Octopus Overlords

My favorite factoid from the reporting today:

Judge Juan Merchan received a note from the jury foreman informing him a decision had been made at 4:20 p.m. ET, 10 minutes before the jury was expected to be excused for the day.

Nice!

Smoove_B wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 5:34 pm We know this energizes him and his cultists, but my question is how will the shambling husk of what was the GOP respond? Will *this* be the moment they finally decide to try and shed their MAGA label and do what they can to salvage what's left of the party? Or do they double-down now for the final approach?

Preview for you:

Question.
Does this verdict actually mean anything at this point?
I'm assuming they ate filing for appeal by tomorrow at the latest so won't that delay sentencing anyway?

Punisher wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 5:38 pm Question.
Does this verdict actually mean anything at this point?
I'm assuming they ate filing for appeal by tomorrow at the latest so won't that delay sentencing anyway?

It means a lot, legally. There won't be an appeal until after sentencing. And even then, it's tough to overturn a jury verdict like this, and it seemed from the reporting that Judge Merchan was very, very careful throughout the trial to not give Trump an appealable issue. It's also true that Trump isn't going to be appealing to super Trump-friendly benches when he takes his case to the Appellate Division or the NY Court of Appeals.

I think he's going to be stuck with this. A felon for life!

Kraken wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 5:36 pm Yeah, this was the least consequential of his crimes. Unfortunately none of the more serious ones will be tried before the election. I guess there's still an outside shot that the GA case could begin in the fall?

Even if the other cases don't start before the election, "Guilty on all counts" is a hard label to shake.

It pushes the election in the direction of being a referendum on whether an already convicted felon can pardon himself for his other crimes.

Kurth wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 5:46 pm

Punisher wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 5:38 pm Question.
Does this verdict actually mean anything at this point?
I'm assuming they ate filing for appeal by tomorrow at the latest so won't that delay sentencing anyway?

It means a lot, legally. There won't be an appeal until after sentencing. And even then, it's tough to overturn a jury verdict like this, and it seemed from the reporting that Judge Merchan was very, very careful throughout the trial to not give Trump an appealable issue. It's also true that Trump isn't going to be appealing to super Trump-friendly benches when he takes his case to the Appellate Division or the NY Court of Appeals.

I think he's going to be stuck with this. A felon for life!

It is worth noting that ultimate appeal is with the SCOTUS. Now, as you say this is a hard verdict to overturn. Unless one is, say, a Trump-friendly conservative justice willing to bend the facts and law to achieve a result that you want.

Smoove_B wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 5:34 pm We know this energizes him and his cultists, but my question is how will the shambling husk of what was the GOP respond? Will *this* be the moment they finally decide to try and shed their MAGA label and do what they can to salvage what's left of the party? Or do they double-down now for the final approach?

Seriously, you think they will abandon him now? Just read what Speaker Johnson and Little Marco just tweeted.

Grifman wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 5:55 pm Seriously, you think they will abandon him now? Just read what Speaker Johnson and Little Marco just tweeted.

No, I didn't really think they would...but they *could*. No idea how they spin the sentencing into his nomination days later. It's total pants-on-head insanity.

If you thought things might be bad, Tucker Carlson is here to set your mind at ease:

Tucker Carlson responded to today’s verdict in what can only be described as an apocalyptic tone, stating on X that the jury’s decision marked “the end of the fairest justice system in the world.” The former Fox News host said that Trump would still win the election “if he’s not killed first,” and closed by saying that “anyone who defends this verdict is a danger to you and your family.”

Tucker gonna Tucker. Way to fit overt racism into the tweet, too, tho.

Best one I've seen so far: "Trump finally won the popular vote!"

Yeah I've seen a lot of comments that "this doesn't mean anything" because of appeals, serving any sentence would be post-election, he's still walking around a free man, etc.

If that's the case, then I'd ask - would you rather your candidate be a convicted felon or not a convicted felon? We know that perception is everything in politics, and while this won't move the needle with his die-hard supporters, I'd hazard it could potentially move the needle a lot for those out of touch with politics. The "convicted felon" tag is going to be an albatross around Trump's neck every day of the campaign, and it's going to be drilled into people's minds all the way to November.

