No one who still identifies as a Republican should be considered "innocent until

[Atticus]

proven guilty" any longer.

Their decision to stand with the cowards, criminals and crazies now ruling the GOP convicts them of aiding and abetting that cult of thugs.

Silence is complicity.

[Moostache]

1. Silence?

They are goddamn CHEERLEADING!!!!
Silence would actually be walking back their current position.

[Atticus]

3. Some are doing their damnedest to avoid any comment at all, hoping this will excuse them.

It does not.

[Moostache]

6. Agreed...I feel anyone NOT condemning Trump and his fans and their comments is a treasonous bastard.

Naked aggression by a foreign power with the intent to conquer and subjugate another people is not a gray area at all. Then again, I was also pretty sure that condemning Nazis and white supremism was equally no-brainer.

This is a sad world we live in now.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

2. It so refreshing to see the Left abandon the country's founding principles

When it concerns Republicans...

[Atticus]

5. ??? nt

[AZSkiffyGeek]

8. if you don't understand what's wrong with your statement, there's nothing I can do nt

[Atticus]

9. I was afraid that might be your attitude, but hoped I was wrong. I guess I am a hopeless case

because I don't think there's anything wrong with my post.

Your refusal to state what YOU think is wrong seems very convenient.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

10. I stand with the Constitution

Which you apparently don't.

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. What has the constitution got to do with this?

It doesn't rule how people think.

[Atticus]

17. Can you possibly believe that, by putting "innocent until proven guilty" in quotes, I meant

that I would LITERALLY deny them that presumption IN A COURT OF LAW?

It was intended---obviously, I believe---as a metaphor---i.e., by supporting Trump and his cult, they SHARE THEIR GUILT.

If that was not understood and offended, I apologize.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

20. Okay...

[Atticus]

21. Thank you. nt

[Biophilic]

22. Oh, good, F'ing grief. You obviously don't stand with the Constitution with this attitude. nt

[AZSkiffyGeek]

23. Okay...

[dpibel]

18. Is there a trial going on?

A jury somewhere is hearing evidence against Republicans?

I'm not aware of that.

And that's the only place where the constitutional presumption of innocence applies.

Not in the court of public opinion.

Not in the media.

Certainly not in internet discussions.

Other than that, however, your legal analysis is spot on.

[viva la]

4. I have some empathy for people like Michael Steele,

who say, "This is my party. I'm going to help it become sane again."

But obviously they can't help it become sane.
I don't want them to start another party (will just siphon potential Dem votes), but the GOP has become a treason party.

The Republican party started in opposition to the old Democrats, especially the southerners, who literally were a treason party.

Lincoln's party would never recognize this pus-hole of thieves and traitors.

[Bonx]

7. And require them to wear badges!

Wait, what?

[AZSkiffyGeek]

11. II've seen suggestions in the past few days to throw Republicans in Internment Camps

So I'm not THAT surprised...

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. Yes, what?

What does your post mean?

[FreepFryer]

12. LOL. Come on now. (Nt)

[brooklynite]

13. Our criminal justice system isn't based on:

"Guilty because we know they are".

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Lucky the OP is not about the criminal justice system, then

Jeez, I wish people would read OPs before responding so negatively.

[Zeitghost]

25. Innocent until proven guilty is and always has been

A specific reference to the justice system. People have always been able to come to their own opinions, it is only the courts that are held to a higher standard before casting judgement. I'm not sure how anyone could interpret the OP any other way.

[muriel_volestrangler]

27. The use of "that cult of thugs" is and always has been a sign that it's not about criminal justice

because no jurisdiction has a charge of "aiding and abetting a cult of thugs".

It's as if you stopped reading the moment you saw "innocent until proven guilty".

[Atticus]

29. Thank you. nt

[Atticus]

19. Some may have the excuse of ignorance for such a post. You do not. nt

[brooklynite]

24. If we're not talking about criminal justice, what's the point?

No one who still identifies as a Republican should be considered "innocent until proven guilty" any longer.

Okay, I don't consider them innocent. Now what?

(nb: I don't accept the underlying premise in the first place. This November, the same people in Vermont who elected Bernie Sanders will be re-electing Republican Governor Phil Scott. If Maryland Governor Larry Hogan wasn't term-limited, he'd likely be re-elected with ease. All Republicans aren't cookie-cutter Trumpists.)

[Atticus]

26. So, you genuinely believed that "aiding and abetting a cult of thugs" was an ACTUAL crime to be

addressed by "criminal justice"?

You can check "be disingenuous" off your list.

BTW, the "underlying premise" you reject was never mine, but I doubt that makes any difference to you.

[brooklynite]

28. Still don't know why you want a collective "they're guilty" rant.

What will that achieve?