Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues The Legal Forum Jack Smith, Special Counsel

I don't think that's true at all. I would say the Republican Party works for the benefit of about 2% of the population, while the Democratic Party works for the benefit of about 98% of the population. Lots of the things Democrats work for benefit almost everybody, or even 100% on some issues.

For example, Covid measures: Trying to minimize the number of Covid deaths by lockdowns, masking, vaccination programs, etc. benefit Independents and Republicans just as much as Democrats. Tax provisions to lower economic inequality benefit people all across the political spectrum, by stimulating the economy. Making health care universal does too: Republicans are not magically immune to infectious diseases running rampant in the population.

This is the result of Democrats in all branches of the government looking for solutions to real problems that work and are fair. Republicans instead use "problems" that don't exist or are of their own making to manipulate voters, in order to consolidate their power.

The prosecution of Donald Trump is going to be very easy, because of a very recent revelation: Cassidy Hutchinson and several other witnesses have testified to the Jan 6th committee about witness intimidation they suffered. That is a very important aspect of the Obstruction charge, because witness tampering shows "mens rea". (literal translation: guilty mind)

Most of the other crimes Trump et al can be charged with require criminal intent, and witness tampering does that in spades. It's just about as good as trying to have a witness killed before the trial. And it has the added benefit that the witness can appear in court to testify about it, which is difficult if they are dead. In particular, this tampering of Ms. Hutchinson was delivered by the lawyer Trump paid to defend her, so it's especially heinous: He will be disbarred and go to prison for years. His sentence will only be reduced if he names Trump, Meadows, etc. as his coconspirators. Like 5 years instead of 10. Strong motivation.

I think Steve Mnuchin, former Treasury Secretary, is going to end up in prison as well. He not only refused to follow the law and turn over Trump's tax returns to congress, but apparently he secretly had the IRS halt all audits of Trump while he was in office. Mens rea again: That demonstrates criminal intent.

Remember all the times Trump said he would release his taxes, but couldn't because he was being audited? Turns out he was lying about that, in addition to every other thing he claimed. Should anybody be surprised?

Pondering, I have no doubt that those on the left view it exactly as you describe. I’m sure those on the right view their party in the same way. But what of America as a whole? Most Americans view the two major parties unfavorably. 56% have an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party, 60% of the Republican Party. These figures are very dynamic and change constantly, so this gives you just for today as tomorrow they’ll change. What this tells me is neither party is like much outside of their base of support. Today the Democratic Party is disliked a bit less than the Republican Party.

You have 56% of all Americans wanting a viable third party as they’re tired of having to choose between the hard left and the hard right. This is a fact neither major party can fathom. Why neither is loved. Which shows in the rise of independents from 30% in 2006 to 43% today as the two major parties continue to shrink. The anti-voter reigns supreme here, today. Those who vote against a candidate or party, not for the other party or candidate, but against. Who that other candidate or party is is irrelevant as long as the candidate or party they’re voting against loses. If our two major parties didn’t have their monopoly on our election system, if we didn’t have our 2-party system, more like every other modern democracy with multi-parties, our two major parties would be huge losers. But neither major party wants to hear this and I’m sure you don’t either.

There is a bill in the House currently to stymie running for office for any insurrectionist fomenting politico.

...again.

Actually Rick, Trump never did receive a majority of the independent vote, not even in 2016. 2016 Trump won independents with 46% of their vote vs. Hillary’s 42% with 12% of independents voting third party against both major party’s nominees. Even in 2016 54% of independents voted against Trump. Hillary’s 42% plus the 12% who voted against both.

https://www.cnn.com/election/2016/results/states

2020 saw Trump lose independents 41-54 to Biden plus 5% voting third party against both Biden and Trump. That means 59% of independents voted against Trump.

https://www.cnn.com/election/2020/exit-polls/president/national-results

Then you had that long list of Trump chosen candidates that lost in 2022 midterms. I’d say the GOP must rid themselves of Trump or keep right on losing elections as independents aren’t about to vote for Trump or his chosen candidates.

I’ve said this before, for election purposes if I were a Democrat, I’d want to keep Trump around and out front for 2024. That would guarantee a Democratic victory. Getting rid of Trump is doing the Republican Party one huge favor.

Lets see if I understand this correctly .... it sounds like you're saying a politician who controls one party can commit crimes and no one should prosecute because politically it would be beneficial to the other party. So if I extend that to say murder .... people who control some special interest can murder at will be cause it would benefit someone financially or politically. Is that about the gist of it???

So someone who conspired and orchestrated an insurrection should not be prosecuted .... sounds like you are the attorney for Trump.

What I’m saying as an election analyst is the Democrats have a much better chance of winning in 2024 by keeping their biggest asset as the leader and face of the GOP. Without Trump chances are that red wave that was predicted this midterm probably would have happened. Independents really dislike Trump and his chosen candidates, interested in taking advantage of that, keep him around for 2024. At least election wise. You’ll find out as the numbers are showing that independents would easily vote for someone like DeSantis while they wouldn’t vote for Trump nor would they Trump’s chosen candidates. Study independents some, forget about the partisans or party loyalist. They don’t decide elections. There’s not enough of them in either party.

The strategist in me just thinks throwing a party’s biggest and best asset out the window on to a trash heap or even jail, if winning elections is what you’re after is kind of dumb. I’m all about winning elections, all the other stuff, let the partisans battle that out. But apparently, all this other stuff is more important to quite a lot of the democratic party base than winning elections. So be it. I just say this, if Trump is the Republican nominee for 2024, I’ll guarantee a Democratic presidential victory today. A landslide win would even be probable. If DeSantis, all bets are off.

Oh, forgot. Trump is losing control of the Republican fairly quickly these days. Republicans are tired of losing with Trump as their leader. Avid Trumpers have fallen from 65% in January down to 37% today. I equate very favorable rating for Trump as avid Trumpers. Non-MAGA Republicans have now become a plurality within the GOP, they out number MAGA Republicans 47-36. DeSantis now leads Trumps among Republicans for the 2024 nomination 48-40.

https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/by8wjw1hur/econTabReport.pdf

I’d say Trump’s power within the Republican Party hasn’t been broken yet. But it is getting close to the snapping point. Privately, a lot of Republicans want the Democrats to indict Trump, so they don’t have to come out publicly against him. Thus, keeping the voting power of the avid Trumpers within the GOP, not getting them peeved at the Republican Party leadership who want to get back into the win column when it comes to elections. The leadership, although still afraid of Trump, Trump still controls the largest faction within the GOP, around 40% give or take. They know since the Republican Party is still the smaller of the two major parties that they must win the independent vote or lose the election. With Trump around as the face and leader of the GOP, there’s no way the Republican Party can win the independent vote. They’re stuck losing and losing more with Trump around. Jail him, expel him to Timbuktu or what and wherever would make these leaders very happy.

Personally, I don’t give a coyote’s howl what happens to Trump as long as he gone from politics.