I'm choosing to live in a world where this matters, hopefully others do too.

You wouldn't let your daughter marry a convicted felon, would you?

Investment opportunity in CONVICTED FELON T-shirts.

And the fundraising begins:

Just minutes after the verdict was announced, the Trump campaign sent out a fund-raising email in which Trump said, in all capital letters, “I am a political prisoner!”

Wow. I did not expect that at all - I really expected him to skate as usual.

Here’s what happens next

The judge before adjourning Thursday afternoon set Trump’s sentencing date for July 11 at 10 a.m. ET. He ordered parties in the case to file motions by June 13.
...
The charges against Trump are Class E felonies, the least serious category under New York law. Each count carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

Trump’s sentence could include fines and restitution, probation or other conditions — but a sentence of imprisonment is not off the table.

I'm about 99.9999999% confident that he'll get zero jail time out of this. But if it keeps him out of the White House, he can spend his sentence relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for all I care.

Heh:

https://bsky.app/profile/aaronhuertas.b ... qdx7yt5c2b

Today is the day Donald Trump became precedent

Pyperkub wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 6:34 pm Heh:

https://bsky.app/profile/aaronhuertas.b ... qdx7yt5c2b

Today is the day Donald Trump became precedent

What are those emotes that look like yellow acorns?

Clapping Hands emoji

The far left radical Antifa George Soros funded, Bill Gates microchip controlled jury of crisis actors have betrayed the American people who know that this is all an invidious plot to destroy democracy.

We all know how beloved Trump and his family are in New York. We constantly see the Democrats rigging the elections there allowing illegal immigrants into the voting booths and using dead people’s “votes”.

Fight this outrage by buying a trump t shirt or better yet the new updated trump bible complete with a new hidden contraband compartment for prison life. keep an eye on the Alitos’ flagpole tonight - we will have new collectors edition flags for purchase in our store soon.

Seriously I love this one:

https://bsky.app/profile/birdsaredinosa ... qdbrcv5c24

The timeline right now looks like an Ewok party after the Death Star exploded

I’d love to be a fly on the wall when he first meets with his parole officer

Are there any laws about being a felon and receiving a security clearance?

waitingtoconnect wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 7:00 pm Seriously I love this one:

https://bsky.app/profile/birdsaredinosa ... qdbrcv5c24

The timeline right now looks like an Ewok party after the Death Star exploded

I hope that is not to imply that the most gut-wrenching storyline is still yet to be told.

Grifman wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 5:10 pm This means he can’t vote, LOL!

I've seen it said that he can because FL follows the rules of the location of the conviction.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-e ... rcna154286

Kurth wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 5:16 pm The saddest thing about this is how happy it is making most of us, when the fact of the matter is, if anything, this will likely propel Trump to the White House.

I know logic doesn't apply, but who would be on the fence and this is what changed their mind?

El Guapo wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 5:54 pm It is worth noting that ultimate appeal is with the SCOTUS. Now, as you say this is a hard verdict to overturn. Unless one is, say, a Trump-friendly conservative justice willing to bend the facts and law to achieve a result that you want.

Do you really think it'll get to the SC?

Alefroth wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 7:55 pm

El Guapo wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 5:54 pm It is worth noting that ultimate appeal is with the SCOTUS. Now, as you say this is a hard verdict to overturn. Unless one is, say, a Trump-friendly conservative justice willing to bend the facts and law to achieve a result that you want.

Do you really think it'll get to the SC?

Remember they have not yet ruled on his claim of immunity. If they rule that boning a porn star is an official act...

Which unlucky family member has to keester in the daily bucket of KFC during visits?

….I’m kidding. It’s always Eric.

One might argue that a person convicted of election interference, who has expressed no remorse and doesn't accept the verdict, is a clear danger to the republic while participating another election for the same office, and that person belongs in prison if he won't renounce politics. Because he's all but certain to re-offend.

