Very interesting POV on Slate "Accusing Trump of Treason Will Only Help Him"

[NRaleighLiberal]

The facts are coming. There’s no need to leap beyond them.

By FRED KAPLAN

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/07/accusing-trump-of-treason-makes-him-stronger.html

A convincing case could now be made that President Donald Trump has abused his power, obstructed justice, violated the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution—all impeachable offenses—and badly tarnished our national security. But he has not committed treason, and his critics should steer clear of such hyperbole, lest they play into his hands and invigorate his supporters.

The charge first took hold on Monday, after his press conference in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where Trump, among other outrages, sided with Putin and disputed his own intelligence agencies on whether Russia had meddled in our 2016 election. Former CIA Director John Brennan tweeted that Trump’s performance was not only impeachable and “imbecilic” but also “nothing short of treasonous”—a verdict that several commentators soon endorsed.

This is no trifling matter. By federal statute, treason is a capital crime, punishable by death. It is also the only crime that the founders chose to define in the Constitution, and they did so very carefully and very narrowly.

“Treason against the United States,” reads Article III, Section 3, “shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.”

Notice the word “only.” The founders, who had their roots in rebellion and foresaw more revolutions ahead, wanted to ensure the law wasn’t expanded to cover other lesser crimes. Notice also the words “levying war” and “enemies.” In the few treason cases tried, mostly after World War II, the courts have ruled that “enemies” implies opposing armies in wartime. Jurists have also agreed that, while Congress doesn’t have to declare war in order for acts of betrayal to be considered treasonous, there does have to be an open state of “armed conflict” between the United States and some enemy.

snip - last paragraph


Still, it’s time to snap out of it. Hard facts are coming, and it’s important to recognize, highlight, and act on their significance. Things are outrageous enough without getting dragged down in Trump’s game and getting lost in empty rhetoric, like the loose, uninformed cries of “treason.”


not too long a read, good food for thought....what do you think, folks?

[SHRED]

1. Democrats need to behave

Republicans, do what you want.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. did you read the whole article? I think it is good food for thought.

The country is so divided and unhinged and the right wing noise machine froths up their base with anything that comes from the left.

Just an interesting way to look at things, I think. Not saying it is the correct way.

[uponit7771]

6. Then in that case we might as well be louder seeing "anything" includes silence and facts. Even

... if Red Don was officially found guilty MAGA Nationalist will find something to froth about.

Damned if we do damned if we don't might as we be damned correct and speak the truth

[uponit7771]

3. Disagree, Treason outlines Benedict Donald's whole frame of mind and actions in the last 2 years

[Iliyah]

4. t-rump is a traitor.

[Garrett78]

5. Cyber war didn't exist back in the day.

It does now.

Technically, Iraq wasn't a war. Afghanistan wasn't a war. Korea and Vietnam weren't wars. But we all know that's essentially bullshit.

[smirkymonkey]

7. Thank you sir! May I have another.

Let's just keep on letting them punch us in the face and responding with a smile. Because that's been working out really well for us.

[SweetieD]

8. Give me a break. They say this anything trump is challenged.

[oasis]

9. Traitor Trump gets no relief if I have anything to say.

The official evidence will just have to catch up.

[DeminPennswoods]

10. David Frum had it exactly right last night on MSNBC

talking about a clip of Paul Ryan speaking. He said O'Donnell cut the clip short and what was left off was Ryan saying Russian interference did not affect the election results. Then Frum said more indictments are coming and Trump will be exposed as an illegitimate president or words to that effect.

[qazplm135]

11. I say stop worrying about working up his base

and start worrying about working up ours.

His base is smaller than ours. Our base just didn't show up last time.