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getagrip_already

(14,708 posts)

30. this has been claimed before....

Mon Dec 4, 2017, 10:15 AM

Dec 2017

In a slightly different context, it was claimed during bush II during the valery plame dustup (I use that word sarcastically).

There, bush's lawyers claim that he couldn't have violated secrecy laws because the president is the ultimate deciderer of what is secret. So anything the president authorizes for release is by definition not secret and therefore no law could have been broken.

But I wonder where does trump see the boundaries to this argument. Probably in his mind there are none, and he is above the law. Since he is the chief law enforcement officer, he can decide what is legal and what isn't. We don't need the other 2 branches of government where he is concerned. He is prosecutor, judge, and jury of himself.

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Highlight:

Exclusive: Trump lawyer claims the "President cannot obstruct justice" [View all] DonViejo Dec 2017 OP

John Dowd is an ass (n/t) PJMcK Dec 2017 #1

Heard from the Grave Roy Rolling Dec 2017 #52

"L'Etat, c'est moi." raging moderate Dec 2017 #2

Ein Deutschland, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer!!! (n/t) Moostache Dec 2017 #19

"When the President does it, it's NOT illegal!" Dalton Mac Dec 2017 #24

Bingo! whathehell Dec 2017 #37

My first thought was "How Nixonian." CottonBear Dec 2017 #46

The exact quote that came to my mind, as well. emmadoggy Dec 2017 #85

+ 1 Achilleaze Dec 2017 #22

"The king can do no wrong: The ministers are responsible." (In a constitutional monarchy) Glorfindel Dec 2017 #34

"enforcement" - The President is an executive role. Justice is the domain of the judicative. DetlefK Dec 2017 #3

Correct. They_Live Dec 2017 #63

Dowd using the words "ignorant and arrogant", and not talking about Trump dem4decades Dec 2017 #4

Those descriptives jumped out at me. sprinkleeninow Dec 2017 #78

This guy sounds like a TV mobster lawyer groundloop Dec 2017 #5

Incredibly Nixonesque .. DemoTex Dec 2017 #6

He was never charged.. so, not badly at all.... getagrip_already Dec 2017 #23

Yes and also incredibly like a petty despot benfranklin1776 Dec 2017 #29

No, he didn't? You must be thinking of Louis XIV. Spider Jerusalem Dec 2017 #65

RM Nixon: "Oh, when the President does it, that means that it is not illegal." lagomorph777 Dec 2017 #38

Has this guy heard of Bill Clinton? padfun Dec 2017 #7

I dont think Paula Jones was a Federal case Cicada Dec 2017 #31

The suit Jones v. Clinton was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Tactical Peek Dec 2017 #59

Wow, unanimous. I am surprised. Cicada Dec 2017 #62

This was a civil case not a criminal one. bench scientist Dec 2017 #81

He not only "expressed his view" to the person investigating the thing he didn't want investigated, tanyev Dec 2017 #8

Freedom to obstruct justice would mean total dictatorship bucolic_frolic Dec 2017 #9

This is authoritarian dictatorship horse shit! If that is truly his attitude Lint Head Dec 2017 #10

That's what Nixon said. Didn't get him very far. Just to San Climente. marble falls Dec 2017 #11

WTF? BumRushDaShow Dec 2017 #12

...because that argument worked so well for Richard Nixon... brooklynite Dec 2017 #13

Building the case with the base is my guess. NoMoreRepugs Dec 2017 #14

Look. Its the ordained by God defense. BootinUp Dec 2017 #15

They think. sprinkleeninow Dec 2017 #79

Trump lawyer claims zentrum Dec 2017 #16

Which crayon of bullshit are they going to pull out of there ass now turbinetree Dec 2017 #17

