Even if Judge Merchan thought the Supreme Court would overturn a conviction, he should have given trump the sentence he deserved due to his crimes. I am completely disgusted with our judicial system and our government.
The whole immunity thing is backward. You get charged, you go to trial, you get found guilty. Then you use the immunity in the appeal. You do not get immunity before the trial. Way to go Supreme Court.
No we don't we fully understand why you don't want to be part of this ahit show. I don't want to live in this shit show I did not vote for this shit show.
Our system is corrupt we need to scrap it and start all over minus billionaires influence
Without laws and courts and justice...Democracy is just a nine letter word. When criminals go free, justice is just a seven letter word. And that means all law breakers. Not just the ones stealing perfume. Not just the ones stealing cars.
When the fat cats gets a pass, the hungry cat thinks, “What the fuck!”
No one went to jail for starting a bogus war in Iraq.
No one went to jail for causing the finacial meltdown of 2008.
No one. Nada.
Were there guilty people? Oh, fuck yes. Everyone knew it. Everyone knows it. But, the rich and powerful get a pass. It’s the end of Democracy as we know it. Just my opinion. I could be wrong.
Nah, you are correct, imo it died the minute the rapist laid his hand on a bible the first time. My words then, "The USA is toast, it just doesn't know it yet." NOW, make no mistake, we are headed straight for Nazi Germany 2.0, all of it, only there is no "America" to pull our ass out of the fire, the whole WORLD is fucked. Brace yourselves, cause it genuinely looks to ME like they are using THAT history as an instruction manual. Next will be martial law, then an "enablement act" of some kind, as the other post said, "I could be wrong, but I don't think so", I mean, could the parallels be any more obvious...?
Boom! You hit the nail on the head, Zee Zee. Grab your weapons everyone! Gather your buddies. Let the looting, chaos and mayhem begin!! The Justice System is broken in America. Rape, pillage, plunder, crime is the word of the day! No rules.....crime to your hearts extent!
That's the message that people hear when they see that one man is indeed above the law, in a country where NO man is supposed to be above the law. We are all equal in the eyes of the law......uh, yeah!
Unfortunately we are dealing with those with no sense of shame or embarrassment. They treat it as a badge of honor. He stood up to the law and the law lost.
Earl, I believe Merchan's main point was to make it official that Dumpy is a convicted felon. I never knew until last month that a conviction isn't FINAL until there is sentencing. So even if we're all disappointed that the sentencing doesn't include prison time (or community service, like cleaning bed pans in a hospital for a thousand hours), it's now OFFICIAL. It wouldn't have been if the sentencing had been delayed. Now Dumpy will forever be labeled as a Convicted Felon (which we've all been calling him for months anyway), and the first president to be labeled that way.
Yes, of course it's wrong. He should be in prison and we all know it. If Merrick Garland hadn't dragged his feet, these criminal cases would have happened two years ago. But what do we do now? Call our representatives and beg them to impeach and convict him? A Repug Congress won't do that. Should we all get involved at a grass roots level and make damn sure Dems win overwhelmingly in 2026 to take control of both houses of Congress? That's what I hope. And I'm an Independent. What else should we be doing, Earl?
Labels, labels, labels. Referring to The Stinking Orange Diaper Load as officially a Convicted Felon MEANS SQUAT. BALONEY. TOTAL BS. His followers don't care, he doesn't care, but the rest of us will continue to be victimized by a corrupt justice system of the rich, by the rich, for the rich. The police act with murderous impunity against the poor and minorities, big corporations poison us and the planet, gouge us, and buy elections to benefit themselves, and low information morons insure that their fellow idiots possess guns at 3 times the quantity of the US population, in preparation for the next insurrection/civil war.
The United States of America, Freedom and Justice for All is such bullshit! Americans need to demand repercussions for Diaper Don and his fellow coup mobsters.
Then let him appeal it. DJT racked up those fines before SCOTUS immunity decision. Should DJT win appeal, then let the hypocrisy of America’s law and order principles shine much brighter.
And any US citizen who committed the same crime would have been in jail months ago. How do you respect a legal system that isn't fair to all and a nation run by a corrupt SCOTUS?
This is why I’ll be essentially withdrawing from society. I have a nice life, having worked hard to get to this point. (Still working, by choice, at 72). I care passionately about the US, but while I’m appalled at the direction the country appears to be going, my activist days are behind me for now. Too many people have shown their racism, ignorance, malignant selfishness and I choose not to associate with them. Because I see how deeply corrupt every agency in our government is and how little influence we have, I will do what I can to create a positive environment for my husband and myself and stay mostly disengaged. I live in the wasteland of formerly-great Texas, where education and empathy are frowned upon. If anyone needs me, I’ll be around.
