Disobedience at the Capital

@twilitezone911 Said

alex balwin did played jack ryan in " the hunt of red October " and alex plays bozo on Saturday night live. this is a good reference.

@Leon Said

Actually, it was “Crimson Tide”, as I was thinking of the wrong title. Where Denzel Washington’s character felt it necessary to override his Gene Hackman-played superior’s command. I corrected it above.

@chaski Said

While the situation at hand might seem to meet the dictionary definition of "treason", it doesn't meet the legal definition of "treason".

18 U.S. Code § 2381 - Treason: Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.

So, as an example:

A. If a U.S. citizen steals highly classified documents, and gives them to a foreign nation, that might be "treason"... depending on the country. North Korea > Yes; the UK > probably No.

B. If a U.S. citizen steals highly classified documents, and gives them to a U.S. corporation (say the NYT), that would be theft of government property, but would not actually be treason.

So, Anonymous may or may not be guilty of theft of government property AND may or may not have violated other laws and/or regulations regarding "leaking" information about the goings on of the President's office... however, Anonymous most likely did not commit "treason".

Now, no one here has to agree with me on this point, but the case law is pretty well established on this point.

Also, the alleged actions of the people around the President most likely do not meet the legal definition of "treason"... insubordination, theft of government property, etc > Yes.

PS
Our President most likely isn't smart enough to know the difference, but if he is smart enough he is using the word "treason" to get he base excited and angry.

@Leon Said


I was referring to the actions of this anonymous individual in regards to his, and others’, subversion of Trump’s authority on decision making.

@Erimitus Said

Hmmmm... What member of the administration benefit most if that nice President Trump gets impeached. Hmmmm

@chaski Said

Yes, and that is an important distinction from the actual information presented in the op-ed.

And if the facts suggested a real political coup, say for example (just an example) Pence was behind it and ultimately plotting a take over of some sort, they you (Leon) would most likely be correct that "it" points to treason.

@Leon Said

I honestly don’t think Pence is behind this. And I don’t even think the purpose of the op-ed was to overthrow our President.

@mrmhead Said

This shows that Trump does not have the ultimate grip of power over his staff, like Kim Jung-un or Putin probably does.

That probably pisses him off more than anything.

From the Op-Ed
The dilemma — which he does not fully grasp — is that many of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations.

Does it matter Who is "working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations"?

I don't think so.

And if "working diligently" to "frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations" is a punishable offense, then All of the current Democrats, and all of the GOP from the previous administration aught to be thrown in jail! That is all that the members of the house and senate of the opposite party do any more.

Who was it that publicly stated their job was to make the Obama presidency a failure? Why wasn't he prosecuted?