Trump is doing what 'predators' do -- 'he's grooming his victims': former federal prosecutor

[CousinIT]

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/02/trump-is-doing-what-predators-do-hes-grooming-his-victims-former-federal-prosecutor/

During a panel discussion on MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell this Tuesday night, former federal prosecutor Barbara McQuade argued that President Trump’s latest round of pardons and commutations is designed to normalize the notion that “corruption is not a big deal.”

According to host Lawrence O’Donnell, none of Trump’s action make sense now unless it is somehow related to the trial and sentencing of his longtime confidant Roger Stone.

“If Roger Stone is not willing to do a single night in prison, never mind all the way to [the November election], then Donald Trump may be facing a pardon demand, in effect, from Roger Stone right now,” O’Donnell said.

“I think President Trump is doing what predators do, and that is grooming his victims,” McQuade replied. “He is desensitizing the public to this idea that corruption is not a big deal, and so by pardoning people like Rod Blagojevich and others who were engaged in corrupt activity … he is saying to the world, ‘These aren’t serious crimes, nobody got hurt, they weren’t violent, and so similarly when Roger Stone’s name is the next one to come up for a pardon, he just gets groups into that whole category of people who haven’t done anything all that bad.”

[lame54]

1. I think he just watched The Dirty Dozen

[Midnight Writer]

2. She is right. He is brazenly violating all norms and saying the Citizens have no power over him.

Get used to it, because the GOP has voted that he has the right to run rampant with no restraints.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. What do you mean no one got hurt?

I don't know about Blagoveich, but suffering a huge loss in confidence in our criminal justice system and government is a lesson of a lifetime.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. You got that right. . . . nt

[BBG]

8. Bug vs Feature

What we (law-abiding folks) find objectionable is part and parcel of the intention of the pardon/clemency actions. Debasing the system ahead of its (with apologies to other its) day of reckoning is a goal.

[Cosmocat]

12. She isn't saying that she sees no harm in it

it just is the flakes he gins up to provide him the backing to do the shit he does think at this knuckle dragging level.

It is strategic to put them into the mindset of defending this (as they will with everything else) and move the line that can be crossed just far enough that he can start to pardon the people who have done the dirt for him over the last few years.

[duforsure]

4. He's normalizing his crimes one at a time.

Sometimes he accuses his opponents of what he's doing or has done. Soon he'll be accusing Bernie or another of financial crimes or money laundering because he knows he'll get exposed.

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. he's a fucking asshole ignoramus that for some reason hasn't

had the shit kicked out of him during his long, slovenly fetid life.

[jalan48]

6. +1

[SammyWinstonJack]

9. Just more of the maggot's 'in your face' ego trip. Showing off.

[TNNurse]

10. Who came up with list for yesterday?

You know Trump did not do it on his own. His memory is not that good. Was it Barr? Was it Miller? (maybe his last act before his honeymoon?) Who else is that despicable? Please do not list them all, there is not enough room online for all his horrible supporters.

[abqtommy]

11. If this "grooming" is a thing then it's not working. tRUMP has been impeached and the majority

of people in this country want him long gone...

[cilla4progress]

13. He's also setting loose a whole corruption team

into the public to do his bidding.

This country is in a shithole like we've never experienced.

[barbtries]

14. he's grooming the country.

we are collectively abused by trump, his republican sycophants, and his cult.

we are sick.

[not fooled]

15. It's a twofer

Set the stage for stone's pardon, and attempt to desensitize the public to white collar crime.

[Initech]

16. And he's letting his criminal buddies off the hook.

Really this is like Bane in the Dark Knight Rises - he's declared himself judge, jury, and executioner.