I completely understand your position Cynthia… I’m weighing a decision to go abroad or stay. I have another adventure or two in me at 69… it’s time to explore a little. In general America has shattered me.
My slightly younger sister and her husband, weary of guns and ugly rhetoric and our downward spiral, sold their little slice of heaven - a gem of a personal farm in NC - and moved to Italy 18 months ago. She’s brave and ballsy, and although it’s a LOT of work, they’re delighted with their decision. (I’ll maintain my sanity by traveling when I’m not hibernating). I think you should do it!
Oh wow... well, I certainly have been investigating and researching... I have a friend who has offered to go to Portugal with me. I'd definitely want a companion to accompany me.... even if I went for a year to write and do photography... 🤔
Italy offered economic incentives to immigrants (that sounds wrong, somehow!) who agree to buy in certain provinces. Near Florence? No. Abruzzo? Yes. Other countries may offer something similar.
Susan, It’s hard to visualize a turn around when an illegal candidate who is a psychopath can unleash all of the MAGA world Militia people and give them permission to kill. Yet, corporate Dems can only talk of reaching across the aisle. However, the sliver of hope I hold is that in-fighting among MAGA vs Musk can take their own plan down. Musk wants educated immigrants to be brought in to the US. MAGA wants to block all. Let them destroy each other. Also, there are razor thin majorities in Congress for the fascist Party. But Dems never hold together..only rescumliCons do.
To not even give a financial penalty for violating the gag orders is spitting in the face of ALL Americans subject to the same corrupt "justice" system.
Merchan is no hero. He's just another variety of coward.
This sentencing is a farce. To not even have to show up physically??!!! WHO ever gets that kind of treatment?
Shame on ALL those who enabled this orange monster for years. Shame on them for allowing this putrid, vile creep to progress with his debauchery and criminal activity for his entire miserable demented life.
Wishing him Godspeed hasn’t stopped him from screaming lies about Merchan, nor from demanding retribution. Magats still send him and his family death threats, Rethugl9cans in congress are calling for an investigation, etc. It’s going to be overturned on appeal; if your life and career are continuing bro be threatened, why bend over backwards in your own court room. The only quasi good thing about the appeal is the gag order - such as it is - is still in place, I think.
Thank you for expressing my speechless outrage. This confirms what we all know, justice can be bought thank you OJ. Rich with lawyer you get a pass. For the rest you go to jail. Trumps constant dog whistle, side threats to Merchan and his daughter should have been an immediate jailing. What amazes me is the number of lawyers who support this. Delay means more billable hours. Millions of dollars spent and thousands of manhours for nothing. "Legal efficiency" at its worst.
This appears epidemic throughout what is left of our legal system. There is no way Jack Smith should have taken 2 years to ultimately abandon ship. Then have the audacity to say the ship never existed in the first place. The stolen classified documents were an open and shut case, should have been charged within days of the FBI raid. We will never know what Ts intention was with those documents. However, he gets rewarded with the keys to the entire bank vault, controls the codes and boss over those who should protect it.
His intention of taking those documents was to get dirt he could use against people. I'm beginning to believe this exact outcome has been in the making for years, and we've been duped all along. Trump and Co have quietly and intentionally picked legal fights, to then find and gather a cache of loyal accomplices. Their goal: what we're looking at now!
The rich have NEVER gotten along with the poor, they've strangely always been afraid of them. Because the poor made them take a look at their life and feel guilt for their excess - eventually, they overcome the guilt and want to see what it's like to play at being God!
Such dangerous times we live in. Many won't survive the next four years on account of trump, those that do will come to the realization that they have lost their country, and their freedom.
America has been here before. In the early 1950's Senator Joseph McCarthy almost drove the US to self-destruction with his "commie on every corner" tirade. It ruined many honest people. He was finally disgraced, but left a trail of destruction. Trump and company may attempt a similar circus. This time half America will see it for what it is and not be as damaging.
The folks that have the most to fear will be those closest to him. Their heads will fall first as he will always need someone to blame. What bothers me more is his lieutenants like Jordan and Comer, using hearings to destroy his enemies. They may go after Liz Cheney, Gen Milley and maybe even Hunter Biden.
A meme is making the rounds today: There are three systems of “justice” in the US—the rich; the poor; especially people of color/black youth and men; and Donald Trump.
Since there is no penalty for fraud I'll tell the IRS I have 6 dependents I don't have on my 1040 this year. If caught my defense will be that I thought there were no consequences for fraud as Judge Merchan's sentenced Trump with nothing. Yeah bet that would work huh. Nah, rich man win poor man pay.