1. Lets say the conviction holds. Let's also say he gets jail time. Since that sounds like a stretch already let's limit the jail time to 4 years. Doesn't that just mean he gets out in time to run again?

2. It's been a while but I'm almost positive that when I was going for an Intelligence Analyst MOS my recruiter mentioned that being a felon was almost definitely a no go situation. Assuming I'm right, does he actually NEED that clearance? Couldn't he just be limited in rhat his powers would be? Alternatively I wonder if the requirements are actually easier if you are a duly elected president.

Honestly, there is a part of me that wants him to win in Nov just to get his reign over with instead of having it hanging over our heads forever.

Non-violent white-collar crimes committed by a 77 year old man with no prior convictions. All felonies, but the lowest level of felony. A prison sentence becomes a possible life sentence.

No prison time is entirely possible.

As a side note, the appeals are likely coming, but if he is sentenced to prison, he'll still be running from behind bars. He can rally one person at a time every other Tuesday for 45 minutes.

1. If he survives 4 years in prison.

2. He can just declassify anything that he need to read to do his job as president?

Punisher wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 9:31 pm 1. Lets say the conviction holds. Let's also say he gets jail time. Since that sounds like a stretch already let's limit the jail time to 4 years. Doesn't that just mean he gets out in time to run again?

2. It's been a while but I'm almost positive that when I was going for an Intelligence Analyst MOS my recruiter mentioned that being a felon was almost definitely a no go situation. Assuming I'm right, does he actually NEED that clearance? Couldn't he just be limited in rhat his powers would be? Alternatively I wonder if the requirements are actually easier if you are a duly elected president.

Honestly, there is a part of me that wants him to win in Nov just to get his reign over with instead of having it hanging over our heads forever.

He would degenerate in those hypothetical 4 years so much he wouldn't be able to string two sentences together. He's already in cognitive decline as it is.

Punisher wrote:Honestly, there is a part of me that wants him to win in Nov just to get his reign over with instead of having it hanging over our heads forever.

The problem is that once he's in power, he's going to change the rules so that at minimum, the game is rigged in favor of his ilk for years if not decades. And worst case, he'll make sure he doesn't leave when the four years is up. This won't be "let's just catch the flu and get it over with." It will be injecting ourselves with cancer.

I'm not too worried about him running again at 81 or 82, should he lose in November. If he's even alive, his brain will be tapioca pudding by that point and he'll be running against what will assuredly be a young Democratic candidate.

Twitter is full of the worst of the worst defending Trump and declaring this a dark day for America. Even Farage is chiming in. It really confirms that I'm on the right side.

Kraken wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 9:09 pm One might argue that a person convicted of election interference, who has expressed no remorse and doesn't accept the verdict, is a clear danger to the republic while participating another election for the same office, and that person belongs in prison if he won't renounce politics. Because he's all but certain to re-offend.

As the crime was committed in office he could in theory lean on his buddies on the Supreme Court to call out an official act he can’t be prosecuted for.

Will this change the polling I doubt it.

I hope the jurors don’t get doxed.

YellowKing wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 6:30 pm I'm about 99.9999999% confident that he'll get zero jail time out of this. But if it keeps him out of the White House, he can spend his sentence relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for all I care.

He could get litter cleanup or community service… now that’d be funny.

I think it's highly unlikely that he gets prison time, but more like 80/20 against rather than the minuscule odds that some give it. Given the volume of felonies, complete lack of remorse, multiple contempt findings, and likely antagonizing the judge, his family, and the jurors up to sentencing, it's not hard to see. Still, I think it's more likely that he gets probation and I think community service is a real possibility.

If there is jail time, it would be for no more than 4 years, and likely much less (NY law apparently requires all terms to run concurrently).

Trump would only be barred from voting if he is in prison at the time of the election. For out of state felony convictions, FL follows the rules of the state, and NY would only block him from voting if he were a felon in prison.

Note that I'm not a criminal lawyer (except the extent that all lawyers are criminals, amIright?) and I don't practice in NY or FL. The above is based on my speculation and what I've read from (credible) sources on Bluesky.