NO one here should be okay with this sentencing

[SHRED]

I'm finding many who are.

Mind numbing.

[walkingman]

1. I don't think anyone here or elsewhere is "okay" with the Manafort sentencing but

we have to face the facts. People with influence are treated differently than average Americans. Not anything new. It's been that way forever. All of this "tough on crime" talk is bullshit. Steal a loaf of bread, sell some weed and you will be disgraced. Steal billions, or cause hundreds of thousand of people to lose their jobs and houses and nothing is done. Welcome to the "Home of the Free and Brave". Oh, I forgot.....Support the Troops!

[Farmer-Rick]

29. The selling off of justice to the rich.

You can have justice if you pay enough for it. The poor can't afford to buy it. Only the rich get justice in a capitalist system where Everything is up for sale.

[Amishman]

38. I would say we don't have enough information to evaluate the sentence

The sentence should reflect his cooperation and value towards the overall Trump investigation. We don't know the details of that investigation and how much they accomplished based in Manafort's information

Give me the Mueller report and then I'll decide if Manafort deserved an easy sentence

[Princess Turandot]

40. I guess you haven't followed these cases. The crimes he was just sentenced for in Virginia federal..

court were not related to the Russian investigation per se. These were his crimes that the SP's team discovered in the course of their overall investigation. It did not involve any type of cooperation arrangement.

It was only after Manafort was convicted on the Virginia charges that he offered to cooperate with the SP in the Russian case. He then entered into a plea agreement with Mueller, for lying to them during the Russia investigation.

However, the judge in DC federal court who is overseeing the Russia case determined last month that Manafort had breached the terms of his deal with Mueller. He lied in his grand jury testimony, testimony that he gave in exchange for a recommendation of leniency from the special counsel. As a result, he will not receive credit for 'cooperation', since it did not exist.

[Amishman]

42. Thanks, that asshole is in so much legal trouble it's hard to keep straight

I did mix up the cases

[Chin music]

2. There's always going to be those folks.

Then there's...the rest of us.
Get mad, get pissed, or get the hell out of the way bc I'm not going to just sit still for this and nobody else should either. This is a grave injustice to this country. NOT OK. But he's just one man. Make your plans. Something tells me that by tomorrow night...there will be marches.

[Kaleva]

4. Are you going to engage in civil disobedience in protest of this sentencing?

What are your plans?

[Chin music]

5. To put my boots on and join the marches...every one I can. SELMA style.

Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. We've become complacent. I never break laws. Just an fyi...but I sure can get pissed. You should too.

[Kaleva]

9. When and where is the protest march happening?

[Chin music]

12. We'll see by tomorrow I guess. It's a head, not a crystal ball.

This conversation is politely over.

[Kaleva]

15. Rhetoric ought to match actions taken

Otherwise it's just talk.

Over the years, I've read numerous posts saying how outraged and angry the poster is over something but then they do nothing.

Few are willing to put their lifestyle and freedom at risk even if they say the nation is being taken over by fascists and criminals and our rights are being taken away from us.

[MrGrieves]

30. Attacking people for being on the sideline

Attacking people for being on the sideline... while sitting on the sideline is lame.

Some prople may not be organizers or initiators. But they may gove those that might be the confidence in knowing that others will follow them.

[Lucid Dreamer]

36. I don't ever use the phrase "justice system"

I used to replace those words with "legal system" but sometimes that seems to complimentary.

I think I'll back off to "court system" as a close-to-neutral description.

And, Chin. I'm not criticizing your use. These are just my thoughts.

[Chin music]

37. Yes.

[Kaleva]

3. I'm fine with it.

Might be more accurate to say that I accept it.

I'm not going to lose my cool over something completely out of my control.

[Chin music]

11. NP. But don't try to comb out the tangles of the rest of us.

This sentence is atrocious after the mockery this man has made of our justice system. The same justice system that will lock YOU up and throw away the key were you in the same place.
March while you can bc the only marching in a prison camp is to the mess hall and the toilet. March now if you have a gumption, but, nobody says you have to be mad. Some people are fine losing their rights........one raindrop at a time. I'm not.

[VOX]

17. How can you accept the unacceptable?

I understand not setting one’s hair on fire during these weird times, in order to better pace oneself by choosing the right battles, but if we all adopted the “nothing we can do, it’s out of our control” approach, we might as well sit back, toke up, and enjoy the sunset while the new barbarians destroy everything in sight. And there are too many weaker, vulnerable, innocent people who are literally sick and dying due to America’s embrace of fascism. They have no voice whatsoever in this waking nightmare.

Brings to mind the the heartbreaking lyrics of Dylan’s “What Good Am I?”:

What good am I if I’m like all the rest
If I just turn away, when I see how you’re dressed
If I shut myself off so I can’t hear you cry
What good am I?

What good am I if I know and don’t do
If I see and don’t say, if I look right through you
If I turn a deaf ear to the thunderin’ sky
What good am I?

What good am I while you softly weep
And I hear in my head what you say in your sleep
And I freeze in the moment like the rest who don’t
try
What good am I?

What good am I then to others and me
If I’ve had every chance and yet still fail to see
If my hands are tied must I not wonder within
Who tied them and why and where must I have
been?

What good am I if I say foolish things
And I laugh in the face of what sorrow brings
And I just turn my back while you silently die
What good am I?

[Kaleva]

19. We really don't have a choice. It's a done deal.

[VOX]

20. Yes, that is true. One can say the same about the Trump presidency.

It’s a done deal. And we have no choice. Until November 2020, assuming there will still be a choice by then.

Please understand, I’m not trying to give you a hard time here...I’m actually speaking more rhetorically. A little barking at the moon relieves the stress a bit.

