True or False: The prosecution of Donald Trump would unite Republicans in the next election?

[kentuck]

Some believe it would accomplish nothing except to unite the Republicans for the next election and in 2024. I believe they are dead wrong.

In my opinion, it would be a catalyst to divide the Republicans. Many are already trying to distance themselves from Trump before their next election. They simply will not unite behind someone that they believe is a guaranteed loser for them. Most polls show they have a very good chance of winning the House and the Senate in the mid-term elections. Trump could wreck those chances.

His brain-washed followers of the cult of personality will unite behind him. But his rallies are showing that he has lost much of his appeal, even amongst the most devout. His worship of Putin and his attack on democracy is not lost on many of them. He has shown himself to be an enemy of America.

The cult already hate liberals. "Liberals" are the cause of everything wrong with America. They would prefer to see them all dead.

So, how would the Republicans re-act if he was charged with the crimes of which they know he is guilty? How would they re-act if he was put under house arrest, with an ankle bracelet, without the use of a telephone? It would be the most divisive action that could happen to the Republican Party. They would scream to high heaven, but they will not defend Trump.

In my opinion, it would start a "civil war" amongst the Republican Party. It would give Democrats the best opportunity to win in 2022 and 2024.

However, I do not see the DOJ filing any charges before the 2022 elections. But, whether Democrats win or lose in 2022, the DOJ will likely file charges against Trump after the election. That will be their best hope of Democrats winning in 2024, in my opinion.

[brewens]

1. I don't know about that, but I guarantee you, not prosecuting loses you one Democrat. n/t

[kentuck]

2. I tend to agree...

Not prosecuting is a sure loser for Democrats.

And for America.

And for democracy.

[Demsrule86]

24. Only if some who call themselves Democrats think the best way to deal with this is to

put Trump back in power and spend the next years fighting to keep them from defaulting on the debt and shutting down the government for some shitty policy they want...And seriously Kentuck...can we even call such folks Democrats? I tire of the threats. We don't know that Trump can be successfully prosecuted. And this rage and attacks on Democratic-appointed individuals like Garland merely harm Democrats...The GOP loves it.

[gab13by13]

3. That is the real question that should be asked.

It doesn't matter what happens to Trump, his supporters are zombies.

[The Magistrate]

13. A Sound Point, Sir

Things like this cut both ways. Certainly prosecution of Trump would greatly energize our turn-out, and failure to do so will depress same. I expect it would put some cracks in the Republican bloc. It would offer an off-ramp (as the current cliche runs) for Republicans who really don't like the man. A portion of even those of authoritarian style might find themselves succumbing to the calculation they apply to most criminal matters, that indictment indicates guilt, and would not be brought otherwise. Nobody looks too tough in a perp walk, and I doubt the man could maintain composure in the face of arrest and impending trial.

[lagomorph777]

19. Not prosecuting loses the whole election; many Dems will just give up.

[Effete Snob]

4. It's too close to the turn of the century

It would be prudent to wait until after 2100, so it wouldn’t look as if they were timed for political effect.

[Cosmocat]

5. My initial thought is that there are SO many other wanna bes

that it would create a bit of chaos in the short term, but once the dust settled and the zombie base picked the next one, they would get back to where they are now.

But, it doesn't matter either way. It should be a matter of principle that he is dealt with based on his actions regardless of what the expected fallout may be.

[Azathoth]

6. We missed our opportunity

Prosecuting him during an election season would look inescapably political, and it would give him a huge boost over his primary opponents as the professional victim base would consider reelecting a felon the ultimate act of owning teh libs.

If we were going to pull the trigger, it should have been done already, while the general public's memory was still fresh. Even now, the J6 committee is largely preaching to the choir as Joe Sixpack has already started to forget what happened 16 months ago.

[kentuck]

8. Merrick Garland was appointed AG on March 10, 2021...

By a vote of 70-30.

The Republicans waited awhile before they approved Mr Garland. The DOJ was not capable of prosecuting him after they settled on their strategy. It would have been best if he had been arrested on January 6th and charged immediately.

[gab13by13]

10. Interesting that Ron Johnson voted to confirm Garland.

[Azathoth]

12. That was over a year ago

The wheels of justice are slow, but they're not that slow. This isn't a decades-long mafia investigation involving hundreds of wiretap applications and handling of long-term informants etc.

If the AG had gone in and said "If we have the evidence, we go with it," there would have been action by now, or at least a team of prosecutors with a case in its final stages.We know who the players are here, and we know generally what the evidence is. We've already prosecuted dozens of insurrectionists.

Slow-walking a case like this is essentially a strategy for killing it. Public memory is short, political will evaporates, and what are you going to do, hold a jury trial for a guy who is three months away from possibly winning the presidency? (Or worse, a guy who has already re-won the presidency? We know his lawyers would delay any trial for years.)

