11 Jun 17
Originally posted by no1marauderI find it funny when Americans take the fact that Trump hasn't been able to go full Hitler yet because the courts and Congress have kind of gotten in the way of that as a sign that American institutions are strong.
Being a crappy President isn't grounds for impeachment:
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
US Constitution, Article II, Section 4.
While the meaning of "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" ...[text shortened]... n of some, many or most is causing "irrevocable harm" to the country doesn't seem to equal them.
You know, at the same time as the president openly solicits, takes and pays bribes, is a known fraudster, and has an inner circle with numerous people known to be on the payroll as agents of foreign nations intending to harm U.S. interests. In any normally functioning democracy with an adequate legal system, Donald Trump would have been in jail long before even attempting to get elected.
11 Jun 17
Originally posted by KazetNagorraIt is, of course, a great failure of America's institutions that it has failed to run an elected President out of office in 4 and a half months.
I find it funny when Americans take the fact that Trump hasn't been able to go full Hitler yet because the courts and Congress have kind of gotten in the way of that as a sign that American institutions are strong.
You know, at the same time as the president openly solicits, takes and pays bribes, is a known fraudster, and has an inner circle with nu ...[text shortened]... e legal system, Donald Trump would have been in jail long before even attempting to get elected.
12 Jun 17
The post that was quoted here has been removedI've expressed my opinion that the Electoral College should have been abolished long ago. Additionally, I've always thought the Twenty-Second Amendment, limiting Presidents to two terms, was an unnecessary restriction of the People's right to choice their elected officials.
What that has to do with the issues mentioned is unclear.
Originally posted by no1marauderIt's a great failure of America's institutions that someone like Donald Trump was able to manoeuver himself into a position of power.
It is, of course, a great failure of America's institutions that it has failed to run an elected President out of office in 4 and a half months.
But yes - Donald Trump's current and previous violations of American law are so blatant he should be immediately impeached and tried in a criminal court. The open solicitation of bribes, for example, should be enough by itself.
12 Jun 17
Originally posted by KazetNagorraI think a fair reading of history would come to the conclusion that the governmental structure of the US was set up to prevent someone like Trump from becoming President. But the government isn't completely People-proof though you seem to prefer a government that was.
It's a great failure of America's institutions that someone like Donald Trump was able to manoeuver himself into a position of power.
But yes - Donald Trump's current and previous violations of American law are so blatant he should be immediately impeached and tried in a criminal court. The open solicitation of bribes, for example, should be enough by itself.
12 Jun 17
Originally posted by no1marauderIf that was the intention, it failed spectacularly.
I think a fair reading of history would come to the conclusion that the governmental structure of the US was set up to prevent someone like Trump from becoming President. But the government isn't completely People-proof though you seem to prefer a government that was.
In free and fair elections Trump wouldn't have been elected, but even so, I don't think that people should be able to vote criminals into office.
Originally posted by KazetNagorraConsidering the electoral histories of other Western democracies in the last 230 years, the "spectacular failure" of electing Trump (who has so far had little success in enacting his agenda due to mass popular disapproval) seems fairly minor. The Constitutional structure has worked rather well as regards letting "populist" flim flam man into our highest office; virtually all had already held high elective office or been high ranking generals or other powerful governmental officials.
If that was the intention, it failed spectacularly.
In free and fair elections Trump wouldn't have been elected, but even so, I don't think that people should be able to vote criminals into office.