Trump's Indictment Really DOES Make America Great Again

[anobserver2]

Last edited Thu Apr 6, 2023, 07:04 PM - Edit history (2)

I am really, really happy about Trump's indictment, but not necessarily for all the reasons others may feel -- and certainly not for the comedic reasons late night talk show hosts are enjoying.

So, I am writing this editorial to express why I am feeling so happy. My joy stems in large part from this:

Our country's Founding Fathers did not want a "King" to rule this great land of ours, and for that reason, they deliberately gave no special legal protections to a president. Yes, even a president, current or former, can be charged with a crime in the USA.

Yet, I do not hear this important fact mentioned on any conservative talk radio I have been monitoring lately for reaction to this indictment. However, NPR had a guest on its recent "1a" radio program, who discussed this very relevant historical fact at the end of the show:

https://www.npr.org/programs/1a2023/04/05/1168203649
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2023

LISTEN TO FULL SHOW

Add to PLAYLIST
Donald Trump becomes the first president charged with criminal activity

The speaker who delved into history on the NPR "1a" radio show was not exactly a "shill" for the Left. I looked up his bio. See the excerpt below.
[link:
https://www.smu.edu/News/Experts/Jeffrey-Engel|
https://www.smu.edu/News/Experts/Jeffrey-Engel]

Excerpt:

"....Having taught American history, international relations, and grand strategy at the University of Wisconsin, Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Haverford College, he (Jeffrey Engel) served until 2012 at Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government & Public Service as the Howard and Verlin Kruse ’52 Professor and Director of Programming for the Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs, receiving during that a Silver Star Award for Teaching and Mentorship, a Distinguished Teaching Award from A&M’s Association of Former Students, and a Texas A&M University System Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award. In 2012 the Society of Historians of American Foreign Relations named him their Bernath Prize lecturer, while in 2019 SMU’s Residence Life students voted him their Hope ..."

But all these conservative radio pundits are screaming the "nuclear option" was used by the Democrats, while pounding their chests, loudly, claiming they, the conservatives in this country, are all "Constitutionalists" -- while ignoring the true fact that the only real precedent now being set is that finally, this country is currently bringing to life the actual, true vision our Founding Fathers had for this nation: holding even a president accountable to the Rule of Law.

Trump has more than enough money to buy the best legal defense lawyers. No one need worry about that.

But way up here in the peanut gallery, I have often wondered when this bogus unwritten "gentleman's agreement" between the powers that be will end, preventing the realization of the Founding Father's true vision: to hold those in power -- yes, even a current or former President -- accountable to the law.

So I am rejoicing. I am overjoyed and happy that Alvin Bragg and his team had the courage to bring this criminal complaint against Trump -- despite the violence of Jan 6th, despite the threats that surely will come Bragg's way.

I am thrilled that through this indictment, the Manhattan DA has indeed made America great again.

Let the process take its course. This is how our country was intended to function.
-----

PS Meanwhile, Bill O'Reilly has a column on his web site, basically crying and saying Boo Hoo Hoo, where's the pardon from President Joe Biden, just like President Gerald Ford gave former President Nixon?

I say to Bill O'Reilly and the conservative radio talk show hosts out there: you ALL need a lesson on American History -- and the Founding Fathers and their true and actual vision for this nation, because surprise surprise, Conservative radio show hosts/pundits, it turns out the Democrats (and not you people) are in the party upholding the U.S. Constitution -- by bringing forth the actual vision of the Founding Fathers.

[anobserver2]

1. Thanks to all

Thanks to all who take the time to read my editorial here.

[anobserver2]

2. Will fix later

I originally wrote this as a posted reply to another editorial, but now have decided to just post it as an editorial. I will update the text that needs updating when I have more time later.

[anobserver2]

10. Re Grant arrest

OK, I fixed the things in this editorial I wanted to fix, and left other things that probably should be fixed.

