Cohen is not a very nice person. I met him once. Arrogance is written all over his face. Anyone who spent the better part of his life bowing to a disgusting piece of human turd but is he believable? I think so. I expect the Orange Turd to be found guilty. I don’t think there is prison time attached to a guilty verdict but it might be just enough to reach that 16% of doubters to switch to Biden thereby win a contest that by any measure, should not be close. But it is and this is perplexing. I was in the overflow court last week when Stormy stated that she wished “…this orange turd would flush down the toilet.” I guess we are all hoping for the same.
Bill - I too believe he will be found guilty. What I did not appreciate today was Mike Johnson pontificating at the courthouse that the trial was a sham and it was all lies. That was too much. He really shamed the Rule of Law. He is just as dangerous as the former President and we should all take notice this was not appropriate.
That really pissed me off too. He had no business going there and making a spectacle of himself and showing us once and for all which master he really serves! He needs a refresher course on staying in your own lane. It is truly party over country with those people, isn’t it?
I thought the gag order applied to anyone who wanted to comment on the trial. I'm not sure whatever was said was breaking the gag order, but I also think that it would be difficult for the judge to keep up with all that stuff.
It's terrifying that the rule of law could actually be destroyed by players like Mike Johnson and Tommy Tuberville. ( And don't get me started on Ramaswamy). It occurs to me that there is a lot of behind-the-scene manipulation by Trump operatives. In other words, is Trump rounding up these yahoos and telling them they have to publicly support him and threatening to destroy them if they don't? We are at such a dangerous crossroads.
And to believe that Johnson is a lawyer to boot. My most radical evangelical relatives truly believe that "God" is "putting tfg in "place" to effect the return of Jesus on Earth. How crazy is that?
Yes! I think Johnson is so hell-bent on his own causes (mainly anti-abortion) that he'll throw up a little in his mouth and support Trump. And yes, the religious fervor around Trump as "the chosen one" is bizarre, as are all the conspiracies that some people believe.
Tutone, I, too am disgusted by Mike Johnson's performance outside the court. He is supposed to be a lawyer, someone who values the rule of law and participates in seeing that the laws are fairly implemented. It just goes to show what happens when individuals and a political party become overwhelmed by the evil and narcissism of one man and what they will do to forward and protect that man. It is especially shameful that it is the Speaker of our House of Representatives that has stooped so low. I hope that if Johnson sees the playback of his ridiculous rant, he will feel some kind of shame, both as a lawyer and as a Christian, which he claims he is. Cohen has been looking for some kind of "forgiveness" but not Johnson or Trump's other sycophants.
Patricia, oh yes, I know about his mission. He is a bigoted Christian Nationalist (OK, that is redundant). His mind is so closed nothing new enters. He, like so many of his ilk are creating their own branch of Christianity and have decided that everyone who is not rich, white, straight, pseudo-christian, and male, is inferior and should bow and scrape to that minority. There is nothing in the gospels about LGBTQ persons or abortion even though Jesus would have known about both, yet the hateful white evangelicals despise both as though their actions were god's will. I suspect Mike Johnson has some difficulties with his own sexuality, so fights it by condemning everyone he fears, the LGBTQ community and women in particular. I know all human beings are flawed, but how is it we so often put people in power who are excessively flawed? I don't get it.
We humans do a lot of projecting...accusing, being guilty ourselves, of exactly what we are accusing others. I noticed this more than ever lately. This is effective in confusing the vulnerable who end up not knowing what to believe. So base instinct is to stick with your own side for one reason or another. Self examination and honesty seems rarer.
AND - second in line to the Presidency!! That alone should terrify anyone who believes in the right of women to make decisions about their own body. Imagine him as president!
How hypocritical of the Christian Bible thumper Johnson to conveniently ignore the Access Hollywood tape interview with TFG where the nastiest of words came directly out of trump’s mouth!
If we wake up to our collective purpose as a protectorate of the freedoms borne out of the genius of our Constitution, there should be a Democratic House of Representatives come late evening on November 5, 2024, in turn relegating the sniveling Mike Johnson to the back bench from whence he first emerged. From there he will be thought of only by dint of his irrelevance to any historical significance or future relevance. He will take his place amongst a legion of human afterthoughts to progress and other contemptible quislings to which all Trumpian apologists rightfully be associated.
It horrifies me that half of the House of Representatives belongs to this dangerous cult of personality and believes its own bullshit to the point where they're spewing it publicly. What the hell makes Trump so persuasive, and these people so gullible? There are hundreds of people, including Cohen, who have gone to prison for Trump, who is nothing but a phony and a grifter. The power of this psychopath is astounding and incomprehensible.
It is a sad day for the future of America when ideology and personal ambition trumps respect for the rule of law and the justice system that administers that law. But this is how far we've fallen. Speaker Johnson's harangue in front of the courthouse was naked deception and manipulation at its most malignant. And what is particularly insidious about the episode is that, to a large swath of Americans, Johnson assumes the faux legitimacy of a "man of faith," a tragic assumption that has bedeviled humankind over and over throughout history.
