“I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters."
Donald Trump, Des Moines, January 2016
Let's game this out.
Donald Trump's lawyers asserted that U.S. presidents have immunity from prosecution, even if one directed SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival -- unless, possibly, the president had already been impeached and convicted by the Senate.
Imagine that on some bright sunny day President Joe Biden is on New York's 5th Avenue. Imagine Biden sees Donald Trump on the sidewalk across the street in front of Trump Tower. With TV news crews filming all of it from multiple angles, Biden reaches into his suit coat and pulls out a handgun. Biden shoots and kills Trump.
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| Biden demonstrating the ubiquity of "ghost guns." |
Biden dives into his Secret Service car and speeds away. Biden's communications office announces that Biden is safe, thank the Lord, and that Biden shot in self-defense.
Over the next few days every American sees multiple slow-motion videos of Biden, of both Secret Service details, of Trump, Trump's hands, and the people around him. All video shows no sign that Trump or anyone around him was armed or acting hostile in any way. All objective evidence shows an unprovoked murder. Republicans say, "We cannot deny what is right before our eyes! Biden is guilty of murder!" They demand the FBI investigate and arrest Biden.
Biden tweets from the White House that there is nothing for the FBI to investigate. "It was self-defense. My actions were perfect. Stop the witch hunt."
Suppose a Republican mayor of New York City announces an investigation of the shooting. Biden calls the mayor a "Koch-head," referencing billionaire political donor Charles Koch. Biden calls the New York investigation politically motivated and groundless. Democratic officeholders pick up that theme. "What needs investigating is the weaponization of the Republican so-called justice machine."
Republicans call for impeachment. Democrats say we cannot impeach President Biden because there has been no conviction for a crime. He is presumed innocent, after all. Democratic officeholders see in Town Halls that most Democratic voters think that Trump had it coming, and good riddance. Moreover, those voters thought they saw Trump draw a gun. They know that other people think Trump had a gun. They have questions.
Biden surges in the polls, with much improved ratings on whether he is "decisive," "strong," and "gets things done."
Maybe a Republican majority in the House votes to impeach Biden. Democrats in the House and Senate say that their voters believe Biden, not that video tape. Since there is so much doubt among voters, best to go along with the people, not supposed evidence, Democratic officeholders say. A large group of Democrats in the Senate issue a statement: "Until Joe Biden is convicted of murder in a court of law, we will not convict in the Senate."
Of course, there is no conviction in a court of law. The law is slow and any conviction and appeals will take years. Biden will be free to travel, speak, even campaign while things play out. Biden slows things down by arguing the "Trump Doctrine:" There can be no criminal prosecution until there is impeachment and conviction in the House and Senate. And Democrats won't impeach and convict because there is no criminal finding, so how do they know for sure Biden was guilty of anything. Let the voters decide, Democrats say, not some unelected judge, jury, or Deep State prosecutor.
Of course Joe Biden can shoot someone on 5th Avenue and get away with it. All he needs to do is imitate Trump. Stick to the story, no matter what. Refuse to see or acknowledge evidence. Justify yourself. Accuse your accusers. Never admit regret. Never surrender.
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5 comments:
This scenario, as elucidated by Peter is a reverse image of what the Trumpian Shysters have presented to the Court of Appeals, on behalf of the Mango colored Traitor.
Fortunately, I believe, Joe Biden is enough of a believer in the Constitution to not test the theory presented by Trump. And most horrifying is that a Plurality, even a Majority of Republicans queried by Pollsters think it's acceptable.
This scenario, as elucidated by Peter is a reverse image of what the Trumpian Shysters have presented to the Court of Appeals, on behalf of the Mango colored Traitor.
Fortunately, I believe, Joe Biden is enough of a believer in the Constitution to not test the theory presented by Trump. And most horrifying is that a Plurality, even a Majority of Republicans queried by Pollsters think it's acceptable.
Using TFG's attorneys' theory, Obama should have had TFG taken out.
TFG, the Russian asset, has done more damage to the US than any terrorist group.
Oh what a beautiful dream to see played out. The irony of it all, the outrage of democrats acting like republicans. Let’s arm Biden with a machine gun and then have him demand a visit with Trump. He can have a conversation with him with his gun pointing at Trump and can ask him if he thinks it ok to kill your opponent if your president.
The difference between Democrats and Republicans is that most Democrats would consider it unacceptable, while most Republicans eat that crap up as long as it favors their side.
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