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You would have to be blind, deaf, and dumb not to realize that. Blinded by a hatred of the man and his right wing policies that borders on the irrational. The kind of extreme hatred that considers every single one of polices while in office to be bad. Regardless of how it might seem to others not affected by what has come to be called the ‘Trump derangement syndrome’. Their hatred is so irrational that it does not allow them to see any of his those policies positively. ‘Explaining’ why a seemingly good policy is actually a terrible one.
As of this writing the indictment is still sealed. The only reason to be aware of it is from Trump himself. He announced it last night on his social media platform, Truth Social. So we don’t know exactly what’s in there. But prosecutors do not indict people unless the evidence is so massive that they are relatively sure of a conviction. One of the more serious accusations is that Trump violated the Espionage Act by taking home classified documents from the Oval Office while he was still president. I don’t think anyone disputes that. Nor does anyone dispute the law that does not allow him to do that.
Trump keeps saying that he did nothing wrong and that this is all one big continuous witch hunt by his political enemies.
Here’s the thing, though. Does anyone (other than those who suffer from ‘Trump derangement syndrome’) really believe that the former President wanted to undermine the security of the United States by taking those documents? I have no clue why he took them. But undermining the security of the US is not it.
Trump might be a power hungry megalomaniac who thinks he knows the answer to everything. He might be so power hungry that he would deliberately lie about the last presidential election calling it rigged and stolen. He might be willing to appeal to the worst instincts in us to gain even a single vote. Like his dog whistles to White Supremacists and their ilk. (Don’t you love that pejorative word?) He might have the morals of an alley cat.
But to believe for even a half second that he purposely wanted to undermine the security of the United States by taking those documents is ridiculous, even though what he did might be a technical violation of the law. He says he’s innocent and did nothing wrong. I’m sure he believes that. He is so full of himself that he thinks that whatever he does is patriotic.
So if he is as guilty as sin, why do I think his indictment is political?
First of all, I believe in the truth and will defend it as I understand it.
And there is also this. If I understand the law correctly, prosecutors have the discretion not to prosecute. They have to know that the former president had no intention to harm the US. That may not matter legally. They indeed make that argument, by insisting (correctly) that no one is above the law. Even the President. And as a matter of principle he must be made an example. .
But I also believe that deep down their real (perhaps unconscious) motivation is based on ‘Trump derangement syndrome’.
The hatred of Trump by the left – and even many on the right is so palpable that they are oblivious to the repercussions of federally indicting a past president. They may self righteously say, let the chips fall where they may as long as justice is served.
But is justice really being served here other than in a technical sense? If they have the discretion not to indict, would justice not also be served - at least as far as the law is concerned?
Bearing all this in mind - if I am so anti Trump myself, why do I care if he is indicted?
For one thing, I don’t like political persecution. I don’t believe people should be indicted based on ulterior motives. Even if those motives are altruistic. Even if the indictments are technically legitimate.
Secondly, Trump is the front-runner to win the Republican nomination for President. currently leading his closest rival, Ron DiSantis by double digits. If there is any chance of any of his rivals overcoming that lead - this indictment almost guarantees it won’t happen. MAGA Republicans are relentlessly pro- Trump. As pointed out before the 2020 election, he could shoot someone in Times Square in broad daylight - and they would still support him.
This indictment will more than ever energize his MAGA base to turn out at the primaries and vote for him. Even Trump’s Republican rivals for the nomination are defending him. As is Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy. Any chance one of the other fine conservative Republican candidates might somehow overtake Trump is now even slimmer than ever. I believe that just about any one of them could beat Biden. Except Trump.
This almost assuredly means that the 2024 presidential election will be a rerun of the 2020 election with the same results.
Who knows? Maybe this fallout is exactly the anti Trump game plan. But in my heart of hearts, I believe it is based on the ‘Trump derangement syndrome’.