To those same sycophantish citizens, both our political system and our legal system are hopelessly corrupt and have lost all legitimacy.
Yes, and it was a weekday, so I guess we the public paid for Mike Johnson's time loitering outside the courthouse! Just despicable and unconscionable on so many levels. I mean this guy is supposed to be in charge of doing "the people's business" in the House, not half the people's business. And, the half he chooses is beyond me and beyond the pale. Enough, I have to stop myself or I'll write for the next 2 hours...
I think Mike Johnson was shoring up support from the MAGA wing of the Republican Party in the House. He needs their support even more now, since he used bilateral support from the Democrats to keep his speakership. Of course Democrats will not forget this! Maybe speaker Johnson sees the handwriting on the wall that suggests he might lose his speakership to Hakeem Jeffries in the fall😎
Considering that NOTHING happens in Trump’s world that Trump doesn’t know about, as the prosecution adeptly pointed out, and considering that it is blatantly obvious that the payoff to Stormy was done to benefit the campaign (and not to prevent Melania’s tears from flowing), as the prosecution adeptly pointed out, and considering the fact that Trump’s own words - regarding the plan and scheming - were captured by a recording (that was played to the jury), as the prosecution adeptly pointed out, if I was a juror, there would be absolutely no doubt, no doubt at all, that Trump is GUILTY of all charges.
Indeed Joel. Are you aware that it was Melania‘s idea according to Michael Cohen‘s notes and proof in emails that the Stormy Daniels response that ‘it is locker room talk’ came from Melania.
Hmm, I doubt that. She does not speak English well. And would she be familiar with a colloquialism like that? I also doubt that she speaks seven languages unless you count knowing the word "money" in all seven.
Joel, I agree that the tape would have been the whipped cream on top of the realization that Trump is 100% guilty. I believe the other Trump sycophants know it too, but are so enamored of the power they have gained by tagging along with Trump and doing his dirty work they just can't break away. Mike Johnson knows it too. Even though he is not the smartest kid in the class, he did complete law school, no mean feat, and knows what crime looks like. He just likes basking in the light of Trumpland and wants his share. If Trump falls, Johnson will be among the first to leave the sinking ship or, he will attempt to forge another dynasty using as much of Trump's criminal network as he can. At this point, it is not clear which he will choose.
Hi Ruth, Mike Johnson is the Golden child of the right wing Christian nationalist evangelicals MAGA: born and raised and tutored by the Falwells, who have the distinction of being known even among evangelicals As being the most racist, misogynist, and bigoted among any of the group. That is Mike Johnson, and he is not benign. He’s never leaving under his own power so long as there is a breath in The right wing Christian nationalist evangelicals who are running the show and who put Trump into the White House. Trump did not arrive on his own brand. He had help from Russia, but he was elected by the evangelicals. Then came Mikey. That was entirely organized and made to look as though “oh gee wow, we just have to have someone to replace Kevin.” Everything Mike Johnson does is calculated and organized by the evangelicals who own him. How do you go zero bank account and about $30,000 net worth to owning property on your own private island? The only good news we have is that Trump has managed to drive the Republican party off the cliff, and there may be enough good conservatives left to pull something together after we defeat, Trump in November. I’m someone who believes in a two-party system and having a conservative opposition. I’ll be glad to see the evangelicals go. And my choice will be that the Ted Cruz faction who have aligned with Trump go to jail for treason. They have crossed the line with their Russia alliance. And they know who they are.
Considering that, in the United States of America, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW, when Trump is found guilty he MUST be sentenced to PRISON, just like any other convicted criminal would be. Under the “we are all equals” doctrine, there should be no special treatment of a convicted criminal just because he or she was formerly President of the United States. “You commit a crime, you do the time, and you do the time in the exact same manner that anyone else would have to.”
Joel, I do agree with you that no one should be above the law, but as we have seen in the past few years, Trump is nearly an entity unto himself. Everyone seems to bend over backward and more to see that he is not held accountable for what he has done, even our Supreme Court, now that they have seen the havoc they can cause on behalf of their own personal interests (the Dobbs case). I do not see a time when trump will be in jail; there will always be excuses why that won't happen. From Trump's entrance onto the real estate scene in NYC, Trump has been a Mafia-type don in training and has used his knowledge of how to manipulate people to great advantage, even winning the White House. Few if any presidents have been less worthy of that office, yet millions still would spend their last cent to get him back in office. I soooo hop I am wrong about Trump and jail, but I fear I am not.
