Here comes the challenge to presidential pardon powers

by

Leave it to the Washington Post to break the news on Watergate 2: Electric Boogaloo.

Throughout the call, Raffensperger and his office’s general counsel rejected Trump’s assertions, explaining that the president is relying on debunked conspiracy theories and that President-elect Joe Biden’s 11,779-vote victory in Georgia was fair and accurate.

Trump dismissed their arguments.

“The people of Georgia are angry, the people in the country are angry,” he said. “And there’s nothing wrong with saying, you know, um, that you’ve recalculated.”

Raffensperger responded: “Well, Mr. President, the challenge that you have is, the data you have is wrong.”

At another point, Trump said: “So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state.”

So, at what point do we honestly admit that Trump is a criminal and deserves to go to prison? This is pretty much exactly what he was impeached for in December 2019, right? How many laws does a president get to break?

This is the perfect moment for Joe Biden to name Sally Yates as AG. I’m thinking a message of tolerating no bullshit needs to be sent so the American public will have confidence in the incoming administration. We need to be assured that the Constitution will be both protected and followed.

Save this prediction for later. Trump will issue a self pardon for this in some form or fashion. Biden’s AG will charge him with election tampering. Republicans will bitch and moan until the cows come home. Finally, the SCOTUS will eventually rule that the pardon is invalid because no one person can be their own judge and jury.

The moniker Stupid Watergate now seems wholly inadequate to describe this administration’s antics. The members of Congress who have actively supported this shit should also face major repercussions for their roles.

Update 4:18 1/3/2021

Washington Post has released the entire call audio.

2,011 thoughts on “Here comes the challenge to presidential pardon powers”

  1. I’m going to acknowledge the fact that Toomey has been saying Trump should resign. On that narrow point I guess I give him kudos but based on what took place Toomey in my opinion is stating the obvious so no backflips from me just because he is saying what most Rs in Congress aren’t saying.

    Now in the same CNN interview this morning where Toomey yet again denounced Trump read below his defense and reasons for voting for Trump

    “For four years he put out offensive and objectionable tweets, in fact dozens a day,” Toomey continued. “I don’t think my job was to be the editor of his Twitter feed although I was very often critical. You know, this raises the question of why did 75 million people vote for this man whose character flaws were always very apparent? 75 million Americans are not stupid, they are not evil. what we did was we looked at a choice that we had, between an evermore radicalized left-wing Democratic party and a man who is very, very flawed, but with whom we actually have very substantive success in the early parts of his administration with a record performing economy, with peace agreements in the Middle East, with restoring the strength of our military, and all kinds of judicial confirmations.”

    GMAFB……….
    There were many character, integrity, ethical and even legal reasons in 2016 to shun Trump
    But since that time Trump has let’s see
    – Solicited foreign interference in an election
    – Named as Individual #1 in the SDNY case
    – His attorneys admitted in a settlement that he misused for his own benefit the Trump charity
    – Did a piss poor job in dealing with the pandemic
    – Wanted the GA SoS to ‘find’ votes that would overturn his loss in the state
    – Used all sorts of incendiary rhetoric and lies to stoke his base … yes that started way before last Wednesday

    I could go on and on but most sensible people get the picture
    Instead of saying I messed up and shouldn’t have supported Trump the second time he whines about ‘an evermore radicalized left-wing Democratic party’ which is the same bs anyone can hear or read at any given rw site or from any rw pundit

    So even with my kudos I still give a big FU to Toomey
    Toomey was more than okay with Trump’s lies and unprofessional behavior until a riot took place and people died. Outside of that it was “party on Garth”

    Mulvaney also spewed bs this morning. Sure he called out the POTUS then went on to say something changed because Trump was not like that when he was at the WH. Burger King would be so proud of that whopper

    I’m sure there are some number of Trump cultists who are truly contrite however based on what I have heard and read most of those calling out Trump are doing it for show
    And I will say again when you add up all the Trumper’s calling out Trump compared to those cheering on Trump or supporting in silence it’s a miniscule number.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Almost every person arrested and charged in the insurrection/capitol building break-in is using the “But president Trump Invited me!”, defense.
    I hope that when the time comes, these statements are used against prezzy Donald J. Losing McLoserFace.

