Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

LaydeeBug

(10,291 posts)
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 12:27 PM Jan 2017

TREASON

WASHINGTON — The chiefs of America’s intelligence agencies last week presented President Obama and President-elect Donald J. Trump with a summary of unsubstantiated reports that Russia had collected compromising and salacious personal information about Mr. Trump, two officials with knowledge of the briefing said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/10/us/politics/donald-trump-russia-intelligence.html?_r=0
14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

libtodeath

(2,892 posts)
1. I am so sick of the there is no mechanism meme to keep him from office
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 12:46 PM
Jan 2017

This is something no one ever imagined so why the fuck cant some action from the SCOTUS be the same?

UCmeNdc

(9,650 posts)
2. The GOP is the problem. They know Trump is no good but they are to interested in maintaining their
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 12:49 PM
Jan 2017

power!

UCmeNdc

(9,650 posts)
10. True! They are probably in on it.
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 03:35 PM
Jan 2017

The GOP knew they were on track to lose both the House and Senate.

 

JCanete

(5,272 posts)
8. If he committed treason and we can prove it...it would kind of help if we did something to him
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 03:03 PM
Jan 2017

before he was sworn in as President. Post that, he could simply pardon himself, and most of the GOP will refuse to impeach, and they'll continue to rewrite the narrative.

Of course, I have no idea what the mechanism for not seating a President is. I don't think there's any law that says you can't be President if you are convicted of anything, and that goes for having been accused of treason, or am I wrong on that?

Yes that's a high crime and an impeachable offense, but we have a large chunk of the government that has decided laws don't apply. So, maybe it does call for this being brought to the Supreme Court and having the court rule in an unprecedented fashion, (4to4 on the court by the way, if I'm being cynical).

I don't want him in that office any more than you do, but I'm still struggling to see the path to an alternative...and worse, doesn't that alternative still look like Mike Pence unless we prove vote machines were hacked? Can the court really demand a whole new election due to no confidence in the outcome? Maybe in theory, but again...4 to 4.

I'm not trying to talk you down by the way, I'm trying to talk me up. Is there a way that I'm not seeing?
 

JTFrog

(14,274 posts)
5. Yep. I am losing my mind today.
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 12:55 PM
Jan 2017

I wish I had the resolve to go off grid for a few days. I think my blood pressure may explode and I don't normally have high blood pressure.

*sigh*

 

triron

(22,240 posts)
6. This is insanity
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 01:56 PM
Jan 2017

isn't it. We have entered Rod Serling's Twillight Zone. It's a horror flick.

longship

(40,416 posts)
7. "Potential treason"
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 02:04 PM
Jan 2017

It is really difficult to prove treason in the USA. It's defined in the US Constitution, Article III, Section 3:

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.


The reason why the constitution defines treason in such a way is because the founders knew very well how treason could be used politically. Article III, Section 3 was deliberately put there to eliminate that possibility.

That is why there are many of us who are very uncomfortable with the casual use of the word "treason" in political contexts.

Read your US Constitution. Understand its context. That will help.

That's why the NYT deliberately used "potential treason" in their article (no doubt on sage legal advice).

mtnsnake

(22,236 posts)
9. It all makes total sense that blackmail was the missing piece of the puzzle
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 03:25 PM
Jan 2017

Upon all this latest news, we can finally see why Trump has been kissing Putin's ass so much. All Trump cares about is his own personal well being, and it's obvious that he is perfectly willing to trade the well being of his own country to Russia just to save his own traitorous hide because of the damaging information Putin has on him.

Hopefully at some point soon, Trump will be tried as the traitor that he surely is.

UCmeNdc

(9,650 posts)
12. To Trump selling out the country to Russia was a win win
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 03:41 PM
Jan 2017

He gets the Presidency plus keeps his reputation clean. Putin gets the foreign policy he wants.

Trump will turn over all of the nuclear secrets to Russia and leave the United States defenseless.

mtnsnake

(22,236 posts)
13. Yes, something along those lines for sure
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 03:51 PM
Jan 2017

It's that scary because Trump is a sociopath, and he'll to anything to save his own hide, even sell out his country. That's what sociopaths are capable of.

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»TREASON