I want that guy in prison as much as I want anything in life, almost. But look how long it has taken to get Bannon in there, and he still isn't. First, he must be convicted, and that isn't a sure thing in this case. If convicted, then he must be ssentenced. I think that the sentence will involve prison. But the verdict is going to be appealed. If the verdict is upheld, it will be appealed again. This is a state case, so I do not know how many rungs of the ladder are involved. But every rung will be utilized if necessary. Could SCOTUS get involved? If so, then his chances to go free are greatly increased. Anyway all these appeals will take alot of time I think. My hope is that eventually he does teh time, but for that to happen, all appeals have to be unsuccessful, and he has to lose this November. And the polls continue to indicate he may win. Unbelieveable, but true so far.
Polls are worthless. Last night Bannon lost his appeal for ignoring his subpoena to Congress. So he’ll go to jail now for four months and that will take him off the streets: he spends six days a week pounding out his false message on his War Room podcast that the election was stolen.
Trump is not an entity unto himself. He is a puppet of the right wing Christian nationalist evangelicals. That is why Mike Johnson (the golden boy of the evangelicals) was in court yesterday.
Valere, you are right that Trump is now a puppet of the Christian Nationalists, but that is rather recent. Before that, he waltzed around New York as something quite different, a guy who believed he was in charge of whatever he surveyed and a whole lot of people agreed with him. He constantly lied about his personal financial worth and he got a lot of people to believe it. It seems with many human beings, whatever a person projects if he is rich enough, will be believed. He was a privileged white male and cared nothing for Christianity or anything else. When he entered politics, he knew he was not up to the task just on his own so he had to buy into something. christianity was easy because so many christians do not live their faith and can be manipulated; their religion of hate of everyone who does not live as they do is a "sinner" and deserves whatever can be done to them. That particularly has been shaped to include the entire LGBTQ community and women of child-bearing age who might want or need an abortion. Women who dress provocatively or who flirt or on and on are also targets. Fancy how rape and coercion of all kinds that men perpetrate are not among the things they are programmed to hate. Trump and his personal hating and insulting and reality TV "hero" status made him a perfect match for Christian Nationalism. He just didn't realize he would become their puppet and maybe, they also became his puppets. I think the puppetry has been mutual. Now that Trump has dementia, it is uncertain who will be pulling the strings. Trump, though has sufficient minions at this point (ala Mike Johnson) that they will take over more and more as he becomes more and more incapable.
Valere: it may result in the Judge sentencing him to strict house arrest in his apartment in NY with Secret Service guards, no tweets, no social or political phone calls and limited visitors for 4 to 6 months which of course would not be served until a year or so from now after two levels of the NY Court of Appeals approve the guilty verdict and the sentence.
I think I could live with this kind of sentence. But would he be free to campaign during the appeals? So the sentencing wouldn’t take affect until after the election. I’m quite sure he will be defeated. And he can roost in solitude. Thank you Ira - for the dose of reality. No Rikers. I’ve never thought that, but I did think a federal complex like Langley close to Walter Reed.
Yes, he could campaign and whine and complain until the Courts of Appeals finally approve the sentence and I agree with your assessment that he will be badly defeated, thank goodness! I believe he will receive less than 60 million votes and Joe will receive more than 80 million as women and younger men will vote in amazing numbers to protect reproductive rights as well as to defeat him forever! Moreover, that majority of votes in blue and purple states (plus even NC, TX, GA, and maybe FL, MO, and Nebraska) will guarantee a significant Dem majority in both the Senate and the House! Let’s make it happen, folks; please contribute tax deductible dollars to brilliant Harvard students who are and will register and turnout hundreds of thousands of younger voters specifically in 78 “competitive” CDs and 14 “competitive” states— www.TurnUp.US. Thank you!
Valerie - what makes you quite sure he will be defeated? Sooner or later we have to start taking polls seriously. I cannot recall well, but prior to Bidens 2020 win, was he not consistently ahead in polls (close but ahead)? I think he was. Not so much now. Looking for comparisons 2020 to 2024.
That seems like a really measly sentence given how much wrong he has done. Maybe I'm hoping that the NY state sentencing takes into account all his federal crimes, making up for the fact that tfg has totally foiled the federal trials.
Susan: Judge Merchan is going to take into account his age and mental state as well as his former position in the sentencing process! What is being suggested by many is that strict house arrest and lack of public communication will be very impactful to this disgraced nutcase!
He will have the regular amount of time to appeal, maybe 30 days and it goes through a couple of levels and so he’s going to have a couple years of appeal. It’s the New York Way and one of Joyce’s substacks outlined the whole app peal process
Valerie, I agree wholeheartedly that he deserves prison time. But, I don’t believe he will ever be imprisoned. Many crooks have been, but I really cannot see it for him. I would expect parole, perhaps community service, and if he loses the election (he must, he must) maybe house arrest . I hope I am just being pessimistic. If he loses in November and is punished for his crimes, that could loosen his appeal to his sycophants.