    Liked by 4 people

  7. Another theory being floated is based on Trump’s worst fear being prison. So the angle is resign at some point so Pence can pardon him.
    I find it hard to believe that Trump would ever resign.
    I think he would fly to Russia before doing that.
    It would be so awesome if he resigned and Pence was like “Nah, I changed my mind. Sorry buddy.”

    Liked by 3 people

    • and Pence was like “Nah, I changed my mind. Sorry buddy.”
      Quite possible, the only thing that could save Pence’s political career.

      Liked by 5 people

    • Jensen posted multiple photographs of himself participating in the Capitol invasion, in addition to replying to other accounts associated with the “QAnon” conspiracy community on social media, asking if they liked his shirt.

      Liked by 3 people

  10. He told the New Yorker that he found them on the floor. “I wish I had not picked those up,” he told the magazine.

    Yeah, picking up zip ties you “found on the floor” is where it all went wrong.
    🙄 🙄 🙄

    An Air Force combat veteran has been fired after he was reportedly identified as one of the Capitol rioters carrying zip-tie handcuffs on the Senate floor Wednesday.

    Texas-based Hillwood Airways confirmed to USA TODAY Saturday that retired Lieutenant Colonel Larry Rendall Brock, Jr. had been terminated following a report in the New Yorker that identified him.

    Brock told the magazine that he was the man in the photos and videos seen standing in the Senate chamber holding zip ties. He told the New Yorker that he found them on the floor. “I wish I had not picked those up,” he told the magazine.

    Family members and a friend told the magazine the Air Force Academy graduate and combat veteran had grown more radical in recent years.

    Maybe if you hadn’t chose to become radicalized, it wouldn’t have led to you breaking into the capitol building.
    Dumbass.

    Liked by 5 people

    • Cult mentality is as fascinating as it is deplorable. If you’re reasonably sane you just can’t imagine how that many people are infected so easily.

      Hmmmm…

      Liked by 2 people

  14. I was wondering this morning if Rep. Jackie Spier was among the legislators in the Capital building on Wednesday and how it impacted her. She had been in a similar situation years ago as an aide to Rep. Leo Ryan when he flew to Guyana to investigate the cult of Jim Jones. When their plane landed and the passengers were debarking, they were ambushed by gunmen from The People’s Temple as Jones called his cult. Shortly afterward, Jones ordered all of his followers to drink cyanide-laced Kool-Aid. It left over 900 people dead (many were children) and it left us with one of our darkest colloquialisms: drinking the Kool-Aid.

    Ryan was killed. Spier tried to hide behind the front wheel of the airplane but was still shot five times and left for dead. I can’t imagine how horrified she was if she was there.

    Liked by 7 people

    • I found a story about her experience in the San Mateo, CA press. She said she was concerned but this time they had people with guns to protect them and a place to hide. They interviewed her in her office in the Capitol building hours after the siege. I think they could hold some covid vax doses in her veins if push came to shove.

      Liked by 2 people

    • Don’t forget these are deplorables. . .

      Their insanity is repeating ignorant mistakes and expecting different results.

      Like

  17. Intelligence of France let their higher ups warned that there was a coup in America. They were concerned. No wonder Macron addressed in English to support us after the terrorists were repelled.

    Liked by 2 people

  18. Arizona man Jake Angeli, aka Jacob Anthony Chansley, was taken into custody on Saturday, according to the Department of Justice.

    The horned guy got horned. LOL

    Liked by 3 people

  19. Something I learnt about impeaching the moron now. If he is convicted he will loose all the perks all ex president gets. That is including SS around him.
    Another thing I learnt to convict the moron you need 2/3 of the Senate present on the day. So if a whole bunch of R Senators do not show up then he is screwed.

    Liked by 2 people

    • The nasty little cons that call themselves human beings can

      do nothing except run and hide. . .

      Liked by 1 person

    • Like

  30. It’s official: Jim Harbaugh’s got the dirt on the Athletics Director at Michigan.. How the hell do you get a contract extension after being the first UM head coach EVER to go 0-5 against Ohio State?

