Indict One—And All?

American Greatness ^ | 2 Apr, 2023 | Victor Davis Hanson

[MtnClimber]

Were the opposition to match tit-for-tat these Democratic means, then the republic would not survive.

As we await the publication of all the impending indictments of former President Donald Trump by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Americans are trying to figure out what constitutes an indictable offense for current and retired public officials.

Most legal experts, Left and Right, have noted:

1) Bragg promised in advance that he would try to find a way to indict Trump. His prior boasts are reminiscent of Stalin’s secret police enforcer Lavrentiy Beria’s quip, “Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime.” Nancy Pelosi gave the game away, when in her dotage, she muttered that Trump had a right to prove his innocence as if he is presumed guilty.

2) No former president has ever been indicted—and for good reason. Such prosecutions would be viewed as persecutions and render all former presidents veritable targets of every publicity-hungry and politically hostile local, state, or federal prosecutor. They would reduce the presidency to Third World norms. Gratuitously prosecuting former presidents would become a political tool to harm the opposing political party or to tarnish the legacy of a former president.

3) Trump is currently ahead in the polls for the Republican nomination to face Democratic incumbent Biden. And in head-to-head matchups, he outpolls Biden. For a prosecutor of the same party as the current president facing reelection to seek to destroy the viability of a likely opponent is a first in U.S. history. But again, it is now in accordance with Third World norms.

4) At least two left-leaning federal and state prosecutors previously have passed on the same evidence Bragg is now using for his indictments. They have explained that such a prosecution is infeasible because of statutes of limitations,

[MtnClimber]

I think it is time to go after the Biden crime family and then after 0bama and the Clintons.

[MtnClimber]

VDH ping

[mewzilla]

We are no longer a republic.

This won’t be won in court.

[mewzilla]

Not in a court of law, anyway.

[joe fonebone]

If anything I buy has a point of origin, New York, it goes back on the shelf.
I can still protest with my pocketbook

[Robert DeLong]

Another gem from Victor Davis Hanson who lays it out succinctly what this nation faces, and why we must defeat them.

[Dan in Wichita]

I think it is time to go after the Biden crime family and then after 0bama and the Clintons.

Yes, but who will go after them? Merrick Garland's Justice Department?

If a local DA or state AG files charges against a powerful Democrat, can s/he expect to hear from the feds and spend the next several years trying to avoid fines and/or prison?

When it comes to political matters in this country, what judge/jury will render a fair verdict?

Maybe there are good answers to these questions, but I don't know what they are.

[Sicon]

Trump is currently ahead in the polls for the Republican nomination to face Democratic incumbent Biden. And in head-to-head matchups, he outpolls Biden.

Too bad that the only poll that matters is the one called "election day", and the dems are going to manufacture even more votes in 2024 than the 30 million or so that they fabricated in 2020.

[Sicon]

But you cannot respond in kind or deter us [democraps] by mimicking our own tactics, because should both parties do so, the resulting disorder would undermine the republic. And that is something you won’t dare do.

Eventually, if the leftists push hard enough and far enough, those on the right will dare to do so, having been left no other option, and having nothing left to lose. History tells us that, with certainty.

[Tell It Right]

VDH is on target as always.

Except he overlooks one very important thing. A mistake Trump made that I hope he's learned from for the next time he's in the WH. Trump should not have in his cabinet one person with experience in DC. Trump needs people to, as many of us chanted in 2016, "lock her up!".

I'll cut Trump some slack for trusting Sessions. Virtually all of us FReepers thought he was a good pick for AG. But the rest of the cabinet, including Pence for VP, were obvious duds from the start. Trump needs a cabinet of people who've been to DC only as tourists.

[Tench_Coxe]

"In other words, the Left is saying to America something along the following lines, “We are so morally superior to you that we can and must employ any means necessary to achieve our unpopular political ends. But you cannot respond in kind or deter us by mimicking our own tactics, because should both parties do so, the resulting disorder would undermine the republic. And that is something you won’t dare do.”"

Hat tip to Kurt Schlichter: they're going to hate the new rules....

The author, like most, doesn't want a tit for tat, but the "high road" has got us where we are today.

[AnglePark]

Trump should not have in his cabinet one person with experience in DC.

But that didn't work, either. Jared Kushner was (is) a snake, and he's family! I don't know who Trump could fully trust, but I hope he figures it out.

[redgolum]

If the GOP does NOT go after the Dems they are done as a political party. If they DO, the final days of the Republic are at hand.

I vote for fight.

[redgolum]

In NYC?

The State has one goal. Keep Trump off the ballot.

By any means possible.

Trump was (I suspect) given a choice. Fade away and sail off into the sunset, or the attacks will be escalated.

Trump chose to fight. This was the result.

If he persist, expect more measures.

Again, the State will do anything to stop Trump.

[silent majority rising]

That is obviously what the DS wants Republicans to do - seek revenge. They know that the control the courts, the media, the Justice Dept. et al, so there will not be any accountability measured. The reason t let it go forward is that they ALWAYS are able to rile up their base when perceived that the Republicans are ‘after them’. Witness the fact that they were able to get Roe v. Wade overturned just before the 2022 election (why the timing?) It was a rallying point to change the direction of that election (remember, it was supposed to be a RED WAVE and turned into a red trickle). NOw, if you perp walk ONE Democrat (like Hunter), and raid HIS house with 30 goons, then you might be able to turn it. They have planned for a massive Republican reaction and are counting on it.

[texas booster]

Ping! Out to the Victor Davis Hanson list

Such asymmetry also raises questions about the equal application of our laws as they apply to all our other officials, current and out-of-office.

Or, to put it another way: what crime did Trump not do that others did with either impunity or without being arrested? Here is a sample of 20.

1) Trump did not violate federal law, as did Hillary Clinton, by destroying federally subpoenaed emails and devices in order to hide evidence.

Excellent, simply excellent. And all VDH does is lay out the truth ...

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[texas booster]

It is the revolutionary Left that attacks institutions deemed unhelpful for its current political agenda—one that rarely warrants 50 percent public approval—whether that effort is defined by threats of ending the filibuster, scrapping the Electoral College, adding two more states, packing the court, or radically changing balloting laws and customs to turn elections into a 70 percent no-show of voters on Election Day.

VDH is at it again!

[ClearCase_guy]

Were the opposition to match tit-for-tat these Democratic means, then the republic would not survive.

It's dead already. There is no reason to hold back. I continue to think that we will have a Second Republic of the United States, with a New Constitution, and some number of states that is perhaps more than 50 but more likely less than 50.