Why does it feel like Trump is on the verge of fleeing the country?

[jmowreader]

Presidents don't issue as many pardons as Trump just did in the middle of their terms. They just don't. They wait until the end of their terms and pardon a bunch of people just before Christmas.

I have a not-very-slight suspicion that Trump is going to issue one more batch of pardons that'll contain Roger Stone and everyone else he still likes, and then he'll resign and flee to Russia before his legal problems catch up to him.

[redstatebluegirl]

1. It is a power trip, he is unhinged after being let off the hook by the Senate.

[Arkansas Granny]

17. And he's rubbing our noses in it.

[live love laugh]

21. Yep what you said 💯

[ooky]

36. Yep. At this stage if you happen to see him on 5th Avenue,

run. He just might try shoot you.

[Volaris]

37. He'd just shoot you in the back.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I wish.

[cwydro]

3. No way in hell.

He’s having the time of his life.

And no way he’d go to Russia.

[at140]

27. Yap, just look at the real-estate he owns

They are more swanky than anything Bloomberg owns or uses.

So your comment is quite right.

[cwydro]

40. Not sure what you mean.

I was replying to the OP’s thought of the dotard fleeing the country.

Nothing to do with Bloomberg. I have no idea what he owns.

I do know that I wouldn’t call anything dotard owns “swanky” so I assume you’re being sarcastic.

[at140]

45. I have played golf for 60 years..it is my exercise to maintain my health

I have observed every famous golf course in the world, (Augusta National is the best anywhere),
I have followed pro golf tournaments for decades on TV played on fantastic golf courses. Trump does own some of the best golf courses from what I have seen. I got to give him high marks on selection of those properties.

[cwydro]

47. That's nice.

I still don’t think he plans to leave the country.

[at140]

50. He could leave the country if..

he loses in November and investigations are pursued to expose his crimes.

[Nature Man]

48. I think you misspelled "skanky"

[at140]

49. Yeah, way too much gold motif :)

[Tanuki]

54. ....or maybe "stanky"

[snowybirdie]

55. If you think

hideous gold plated French bordello style is swanky, I guess you're right.

[at140]

63. I was thinking more of

Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire, Scotland, Golf Links in Aberdeen, Scotland, Doral in Miami,
Golf Links at Ferry Point New York, Trump national golf club, Los Angeles, California, Trump National Golf Club
Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck, New Jersey, Trump National Golf Club Philadelphia
Pine Hill, New Jersey, Trump National Golf Club, Westchester, New York, and of course there is that Mar-a-Lago estate. https://fortune.com/2016/03/16/donald-trump-mar-a-lago/

As a life long golfer myself, these are all some of the finest golf resorts.

[LakeArenal]

4. Wishful thinking?

Russia is the only place he’d be safe.
Oh, Saudi’s might take him.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

5. He's not going anywhere. He believes, and at this point in time, he is untouchable.

[bdamomma]

9. I wish he would

take a trip to China.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

14. What have you got against

COVID-19?

[lame54]

11. Hopefully he'll think he's too big for Putin

[cwydro]

41. Exactly.

Sad, but true.

[sdfernando]

6. Its certainly possible but fleeing to Russia

will do him no good. Once he is there he is of no use to Putin. If orange lardass moved to Russia I predict a strange "accident" will befall him and it will be fatal.

[2naSalit]

7. He's doing it to screw over anyone who

helped impeach him and then he'll start going after everyone that doesn't absolutely spend every waking hour acting like the Rs did during the SOTU screechfest.

[Caliman73]

8. I don't think he will resign.

Trump is more likely flexing his muscles for his supporters. He may feel nervous, but he cannot show any sense of vulnerability. He certainly has tells about when he is feeling threatened, but I think that he has convinced himself at this time that he truly was exonerated and that he can do what he wants. A resignation would look like an admission of guilt or a statement that the job was too much for him. He won't do that.