I have always thought he would be imprisoned and if it’s very secure place like Langley, close to Walter Reed, in case he needs the hospital because he is ex-president, however, now I’m thinking this particular case will be what we would call hand slapping, and he’ll be put in some kind of house confinement in New York, Limited visitors and no outside communication
Most — notice I say most — Judges try the best they can to balance so many things when sentencing a duly convicted defendant, including the seriousness of the crime, the number of counts, a presentence report possibly, reports from other interested parties, the defendant’s own statement of remorse — or not — at sentencing, the defendant’s past history, the prosecution and defense recommendations, the fact that there was a lawful gag order that the defendant violated several times, and yes, the defendant’s general demeanor during trial and other proceedings — gosh, so many things — but the fact that he pissed the judge off so many times and showed his constant disdain for the court in general probably will be one of the least important, if at all, that this judge will consider in sentencing because if it were one of the considerations, that would probably get this case sent back for a new trial with a new judge. I really doubt that Judge (Justice?) Merchan would let that happen because he has been so diligent in taking care that this trial is done right. I could really see him sentence, if one or 34 guilty verdicts are rendered, the defendant to a minimal time on house arrest like Ira Lechner outlined above, and I’d be ecstatic about that. I’m not sure how they handle probation in NY, but for added security of the people, I’d like to see him get several years of probation too, with a probation officer assigned and the requirement to check in regularly with his probation officer!
How can anyone possibly answer this unless they’ve attended the trial every day and seen/heard all the testimony for themselves? Anything else is just wishful thinking.
Tfg’s behavior in court proves the case against him. He has no respect for the law and will lie and cheat to get what he wants. And that’s what this trial is about.
Grace Under Fire: A Fiery Tale of Betrayal
In the land of court and claim,
where truths twist and lies proclaim,
Michael D. Cohen stood, his name
etched in light, stark against the frame
of his once lord, Donald J. Trump,
whose shadow loomed like a looming slump.
This day was more than legal fray—
a broken man's operatic play,
a bid for grace, once lost, now sought,
through the tangle of the truths he wrought.
Cohen, the loyal turned spectral guide,
leading us through betrayal’s tide.
Morning’s Aria
The dawn bore tension, thick and grim,
as Cohen swore the oath on whim.
His words, once sold to the highest bid,
now peeled the layers of the sordid grid.
Each revelation, a sharp, turned knife,
cutting free his former life.
The Defense, a Harsh Refrain
Todd Blanche rose with morning's light,
a clear intent to fight the fight.
He painted Cohen, a man embittered,
a flame of loyalty long since withered.
He probed the past, Cohen’s fall from grace,
seeking vengeance in this legal space.
Counterpoints in Afternoon’s Decline
By afternoon, the air was tight,
Cohen's resolve burning ever bright.
He spoke of silence bought and sold,
of shadowed deeds, bold and cold.
The defense, cunning, sought to fray
the timeline’s thread, Cohen's dismay.
Blanche, sharp as winter’s bone,
questioned gains Cohen’s words had sown.
Was truth his aim, or just new fame?
Cohen’s retort—a quiet claim,
his composure a shield, his armor tight,
against the slings of fortune’s spite.
Evening’s Loom and Strategy’s Weave
As twilight touched the courtroom’s face,
a change was sensed within the place.
The defense, once bold, now uncertain,
behind their whispers, the final curtain.
Cohen's story, firm and stark,
held the room from light till dark.
Epilogue: The Theater of Law
As echoes of the day’s discourse
left minds to wander, hearts to course,
Cohen, from loyal hound to lone nightingale,
sang a tale of loyalty’s frail.
In this courtly stage of human flaws,
he sought redemption, not applause.
The saga of sins, a script still writing,
with the nation as its unblinking sighting.
Each act unfurls with tragic weight,
where personal stakes claim legal fate.
In the dance of deceit and remedial song,
Cohen seeks a place to belong.
Cohen is not a very nice person. I met him once. Arrogance is written all over his face. Anyone who spent the better part of his life bowing to a disgusting piece of human turd but is he believable? I think so. I expect the Orange Turd to be found guilty. I don’t think there is prison time attached to a guilty verdict but it might be just enough to reach that 16% of doubters to switch to Biden thereby win a contest that by any measure, should not be close. But it is and this is perplexing. I was in the overflow court last week when Stormy stated that she wished “…this orange turd would flush down the toilet.” I guess we are all hoping for the same.
Bill - I too believe he will be found guilty. What I did not appreciate today was Mike Johnson pontificating at the courthouse that the trial was a sham and it was all lies. That was too much. He really shamed the Rule of Law. He is just as dangerous as the former President and we should all take notice this was not appropriate.
That really pissed me off too. He had no business going there and making a spectacle of himself and showing us once and for all which master he really serves! He needs a refresher course on staying in your own lane. It is truly party over country with those people, isn’t it?
It really pissed me off too -- so much ass kissing from the GOP. I wonder what their adult children think of this shameful pandering.
They are likely ass-kissers, too. Indeed, there is a new subject being developed titled, “Ass-Kissing for Successful Republican Political Office.”
