The guy behind me that watches fox news all day because "he needs something to help him focus" immediately started spouting fox talking points as soon as the verdict was read. My younger coworkers were like, "no way, that's crazy" to all his bs. I just had to say, "no that's not true. I read the jury instructions and they don't say that." He moved onto insisting there was no evidence and Cohen perjured himself and at that point I was already on my way out the door.
He's Gen x, a landlord, new York exile, classic gabagool. Ugh.
That's because his supporters worship him as a new messiah and cannot conceive of him having actually committed a crime. Or they don't care if he did or not.
I think you're right, none of this matters to them.They have their judges in place and everything is set up for Jan 6 II, Coup Boogaloo (but this time it will be 'legal').
Don't forget their party of "family values" and "religious morals" candidate who slept with a porn star while his wife was recovering from giving birth to their child
You know, on balance though, I think I'm glad that being a convicted felon doesn't preclude one from being elected president. I've gone back and forth on it a lot, but I think it is for the best.
Can you elaborate? My knee-jerk reaction is to be against it, but I haven’t thought about it a whole lot and I’d be interested to know why you have decided on the opposite.
When the GOP sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are convicted felons.
Couldn't that be said of Biden? I'm not trying to make this partisan but only trying to posit a hypothesis. Democratic processes do not select qualified people.
I happened to be in my mother's house when she called me to look at it live and there was zero mention on CNN of whether or not he would serve time over it. Sentencing in July.
I imagine that if the judge puts him in jail, preventing him from being elected as president, there's going to be a lot of shtf. And by a lot, I mean across the entire country.
Some other Lemmy commenter suggested community service instead of jail time.
There's something very appealing about the prospect of Trump, in a high-vis vest, picking up trash along the side of the freeway.
Yes, the sentencing ranges from probation to 4 years in prison. Given this is his first conviction and he's a former president, I assume probation will be given. Though, he's still under a gag order afaik...so if he violates that or probation somehow, maybe brief house arrest?
I definitely want pictures of him picking up trash with the secret service hanging around, at the very least
In NY, even if he’s sentenced to prison, it’s up to the judge’s discretion whether he has to report to prison while awaiting appeal…and we all know he’s going to appeal.
Everyone talks about his base as an unmoving monolith. But to get elected, he needs more than his base. He needs the fence sitters. Many of these people may be very ill informed about all the corruption in his original administration and his business dealings. This result will make a big difference to them because it's simple to understand. He's a convicted felon.
I suspect some people will mental gymnastics themselves into thinking this isn't a serious crime, and stipulating an abstract 'serious crime' yields more extreme results than we'll see as a result of this verdict.
But a few percentage point swing in a few key states is enough to ensure a Biden victory, so it may be enough.
The end of the article after discussing the failure of the impeachment of Clinton to actually change polls despite a difference in the hypothetical poll question before it occurred:
“It’s possible for people to say a conviction would change their minds, but when/if [a conviction] happens, it’s possible (even likely) that it won’t matter at all."
Anecdotal… we drove through rural Ohio a few weeks ago. In several hours of travel we only saw ONE trump sign. The same place in 2016 or 2020 would have been full of them. Regardless of the impact of this, the enthusiasm is dead. There might be “maga guys” on Twitter but they’re largely disengaged in real life.
If you sneak into their safe spaces online you can definitely tell they are unmotivated compared to 4-8 years ago.
They liked Trump because he bullied others publicly. They don't want to side with the guy currently getting bullied, goes against their survival instinct.
All the people in my development that had them up still have the signs from 2020 going strong... It's still pretty split from talking with neighbors. One person near me is in business selling heavy equipment and they're looking forward to trump because they feel they sell more equipment when republicans are in office. I guess that's a viewpoint.... For sure.
My gut feeling is there's nothing in this world that will sway his core supporters. Those rabid mouth-breathing dumbass kool-aid drinking dipshits would disown their own children if they thought one of them voted for a democrat.
However, I think it could sway a lot of swing voters away from Trump. In American elections for POTUS, swing voters are extremely important.
Unfortunately, Biden is fucking up so bad on foreign policy (Gaza) that will lose Biden a lot of swing voters, too. Still anybody's race is my guess.
This is just all my gut. It's hard to trust polls anymore.
Anyone who gives a shit about Gaza probably should try to ensure the country doesn't elect a Muslim Ban guy who wants to accelerate the genocide and deport anyone protesting it.
FYI: Those leftists are right wing trolls under a false flag, exactly like those “Biden takes 100% blame for Israel’s every action” guys.
They come from /pol and Telegram.
I doubt Biden would use this as an excuse to drop out of the debate. His campaign thinks the debate will help him more than Trump, and they’re probably right. Outside of his diehard supporters and people keeping up with politics, most voters haven’t heard Trump speak at length since the end of his presidency. The debate is an opportunity to remind them how fucking weird he is.
Maybe his core supporters, but past elections have shown that he can't win the popular vote. He is dependent on swing states where there are more people on the fence, and this might be enough.