[lame54]

10. He's assembling his campaign team

[bluestarone]

12. He's a MONTSTER unchained and

HE'S going NO PLACE!!! 11 months of this shit to come!

[Blues Heron]

13. Yup, catching a resign vibe from the pardons for sure.

[Thomas Hurt]

15. the presidency is a new level of high for that sick f**k narcissist.

He isn't going anywhere. IMHO, he is eyeing making the same kind loot that Putin is and having the same power.

That is the next of level of narcissism, portraits on the sides of buildings, statues in city centers, parades for his birthday, all the trappings of a cult of personality ala totalitarianism.

[leftieNanner]

26. I'm hoping his face

Doesn't end up on our money or our stamps.

[jmowreader]

43. From what I've heard, the Post Office did test a Trump stamp

It failed because they couldn't convince anyone to spit on the back.

[MFGsunny]

52. + 1000

Best LOL of my morning. Much obliged!

[NanceGreggs]

16. He's issuing pardons ...

... to send out a two-pronged message:

If you have defied me, I will send my AG after you.
If you have helped me, I will ensure you won't languish in jail.

[onenote]

18. Where did you get the idea that presidents don't issue as many pardons as Trump?

Trump has issued 25 pardons/commutations in his first term so far. That's only slightly more than the 22 pardons/commutations issued by President Obama in his first term and pales in comparison to the 53 pardons/commutations issued by President Clinton in his first term.

[PSPS]

22. There's a big difference

Other presidents' pardons were virtually all preceded by some vetting and process. There is a process and staff assigned to do just this. trump, on the other hand, doesn't use this process at all. Instead, he decides solely on personal relationships. Want a pardon? Get Kim Kardashian to make your case to trump personally. This turns pardons into personal favors only for friends and those with "the right connections." That isn't the way it works in a properly-functioning democracy.

[onenote]

38. Kind of a non-sequitur.

The OP wrote that "Presidents don't issue as many pardons as Trump just did in the middle of their terms. They just don't."
I merely pointed out that this statement is factually incorrect. (The OP's statement that presidents usually "wait until the end of their terms and pardon a bunch of people just before Christmas" also overstates matters: Clinton issued pardons on 13 occasions, only four of them were in December; Bush issued pardons on 18 occasions, only five in December).

For the record, I agree that Trump's pardons and commutations heavily favor his cronies, political donors and allies. While it is a fact that presidents have used their pardon power for political reasons (see e.g., Clinton's pardons of Marc Rich, Susan MacDougal and his own brother),the difference is that Trump has taken the practice to a new level and when Democrats made politically motivated pardon decisions, Republicans howled; when Trump does it they look the other way.

[Dan]

19. That is why the U.S. Military has Drones....

[Lulu KC]

20. I love it as a fantasy

It would be wonderful. And he can take his Trumpites with him. Adios!

[smirkymonkey]

23. If only!

Nothing would make me happier.

[Ferrets are Cool]

24. "Presidents don't issue as many pardons"

Nothing this asswipe does it presidential.

[onenote]

34. Actually, they do.

While its true that Trump issues pardons primarily to political allies, donors and like minded crooks, he actually isn't giving out more pardons than other recent presidents. Indeed, to date, he's given out 25 pardons and 10 commutations. Over the same period, Bill Clinton issued over 50 pardons and commutations. Obama issued 22 pardons, but only 1 commutation between his first inauguration and election day 2012.

Overall, Clinton issued nearly 400 pardons and 61 commutations in his 8 years (including over 100 on his last day in office). Reagan also issued nearly 400 pardons (but only 13 commutations). Obama gave out only 212 pardons, but issued over 1700 commutations.

https://www.justice.gov/pardon/clemencyrecipients

[JDC]

44. Good facts. Thank you

[lpbk2713]

25. I would love for that to happen.

It would mean the end of the rethuglican party.

[Initech]

28. I've been saying that since he's been acquitted he's going full asshole.

And the pardons are just the beginning. We ain't seen nothing yet.