An idea for my next blog entry: “a new Academic Subject requirement for Republican candidates for office” Soon to be on my billkatz@substack.com (lol)
The little pipsqueak of an elf pissed me off as well. Isn't there some kind of law or rule which he is breaking with his comments?
I thought the gag order applied to anyone who wanted to comment on the trial. I'm not sure whatever was said was breaking the gag order, but I also think that it would be difficult for the judge to keep up with all that stuff.
Rule of Human Decency!?!
The "law of self respect."
Hey, he owed Donnie for his support against Empty Greene's stupid 'motion to vacate'. Quid pro quo, baby. Mikey paid up handsomely, din't he?
I mean, I wasn't surprised by Mikey journey to Manhattan. I knew he
was going to have to pay for trumpy's support, but I still thought the performance was nauseating.
Exactly!
Now excuse me while I go upchuck.
Try Pepto...it's what gets me through the morning news.
It's terrifying that the rule of law could actually be destroyed by players like Mike Johnson and Tommy Tuberville. ( And don't get me started on Ramaswamy). It occurs to me that there is a lot of behind-the-scene manipulation by Trump operatives. In other words, is Trump rounding up these yahoos and telling them they have to publicly support him and threatening to destroy them if they don't? We are at such a dangerous crossroads.
And to believe that Johnson is a lawyer to boot. My most radical evangelical relatives truly believe that "God" is "putting tfg in "place" to effect the return of Jesus on Earth. How crazy is that?
Yes! I think Johnson is so hell-bent on his own causes (mainly anti-abortion) that he'll throw up a little in his mouth and support Trump. And yes, the religious fervor around Trump as "the chosen one" is bizarre, as are all the conspiracies that some people believe.
It's actually Trump over country.
Tutone, I, too am disgusted by Mike Johnson's performance outside the court. He is supposed to be a lawyer, someone who values the rule of law and participates in seeing that the laws are fairly implemented. It just goes to show what happens when individuals and a political party become overwhelmed by the evil and narcissism of one man and what they will do to forward and protect that man. It is especially shameful that it is the Speaker of our House of Representatives that has stooped so low. I hope that if Johnson sees the playback of his ridiculous rant, he will feel some kind of shame, both as a lawyer and as a Christian, which he claims he is. Cohen has been looking for some kind of "forgiveness" but not Johnson or Trump's other sycophants.
What we must not forget is that the entire GOP now is engaged in an insurrection against the constitution and the rule of law.
Don't forget, mike johnson is a "christian" on a mission.
Patricia, oh yes, I know about his mission. He is a bigoted Christian Nationalist (OK, that is redundant). His mind is so closed nothing new enters. He, like so many of his ilk are creating their own branch of Christianity and have decided that everyone who is not rich, white, straight, pseudo-christian, and male, is inferior and should bow and scrape to that minority. There is nothing in the gospels about LGBTQ persons or abortion even though Jesus would have known about both, yet the hateful white evangelicals despise both as though their actions were god's will. I suspect Mike Johnson has some difficulties with his own sexuality, so fights it by condemning everyone he fears, the LGBTQ community and women in particular. I know all human beings are flawed, but how is it we so often put people in power who are excessively flawed? I don't get it.
He does come across as pretty gay. I suppose he fights it hard.
We humans do a lot of projecting...accusing, being guilty ourselves, of exactly what we are accusing others. I noticed this more than ever lately. This is effective in confusing the vulnerable who end up not knowing what to believe. So base instinct is to stick with your own side for one reason or another. Self examination and honesty seems rarer.
Amen, sister!
Moses Mike.........side by side with the Orange Anti-Christ
Moral code? Flushed. What a cesspool the MAGA cult, which Mr. Johnson has fully joined.
AND - second in line to the Presidency!! That alone should terrify anyone who believes in the right of women to make decisions about their own body. Imagine him as president!
hell yes.
How hypocritical of the Christian Bible thumper Johnson to conveniently ignore the Access Hollywood tape interview with TFG where the nastiest of words came directly out of trump’s mouth!
What did Jesus say about sharing your porn habits with your son? Could "Moses Mike" please point out that bible verse???
I agree. I hoped Speaker Johnson had found a modicum of common sense in his work on the security bill, but no…
For republicans, common sense is an uncommon virtue.
And Johnson ,whose life is the Bible ,to stand up for an adulterous monster is beyond the pale of belief 😮
Moses Mike and his son share their library of Stormy Daniels adult entertainment videos.
Couldn’t like this enough times. After a moment of clarity on Ukraine, etc he has to make it up to the trump zombies , so….
Pledges congress will do what they can to stop these persecutions of Trump.
Goes to mal to kiss the golden ass.
Shows up in new york — and claims everyone can see how unjust this is.
Has not committed to support results of election.
