Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Showing Original Post only (View all)ALITO: Immunity for Exiting Presidents is Justified as They Might Cling to Power in Response. WHAT? [View all]
ALITO: Immunity for Exiting Presidents is Justified as They Might Cling to Power in Response. WHAT?
Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 4:43:15p EDT
Munchausen
snip//
A stable, democratic society requires that a candidate who loses an election, even a close one, even a hotly contested one, leave office peacefully, said Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., who added that if a president fears prosecution after they leave office, it could encourage to try to cling to power.
A criminal prosecution of Trump could "lead us into a cycle that destabilizes the functioning of our country as a democracy," he said.
A criminal prosecution of Trump could "lead us into a cycle that destabilizes the functioning of our country as a democracy," he said.
So let me get this straight: Alito is making the argument that an ex-President should never be charged with a crime they committed...because (gasp!) theyll fear prosecution (yes, that tends to happen with criminals who are indicted with crimes they usually arent happy about it)...and cling to power meaning that theyll refuse to leave office and engage in insurrection and THATs the logic for not charging an ex-President for crimes they committed? That we should never hold ex-Presidents accountable for their CRIMES because they might commit the crime of insurrection because theyre BUMMED about being indicted?
Huh. Thats odd, because I always thought that NOT holding those in power accountable for their crimes is what leads to fascism. I must have been reading the WRONG CONSTITUTION.
Not to mention the obvious fact that there is no precedent of a U.S. president engaging in insurrection before Trump, therefore employing the specter of insurrection as a tool to *not prosecute for insurrection* (or any other crime committed), is Ionesco-level absurd, as it not only implies that every future president would be as insane as Trump but that every *past* President, as well, was so fragile that they were just a broken tea-cup away from engaging in insurrection.
Alito here is not only justifying both immunity AND the insurrection by surreally blaming fear of prosecution (hey, Trump just engaged in insurrection because he didnt want to be prosecuted for his crimes, so lets just not indict ex-Presidents see: citizens for crimes theyve committed anymore; problem solved!) hes essentially making the argument that NOBODY whos been in power should ever be prosecuted for crimes they committed when theyre about to leave their position because they might commit more crimes to prevent being prosecuted.
more...
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/4/25/2237269/-Samuel-Alito-Immunity-for-Ex-Presidents-is-Justified-Because-They-ll-Cling-to-Power-Wait-WHAT
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
41 replies, 2630 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (52)
ReplyReply to this post
41 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
ALITO: Immunity for Exiting Presidents is Justified as They Might Cling to Power in Response. WHAT? [View all]
babylonsister
Apr 25
OP
Are we sure they aren't huffing glue in their offices at this point?
littlemissmartypants
Apr 25
#10
Well, at least he said trump should have left office peacefully. Then, Alito got all trumpy.
Silent Type
Apr 25
#5
Wouldn't a better argument be that the fear of prosecution might deter a president
Ocelot II
Apr 25
#6
That is the way most normal people would look at crime vs. punishment. Alito's view
TeamProg
Apr 26
#22
They are so off base. I have known mentally challenged people that have more reasoning skills
Autumn
Apr 26
#41