Trump (like the mob bosses he emulates) made it abundantly clear that Judge Merchan’s family was at risk. What choice did the judge have? No one was going to ride to the rescue and even if the judge was willing to risk his own safety, what about his daughter?
It takes a high level of commitment from society to bring down mob bosses, and our society isn’t even close.
there is nothing to say...I am through being disgusted, angry, fed-up, outraged and more because the only one who pays the price for those never-resolved feelings is me. I will still speak out, donate, organize, protest, post, same as always - but like jealousy, anger only harms the person holding onto it. And anger at our systems, MAGA voters, the crooked politicians, corrupt corporations - the whole enchilada of 21st century America is futile. If we can take back the House in '26, change the opinion voters have of the Dem party that will be the tiniest of beginnings to overcome the whole r/w p25 billionaire machine. I am no longer confident that is an achievable goal...
Well, supposedly in Florida he can't serve on a jury, or own a gun (think that gun emblazoned with his name - that must sting the immature bully!) However, watch for those prohibitions to be lifted by his fangirl. You are right, Earl, it's utterly contemptible capitulation to the threats, up and down the entire judiciary system.
Even if Judge Merchan thought the Supreme Court would overturn a conviction, he should have given trump the sentence he deserved due to his crimes. I am completely disgusted with our judicial system and our government.
The whole immunity thing is backward. You get charged, you go to trial, you get found guilty. Then you use the immunity in the appeal. You do not get immunity before the trial. Way to go Supreme Court.
And Americans wonder why Canadians want no part of their country…
No we don't we fully understand why you don't want to be part of this ahit show. I don't want to live in this shit show I did not vote for this shit show.
Our system is corrupt we need to scrap it and start all over minus billionaires influence
Without laws and courts and justice...Democracy is just a nine letter word. When criminals go free, justice is just a seven letter word. And that means all law breakers. Not just the ones stealing perfume. Not just the ones stealing cars.
When the fat cats gets a pass, the hungry cat thinks, “What the fuck!”
No one went to jail for starting a bogus war in Iraq.
No one went to jail for causing the finacial meltdown of 2008.
No one. Nada.
Were there guilty people? Oh, fuck yes. Everyone knew it. Everyone knows it. But, the rich and powerful get a pass. It’s the end of Democracy as we know it. Just my opinion. I could be wrong.
Nah, you are correct, imo it died the minute the rapist laid his hand on a bible the first time. My words then, "The USA is toast, it just doesn't know it yet." NOW, make no mistake, we are headed straight for Nazi Germany 2.0, all of it, only there is no "America" to pull our ass out of the fire, the whole WORLD is fucked. Brace yourselves, cause it genuinely looks to ME like they are using THAT history as an instruction manual. Next will be martial law, then an "enablement act" of some kind, as the other post said, "I could be wrong, but I don't think so", I mean, could the parallels be any more obvious...?
"I could be wrong now - but I don't think so - it's a jungle out there" (Randy Newman)
Boom! You hit the nail on the head, Zee Zee. Grab your weapons everyone! Gather your buddies. Let the looting, chaos and mayhem begin!! The Justice System is broken in America. Rape, pillage, plunder, crime is the word of the day! No rules.....crime to your hearts extent!
That's the message that people hear when they see that one man is indeed above the law, in a country where NO man is supposed to be above the law. We are all equal in the eyes of the law......uh, yeah!
TFG = The Felon Guy
He can not remove that stain.
He should have paid for his crime.
Instead, we did.
He should’ve paid for his MANY crimes. I can’t believe there wasn’t even a fine!
Unfortunately we are dealing with those with no sense of shame or embarrassment. They treat it as a badge of honor. He stood up to the law and the law lost.
I am filled with disgust. And I thought Merchan was actually running the trial with integrity. For a while anyway. WTF??
Earl, I believe Merchan's main point was to make it official that Dumpy is a convicted felon. I never knew until last month that a conviction isn't FINAL until there is sentencing. So even if we're all disappointed that the sentencing doesn't include prison time (or community service, like cleaning bed pans in a hospital for a thousand hours), it's now OFFICIAL. It wouldn't have been if the sentencing had been delayed. Now Dumpy will forever be labeled as a Convicted Felon (which we've all been calling him for months anyway), and the first president to be labeled that way.
His "main point" should have been to apply the law equally.
He didn't. He made Trump an exception, and THAT is not right. In fact, it's wrong.
