Methinks Judge Carter gives TFG far too much credit for thought and insight. Making a case that TFG "knew" what he was urging is a very heavy lift. Most of what comes out of that small mouth is random BS lacking much coherence. If what comes out of the mouth is indicative of what goes on in the head, then it isn't likely that TFG coul…
Methinks Judge Carter gives TFG far too much credit for thought and insight. Making a case that TFG "knew" what he was urging is a very heavy lift. Most of what comes out of that small mouth is random BS lacking much coherence. If what comes out of the mouth is indicative of what goes on in the head, then it isn't likely that TFG could "know" whether his desired actions & outcomes are illegal or not. And that's the problem for DoJ in bringing charges. Even if TFG was advised that something he wanted wasn't kosher, would that even register in his mind? He assumed that the presidency was omnipotent, though it's really not. Proving illegal acts is easy. Proving intent is likely impossible in this case, especially given all the witnesses who "can't remember".
As Bolton said, and as I've long thought: With Trump, you never know if he believes what he says or it just serves his purposes to say it. IMO, he doesn't really draw a categorical distinction between what's true and what's good for himself. He often betrays a deeply self-centered view of right and wrong, and I suspect the same holds for true and false, in some measure.
He has, of course, spoken about the strategic value of repeating a fiction until people believe it. I think he might do the same thing withing himself: his narcissistic craving persuades him that the self-flattering take on everything is true. Or sometimes he might simply think that the difference between true and false is irrelevant. When he says something like "Nobody reads the Bible more than me," surely he must be aware that he doesn't really read the Bible at all. But in his warped psyche it doesn't matter whether his pronouncements are supported by fact -- only that he thinks they'll serve his desires.
Methinks Judge Carter gives TFG far too much credit for thought and insight. Making a case that TFG "knew" what he was urging is a very heavy lift. Most of what comes out of that small mouth is random BS lacking much coherence. If what comes out of the mouth is indicative of what goes on in the head, then it isn't likely that TFG could "know" whether his desired actions & outcomes are illegal or not. And that's the problem for DoJ in bringing charges. Even if TFG was advised that something he wanted wasn't kosher, would that even register in his mind? He assumed that the presidency was omnipotent, though it's really not. Proving illegal acts is easy. Proving intent is likely impossible in this case, especially given all the witnesses who "can't remember".
As Bolton said, and as I've long thought: With Trump, you never know if he believes what he says or it just serves his purposes to say it. IMO, he doesn't really draw a categorical distinction between what's true and what's good for himself. He often betrays a deeply self-centered view of right and wrong, and I suspect the same holds for true and false, in some measure.
He has, of course, spoken about the strategic value of repeating a fiction until people believe it. I think he might do the same thing withing himself: his narcissistic craving persuades him that the self-flattering take on everything is true. Or sometimes he might simply think that the difference between true and false is irrelevant. When he says something like "Nobody reads the Bible more than me," surely he must be aware that he doesn't really read the Bible at all. But in his warped psyche it doesn't matter whether his pronouncements are supported by fact -- only that he thinks they'll serve his desires.
Fortunately it's the reasonable person standard. The fact that Trump doesn't reach that standard in his own thinking is irrelevant.
Well, Judge Carter put that point to rest in his ruling. DJT has criminal liability.