that anyone interpreting it is “fake news”. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/31 "2022-12-04T00:53:28Z")
I refuse to give him the benefit of the doubt. When he says “A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution” he’s clearly advocating for martial law. He doesn’t give fuck number one about the Constitution or democracy or the rule of law, like an unruly toddler he is capable of only thinking of himself. If you support him now, you cannot be a patriot, you cannot be a good American, and you cannot be a good person. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/32 "2022-12-04T01:03:06Z")
Yes, but if the story cannot be verified, _they shouldn’t go to press with it._ Otherwise, the story is “Famous Attention Hog Grunts for Attention.” The Fourth Estate is not here to amplify gossip, but to report the news. A former president calling seriously for a post-Constitutional America would be news. It’s not clear that this has happened. It’s also not clear that this hasn’t happened, and so a little journalism is called for. Trump’s tweet-like thing was 46 words. According to the page, it took three people to put together the additional 400 words to make the article. They quote the tweet, they quote the White House spokesman, and then they give a bit of background. There’s no assessment, verification, analysis. There’s no STORY here. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/33 "2022-12-04T01:04:05Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > No, Trump is — a guy. The Republican Party, which isn’t a criminal enterprise, didn’t make the statement in question; a guy, who often says stuff that isn’t true, did. That’s it. That’s all. So leaders of the Republican party will condemn his remarks and affirm the primacy of the Constitution, right? That’s been happening? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/34 "2022-12-04T01:15:09Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > There’s no STORY here. That a former so-called president says anything else about the constitution than: “It should be respected, protected, and I will defend it.” IS a news story. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/35 "2022-12-04T01:16:23Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Yes, but if the story cannot be verified, _they shouldn’t go to press with it._ Otherwise, the story is “Famous Attention Hog Grunts for Attention.” This is a man who already _acted_ to do what he _threatened_ to do again. I don’t understand your need for pinpoint accuracy in regards to the syntax of this Twuth. We know what he meant because _he already attempted to do what he said_. So what if he parsed his words like a mob boss? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/36 "2022-12-04T01:17:01Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > So leaders of the Republican party will condemn his remarks and affirm the primacy of the Constitution, right? That’s been happening? - I held my breath for 2 minutes, 6 seconds. Anybody want to top that? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/37 "2022-12-04T01:18:57Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > What, simply not respecting it isn’t good enough for him anymore? The way too many other people keep respecting it has caused him problems. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/38 "2022-12-04T01:22:51Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > No, Trump is — a guy. Trump is the former Republican president, who has announced his candidacy for the presidency again, and who has been heavily involved in pushing (losing) Republican candidates. How many “a guy” are there with that backstory? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/39 "2022-12-04T01:24:54Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Trump is the former Republican president, And a guy who prominent Republicans still shit their pants rather than cross. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2022, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990/40 "2022-12-04T01:34:53Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Trump is the former Republican president, who has announced his candidacy for the presidency again, and who has been heavily involved in pushing (losing) Republican candidates. > > How many “a guy” are there with that backstory? Who gives a shit? He’s responsible for what he says. You aren’t. I’m not. Nobody else is, either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-might-have-called-for-the-termination-of-the-constitution/975990.md?page=3)