Dershowitz brutally mocked for ‘absurd’ claim its not a quid pro quo if presidents believe their re-election is in public interest
Trump defender Alan Dershowitz is once again being mocked for his latest claim, that presidents can use the tools of the State to win re-election because they believe holding office is in the public interest.
The Harvard law professor made the claim during the question and answer session of Wednesday afternoon’s Senate impeachment trial.
Trump attorney Alan Dershowitz: "If a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment." https://t.co/jKErQcS1Iy pic.twitter.com/zo4rL6Zbla
— ABC News (@ABC) January 29, 2020
Here’s how some are responding:
[Stage whisper] **Dershowitz doesn't really believe it either.** https://t.co/OtQZBPAPll
— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) January 29, 2020
Am I wrong to interpret Dershowitz’s argument to be that if a president were to walk down the street and start executing people at random it’s still not impeachable if he claims he had a public interest motive?
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) January 29, 2020
This is absurd. Dershowitz is arguing that as long as you believe that you winning an election will be a good thing for the country, you can do pretty much whatever you want — including using public money for personal gain — to help you win. That’s not how democracy works. https://t.co/agfT01l9uy
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) January 29, 2020
Dershowitz — cheating in an election is ok as long as the candidate thinks he's a better candidate.
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 29, 2020
“You can rob a bank if you think you’d make better use of your neighbor’s savings account.” – shorter Dershowitz https://t.co/tmqxfWpJkL
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) January 29, 2020
Wow, Dershowitz is actually making the King Louis XIV argument right now! Trump is good for the country, so anything he does to stay in power is the national interest, even if corrupt or illegal. That's the language of every king & dictator: I am the end and the means justify me.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) January 29, 2020
That was the craziest 5 minutes of this whole thing. Dershowitz looks like he's trying throw the case.
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 29, 2020
Donald Trump could shoot the Democratic nominee for president on fifth avenue and Alan Dershowitz would say it’s cool because Trump thought he was acting in the public interest.https://t.co/x3OvTKjNJ6
— Jamison Foser (@jamisonfoser) January 29, 2020
Somehow I think Dershowitz divine right of presidents' argument is going to backfire
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) January 29, 2020
Did Dershowitz he just low-key confirm what the POTUS, White House Chief of Staff and Shadow Govt Lawyer already said publicly? https://t.co/kcbuqFuYMn
— Rep. Danny K. Davis (@RepDannyDavis) January 29, 2020
Um…is @AlanDersh suffering from late-stage syphilis? Cause this is beyond demented logic. pic.twitter.com/q8czesbJvB
— Adam “Bangladesh is NOT Ukraine,” Sessler (@AdamSessler) January 29, 2020
.@AlanDersh just argued that a president who believes only he can fix it — who thinks his re-election is vital to the nation — can’t be impeached for abusing his power to corrupt the next election in his favor because by definition he’s doing what he thinks best for the country!!
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) January 29, 2020
Breaking Banner
There’s no respite from Trump’s vindictiveness and foolishness
As we know, even in the midst of a national emergency, Donald Trump could find time and bandwidth to continue his retribution campaign.
He dismissed Michael Atkinson, the inspector general for the intelligence agencies, for doing “a terrible job,” satisfying his own thirst for vengeance for anyone who actually adhered to law and practice over blind loyalty to Trump himself. Indeed, asked about it the next day, Trump underscored his action by saying, Atkinson “was no Trump supporter, that I can tell you.”
It was an act that we once would have labeled corruption, by Democrats and Republicans – that is using the office for personal purposes – if Congress and too many Americans had not since become inured by so many like instances.
As the coronavirus pandemic sparks global lockdowns, life has continued comparatively unhindered in places like Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong after their governments and citizens took decisive early action against the unfolding crisis.
At first glance Taiwan looks like an ideal candidate for the coronavirus. The island of 23 million lies just 180 kilometres (110 miles) off mainland China.
Yet nearly 100 days in, Taiwan has just 376 confirmed cases and five fatalities while restaurants, bars, schools, universities and offices remain open.
The government of President Tsai Ing-wen, whose deputy is an epidemiologist, made tough decisions while the crisis was nascent to stave off the kind of pain now convulsing much of the rest of the world.
Breaking Banner
Republican ex-lawmaker with coronavirus scolds Wisconsin GOP for forcing voters to risk their health
On CNN Tuesday, former Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA), who is himself dealing with a bout of COVID-19, chastised the Wisconsin GOP for doing everything in their power to block the state elections from being moved — and forcing many voters to stand in line and risk exposure to the virus to cast their ballot.
"I have to tell you, here in Pennsylvania we have a Democratic governor and Republican legislature," Dent told host Don Lemon. "They postponed the election here from April 28 until June 2. Without any controversy. Everybody agreed it was the right thing to do and they moved on. I'm surprised Wisconsin took this risk, knowing they don't have to."
Expert explains how Trump’s ‘mind control cult’ is facing its biggest crisis
Senate Intel chair sold another surprising stock in 2018 — right before its collapse
Trump’s acting Navy secretary had to be ordered to apologize for his profane rant against fired captain: report
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigns after attacking beloved USS Roosevelt captain
Trump removes inspector general from committee overseeing $2 trillion coronavirus relief package
There’s no respite from Trump’s vindictiveness and foolishness
This is how Taiwan and South Korea bucked the global lockdown trend
Republican ex-lawmaker with coronavirus scolds Wisconsin GOP for forcing voters to risk their health
How Trump let himself get played by China over the coronavirus
Songwriter John Prine dies of coronavirus complications
Republican ex-lawmaker with coronavirus scolds Wisconsin GOP for forcing voters to risk their health
‘A day that will live in infamy’: This is what it looked like when Wisconsin forced in-person voting during a pandemic
Top biologist to Fox News host: Unproven drug treatment hyped by Trump is ‘complete and utter nonsense’
‘Stop ignoring facts for political advantage’: CNN’s Cuomo tears into Trump’s refusal to lead on coronavirus
