Liberal Forum

The indictment of Trump this Thursday, March 8, 2023, was a great day for the rule of law. 

Well, it's not a great day in the general sense of the word, that we, as a nation, find it necessary to indict a former president. It's a sad state of affairs that we have to. But, nevertheless, that we are capable of rising to the moment when the facts clearly justify it, that is reassuring, indeed.

However, though I do disagree, one could argue that the NY state felony charges levied on Trump were 'political', there is no way in hell one can claim that the federal indictment of Trump on Espionage, mishandling of documents and Conspiracy Obstruction of Justice relating to the government's acquisition of them (or whatever the actual charges were as there are, as I understand it, some seven charges, and these are among them), that they are 'political'. Another good thing, I think, unlike the charges levied against Trump by NY DA Bragg, is that each of the seven felony charges are different, and thus there is no 'padding' in this indictment.

I know some on the right will say this indictment is political, such as Speaker McCarthy did, but he has to forever continue to pursue the love of his 'freedom caucus' who are radical and who could, according to the House Rules agreed to, vote him out on a veritable whim. But I'm sorry your guy committed felonies in front of God and everybody on TV, but thing is, he did, and now the rule of law must be applied, because, if we don't, we are no longer a nation of laws, we are a nation that indicts only little guys, and the big guys go scott free and would be sending the signal to future president/demagogues (like Trump) that the American Presidency is yours to do whatever the hell you want to with it. Sorry, that isn't America. No one can do that to our Presidency, we will fight to maintain it's hallowed status that it deserves. If you are going to trample on the constitution, commit crimes as President Trump has done, you must pay the price.

I don't want to live in a nation where the rule of law is a secondary consideration, something you treat with cavalier disdain. Today, I can rest easy knowing that that isn't true. This is an occasion to feel good about America. And, if you are a Republican, so should you. I know you would have if this were 1973. I remember Watergate, I remember that it was Republicans (I believe it was Goldwater, and a couple of others) who approached Nixon to resign for if he didn't, he would face impeachment. That was when Republicans in the Senate had a spine. Today is an opportunity for your side to regain that spine. I hope that you will and put political resentments aside.

Rule of Law also means that Trump is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and he will, indeed, have his day in court. But that doesn't mean, however, we, in the court of public opinion, cannot hold opinions based on the publicly available evidence.

And, as a side note, as some will no doubt allege, it was not Biden that indicted Trump It was not Democrats that indicted Trump. It was a federal Grand Jury in Florida that indicted him. Yes, it is the first time in history that this has happened. Some will argue this is making America a 'banana republic'. No, the opposite is true, if we hadn't indicted Trump, given the overwhelming evidence, the absence of Rule of Law is a hallmark of Banana Republics.

"If you mishandle classified documents, you are disqualified from being President" --Donald Trump, while campaigning against HIllary Clinton (paraphrased).

Let's see if he can follow his own advice.

Oh, the Irony of it all: 

https://youtu.be/ThCMjd7irLM