To another issue - someone else on DU posted a link about the arrest of President Grant. I would to highlight the dialogue I read concerning the arrest. Here is the link I read from the Smithsonian Magazine:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-president-ulysses-s-grant-was-arrested-for-speeding-in-a-horse-drawn-carriage-180981916/

Re the dialogue - here is what a Black police officer, William Henry West, says to U.S. President Grant:

“I am very sorry, Mr. President, to have to do it, for you are the chief of the nation, and I am nothing but a policeman, but duty is duty, sir, and I will have to place you under arrest.”

Elsewhere in the article:

...The president willingly consented to being taken down to the police station, even asking West about his wartime experiences during their ride. Grant, leader of the U.S. Army during the Civil War, reassured West he would not face any repercussions for the arrest, “as he admired a man who did his duty,” the Evening Star wrote.

However, the comments of President Grant's friends were not so friendly:

...his friends used their time on the stand to disparage West’s “outrageous conduct … in daring to arrest gentlemen out for a pleasant drive,” according to the Evening Star.

I guess they forgot what President Grant remembered: that Police Officer West was just doing his duty.

[brer cat]

3. Good job, anobserver2!

[anobserver2]

4. Thanks again!

Thanks again, brer cat!

[republianmushroom]

5. Not yet, If and when he is found guilty "then" America will start being great again.

[anobserver2]

6. There'd be no outcome without the start of the process

I understand what you're saying - but there's no outcome if there's no beginning of the process.

Starting the process is something to celebrate, in my opinion.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[lees1975]

7. But he's getting away with things no other American would be allowed to do.

Running off his pie hole, threatening the DA, trying to taint the jury pool, threatening the judge and his family, but he was allowed to fly home to dinner in his hotel resort home in Florida after being indicted on 34 felony criminal counts. And then to immediately repeat his threats and incite violence.

He should be incarcerated until his trial. Shut that pie hole up and stop this nonsense. Or let him go and forget it, like most people are still expecting will happen with everything else.

[anobserver2]

8. A few things you should remember

It sounds like you feel anxious by what you see happening, but a few things to remember -

1) Trump is a presidential candidate. (Not all Americans are that.) As a CANDIDATE he, like other candidates, has very expansive free speech rights, according to the U.S. Supreme Court.

2) This arraignment in NY was expected to take 15 minutes, but instead it took an hour, due to: a discussion in court of some of the very issues you mentioned.

As I understand it from what I read and heard in various news media, the prosecutor did request a gag order -- but the judge said it would be premature at this time; however, that request could be re-visited depending on what happens, according to the judge.

The judge did prohibit Trump from discussing evidence.

So the process has already begun on these issues.

3) As to your comment here re what you wish Trump would do: "Shut that pie hole up and stop this nonsense "
This is probably what his lawyers wish Trump would do, too.

Finally, I disagree with you here:

"Or let him go and forget it, like most people are still expecting will happen with everything else."

No. Let the process that has already begun play out.

That is what the Founding Fathers envisioned, and so that's what should happen.

Thanks for taking the time to write.

[anobserver2]

9. Also see this NYT article

I think this new article in the NYT goes right to some of your concerns:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/06/nyregion/trump-case-judge-juan-merchan.html

Dilemma for Judge in Trump Case: Whether to Muzzle the Former President
Justice Juan M. Merchan cautioned Donald Trump against incendiary rhetoric. Then the former president went after the judge’s family.

By Jonah E. Bromwich, William K. Rashbaum and Kate Christobek
April 6, 2023


Here's an excerpt regarding the issue I thought was settled, that Trump would not discuss evidence:

Though judges often act on their own accord, they sometimes exercise their powers over a defendant after prosecutors ask them to do so. On Tuesday, one of the prosecutors, Catherine McCaw, said that her team was in talks with Mr. Trump’s lawyers over a draft protective order that would limit how the former president uses evidence and other case material shared with his lawyers.

Prosecutors are seeking to bar him from reviewing the material without his lawyers present, and from sharing the material with third parties, including the press or his social-media following. If he were to violate such an order, he could be held in contempt of court, Ms. McCaw said.

But Mr. Trump’s defense lawyers have since decided that they’re going to oppose the proposed order, and the matter likely will be subject to litigation, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

So, again, we will see what happens.