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 General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

kentuck

(111,089 posts)
Mon Sep 12, 2022, 07:38 AM Sep 2022

The quiet campaign to not hold "the former president" accountable.

Bill Barr may have been the first to say the evidence was there but he didn't think the former president should be indicted. To top it off, he said it on FOXNews.

Since then, we have heard the whispers and the rare mention on cable news that it might not be good for the country if the former president is indicted. It would divide the country even further, they say.

It's almost as if Americans have become divorced from common sense? If there is one person in this country that should take care that the laws are faithfully executed, it is the President of the United States.

It has become nothing more than a political exercise. Bill Clinton was impeached for lying about his relationships with Monica Lewinsky and Paula Jones and obstruction of justice because of his sexual affairs. He was impeached for them. The Republicans would have indicted and convicted him if they had been able.

But common sense needs to dictate how Presidents and former presidents are treated by the law. If a President is accused of a minor crime while in office, such as over-looking thousands of dollars in taxes or an illicit sexual affair, that should not call for an indictment.

However, if a President brazenly attempts to overthrow the government and steals the most sensitive documents in our Intelligence, then that is a different matter. The American people can distinguish between the two. The US Congress should be able to tell the difference?

Common sense should guide us on whether or not a President or former president should be indicted for criminal acts. The acts of Bill Clinton were not equal to the acts of Donald Trump. He should be indicted and convicted.

The debate should not be about whether or not to indict but whether or not to call for life in prison or the death penalty.

13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The quiet campaign to not hold "the former president" accountable. (Original Post) kentuck Sep 2022 OP
We have a long history of not holding wealthy & connected men accountable dlk Sep 2022 #1
I agree. piddyprints Sep 2022 #2
It could happen Kentuck gab13by13 Sep 2022 #3
There is nothing common about "common sense" Maeve Sep 2022 #4
"There will be rioting in the streets"... 2naSalit Sep 2022 #5
Unlikely. maxsolomon Sep 2022 #11
I'm thinking it will look more like the 2naSalit Sep 2022 #12
Well, the question in my head is usually this one: MissMillie Sep 2022 #6
+1 2naSalit Sep 2022 #13
Waving your dick around because you are a notorious,.. magicarpet Sep 2022 #7
Unfortunately, if there is any common sense any more, there is a differing definition depending Firestorm49 Sep 2022 #8
K&R spanone Sep 2022 #9
The country doesn't need to be healed or united, CrispyQ Sep 2022 #10

dlk

(11,561 posts)
1. We have a long history of not holding wealthy & connected men accountable
Mon Sep 12, 2022, 08:11 AM
Sep 2022

Dating back to Robert E. Lee getting a pass for the Civil War Barr is continuing the tradition and he’s not alone. A change is long overdue and Trump, along with every single one of his co-conspirators should be locked up in supermax for their crimes against our country & the key thrown away.

piddyprints

(14,642 posts)
2. I agree.
Mon Sep 12, 2022, 08:11 AM
Sep 2022

I would even add that NOT indicting him will divide the country even further and it would be very dangerous. Being an ex-president should never be a get out of jail free card.

gab13by13

(21,323 posts)
3. It could happen Kentuck
Mon Sep 12, 2022, 08:12 AM
Sep 2022

I can see DOJ not prosecuting if Trump is banned from running for office. The guy gets away with it.

Maeve

(42,282 posts)
4. There is nothing common about "common sense"
Mon Sep 12, 2022, 08:16 AM
Sep 2022

However, it does seem that Americans are, in the main, realizing how toxic TFG really is and that the rule of law must apply to all or it will apply to none.
This "don't punish him for his guilt" is the best his supporters can offer, attempting to play on the left's known preference for being reasonable.
FTS.

maxsolomon

(33,327 posts)
11. Unlikely.
Mon Sep 12, 2022, 11:48 AM
Sep 2022

Liberals are pretty used to not seeing justice for Republicans. Throw it on the pile with the others.

MissMillie

(38,555 posts)
6. Well, the question in my head is usually this one:
Mon Sep 12, 2022, 09:16 AM
Sep 2022

If it's "political" to indict a former president for his crimes, why is it not "political" to NOT indict a former president for his crimes?

magicarpet

(14,145 posts)
7. Waving your dick around because you are a notorious,..
Mon Sep 12, 2022, 09:31 AM
Sep 2022

... horn-dog- is one thing.

Involvement in espionage of top secret documents pertaining to highly sensitive national security information is entirely of a very different and much more serious criminal magnitude.

The former seeks to satisfy the libido in a rather crude manner.

The later is a direct detriment to national security interests and a danger and possible mortal threat to the loyal government employees who work for the nation's intelligence gathering apparatus as they seek to protect the interests of our country and our allies.

The two are not remotely equivalent or near the same. One borders on treasonous conduct and committing espionage white mishandling top secret documents - (Donald Trump),.. while the other involves awkward and inappropriate methods of satisfying one's personal sex drives - (Bill Clinton).

Firestorm49

(4,032 posts)
8. Unfortunately, if there is any common sense any more, there is a differing definition depending
Mon Sep 12, 2022, 10:14 AM
Sep 2022

on whose side of the aisle you are on. It becomes more bewildering by the day how Republicans come up with the garbage theories that they spew. There is never any proof, yet their followers, who lack the most basic form of common sense, follow blindly and repeat the nonsense, choosing to deny reality over fiction.

The definition of common sense and the word “integrity” may need to be removed from our vocabularies as they both seem meaningless.

CrispyQ

(36,461 posts)
10. The country doesn't need to be healed or united,
Mon Sep 12, 2022, 11:32 AM
Sep 2022

it needs to be saved. It's long past time to hold the Republican Party & its leaders accountable. Looking forward is partly why we're where we're at.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The quiet campaign to not...