There is nothing Donald Trump won't do to stay in office. The lastest evidence is the telephone call he made to Georgia's Secretary of State. Jennifer Rubin writes:
The Post reports: “President Trump urged fellow Republican Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state, to ‘find’ enough votes to overturn his defeat in an extraordinary one-hour phone call Saturday that election experts said raised legal questions.” In the call, Trump asked Raffensperger to change the certified vote that was subject to multiple recounts: “So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state.”
In fact he threatened him. The Post reports, “During their conversation, Trump issued a vague threat to both Raffensperger and Ryan Germany, the secretary of state’s general counsel, suggesting that if they don’t find that thousands of ballots in Fulton County have been illegally destroyed to block investigators — an allegation for which there is no evidence — they would be subject to criminal liability.” Trump, sounding like a mobster as he often does, said, “That’s a criminal offense. And you can’t let that happen. That’s a big risk to you and to Ryan, your lawyer.” Nice career, there Brad. Shame if anything happened to it.
Senator Susan Collins said she believed impeachment had taught Trump a lesson. Obviously, it didn't. This is the same tactic Trump used on the president of Ukraine. Trump hasn't learned a thing -- but he has earned an expense paid trip to the gray bar hotel.
After January 20th, he'll begin his long and convoluted trip to his next public residence.
Image: The Brag
13 comments:
As Trump's desperation mounts, his irrationality soars. It's as if he's on PCP. From what the staff told reporters, Trump was in a 24/7 rage during his last visit to Mar-a-Lardo. He couldn't make his promised appearance at his New Year's Eve soiree and had to send his sons, Fredo and Ambergis in his place. Those who paid four-figures per ticket to bask, one last time, in president Donald's glow got a taste of how he treats his underlings.
The tape recording shows this guy is coming apart. The shrinks call it "decomposition" to describe an abrupt deterioration of a person's mental health. He seems in the state contemplated by the 25th Amendment governing the removal of a president from office for incapacity. Non compos mentis. Also on display is Pence's cowardice. Trump may need a trip to a padded room but Pence still has political aspirations.
What I found most worrisome was the statement issued by former secretaries of defense Esper, Mattis, Gates, Hagel, Panetta and Carter, a direct warning to the generals to stay out of this, it's not the military's role to intervene. I had thought that issue was settled by earlier statements of general Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but it doesn't seem these former Pentagon bosses are so assured.
What could that mean? The acting defense secretary just reversed his decision to recall the Nimitz from the Persian Gulf where it was positioned for a possible air strike on Iran. Is that something Trump might contemplate in a fit of lunacy? Hand Joe Biden a fresh ME crisis to start his administration. This is a sick mind.
When Nixon began to melt down under the pressure of impeachment, Henry Kissinger stepped in and told the military that, under no circumstances, were they to obey any presidential order to nuke anyone. We don't have a Kissinger in the White House now, just a bunch of ass kissers.
Cowardice is on full display these days, Mound. How can so many people be afraid of a man Kelly Anne Conway's husband says is "as dumb as a rock?"
Impeachment did teach Trump a lesson. The lesson was that there are no consequences for Republican bad behaviour. I'm surprised people still expect otherwise.
Cap
A valid point, Cap. When the jury is composed of Republicans, Trump can shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and get away with it.
I don't believe Trump will ever serve time in prison, Owen. He won't live long enough. New York have indictments waiting for him and he is subject to numerous sexual lawsuits once he is out of office. He may now be a resident of Florida but that won't stop the seizures of his properties in various locations and all he will be left with is the dollars he scammed form his supporters in his bid to overturn the results of the 2020 election. He's going to need that money to mount his legal defence against the criminal charges he faces in NYS. For the first time in his life he can't bribe or bully his way out of his troubles and when reality hits I predict he will, like Roger Ailes or Kenneth Lay, die. I've never been in a dead pool but if I was I would predict Trump will be perishing in 2022.
mr perfect
You're right, perfect. Trump has a hurricane of litigation coming his way. Whether he has the stamina to withstand it is an open question.
Was over at an American blog there is speculation Trump may fly to Scotland on 19 Jan. I think it was over at Empty Wheel or Politico. You can then get over to a newspaper in Scotland which outlines why they think its possible. Then given Assange got a pass from the british courts, no extradition on humanitarian basis. Might be G.B. will be the place to go for Americans who need to get out of town but still want a decent standard of living with golf courses.
The American government has too much work to do to spend a lot of resources chasing Trump and putting him in jail. NY State might and could, but just the cost of the trial will be prohibitive. Putting him in jail means the secret service--6 of them have to go also, they protect ex presidents. Not workable.
Biden/Harris will be hitting the ground running. they have covid, how to move the vaccine around, getting the vaccine, repairing international relations, getting legislation passed, Trump will be yesterday's news. If the Republicans loose Georgia, its over for Trump. He is threatening more or less Kemp and Abrams is planning a re match with Kemp in 2022. Georgia may well go purple.
We ought to expect some blow back from the Proud boys and their ilk, but it maybe some are ready for them. Roger Stone got his pardon and he has "influence" with those boys, but remember Stone was one of the original "rat fuckers" back in the day with Attwood and Manaford. Those boys aren't going to stick their necks out for nothing. we may not like what they did, but they were good at it. I'm just waiting to see if there are any more "Nashvilles".
If Trump does go to Scotland, it will be a clear signal, in my opinion, that the U.S.A. is truly in a very bad place and he is getting out of town to some place more civilized and safe. You know, fewer guns, etc.
He can sit on his golf course in Scotland and just continue life with his wife in London, enjoying herself without him. Kid can go to a decent private school. Life could be worse.
My hunch is that fleeing to Scotland is a very long shot, e.a.f. But I can see Trump fighting for years to stay out of jail.
If Trump goes to Scotland he won't be golfing. His Aberdeenshire resort is bleeding money. Ol' Trump may have to wait tables and man the cash register in the pro shop. It's reported Trump's Scottish and Irish resorts are into the Trump Organization for some $160 million US and he had to put up Mar-a-Lardo as collateral for renovations financing.
There is no way that Trump will ever face his accusers.
If it were so then politicians of all stripes could face a similar scrutiny.
That would not be acceptable to the backers of our politicians or the politicians themselves.
As with politics in most places, the best we can do is to make their lives miserable!
TB
His accusers can bankrupt him, TB. I suspect he's almost there. In fact, he's been there before. As for spending time behind bars, that's tougher. It may take time, but it's possible. Think of Bill Cosby.
Trump may be "bleeding money", but the boy collected over $200M since he lost the election, with his PACS. Now that collection will end this evening, I am sure, but there will always be people wanting to contribute. His golf course in Scotland maybe hemoraghing money, but still, I'm sure he has enough stashed some where to keep the butlers working.
However, since we found out Trump had plans for Scotland, this morning's news advised the P.M. of Scotland pointed out golfing in Scotland was not an essential service, regardless of who the person was and Trump wasn't getting into Scotland. OMG, that was funny. too bad she couldn't have told him that personally via phone, so we could have all listened.
Trailblazer, I know I don't agree with you often, but I do think you're correct in your anyalsis on this one.
Now we can all wait to see how Georgia turns out this evening. Oh, please let the Dems win. It will be fun.
I heard this morning that the Dems have won one seat, e.a.f. That means there's one more to go.
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