    Liked by 2 people

  34. Just make shit up for me: The Prequel.

    Trump pressured a Georgia elections investigator in a separate call legal experts say could amount to obstruction

    More than a week before he urged the Georgia secretary of state to overturn the election results, President Trump spoke to the state’s chief elections fraud investigator and asked the official to find wrongdoing as part of an ongoing inquiry. The president urged the official to “find the fraud,” saying the investigator would be a “national hero,” according to an individual familiar with the call who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

    Can’t win an election the honest way, so he had to cheat.
    Embarrassing.
    Simply, embarrassing

    Liked by 4 people

    • Those conservative family values folks who have been fawning all over and idolizing Trump for four plus years must be so proud

      This is the same con man that sucked people in with ‘Drain The Swamp’
      All the sleazy examples that were out there in 2016 yet they could not get enough
      Trump continued to demonstrate he was as or more corrupt as any in DC yet in 2020 they couldn’t get to the polls fast enough

      I dare say it’s still cult like

      Liked by 1 person

  36. It’s being reported that Trump is preparing a list of pardons for his inner circle to include family members and possibly himself
    You know for all the crimes that they didn’t commit, uh huh

    Liked by 2 people

  42. Here’s why I think the whiny wimp resigns. One, he less sure of the Senate and even more so if he’s out of office when they take the vote. Two, I don’t think he wants to be impeached twice and this time Republicans could vote for it in the House.

    Three, he can’t defend himself on Twitter.

    Liked by 3 people

  43. Speaking of Perdue I read last night that his concession statement his campaign put out didn’t even mention Ossoff by name nor as of the time I read that article had Perdue called Ossoff
    Hope he can still save America

    Like

  47. A day or so ago, I said we would be having “fun” with ol’ Marge. Last night, I was trying to play catch-up here and ran across Keep’s post (about 5:30)–it was MTG’s Statement letter. So, I read it and had a few laughs. But, the real haha’s are in the Comments section–millions of them.

    Worth your time. Thanks, Keep.

    Liked by 2 people

    • I just went and read the replies to her – and then I read her statement.
      I didn’t read it yesterday because I figured it had to be batshyte crazy BS – and I wasn’t wrong.

      Liked by 3 people

  48. This doesn’t describe all Trumpers – I know plenty of educate ones – but it does explain the poor white ones. Thread
    Oh yeah – I’m sure this thread is no surprise to Bro, buckeye and the black guys on the blog.

    Liked by 5 people

  51. One of the terrorist was wearing a T shirt on which was written “6MWE”. To a person like me means nothing till a reporter explained what it means. It stands for “6 Million Was not Enough”. Do any one still want to treat these thugs with kid glove?

    Liked by 4 people

  52. January 8, 2021 – New York, NY – The American Psychoanalytic Association, a leading mental health organization, is calling for the immediate removal of President Donald Trump from office, either by resignation, impeachment or invoking the 25th Amendment to the Constitution.

    In a letter to its 3,000 members, APsaA president William Glover, Ph.D. and president-elect Kerry Sulkowicz, M.D, stated:

    “The past few days in Washington have been among the most disturbing in our lifetimes, and arguably in American political history. What we witnessed on January 6th – with horror and sadness – was an attack on the most precious institutions that symbolize our form of government and constituted an assault on democracy itself.

    This is beyond politics. After refusing to concede that he had lost the election, President Trump sparked an insurrection, inciting a mob to storm the US Capitol. We have long believed that Trump is a dangerous leader, as evidenced by his encouraging right-wing extremists in Charlottesville, Portland, and Kenosha, and his behavior this week makes this apparent to all. The combination of his publicly evident psychopathology and the power of the office he holds constitutes a clear and present danger to the health and well-being of the nation and its people. We support his immediate removal from office, by resignation, impeachment or invoking the 25th Amendment to the Constitution.”

    https://apsa.org/content/trump-dangerous-leader-apsaa-calls-removal

    Liked by 1 person

  53. Will the Buffalo Boy brigade try again at the inauguration?
    Nobody is that dumb right?
    This cult has death wishes. If not Inauguration day, they will be back.

    The Capital Police looked like they were protecting a Target during Black Friday.
    I’m not blaming all of them, but the supervision must be investigated.

    The Retrumplicans can start with victory at Bull Run, but you will eventually end up with Sherman in your back yard.

    Liked by 3 people

    • The FBI needs to treat these people like they treat Al-Qaeda.
      Monitor them – have agents infiltrate them – arrest them when they have sufficient evidence
      In the months to come, I expect there to be a number of arrests for conspiracy to kill people / bomb people / etc – same thing we have seen with US Al-Qaeda sympathizers.

      Oh – and you are correct about investigating the supervision of the Capitol Police – and it needs to include the civilian leadership at the Pentagon. There’s going to be a document trail here – E-mails, text messages, etc. We are going to be appalled when everything comes out.

