302 Comments

"Another 20 percent of those who identified themselves as Trump supporters went so far as to say that he should go to prison if he is convicted in the federal case in Washington in which he stands accused of plotting to overturn the 2020 election."'

20% is one in five, and that means 80% of Trump supporters do not say that. Spin it as you will, those are not good numbers.

Expand full comment

Not for anything, but...

Eugene V. Debs ran for President while serving a prison sentence for sedition (I think it was) in 1920 and garnered 1 million votes. So there's precedent.

Expand full comment

Well, we can send Trump over to shine Debs' shoes, maybe.

Expand full comment

Lyndon Larouche ran for President more recently and garnered, uh, a lot less than that.

Expand full comment

Cabinet meetings might not be all that well attended.

Expand full comment

I've read about prison administration and rules and conditions and the idea of a Presidential schedule under those restrictions is absurd.

One lawyer said that there could be a Constitutional argument for letting him out since there's no mechanism except impeachment to stop a President from presidenting.

Expand full comment

Ewww, please don't mention Nikki Haley giving Trump any reach-arounds. I beg you!! I just finished eating dinner and I'm a bit queasy all of a sudden.

Expand full comment

I will only consider thinking about it if it involves pegging. INikki may feel the same way.

Expand full comment

Been laughing for 30 minutes.

Expand full comment

Ta, Evan. Is that the same Kennedy who was a VJ on MTV?

Expand full comment

Worked out fine for Saddam Hussein.

Expand full comment

I still can't wrap my head around the fact that Kennedy, the previously cool MTV host is now a professional bobblehead for the Empire.

Expand full comment

She was never really that "cool". She was a right wing goober even then but kept it more on the DL .

Expand full comment

There are lots of probable crimes Trump and others in his administration committed from 2016 to today besides the insurrection. Including the instances of obstruction Mueller mentioned in his report. but Merrick Garland does not seem interested in investigating any of it, and was late on investigating the ring leaders of 1/6. Which is why we are having a time crunch now with an election coming up, Trump delaying, and a Supreme Court in no rush to resolve what should be simple issues like permanent immunity for criminal activity while president.

Expand full comment

She's right.

"University of California, Los Angeles law professor Richard L. Hasen – one of the country’s leading experts on election law – said Trump still has a path to the presidency should he win reelection in 2024. “The Constitution has very few requirements to serve as President, such as being at least 35 years of age. It does not bar anyone indicted, or convicted, or even serving jail time, from running as president and winning the presidency,” he said in an email to CNN earlier this month." https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/15/politics/could-trump-serve-pardon-president-convicted/index.html

The logistics might be a bit hard , like holding state dinners in the mess hall, but constitutionally he's fine...

Expand full comment

I suspect that this might be the only circumstance under which impeachment and conviction might be realistic options.

Expand full comment

Just trying to imagine the diplomatic receptions in the prison yard. Remind the President not to bring his shiv!

Expand full comment

Does McDonald's deliver to the prison mess?

Expand full comment

So, President Trump hands Ukraine to Vlad on a silver platter. Any sort of big diplomatic/PR bullshit will require Vlad to come to America.

When he arrives at the Federal Oval Office, will he have to go through a strip search?

Expand full comment

Don't laugh, back when there was a forum for prison guards, I saw one say that he wanted visitors strip searched. It's not routine though.

Expand full comment

How 'bout we lock him up and just tell him he won the election and is president but sorry no cellphone or conjugal visits and you can slip your executive orders under the door with your cafeteria tray?

Expand full comment

Now how would this go.... For important conversations between nations, foreign leaders might receive a call from an operator that goes something like, "Good morning Mister or Madame Prime Minister, you have a collect call placed from federal prison from the President of the United States. Will you accept the charges?"

Expand full comment

Those calls are monitored by the prison, which would be another logistical problem.

Expand full comment

The reality is that in order for him to win he either needs to expand his support or the Democratic vote has to be so split or suppressed that his group of cultists prevails. Personally, I think articles like the WaPo wet noodle, energizes Democrats. As in WE CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!

Expand full comment

It would be an interesting administration is Trump serviced while in prison. For one there would be no "Executive Time", no Noon wake up and tweeting to 2 AM. There would be no tweeting at all. No endless campaign speeches either. We wouldn't have to worry about him stealing classified documents because the prison would not allow him to keep paper in his cell. I do worry how foreign dignitaries would react if their official visits are talking through a glass wall?

Expand full comment

And if he can only have visitors three weekends a month?

Expand full comment

Trump didn’t do the job when he was in the White House, why would anyone think he’d do it from prison?

Expand full comment

Less time golfing?

Expand full comment