Yes, of course it's wrong. He should be in prison and we all know it. If Merrick Garland hadn't dragged his feet, these criminal cases would have happened two years ago. But what do we do now? Call our representatives and beg them to impeach and convict him? A Repug Congress won't do that. Should we all get involved at a grass roots level and make damn sure Dems win overwhelmingly in 2026 to take control of both houses of Congress? That's what I hope. And I'm an Independent. What else should we be doing, Earl?
Bare minimum never shutting up, and not allowing this barrage of crap to become normalized, Joanne.
As for Democrats, I could stand to hear a helluva lot more from them about this grotesque nonsense.
Here are some thoughts on how to deal with it all from the indefatigible Scott Dworkin: https://open.substack.com/pub/dworkin/p/we-wont-obey-in-advance-not-now-not?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=hbqlt
At the very minimum, Judge Merchan should’ve been slapped DJT with a fine for violating the gag order umpteen times.
Labels, labels, labels. Referring to The Stinking Orange Diaper Load as officially a Convicted Felon MEANS SQUAT. BALONEY. TOTAL BS. His followers don't care, he doesn't care, but the rest of us will continue to be victimized by a corrupt justice system of the rich, by the rich, for the rich. The police act with murderous impunity against the poor and minorities, big corporations poison us and the planet, gouge us, and buy elections to benefit themselves, and low information morons insure that their fellow idiots possess guns at 3 times the quantity of the US population, in preparation for the next insurrection/civil war.
The United States of America, Freedom and Justice for All is such bullshit! Americans need to demand repercussions for Diaper Don and his fellow coup mobsters.
But he will appeal and it will probably get dismissed
Then let him appeal it. DJT racked up those fines before SCOTUS immunity decision. Should DJT win appeal, then let the hypocrisy of America’s law and order principles shine much brighter.
You are undoubtedly correct.
And any US citizen who committed the same crime would have been in jail months ago. How do you respect a legal system that isn't fair to all and a nation run by a corrupt SCOTUS?
You can't. And I don't.
"Money talks, and bullshit walks" Five words that sum it up. 🤦♀️
Can we ever come back from this as a society... because I see very little decency left.
This is why I’ll be essentially withdrawing from society. I have a nice life, having worked hard to get to this point. (Still working, by choice, at 72). I care passionately about the US, but while I’m appalled at the direction the country appears to be going, my activist days are behind me for now. Too many people have shown their racism, ignorance, malignant selfishness and I choose not to associate with them. Because I see how deeply corrupt every agency in our government is and how little influence we have, I will do what I can to create a positive environment for my husband and myself and stay mostly disengaged. I live in the wasteland of formerly-great Texas, where education and empathy are frowned upon. If anyone needs me, I’ll be around.
I completely understand your position Cynthia… I’m weighing a decision to go abroad or stay. I have another adventure or two in me at 69… it’s time to explore a little. In general America has shattered me.
My slightly younger sister and her husband, weary of guns and ugly rhetoric and our downward spiral, sold their little slice of heaven - a gem of a personal farm in NC - and moved to Italy 18 months ago. She’s brave and ballsy, and although it’s a LOT of work, they’re delighted with their decision. (I’ll maintain my sanity by traveling when I’m not hibernating). I think you should do it!
Oh wow... well, I certainly have been investigating and researching... I have a friend who has offered to go to Portugal with me. I'd definitely want a companion to accompany me.... even if I went for a year to write and do photography... 🤔
Italy offered economic incentives to immigrants (that sounds wrong, somehow!) who agree to buy in certain provinces. Near Florence? No. Abruzzo? Yes. Other countries may offer something similar.
Well, now it may not be safe to emigrate to a NATO country. So where will you go?
Ladies! Sisters! I urge you to RESIST!
Cynthia Neal, I'm with you. I feel the same way.
Susan, It’s hard to visualize a turn around when an illegal candidate who is a psychopath can unleash all of the MAGA world Militia people and give them permission to kill. Yet, corporate Dems can only talk of reaching across the aisle. However, the sliver of hope I hold is that in-fighting among MAGA vs Musk can take their own plan down. Musk wants educated immigrants to be brought in to the US. MAGA wants to block all. Let them destroy each other. Also, there are razor thin majorities in Congress for the fascist Party. But Dems never hold together..only rescumliCons do.
I'm profoundly disgusted. 🤬😞
To not even give a financial penalty for violating the gag orders is spitting in the face of ALL Americans subject to the same corrupt "justice" system.
Merchan is no hero. He's just another variety of coward.
This sentencing is a farce. To not even have to show up physically??!!! WHO ever gets that kind of treatment?
Shame on ALL those who enabled this orange monster for years. Shame on them for allowing this putrid, vile creep to progress with his debauchery and criminal activity for his entire miserable demented life.
