President Trump Thinks He Is a King

[Uncle Joe]

The president believes he is above the law. That’s the takeaway from the confidential 20-page memo sent by President Trump’s lawyers to the special counsel, Robert Mueller, published over the weekend by The Times. And it’s the same sentiment that Rudy Giuliani expressed on Sunday when he suggested that Mr. Trump has the power to pardon himself.

The central claim of the legal memorandum is that it is impossible for the president to illegally obstruct any aspect of the investigation into Russia’s election meddling. That’s because, as president, Mr. Trump has the constitutional power to terminate the inquiry or pardon his way out of it. Therefore — and this is the key and indefensible point — he cannot obstruct justice by exercising this authority “no matter his motivation.”

This understanding of presidential power is radical and absolutist. It is also unsound and almost certain to be sharply rejected should it ever be proffered in court.

Even granting the contention that Mr. Trump could simply terminate the investigation, it is a non sequitur to argue, as the president’s lawyers do, that as a consequence he cannot obstruct it. Imagine, for example, that the worst version of facts proves true: that Trump fired the F.B.I. director, James Comey, tried to fire Mr. Mueller, constructed a false account of the June 2016 Russia meeting, and tried to force Attorney General Jeff Sessions to reverse his recusal decision that was driven by Justice Department policy, all to protect his own skin and his family’s fortune.

(snip)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/03/opinion/mueller-trump-executive-power.html

This is a good article.

[Gothmog]

1. From Prof. Tribe

Link to tweet

[Uncle Joe]

3. To say that's an extreme position is an understatement.

I'm wondering if they're just doing this to make an "intent" argument as a fall back position sound more reasonable to the less informed public should it get to court?

A "if we can't have the fire to burn the Constitution at least give the frying pan" argument; sounds Rovian to me.

[Judi Lynn]

2. This is a great article, and from a seasoned source who actually knows what he's talking about.

Why can't they darken the windows in the Presidential Limousine, for crying out loud? No reason to ruin everyone's day unlucky enough to see the limousine.

That nasty face is in all our faces far too much, every ####ed day. Who wants to see that catastrophe leering out at him/her?

. . .

Oh, yeah! I just realized seeing Trump's "face" is always a good reminder to everyone to remember to vote this year, and in 2 years.

Thanks, Uncle Joe.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Thank you Judi Lynn and I agree in regards to the source

[MojoWrkn]

5. HAH! He's not even a Prince

(of a fellow)!

[freethought]

6. The Founding fathers aren't rolling over in their graves

They are spinning like jet turbines. I can't believe I am actually alive seeing this.

[Pauldg47]

9. They might be laughing their asses off.

[madinmaryland]

10. Probably more list this...

Ok. Who was the wiseass that let king George III get reincarnated as trump? At least we have some new words like dotard and orange faced shitgibbon.

[Hortensis]

7. He THOUGHT he was close to, now wishes,

and being him no doubt still hopes he'll somehow break out of the trap he's in and start arresting journalists.

I love Giuliani's public contention that Trump is so far beyond the law that he could have shot Comey and not be prosecuted, only impeached. And set free. Succinctly stating the case against their case for the whole nation to understand.

[Uncle Joe]

8. I agree Hortensis, Giuliani and Trump have been most adept at exposing the Republican Party

for what it is, not by their criminal insanity statements but by the crickets coming from the Republican "leaders."