Well said and accurate
If we wake up to our collective purpose as a protectorate of the freedoms borne out of the genius of our Constitution, there should be a Democratic House of Representatives come late evening on November 5, 2024, in turn relegating the sniveling Mike Johnson to the back bench from whence he first emerged. From there he will be thought of only by dint of his irrelevance to any historical significance or future relevance. He will take his place amongst a legion of human afterthoughts to progress and other contemptible quislings to which all Trumpian apologists rightfully be associated.
It horrifies me that half of the House of Representatives belongs to this dangerous cult of personality and believes its own bullshit to the point where they're spewing it publicly. What the hell makes Trump so persuasive, and these people so gullible? There are hundreds of people, including Cohen, who have gone to prison for Trump, who is nothing but a phony and a grifter. The power of this psychopath is astounding and incomprehensible.
It is a sad day for the future of America when ideology and personal ambition trumps respect for the rule of law and the justice system that administers that law. But this is how far we've fallen. Speaker Johnson's harangue in front of the courthouse was naked deception and manipulation at its most malignant. And what is particularly insidious about the episode is that, to a large swath of Americans, Johnson assumes the faux legitimacy of a "man of faith," a tragic assumption that has bedeviled humankind over and over throughout history.
To those same sycophantish citizens, both our political system and our legal system are hopelessly corrupt and have lost all legitimacy.
Enter the tyrant.
Yes, and it was a weekday, so I guess we the public paid for Mike Johnson's time loitering outside the courthouse! Just despicable and unconscionable on so many levels. I mean this guy is supposed to be in charge of doing "the people's business" in the House, not half the people's business. And, the half he chooses is beyond me and beyond the pale. Enough, I have to stop myself or I'll write for the next 2 hours...
I think Mike Johnson was shoring up support from the MAGA wing of the Republican Party in the House. He needs their support even more now, since he used bilateral support from the Democrats to keep his speakership. Of course Democrats will not forget this! Maybe speaker Johnson sees the handwriting on the wall that suggests he might lose his speakership to Hakeem Jeffries in the fall😎
This should be investigated as a break of the gag order. I don’t for a minute trump wasn’t consulted!!!
Did "Beetlejuice Bobert" try to give each of the jury a hand job during the cross examination???
There is indeed prison time attached. This is our first opportunity to see him in prison. I believe he’s going.
Considering that NOTHING happens in Trump’s world that Trump doesn’t know about, as the prosecution adeptly pointed out, and considering that it is blatantly obvious that the payoff to Stormy was done to benefit the campaign (and not to prevent Melania’s tears from flowing), as the prosecution adeptly pointed out, and considering the fact that Trump’s own words - regarding the plan and scheming - were captured by a recording (that was played to the jury), as the prosecution adeptly pointed out, if I was a juror, there would be absolutely no doubt, no doubt at all, that Trump is GUILTY of all charges.
Indeed Joel. Are you aware that it was Melania‘s idea according to Michael Cohen‘s notes and proof in emails that the Stormy Daniels response that ‘it is locker room talk’ came from Melania.
I continue to think she's his Russian Handler.
(She may be handled by Putin, but I think Trump is handled by Melania.)
100% Mark. That’s her job. Her marriage is a job.
Once Trump is out of money, Melania will dump him.
I won't say it....
Yes
Hmm, I doubt that. She does not speak English well. And would she be familiar with a colloquialism like that? I also doubt that she speaks seven languages unless you count knowing the word "money" in all seven.
Joel, I agree that the tape would have been the whipped cream on top of the realization that Trump is 100% guilty. I believe the other Trump sycophants know it too, but are so enamored of the power they have gained by tagging along with Trump and doing his dirty work they just can't break away. Mike Johnson knows it too. Even though he is not the smartest kid in the class, he did complete law school, no mean feat, and knows what crime looks like. He just likes basking in the light of Trumpland and wants his share. If Trump falls, Johnson will be among the first to leave the sinking ship or, he will attempt to forge another dynasty using as much of Trump's criminal network as he can. At this point, it is not clear which he will choose.
Hi Ruth, Mike Johnson is the Golden child of the right wing Christian nationalist evangelicals MAGA: born and raised and tutored by the Falwells, who have the distinction of being known even among evangelicals As being the most racist, misogynist, and bigoted among any of the group. That is Mike Johnson, and he is not benign. He’s never leaving under his own power so long as there is a breath in The right wing Christian nationalist evangelicals who are running the show and who put Trump into the White House. Trump did not arrive on his own brand. He had help from Russia, but he was elected by the evangelicals. Then came Mikey. That was entirely organized and made to look as though “oh gee wow, we just have to have someone to replace Kevin.” Everything Mike Johnson does is calculated and organized by the evangelicals who own him. How do you go zero bank account and about $30,000 net worth to owning property on your own private island? The only good news we have is that Trump has managed to drive the Republican party off the cliff, and there may be enough good conservatives left to pull something together after we defeat, Trump in November. I’m someone who believes in a two-party system and having a conservative opposition. I’ll be glad to see the evangelicals go. And my choice will be that the Ted Cruz faction who have aligned with Trump go to jail for treason. They have crossed the line with their Russia alliance. And they know who they are.
