This is a great day for Conservatism, the rule of law is upheld.

  • BobaFuttbuckerOP
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    27 days ago

    Wild that the constitution disqualifies people with “high crimes or misdemeanors” but not felonies.

    • djsoren19@yiffit.net
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      27 days ago

      Not really? Think about how dangerous it would be if all you had to do to disqualify your political opponents was parade them through a kangaroo court and send them to jail? That’s basically what Russia is.

      At the end of the day, the American people should have final say in choosing their leader. Of course, this comes with the caveat that an electorate has to be willing to participate, and be able to tell when someone isn’t fit for presidency. It also comes with the asterisk that you can’t run for president after committing treason, or like an act of terrorism, but I think everyone is kinda in agreement on that.

      • BobaFuttbuckerOP
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        9
        ·
        edit-2
        27 days ago

        Complete immunity is how you get a king, not a President.

        The risk of a kangaroo court is why the system consists of a trial by jury of one’s peers, along with an appeals process.

        The risk of an actual kangaroo court sending an innocent political rival to prison is therefore, a non-issue.

      • Neuromancer@lemm.eeM
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        27 days ago

        When this topic arose, I thought a felony would preclude you from office. I was a bit surprised it does not.

        I agree with your assessment as to why it shouldn’t, but I still found it a tad surprising.

        • BobaFuttbuckerOP
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          27 days ago

          It’s because it should, ethically.

          It makes no sense that you could be restricted from holding office because of one minor crime but not from a worse one.

          • Neuromancer@lemm.eeM
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            5
            ·
            27 days ago

            A minor crime doesn’t preclude you either. I believe you are talking about impeachment which is a different topic entirely. Impeachment is a political process and has nothing to do with criminal law.

              • Neuromancer@lemm.eeM
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                1
                ·
                27 days ago

                I have no clue what you are referencing since that isn’t a requirement to be elected for president. High crimes and misdemeanors is about impeachment.

                • BobaFuttbuckerOP
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  2
                  ·
                  edit-2
                  27 days ago

                  I understand it’s not laid out in the Constitution as an eligibility requirement that Presidents not be criminals, but the only reason a President can be impeached for them is because a criminal president is a short step from a tyrant.

                  While it doesn’t prevent them from running for President, the framers clearly understood that we cannot tolerate having a criminal as President.

                  • Neuromancer@lemm.eeM
                    link
                    fedilink
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    ·
                    27 days ago

                    I’m not sure you understand impeachment. It is a political process that has nothing to do with criminal charges. I am not sure the point you are trying to make because you seem to be conflating unrelated things.

    • Throwaway@lemm.eeM
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      27 days ago

      Imo, what should be done is no crime can disqualify you from office. That would prevent any corrupt judge from convicting candidates for political reasons.

        • Throwaway@lemm.eeM
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          27 days ago

          What would you rather have, King George or Putin? Two awful sides of the same coin imo.

          • BobaFuttbuckerOP
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            4
            ·
            edit-2
            27 days ago

            Neither, but thanks to trial by jury of our peers and the ability to appeal we don’t have to settle for one or the other.

            Elected representatives should have to answer to the same laws and face the same consequences they impose upon us.