[Cuthbert Allgood]

32. It's always election season.

[machoneman]

7. Regardless, the truth must come out even if it unites those clowns.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Dunno who it might unite, but let's try it and see.

[Demsrule86]

18. Trump is not worth losing the election...I believe he is losing much of his 'base' and that is a

punishment for this evil man that hurts probably worse than prosecution. I don't doubt Trump is guilty...I am just not sure we can prove or if indicted, we can get a conviction.

[TreasonousBastard]

31. He is definitely not worth losing anything over, but yes...

exposing him as broke and friendless is the worst punishment ever.

[samnsara]

11. i want to see trump a broken ostracized despised impoverished lonely old man..in jail or out

[Demsrule86]

17. I do too...but I don't know if that is realistic. Trump is slippery.

[LizBeth]

14. We have been fighting that argument forever, hence why Republicans never pay for

criminal behaviors. I remember that argument being made with both impeachments.

[lagomorph777]

20. It's a terrible argument. Leaving criminals unpunished only invites worse.

Conversely, actually dealing with the insurrectionist threat will very much unify Democrats.

[LizBeth]

23. +1

[SmallFry]

15. It would fire up their base.

That always matters.

[lagomorph777]

21. Prosecuting would fire up OUR base.

So take your pick.

Fire up an already burning hot bunch of crazies, or leave the criminals free to run again, while dispiriting our base?

[SmallFry]

26. Point not in contention nor was the query posed. NT

[Demsrule86]

16. It would indeed unite Republicans...I know some think if only they knew and saw the evidence...

they would join with us to punish Trump as he deserves like Nixon. But it is just not true...and my guess is he would be acquitted...hard to believe we could convene a jury without one Trump supporter on it. And such a jurist would insist Trump was not guilty. Let's lock up all the cohorts in the government and outside of government...and maybe stick to financial crimes with Trump...make him look like a weak loser. That is our best bet.

[lagomorph777]

22. Worrying about how idiots will react is pointless. They will be idiots regardless.

We need to fire up OUR base, or America is dead.

[lees1975]

30. Yes!

[H2O Man]

25. Recommended.

Good question. I do not think it would unite them. I suspect that it would provide many republicans a sense of relief, allowing them to move more towards the "old" party of Bush-Cheney.

[lees1975]

27. If he is not prosecuted it will be a gigantic political issue for Democrats

and it will cost elections.

If he is, I think a lot of Republicans will be secretly relieved that a dead weight on their party is lifted. I don't think they can win much with him around, and I think they know that. His "unfavorables" are way higher than even Republicans in congress, and way way higher than Biden or Harris.

THey need to file before 2022 elections.

[Midnight Writer]

28. Impeaching him twice did not hurt Democrats.

If there is clear and simple evidence against him, like for instance, he personally loaded up 15 boxes of WH documents, including classified material, took those boxes home and hid them in a closet, then I think there is no choice but to charge him.

[lees1975]

29. Set politics aside and follow the law.

There is a mountain of evidence against the guy, going all the way back to the Mueller Report. If the law is the law, then prosecute. If not, then Democrats have joined the January 6 insurrectionists.

[Wounded Bear]

33. It might be true, but it still should be done...

Besides, we outnumber them. If we GOTV we win, just about every time.

[lame54]

34. Only one way to find out

[Tree Lady]

35. Not prosecuting I think will have low dem turnout

Our hopes have already been dashed many times about him and if this doesn't do it I think a lot of people might say f* it.

[lagomorph777]

36. Indeed. Many of us were largely voting to demand justice for Trump's crimes.

Deny us justice, and we are in deadly danger. Why bother voting?

[kentuck]

37. Unfortunately....

I think you may be right.

A recent poll showed that Republicans are quite a bit more excited about voting in the next election than Democrats.

I think the Democrats stand a better chance in November if he is charged. It would be like a bomb going off in the middle of the Republican Party. Some will be very pissed and some will be glad to put Mr Trump behind them. It would be very disruptive for the Republican Party, in my opinion.

The Democrats would only need to respond that it is about the rule of law, our Constitution, and saving our democracy. It is not about the Democratic or the Republican Party. That is a tough argument to counter, in my opinion.

[Emile]

38. Tue longer the DOJ stalls this thing out only helps republicans.

[kentuck]

40. I think they would prefer if there were no charges against Trump.

An insurrection and an attempted coup is not a good look for any Party. In my opinion, they would prefer to sweep it under a rug, cover it up, and forget it ever happened.

But the rule of law and our Constitution demands accountability for such vile crimes.

[Emile]

39. Stop worrying about what unites Republicans and prosecute the criminal!