Considering that, in the United States of America, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW, when Trump is found guilty he MUST be sentenced to PRISON, just like any other convicted criminal would be. Under the “we are all equals” doctrine, there should be no special treatment of a convicted criminal just because he or she was formerly President of the United States. “You commit a crime, you do the time, and you do the time in the exact same manner that anyone else would have to.”
That's not the "two-tiered justice system" Trump is always carping about, and of which he is the beneficiary.
I don't understand why there is reluctance to apply the law. When I've been arrested, I've received no special treatment, nor should he.
This is an enormous flaw in our system that is being exploited by the republicans..
Joel, I do agree with you that no one should be above the law, but as we have seen in the past few years, Trump is nearly an entity unto himself. Everyone seems to bend over backward and more to see that he is not held accountable for what he has done, even our Supreme Court, now that they have seen the havoc they can cause on behalf of their own personal interests (the Dobbs case). I do not see a time when trump will be in jail; there will always be excuses why that won't happen. From Trump's entrance onto the real estate scene in NYC, Trump has been a Mafia-type don in training and has used his knowledge of how to manipulate people to great advantage, even winning the White House. Few if any presidents have been less worthy of that office, yet millions still would spend their last cent to get him back in office. I soooo hop I am wrong about Trump and jail, but I fear I am not.
I want that guy in prison as much as I want anything in life, almost. But look how long it has taken to get Bannon in there, and he still isn't. First, he must be convicted, and that isn't a sure thing in this case. If convicted, then he must be ssentenced. I think that the sentence will involve prison. But the verdict is going to be appealed. If the verdict is upheld, it will be appealed again. This is a state case, so I do not know how many rungs of the ladder are involved. But every rung will be utilized if necessary. Could SCOTUS get involved? If so, then his chances to go free are greatly increased. Anyway all these appeals will take alot of time I think. My hope is that eventually he does teh time, but for that to happen, all appeals have to be unsuccessful, and he has to lose this November. And the polls continue to indicate he may win. Unbelieveable, but true so far.
Polls are worthless. Last night Bannon lost his appeal for ignoring his subpoena to Congress. So he’ll go to jail now for four months and that will take him off the streets: he spends six days a week pounding out his false message on his War Room podcast that the election was stolen.
Trump is not an entity unto himself. He is a puppet of the right wing Christian nationalist evangelicals. That is why Mike Johnson (the golden boy of the evangelicals) was in court yesterday.
Valere, you are right that Trump is now a puppet of the Christian Nationalists, but that is rather recent. Before that, he waltzed around New York as something quite different, a guy who believed he was in charge of whatever he surveyed and a whole lot of people agreed with him. He constantly lied about his personal financial worth and he got a lot of people to believe it. It seems with many human beings, whatever a person projects if he is rich enough, will be believed. He was a privileged white male and cared nothing for Christianity or anything else. When he entered politics, he knew he was not up to the task just on his own so he had to buy into something. christianity was easy because so many christians do not live their faith and can be manipulated; their religion of hate of everyone who does not live as they do is a "sinner" and deserves whatever can be done to them. That particularly has been shaped to include the entire LGBTQ community and women of child-bearing age who might want or need an abortion. Women who dress provocatively or who flirt or on and on are also targets. Fancy how rape and coercion of all kinds that men perpetrate are not among the things they are programmed to hate. Trump and his personal hating and insulting and reality TV "hero" status made him a perfect match for Christian Nationalism. He just didn't realize he would become their puppet and maybe, they also became his puppets. I think the puppetry has been mutual. Now that Trump has dementia, it is uncertain who will be pulling the strings. Trump, though has sufficient minions at this point (ala Mike Johnson) that they will take over more and more as he becomes more and more incapable.
*…prison time attached
Valere: it may result in the Judge sentencing him to strict house arrest in his apartment in NY with Secret Service guards, no tweets, no social or political phone calls and limited visitors for 4 to 6 months which of course would not be served until a year or so from now after two levels of the NY Court of Appeals approve the guilty verdict and the sentence.
I think I could live with this kind of sentence. But would he be free to campaign during the appeals? So the sentencing wouldn’t take affect until after the election. I’m quite sure he will be defeated. And he can roost in solitude. Thank you Ira - for the dose of reality. No Rikers. I’ve never thought that, but I did think a federal complex like Langley close to Walter Reed.
Yes, he could campaign and whine and complain until the Courts of Appeals finally approve the sentence and I agree with your assessment that he will be badly defeated, thank goodness! I believe he will receive less than 60 million votes and Joe will receive more than 80 million as women and younger men will vote in amazing numbers to protect reproductive rights as well as to defeat him forever! Moreover, that majority of votes in blue and purple states (plus even NC, TX, GA, and maybe FL, MO, and Nebraska) will guarantee a significant Dem majority in both the Senate and the House! Let’s make it happen, folks; please contribute tax deductible dollars to brilliant Harvard students who are and will register and turnout hundreds of thousands of younger voters specifically in 78 “competitive” CDs and 14 “competitive” states— www.TurnUp.US. Thank you!