America is NO MORE. 😞
He actually wished the son of a bitch God speed.
I'd read that and nearly vomited. In all my years of litigation, I've NEVER witnessed a judge say that to anyone at conviction sentencing. NEVER.
We're living in Alice in Wonderland. 😭
Wishing him Godspeed hasn’t stopped him from screaming lies about Merchan, nor from demanding retribution. Magats still send him and his family death threats, Rethugl9cans in congress are calling for an investigation, etc. It’s going to be overturned on appeal; if your life and career are continuing bro be threatened, why bend over backwards in your own court room. The only quasi good thing about the appeal is the gag order - such as it is - is still in place, I think.
Thank you for expressing my speechless outrage. This confirms what we all know, justice can be bought thank you OJ. Rich with lawyer you get a pass. For the rest you go to jail. Trumps constant dog whistle, side threats to Merchan and his daughter should have been an immediate jailing. What amazes me is the number of lawyers who support this. Delay means more billable hours. Millions of dollars spent and thousands of manhours for nothing. "Legal efficiency" at its worst.
This appears epidemic throughout what is left of our legal system. There is no way Jack Smith should have taken 2 years to ultimately abandon ship. Then have the audacity to say the ship never existed in the first place. The stolen classified documents were an open and shut case, should have been charged within days of the FBI raid. We will never know what Ts intention was with those documents. However, he gets rewarded with the keys to the entire bank vault, controls the codes and boss over those who should protect it.
His intention of taking those documents was to get dirt he could use against people. I'm beginning to believe this exact outcome has been in the making for years, and we've been duped all along. Trump and Co have quietly and intentionally picked legal fights, to then find and gather a cache of loyal accomplices. Their goal: what we're looking at now!
The rich have NEVER gotten along with the poor, they've strangely always been afraid of them. Because the poor made them take a look at their life and feel guilt for their excess - eventually, they overcome the guilt and want to see what it's like to play at being God!
Not sure the very rich ever have a sense of guilt.
Such dangerous times we live in. Many won't survive the next four years on account of trump, those that do will come to the realization that they have lost their country, and their freedom.
America has been here before. In the early 1950's Senator Joseph McCarthy almost drove the US to self-destruction with his "commie on every corner" tirade. It ruined many honest people. He was finally disgraced, but left a trail of destruction. Trump and company may attempt a similar circus. This time half America will see it for what it is and not be as damaging.
The folks that have the most to fear will be those closest to him. Their heads will fall first as he will always need someone to blame. What bothers me more is his lieutenants like Jordan and Comer, using hearings to destroy his enemies. They may go after Liz Cheney, Gen Milley and maybe even Hunter Biden.
You are absolutely right. This entire country is an embarrassment. A criminal king sits at the head of it; our revolution was for nothing.
Sadly true.
A meme is making the rounds today: There are three systems of “justice” in the US—the rich; the poor; especially people of color/black youth and men; and Donald Trump.
I rest my case.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalief_Browder
Since there is no penalty for fraud I'll tell the IRS I have 6 dependents I don't have on my 1040 this year. If caught my defense will be that I thought there were no consequences for fraud as Judge Merchan's sentenced Trump with nothing. Yeah bet that would work huh. Nah, rich man win poor man pay.
Law and order for me, but not for thee.
Gail 🎯
Trump (like the mob bosses he emulates) made it abundantly clear that Judge Merchan’s family was at risk. What choice did the judge have? No one was going to ride to the rescue and even if the judge was willing to risk his own safety, what about his daughter?
It takes a high level of commitment from society to bring down mob bosses, and our society isn’t even close.
If this is true, then he should have resigned.
there is nothing to say...I am through being disgusted, angry, fed-up, outraged and more because the only one who pays the price for those never-resolved feelings is me. I will still speak out, donate, organize, protest, post, same as always - but like jealousy, anger only harms the person holding onto it. And anger at our systems, MAGA voters, the crooked politicians, corrupt corporations - the whole enchilada of 21st century America is futile. If we can take back the House in '26, change the opinion voters have of the Dem party that will be the tiniest of beginnings to overcome the whole r/w p25 billionaire machine. I am no longer confident that is an achievable goal...
These judges who use $$$$ or position of the dependent and cave to pressure from defendents don't belong on the bench.
Well, supposedly in Florida he can't serve on a jury, or own a gun (think that gun emblazoned with his name - that must sting the immature bully!) However, watch for those prohibitions to be lifted by his fangirl. You are right, Earl, it's utterly contemptible capitulation to the threats, up and down the entire judiciary system.