[Kaleva]

22. I don't take your comments as trying to give me a hard time.

Your comment:

"A little barking at the moon relieves the stress a bit. "

Very true and I ought to let others howl away. I'll leave this thread and others like it in peace so members that need to reduce the stress they feel can vent as loud and as often as they need to.

[VOX]

26. You are wise to hover above it.

I try, and sometimes succeed, but more often than not, I find myself venting as a pressure-relief valve.

Thanks for understanding, friend.

[athena]

31. I wish I could be as rational.

Things I don't have control over seem much more upsetting than things I do have control over, since, by definition, I'm able to fix the latter.

[TwilightZone]

6. There's a difference between "okay with" and understanding it.

It shouldn't be a surprise; the judge telegraphed this from day one.

I doubt that next week will go so well for Manafort.

[Texasgal]

27. Good point.

There is a difference.

Do most of us believe in it? NO... But we GET it. And we are not amused.

[Nevermypresident]

7. I'm certainly not ok with it. One of the many changes I would like to see Democrats take on is no

more lifetime appts for judges (including Supreme Court justices).

Also, is there a remedy for a senile/incompetent judges being removed from the bench?!? (Some are saying that Ellis is somewhat senile and goes light on white collar crime - I have no idea what is true or not)

But, I know something is fishy, i.e. he's lead a "blameless life"???!

[customerserviceguy]

8. What difference does it make

whether it was 47 months or 47 years? Trump will either pardon him or commute his sentence to time served. Manafort didn't give up any real information on Trump, so he will walk away from this. Cohen, on the other hand, will end up serving his full sentence, unless the next Democratic President takes pity on him.

[Ligyron]

23. If that Criminal pardons even one of his fellow criminals...

Congress will either take appropriate measures to remove him or we no longer have a legitimate government

with all that implies.

[ancianita]

10. No way in hell did That sentence fit the crime.

I look forward to non-leniency from Judge Berman Jackson.

[jimlup]

13. That was a MAGA Judge...

[dustyscamp]

25. One of Many

[Joe941]

35. No such thing according to scotus Roberts...

Didn't Robert's rebuke tRump for saying there are dem judges an gop judges. Not sure we want to use tRumps line on this one...

[PJMcK]

14. What sentence would you have imposed?

I'm one of those you think is "okay" with the sentencing of Manafort.

To be clear, I'm not. I expected the sentence to be about double that imposed.

Nonetheless, I recognize a few facts that you seem to be tossing aside.

First, Manafort will be 70 in a few weeks. Four years of solitary confinement will not be a picnic for him. Anyone who thinks he's going to a country club prison is profoundly mistaken. If Judge Berman Jackson imposes additional time onto Manafort's term of incarceration, he will be in his 80s when he's released and won't have any life left.

Second, Manafort-- and his lawyers-- chose to split his cases between the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Columbia jurisdictions. As it turned out, this was a foolish strategy as Manafort ended up facing two judges who weren't going to toss his case out of court. In spite of the relatively light sentence Judge Ellis imposed, Manafort's going to spend some serious time in the can. I'm curious: How would you feel about spending the next four years in jail?

Lastly, I'm reluctantly accepting of the inequality of our justice system. I can only influence it with my votes and I'm sorry that's the best I can ultimately do. However, the criminal named Manafort was caught, prosecuted and sentenced and he's going to jail. I'm content with that.

There's one more detail: Manafort probably told Robert Mueller's investigators some important details at some time during the 50 hours he was interviewed. Let's see what happens next.

[KPN]

34. How have our votes been doing thus far in this regard? People HAVE voted .... a fucking majority

of people who were ultimately frustrated by an unfair and inequitable system. Frustration can only be pent up for so long. Let people vent.

[SHRED]

18. LOL...nope

A Reagan appointed hack judge handing out a light sentence may be okay for some. Not with me.

[wiggs]

21. Why would a judge mark himself with the sign of the Trump? It appears to be so far outside

a reasonable ruling/sentence as to draw attention to his motives. He will forever carry this stink. Maybe he doesn't care, but other judges, attorneys, friends, family probably do.

[VOX]

24. I'm so NOT OKAY with any of this shit, starting in November, 2016...

Right through to today. I’m watching our democratic republic morph into a fascist dictatorship, a transformation that Republicans have warmed up to. They like the idea of permanent one-party rule, making/bending/breaking the laws to fit their needs, etc.

The billionaires are being fattened, while POC are executed on the spot with no judge or jury. Our chief executive has a whopping man-crush on a KGB-trained despot who’s playing him for a chump. America has abandoned and insulted its traditional allies, while the madman-who-thinks-he’s-in-charge calls himself a “stable genius.”

Our “president” is killing this country. And Republicans are applauding.

[Takket]

28. I'm not okay, but not worried either

Manafuck has another sentencing next week and it sounds like it will NOT be concurrent with this one. He will die in prison.

[KPN]

32. Level heads are for level times. These are not. With you 100%.

[ismnotwasm]

33. Not ok with it, but not surprised either

I’m fairly cynical, and so rarely disappointed.

The only way out of this mess is to vote. Assholes like Manafort have gotten away with shit forever. I’m kinda glad he got thrown under the bus though, and am hoping like hell he gets more time at his next sentencing

[pressbox69]

39. You know what they say

"Bad things happen to good people." Well maybe some bad things will soon be happening to bad people. Some very bad things to some very bad people.

[Iggo]

41. I'm not okay with it.

But I'm past it.

[akraven]

43. You won't get an okay from me.

He should have to serve the max. Period. If we don't teach these hustlers, cheaters, liars and frauds right off, they'll do it again.