I just want Trump out of the news cycle. I'm tired of his assaults on my senses.
This is a state prosecution and the feds have nothing to do with it.
Valerie - what makes you quite sure he will be defeated? Sooner or later we have to start taking polls seriously. I cannot recall well, but prior to Bidens 2020 win, was he not consistently ahead in polls (close but ahead)? I think he was. Not so much now. Looking for comparisons 2020 to 2024.
That seems like a really measly sentence given how much wrong he has done. Maybe I'm hoping that the NY state sentencing takes into account all his federal crimes, making up for the fact that tfg has totally foiled the federal trials.
Susan: Judge Merchan is going to take into account his age and mental state as well as his former position in the sentencing process! What is being suggested by many is that strict house arrest and lack of public communication will be very impactful to this disgraced nutcase!
Yes, but the orange turd will do the attacking..
Of course I believe Michael Cohen. He perjured himself at the behest of Trump. The audio tape makes it a slam dunk for the prosecution.
Can he sentence him to time starting on November 3rd?
He will have the regular amount of time to appeal, maybe 30 days and it goes through a couple of levels and so he’s going to have a couple years of appeal. It’s the New York Way and one of Joyce’s substacks outlined the whole app peal process
Grandma Vicki, Attorneys have to answer, but I think the appeal process has to run its course. Ira just wrote that it’s a couple year process.
At least one year I would guess!
I’m with you. Prison.
Out while on appeal.
Valerie, I agree wholeheartedly that he deserves prison time. But, I don’t believe he will ever be imprisoned. Many crooks have been, but I really cannot see it for him. I would expect parole, perhaps community service, and if he loses the election (he must, he must) maybe house arrest . I hope I am just being pessimistic. If he loses in November and is punished for his crimes, that could loosen his appeal to his sycophants.
Can you really see tfg doing community service???
No.
I have always thought he would be imprisoned and if it’s very secure place like Langley, close to Walter Reed, in case he needs the hospital because he is ex-president, however, now I’m thinking this particular case will be what we would call hand slapping, and he’ll be put in some kind of house confinement in New York, Limited visitors and no outside communication
Observers note he has pissed off the judge with his refusal to respect the process of the trial and the rule of law. He'll go to jail.
Most — notice I say most — Judges try the best they can to balance so many things when sentencing a duly convicted defendant, including the seriousness of the crime, the number of counts, a presentence report possibly, reports from other interested parties, the defendant’s own statement of remorse — or not — at sentencing, the defendant’s past history, the prosecution and defense recommendations, the fact that there was a lawful gag order that the defendant violated several times, and yes, the defendant’s general demeanor during trial and other proceedings — gosh, so many things — but the fact that he pissed the judge off so many times and showed his constant disdain for the court in general probably will be one of the least important, if at all, that this judge will consider in sentencing because if it were one of the considerations, that would probably get this case sent back for a new trial with a new judge. I really doubt that Judge (Justice?) Merchan would let that happen because he has been so diligent in taking care that this trial is done right. I could really see him sentence, if one or 34 guilty verdicts are rendered, the defendant to a minimal time on house arrest like Ira Lechner outlined above, and I’d be ecstatic about that. I’m not sure how they handle probation in NY, but for added security of the people, I’d like to see him get several years of probation too, with a probation officer assigned and the requirement to check in regularly with his probation officer!
I want two consecutive 5 year terms, which will "finish him off." He'll die forgotten.
That would be great, TC.
“Close” as in Hillary is a shoe-in! I think the polls are just that: polls in this day and age. Won’t ever take much stock in polls again.
Bill, Johnson is so horrible as a speaker, he was saved by democrats and now he spits on us. Shame on the wolf in wolves clothing.
tRump is GUILTY of so many actions against our democracy and people.
Michael Cohen is the last person in this world that I would ever, not ever think about.
I would vote to convict, based largely on the education i received from Professor Vance in these substack pages. jnh
Yes, but if you were on the jury and not been reading the inestimable Ms. Vance's columns, how would you vote?
"Trial first, then off with his head!"
Guilty
Guilty…. And I’m enjoying the Royal 👸 « off with his head »…
How can anyone possibly answer this unless they’ve attended the trial every day and seen/heard all the testimony for themselves? Anything else is just wishful thinking.
Tfg’s behavior in court proves the case against him. He has no respect for the law and will lie and cheat to get what he wants. And that’s what this trial is about.
Everyone on the jury has been asked to not read or watch anything about T
No way in Hell that could force me to be on Trump's jury and have to look at his ugly hateful face for days.
I would vote to convict. Anyone in their right mind would.
Guilty