I think a lot of his supporters are mostly burnt out on him. Even the hardliners are really just in this for the Wrestlemania storyline quality and this guy isn't entertaining anymore, he just has legal bullshit around him, he says the same catchphrases all the time, he's looking older and more haggard than we've ever seen, and conservatives are super fixated on superficial appearances.
I don't think we're "safe" by any means, but I think a lot of people are going to fall off and it might make a large difference.
I wish you were right. I live in Trumpistan and this will only make people like him more. The only way we can stop this madness is actually have him in an actual jail. Even then I’m not so sure.
I think this will only strengthen his core supporters because they'll view him as a martyr. It might push away some people on the fence. But I think the martyrdom angle and the increased media spotlight could pull some people back in. Personally I think it probably won't make a difference overall. All publicity is good publicity.
Holy crap... Did you guys read the bottom bit about Georgia voters?
"Another man Bob, playing with his bluegrass band outside a café, was more sure. He wanted a positive outcome for Donald Trump and said a conviction would not change his mind. What would?
“If he was convicted of murder, I'd be like that's not a guy I want to go for!” "
Not surprised, tbh, but I still find it ridiculous to read.
I was about to ask if I could be transferred to that alternate universe, but maybe I’d actually like to be transferred to one where 2016 went drastically differently.
Trump's civil trials: Half a billion in fines, lost ability to do business in New York.
Trump's Jan 6 Federal case: stuck with SCOTUS deciding on presidential immunity by looking at polls in September.
Trump's Stolent document case: postponed until an inept judge can figure out how to have a trial where one of the exhibits is "stolen plans to assassinat all current world leaders: CIA, do not distribute" without all world leaders catching wind.
Trump's Georga interference case: Trying to get the other 10 defendants guilty before going after Trump
This was the only case that could have given him prison time before the election. Let's see the judge screw it up.
I doubt he goes to prison. People who get in trouble for this sorta thing tend to not go to prison. But then again, this one involves a presidential election, so there is a chance.
Its been a bizarre case because someones already bloody gone to prison for it, the guy he ordered to make the payments. And then they just...chose not to care about trumps involvement.
I doubt he goes to prison. People who get in trouble for this sorta thing tend to not go to prison.
Trump's lawyer and fixer got 3 years in jail already for this crime. It was also his first offence. It would be pretty unfair to send the monkey to jail and not the organ grinder for the same crime.
You're probably right though, Trump is clearly getting special treatment because of his proclivity to stochastic terrorism.
It doesn’t have to be prison, nobody really expects this trial will end with a prison sentence.
I hope they find something way more helpful as this conviction was for election interference.
This was the only case that could have given him prison time before the election.
No judge in this country is sending a geriatric, senile, former president, beloved by a not-small segment of America, (a heavily armed and unstable segment) to prison. No judge is going to want that much attention and danger on themselves, nor will they want the historical scrutiny that will be cast on them for the rest of their lives. To say nothing of the guilt of starting civil unrest and deaths that will result.
Shit ain't fair. We gotta deal and get on with it.
This is only going to be considered by the swing voters come the election.
Die hard Trumpers will double down.
Die hard Republicans would never vote for a Democrat, so better a felon than a Liberal.
Die hard Democrats would never have voted for him anyway.
People who flip between the two parties now have another thing to consider when casting their votes, and only their internal compass will direct them to Trump or Biden
I think the best we can hope for is house arrest, which would still be really good since he couldn't campaign. I doubt he will go to prison even though it would be amazing and hilarious to see him in those paper thin orange prison jump suits. He could be roommates with Nicholas Tartaglione, but I can only get so optimistic
Something to keep in mind is that as of right now, he is guilty. If sentencing decides he goes to jail (very unlikely), they do not have to let him go free while the appeal takes place.
More likely though, is that he'll be bound by the terms of probation. Which is potentially hilarious, since it means the probation officer can enter his home at will, send him to jail if he knowingly communicates with a felon, and can deny his requests to leave the jurisdiction he was convicted in essentially at will. He needs to be available to be interviewed by the probation at their discretion anywhere he is, and the probation officer can deny his living arrangements if they believe it creates a risk of a prohibited behavior.
It's unlikely, but a particularly vindictive parole officer could make a very legitimate argument that attending the convention where they vote on making Trump the Republican candidate must be denied due to the likelihood of associating with known felons or former criminal associates related to his conviction.
If would be petty, but it's not like anyone has put much care into abuse in the probation and parole system before, so...
There was always a 0% chance that a Trump went to prison for this trial. He'll get a slap on the wrist. This is the least severe crime he's accused of, to be quite frank.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene blasted the "SHAM trial" on X. "You don't see this level of corruption in a banana republic", she wrote, directing people to a Trump fundraiser.
I don't know I've seen such a direct example of, " I'm saying this so that you will give us money", as this in a while.
Why are people so happy to be part of a scam? What do they expect their money will do? Is it a metric republicans use to compare to each other? 🤷
When McConnell bites it, I'm walking out of the kitchen at work and into the bar and buying everyone a round, along with myself. That will truly be a day of celebration.
