Wednesday, July 27, 2016

How is this not treason?

Just when you thought Donald Trump couldn't possibly get any more outrageous, he comes up with this:
“Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing. I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press,” Trump said during a news conference at his South Florida resort on Wednesday. 
“They probably have them. I’d like to have them released. It gives me no pause, if they have them, they have them,” Trump added later when asked if his comments were inappropriate. “If Russia or China or any other country has those emails, I mean, to be honest with you, I’d love to see them.”
Think about that for a moment.  Here is a major party candidate for President of the United States urging a foreign government to violate U.S. law in order to damage a political opponent.

I have long since run out of superlatives to describe Trump, but if this isn't crossing the line I don't know what is.  Trump has previously observed that he could probably "shoot somebody and ... not lose any votes."  Do we really have to see blood in the streets before we wake up?  Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to American democracy.  With his finger on the nuclear button, his totally un-nuanced vindictiveness would be a clear and present danger to civilization.  He must not be allowed to win this election.

Republicans, I'm looking at you.  If Trump wins, you won't be able to tell your grandchildren that you didn't know how bad he was or how far he would go.  Trump doesn't even try to dissemble.  He wears his ignorance, his bigotry, and now his contempt for the rule of law on his sleeve with pride.  He thinks they're features!  For the love of all that is holy, don't vote for him in November.  The status quo, bad as it is, is still better than what Trump is selling.

2 comments:

Publius said...

You don't conduct espionage at a press conference. That was satire.

Bribes, blackmail, and espionage are done face-to-face, in person. Like when Sen. Edward Kennedy sent John Tunney to Moscow to offer General Secretary Andropov certain favors in return for the Soviet Union helping to defeat President Ronald Reagan in the 1984 election. Or when Bill Clinton met with Loretta Lynch for bribery and blackmail.

Ron said...

He insisted he was serious at the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CCg_bzSrUA

But even if it was satire, then he should be auditioning for Saturday Night Live, not running for president. When you're president, offhand satire can start wars.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_begin_bombing_in_five_minutes

"the Soviet Far East Army was placed on alert after word of the statement got out and that the alert was not withdrawn until 30 minutes later"