[at140]

29. tRump is having the time of his life

Flying around in Air Force One, hobnobbing with world leaders,
holding rallies all over using AF-1, can fire anyone in executive and pardon anyone he wants.
Nah, he is not leaving until November election at the earliest.

[dameatball]

30. Nah, he is just showing his ass. And it's an ample one.

[BigDemVoter]

31. He doesn't have to. . . .

Not any more than the Shah of Iran did before 1979. . . . He has all the power supporting his orange-hued asshole and doesn't need to flee. . . . . . . yet.

[lapfog_1]

32. This group of pardons are all to prep the way

for the similar pardons to Manafort, Stone, Flynn to come.

And even for the pardons he may issue for himself and his family.

This is called softening the ground. All of these assholes he pardoned or commuted were into Bribery, tax evasion, money laundering and other "white collar" crimes.

sound familiar?

[Hekate]

33. He is nuts, but sorry this is wishful thinking

[CentralMass]

35. The GOP, and I'm sure they don't care, own this. If they dont realize he needs to be stopped now

they never will.

[we can do it]

39. Works for me.

[0rganism]

42. we should be so lucky

i think the actual explanation for his activities is far grimmer

[lastlib]

46. "Fleecing" is spelled with a "c"

Because he IS fleecing the country--for every freakin' dime he can steal.

Oh, wait---never mind.........

[LiberalArkie]

51. When he does, I bet he takes Air Force 1 with him and gives it to Putin.

Just thin how many top secret crypto devices are on board.

[mfcorey1]

53. I will buy him an Uber flight to help.

[bluedigger]

56. Because it's comforting and bolsters hope for a return to a functioning democratic state.

Also, probably completely unrealistic.

[sarisataka]

57. It is a long time fantasy

That is less likely to happen now than it was when it was first proposed.

The shear repetition may give the idea some feel of reality but looking at it logically it makes no sense. Right now his position is stronger than ever. Why would he quit while he is ahead; especially if, as we are often told, the election is already fixed for him to win?

[NewJeffCT]

58. It's a classic authoritarian move

He's creating a cadre of corrupt people around him that will owe him a favor in return for the pardon. They will also be expected to be loyal to Donny Dollhands as well.

see this explanation from Authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat

Link to tweet

?s=20


text of her tweet:

Authoritarian leaders love to issue pardons and amnesties (Mussolini 1925, Pinochet 1978, Trump 2017-) because it ties pardoned people to them, frees up more criminals to serve them, and sends the message that lawlessness is valued.

[lark]

59. I don't think that will happen, it makes too much sense for the country.

When did drumpf ever did anything that benefited America even the slightest - NEVER is the answer.

He will blow up the elections, have Russia (China, SA, Israel) engage in unprecedented vote stealing, hire people to riot and shut down the process (that's what GW did in Miami), remove all the machines in poor districts ensuring untenable lines, - he believes he can prevent a loss and he doesn't care what he has to do to keep the office. He knows he will go to jail if not re-elected, so therefore the solution to him is easy - Cheat like always, steal another "victory", then later destroy our country in favor of Russia.

[Jamastiene]

60. It doesn't feel that way to me.

Why would he flee a country that just handed him license to do whatever he wants, break whatever laws he wants, and know there will be no repercussions?

[VOX]

61. Those are "fuck you, libs" pardons. And for now, 45 is the freest man in America.

He’s committed numerous *obvious* crimes and assorted offenses in broad daylight, but his reptilian survival instincts (and loyal lieutenants) have, for now, kept him in the White House and out of prison, where he belongs.

There is no “line in the sand” for 45. He and his lickspittle senate have made him the freest man in the country. He’s allowed to pull egregious bullshit, not do any serious work, commit crimes, and not face any consequences.

He’s as happy as his personality disorder allows him to be.

[nobuddy]

62. He feels emboldened

he's not going to stop at this. he will continue to crime for crime's sake because he can get away with it.