      Liked by 4 people

  54. There are seditionists among us everywhere . . .

    No bolder seditionists ever moved amongst us as Republicans !

    Security video shows Oregon lawmaker opening door to state Capitol, letting demonstrators inside

    Liked by 1 person

  55. Leopards eating The Newterator’s face.

    But in the comment thread that opened up beneath the post, the anger from supporters of President Trump was palpable, with many accusing Gingrich, along with Pence, of betraying Trump.

    “I guess you’re part of the deep state too,” one commenter wrote. “You all are being revealed to be part of the steal as you’re allowing this fraudulent election.”

    “He literally ignored the constitution along with all you other Rinos … Tyranny,” wrote another.

    One commenter lamented the Pence was “the last constitutional check against a fraudulent election,” adding that he “failed the nation.”

    Liked by 3 people

  57. Liked by 4 people

  58. It is interesting watching Republicans and many Trump enablers doing their best Lady MacBeth impressions: “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!”

    Liked by 2 people

    • Could be interesting. Trump having to communicate through traditional methods, which might actual call out his BS. Of course they didn’t during the first 3 11/12th of his reign, but they seem to be, these last two weeks.

      Liked by 4 people

  67. NBC gave her millions of dollars for a show and fired Tamron Hall..smh

    Liked by 2 people

  69. FBI focuses on whether some Capitol rioters intended to harm lawmakers or take hostages

    Investigators are trying to determine whether some who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday intended to do more than disrupt the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. Authorities are particularly interested in images of people carrying zip ties, a plastic version of handcuffs, and at least one man was arrested while allegedly carrying a pistol on the Capitol grounds.

    Liked by 2 people

  70. Zip-tie boy may be Tennessee law enforcement.

    Liked by 1 person

    • This determination is based on a number of factors, including:

      President Trump’s statement that he will not be attending the Inauguration is being received by a number of his supporters as further confirmation that the election was not legitimate and is seen as him disavowing his previous claim made via two Tweets (1, 2) by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Dan Scavino, that there would be an “orderly transition” on January 20th.

      The second Tweet may also serve as encouragement to those potentially considering violent acts that the Inauguration would be a “safe” target, as he will not be attending.

      The use of the words “American Patriots” to describe some of his supporters is also being interpreted as support for those committing violent acts at the US Capitol.

      The mention of his supporters having a “GIANT VOICE long into the future” and that “They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!” is being interpreted as further indication that President Trump does not plan to facilitate an “orderly transition” and instead that he plans to continue to support, empower, and shield those who believe he won the election.

      Plans for future armed protests have already begun proliferating on and off-Twitter, including a proposed secondary attack on the US Capitol and state capitol buildings on January 17, 2021.

      Liked by 2 people

  85. So it’s parler? Not parlor?

    To speak? In French? French? They’re a bunch of commie pinkos. I only go to France when there isn’t a pandemic.

    Anyway. Here we go. Sing along if yer shanty.

    Me mother and father are Irish

    Me mother and father are Irish

    Me mother and father are Irish

    And I am Irish too

    We kept the pig in the parlor

    We kept the pig in the parlor

    We kept the pig in the parlor

    Because he is Irish too

    Liked by 4 people

      • Good luck with that..Apple in general is very strict with what apps they allow.

        “Parler CEO John Matze suggested his company did not intend to acquiesce to Apple’s demand, writing in a post on his platform, “We will not cave to pressure from anti-competitive actors! We will and always have enforced our rules against violence and illegal activity. But we WONT cave to politically motivated companies and those authoritarians who hate free speech!”

        Like

    • Like

  94. My good friend is focusing on the bad right now. He can’t get over Wednesday and thinks this whole country is F-d.

    I cheered him up. Bet him 1 to 2 on the whiny wimp resigning. Anything on or before the 13th I win a bottle of bourbon. Anything after or no resignation at all, he wins two bottles of bourbon.

    BTW. We have two Democrats for Senator s.

    Happy Friday.

    Anyone need a drink? I’m up.

    Liked by 4 people

  95. When the time comes, charge them all with homicide.
    They will fall to their hands and knees begging the DOJ to listen to everything they know just for a deal.

    Liked by 3 people

  96. Some legal experts on the congressional power of impeachment believe President Donald Trump could be impeached and tried in the Senate even after he leaves office at noon on Jan. 20.

    Learn something new every day.

    Liked by 2 people

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