• UltraGiGaGigantic
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    6 hours ago

    “A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.”

    • Alexander Hamilton

    Clown country

    • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
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      2 hours ago

      “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”

      • Benjamin Franklin
  • Biggles@lemmy.myserv.one
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    7 hours ago

    This is the same crime that Michael Cohen got three years in prison for. A crime he committed solely to benefit Trump. It makes no sense.

    • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
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      2 hours ago

      It makes perfect sense when you realize that the US punishment system is divided into two different systems.

      You’re either in the system for those who happen to be rich, and are supporting the system, in which case you automatically get released with a slap on the wrist.

      Or you’re rich or poor and happened to disagree with the status quo. In that instance you’ll be fed to the punishment meat grinder, having “the fictitious and imaginary book of laws” thrown at you for the harshest punishment that the US punishment system can imagine through “precedent.”

  • ToastedPlanet@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    9 hours ago

    The rule of law means that no one is above the law, not even the president. If the president is above the law then we do not have the rule of law. Being labeled a felon is the idea of a punishment, but since there are no consequences to this sentencing there is no punishment.

    At least imposing a fine would have been consistent with precedent. At that point it would have been an issue with our laws being to lenient. That would have been a much more easily remedied problem than doing away with the rule of law, a founding concept of modern western civilization.

    The rule of law was dead when the Supreme Court ruled presidents have immunity for core constitutional responsibilities and presumed immunity for official acts in Trump v. United States. This is another nail in the coffin.

    • ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca
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      7 hours ago

      I have never heard of “unconditional discharge” being a possible sentence for a crime. It’s like they made it up just for Trump.

    • VoterFrog@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      Yeah it’s crazy. To me, respect for the presidency keeping it crime-free. People committing crimes in pursuit of the presidency or while in its office should be harshly prosecuted, not let off.

    • orcrist@lemm.ee
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      52 minutes ago

      Not true. Their hands were tied. Same with the prosecutors. This was their best.

    • osugi_sakae@midwest.social
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      5 hours ago

      I understand the feeling, but I think this outcome is probably the best we could hope for, given the situation. If he had tried to impose fines or imprisonment, one of the higher courts would probably have intervened and the sentencing would never have happened.

  • ofcourse
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    9 hours ago

    The only jobs that convicted criminals can get in the US are in the White House.

  • h3adphones@lemmy.zip
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    11 hours ago

    Prosecutors had recommended the sentence, saying in court Friday, “we must be respectful of the office of the presidency” and Trump’s pending inauguration.

    What a fucking joke.

    • crusa187
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      10 hours ago

      You respect the office by holding the criminal to account. This is quite the opposite. But hey, what else should we expect from Merrick Garland, that do nothin’, hand wringin’, Republican-lite son of a removed.

  • JonsJava@lemmy.worldM
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    13 hours ago

    All you rich people who think you can break any law you want, let this be a warning roadmap

    • Darkard@lemmy.world
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      12 hours ago

      And don’t be thinking you can just get away with it either.

      You will also be congratulated for doing so, and maybe even rewarded.

    • Soulifix@kbin.melroy.org
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      12 hours ago

      The only thing rich people are afraid of is getting pinned for child sex crimes. Anything else, they care less.

      • MagicShel@lemmy.zip
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        12 hours ago

        No, they do that, too. Trump has done that. And the right falls all over themselves to minimize and refuse to investigate. As with climate change, if you don’t know, then nothing is your fault. Even if it’s your job to know.

        • Joncash2
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          12 hours ago

          Both Democrats and Republicans support each other as kiddie diddling. Epstein had both Clinton and Trump to his island. Raping kids is a bipartisan past time.

        • lolola@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          11 hours ago

          I think the keyword there is pinned, which to me sounds like being found guilty and punished. How often does that part happen?

  • Emberleaf
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    11 hours ago

    Let this be glaring proof to anyone who would otherwise deny it: Our democracy is broken and no longer functions for the benefit of the People. This is why revolutions happen. This is why we cannot trust our own government any longer. I’m officially done. Electoral politics has proven to be a gigantic joke, and I’m not playing anymore.

    • Allonzee@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      I know it’s decades too late, but it’s still cathartic to finally see a lot of people waking up to the neolib/Republican good cop/bad cop con job routine warring over social wedges as they rob us blind since Reagan.

      This country was dying before Reagan from our greed disease, and his administration killed any hope it had left. We need a new framework, this one is necrotic.

      Revolution! Pain for us means a future for our children they currently don’t have. Not a life worth living anyway.

    • ToastedPlanet@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      10 hours ago

      If this is the lesson a majority of people learn we will be ruled by fascists for more than the next four years. Refusing to exercise power is self-defeating and will not inspire any revolutions. If we let things get worse they will get worse, because there is no floor to how bad things can get.

    • OsrsNeedsF2P
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      8 hours ago

      Agreed. This is why I’m going to vote Democrats and downvote anyone who suggests third party candidates

      • Allonzee@lemmy.world
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        7 hours ago

        Surely the Neoliberals next signature piece of legislation they won’t shut up about for decades as a “victory” won’t be a heritage foundation created plot to further enshrine for profit insurance leeches into healthcare! Hopefully!

        I wonder how they’ll move to the right next cycle. “OK ok, we now support the death camps, but God damn it, line in the sand, those death Camps will have Taco Tuesdays! Vote Blue no matter who!”

  • Capt. Wolf@lemmy.world
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    13 hours ago

    Not that I expected anything but this, but I’ll repeat what I said when Merchan announced the sentencing delay until after the election,

    Fucking pussies…

    He should resign, clearly he’s not fit for his position if he’ll allow himself to be intimidated into inaction.

  • OsrsNeedsF2P
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    8 hours ago

    Don’t worry, this will appear 4th on the news sites after we discuss transgender issues and how “triggered” Musk is for the 6th time