It is for Congress to decide... Rollo Dec 2017 #18

no, but the gop can.. n/t getagrip_already Dec 2017 #25

Except DownriverDem Dec 2017 #27

How do you kwalter66 Dec 2017 #67

Which is why the dems need to take back Congress ASAP Rollo Dec 2017 #84

Deja vu orangecrush Dec 2017 #20

So it would follow a policeman can't break the law? Botany Dec 2017 #21

Oh Yea DownriverDem Dec 2017 #26

"Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal." johnp3907 Dec 2017 #28

this has been claimed before.... getagrip_already Dec 2017 #30

You have found a possible flaw in Trumps defense Cicada Dec 2017 #35

there is a theory... getagrip_already Dec 2017 #49

Better solution is to vote him out in 2020 Cicada Dec 2017 #61

you haven't been paying attention.. ;) getagrip_already Dec 2017 #70

Clearly they fear something big is coming. honest.abe Dec 2017 #32

The repubs will NOT impeach him. The democrats won't have enough votes even after 2018. AJT Dec 2017 #33

If Democrats can take the House in 2018 BumRushDaShow Dec 2017 #36

I've heard this somewhere before Dread Pirate Roberts Dec 2017 #39

"Outside lawyer" underpants Dec 2017 #40

"The law is an ass" -- Charles Dickens, writing in Oliver Twist. greatauntoftriplets Dec 2017 #41

So basically they are admitting he DID obstruct justice. Ligyron Dec 2017 #42

Precisely. honest.abe Dec 2017 #47

hopefully obstruction is minor compared to conspiracy.... getagrip_already Dec 2017 #51

Didn't Sally Yates tell McGahn Flynn had lied? Hamlette Dec 2017 #43

If he truly believes the Pres cannot obstruct justice, then OldHippieChick Dec 2017 #44

A lawyer with a degree from Trump U. Nitram Dec 2017 #45

He's saying the president is above the law. LOL ancianita Dec 2017 #48

Not only Nixon, but Condi Rice... malthaussen Dec 2017 #50

The force is strong on the weak-minded. Trump knows that saying something is true will make it so electron_blue Dec 2017 #53

Well, I guess that settles it then. cannabis_flower Dec 2017 #54

Boy, look out! Dowd gives him an inch, he'll instantly take the mile. Frustratedlady Dec 2017 #55

Only the BEST PEOPLE underpants Dec 2017 #56

Now that's a Hail Mary even before charges are filed. Kablooie Dec 2017 #57

It's a Time-Honored Legal Strategy-Throw Everything Against the Wall and See What Sticks dlk Dec 2017 #58

Too bad for them Chrysanthemum Dec 2017 #60

Indeed. n/t PoliticAverse Dec 2017 #76

Ambulance chaser says what? louis-t Dec 2017 #64

'L'etat c'est moi' niyad Dec 2017 #66

This scares me a LOT RandomAccess Dec 2017 #68

Translation: "The President is guilty of obstructing justice." nt appal_jack Dec 2017 #69

Tweeting that under President Donnie's name was neither ethical nor competent of Dowd rocktivity Dec 2017 #90

Dumb and dumber DeminPennswoods Dec 2017 #71

Congressional republicans will go along with that. Solly Mack Dec 2017 #72

Same guy who's tweetin' for Dump at 6 a.m.? Dr_Pretorius Dec 2017 #73

This is the Alan Dershowitz line... Baconator Dec 2017 #74

I remember there was a saying about forgetting history briv1016 Dec 2017 #75

That argument worked so well for Dick Nixon. Carry on, idjit. nt Hekate Dec 2017 #77

Ah, Yes. The "Charles I" defense. Ray Bruns Dec 2017 #80

Proof they don't give two shits about the Founding Fathers... Beartracks Dec 2017 #82

Trump is guilty of Obstruction of Justice rockfordfile Dec 2017 #83

Now Trump's lawyer is signalling that Trump is guilty, guilty, guilty. L. Coyote Dec 2017 #86

This lawyer is... syringis Dec 2017 #87

David Frum: Trump Isn't Above the Law Dalton Mac Dec 2017 #88

Oh, I get it -- it's not illegal when the president's LAWYER does it!!! rocktivity Dec 2017 #89

their best defense is to claim mental incompetence from lead based spray tan poisoning yurbud Dec 2017 #91

Not to mention ineffective counsel from Dowd rocktivity Dec 2017 #92

It's tough when you have a client with the IQ & attention span of a gnat yurbud Dec 2017 #94

Stupid remark----He already has. And it counts!!! Doitnow Dec 2017 #93