Expect to see memes about it too in other communities. This'll be the front page of most fediverse instances in some fashion for the rest of the day I imagine
What happens to the jury now? I almost wonder if they need something equivalent to witness protection, or at a bare minimum some protection from the state of New York. MAGA is a terrorist organization that preaches swift, bloody retribution against dissidents. I don't know if basic juror anonymity will be enough to protect all of them.
They’re kept anonymous, and also their identifying info like appearance and employer are protected. During the jury selection some prospective jurors were identified based on their work and a general description, which is why the judge added a ban on sharing that information.
Names are always kept confidential, but there is identifying information out there like their professions and general areas they live. MAGA was also able to figure out jury identities earlier in the case, and it's certain they will at least be trying. If it was me on that jury, I'd prefer a preventative measure.
Same thing happened with his other trials. A fast verdict from the jury means the case was completely air-tight solid to the jurors. He was so clearly guilty that there was nothing to even discuss
Except he will. Florida doesn't allow convicted felons to vote unless it's a state felony that would not prevent them from voting in the state where it was charged - and New York doesn't strip felons of voting rights.
Even if they did, Florida voting rights can be restored by the governor and a review board appointed solely by him. Despite their history of personal conflict, don't think for a second that DeSantis wouldn't capitalize on the boost with his political base from handing Donald Trump the voting booth photo op as a personal gift.
He'd be a fool to try to run. Because nothing is going to happen to him with these convictions anyway. The vast majority of his supported will just wave it away as "persecution!" And his team will just drag it through the appeals courts all the way up to the US supreme Court, which in their flagrantly bias wisdom will just dismiss the charges for him.
Pfff the only thing achieved so far is speaking that he's guilty. Of (of all things) not disclosing payment for sex. No prison, no drop from the ballot, so far nothing that's actually useful.
I think that the best immediate thing that will come from this will be Trump rule 34 fanart. Or, who knows, I might be mistaken already...
Sadly* no. Florida doesn't allow convicted felons to vote unless it's a state felony that would not prevent them from voting in the state where it was charged - and New York doesn't strip felons of voting rights.
Even if they did, Florida voting rights can be restored by the governor and a review board appointed solely by him. Despite their history of personal conflict, don't think for a second that DeSantis wouldn't capitalize on the boost with his political base from handing Donald Trump the voting booth photo op as a personal gift.
I say "sadly" because it's just one more case of him getting privileges others don't. There are excellent arguments against stripping anybody of their vote. That Florida does, and makes it extremely difficult (and entirely discretional on the governor's part) to get it back even after completing the court sentence, makes it a bitter pill to swallow they Trump is once again exempt from that consequence.
Sadly "justice has prevailed" is a little premature, because he probably won't do any time and will just have to pay a fine; and probably a mediocre one at that. Justice would be him serving the rest of his life in prison, but that probably won't happen.
A respectful court would agree. Let's remember one judge hung two different flags supporting insurrection. Another judge has a wife that tried to personally have people over turn the 2020 election results. Bonus judge: Cannon blocking a case for classified documents being stolen.
He can appeal, but he is still a convicted felon. He will be sentenced before any appeal can happen. He will most likely get probation, which isn't a lot but also comes with a lot more indignity then he is likely used to, and can carry a significant amount of bad optics during an election cycle.
As in, probation officer can enter his house without warning any time of day, deny his ability to travel out of state, random drug tests and unannounced workplace visits. Even just stipulating that he must report to their office every week would have a very visible impact on his campaign.
As in, probation officer can enter his house without warning any time of day, deny his ability to travel out of state, random drug tests and unannounced workplace visits.
I mean yeah, but do you think this will happen to him?
He can appeal all the way to the Supreme Court. There is a fairly long process to make that happen, conventionally.
He will appeal, but the path that takes is anybody's guess.
He still does have a few other court cases that need to be settled and it is unlikely he can motion to dismiss on malicious prosecution(his snowball chance in hell option) on the pending cases and petition for USSC review at the same time.
His legitimate only chance at getting out of the noose is to be elected and pardon himself before he has to turn himself over into custody.
Regardless of whether or not a president pardoning themself is possible, he can't pardon himself of new york state crimes. Governor Hochul/executive clemency bureau are the only ones that could do that.
Don't people that are sentenced to prison but appeal still serve until the appeals are done? I don't have faith he'll be sentenced to prison but whatever he gets should be in effect unless one of his appeals goes through right?
Nothing's gonna happen. He's just gonna make up some new "ex president/presidential candidate immunity" that prevents some category of person that includes him from going to prison even for state crimes, and his various federal court nominees will see to it that it's tied up indefinitely.
Does anyone take this verdict seriously? This is the same criminal justice system that locks up the poor, vulnerable and ethnic minorities. They have criminalised whistleblowers and other truth tellers. They are enslaving ordinary people. The laws they use are often racist. The CIA are assassinating people and subverting nation states with total impunity from this same criminal justice system.