Which Rs think The IT is a criminal? Should he go to prison? Should he run, nevertheless? Would they pardon him? Some Rs are edging toward the truth, much as the MSM and the Never Trumpers took years to say that Trump lies. Others are edging into the abyss.
Below I present for your consideration a list of declared and potential R Presidential candidates, with their own statements on Trump at this point. I don’t feel the need to explain the meshugas and the wackadoodledoodliness to Gnusies.
Then we will put that aside, and get into the Regular Good News.
Sources
Trump’s indictment divides 2024 Republican hopefuls
What 2024 GOP candidates are saying about Trump’s indictment
NYT: Republicans Have Made Their Choice, by Jamelle Bouie
The latest Trump charges cast a new light on a growing Republican presidential field
The most prominent Republican officeholders wasted no time with their full-throated denunciations of the indictment, the Department of Justice and the Biden administration.
The Fool in the After Tarot
Republican Presidential Candidates
Declared
The IT
I did nothing wrong.
It’s a witch hunt.
Yes, he would pardon himself if convicted and elected.
Former Gov. Borgum, id
vowed in an interview on CBS News to “follow every rule related to handling classified documents” after potentially leaving office as president. He told Fox News that Trump’s mishandling of documents was not something that voters want to spend their time talking about.
CHris Christie, NJ
There are still people in the Republican Party who are blaming the DOJ. How about blaming him? He did it!
This is irresponsible conduct. The conduct that Donald Trump engaged in was completely self-inflicted.
Also,
Loser, loser, loser.
Ron DeSantis, FL
“The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society. We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation. Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter? The DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end weaponization once and for all.
Radio guy Larry Elder, CA
Larry Elder counters Ramaswamy's Trump pardon challenge with his own targeting 'Soros-funded' DAs
A huge problem is the Soros-funded prosecutors throughout the country who are refusing to do their job and enforce the law.
former gov. Nikki Haley, sc
If this indictment is true, if what it says is actually the case, President Trump was incredibly reckless with our national security.
Nevertheless,
You know, when you look at a pardon, the issue is less about guilt than what’s good for the country and I think it would be terrible for the country to have a former president in prison for years because of a documents case.
former gov. Asa Hutchinson, AR
We need to have other leaders that step up, and make it clear that these are very serious allegations, that the Republican Party doesn’t tolerate misuse of classified information.
With the news that Donald Trump has been indicted for the second time, our country finds itself in a position that weakens our democracy. Donald Trump’s actions—from his willful disregard for the Constitution to his disrespect for the rule of law—should not define our nation or the Republican Party.
This reaffirms the need for Donald Trump to respect the office and end his campaign.
Hutchinson called Ramaswamy’s vow to pardon Trump “simply wrong”.
Former vp Mike Pence, in
This indictment contains serious charges, and I cannot defend what is alleged.
But also,
Mike Pence called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to
stop hiding behind the special counsel and stand before the American people to explain this unprecedented action.
We also need to hear the former president’s defense so that each of us can make our own judgment.
Venture capitalist and anti-woke fantasist Wivek Ramaswamy
vowed to pardon Trump if elected president.
After reading that indictment and looking at the selective omissions of both fact and law [I am] even more convinced that a pardon is the right answer here.
It would be much easier for me to win this election if Trump weren’t in the race, but I stand for principles over politics. I commit to pardon Trump promptly on January 20, 2025 and to restore the rule of law in our country.
Sen. Tim scott, SC
This case is a serious case with serious allegations.
Maybe
Bolton
Trump's political career will be over following a second indictment against him.
Liz Cheney
Liz Cheney Reissues Warning to Republicans After Trump Indictment
She tweeted a video on Friday of a warning she made to other Republicans during a June 9, 2022, hearing of the House select committee that was in charge of investigating the January 6, 2021, riot at the United States Capitol and Trump's alleged efforts at overturning the 2020 presidential election results.
Mayor Francis Suarez,
Gov. glen Youngkin, va
Not Candidates
Of 18 Republicans who won House seats in districts that Biden won, only one, Don Bacon of NE, has said that the indictments are a problem for Republicans.
Senator Mitt Romney of Utah
By all appearances, the Justice Department and special counsel have exercised due care, affording Mr. Trump the time and opportunity to avoid charges that would not generally have been afforded to others,.Mr. Trump brought these charges upon himself by not only taking classified documents, but by refusing to simply return them when given numerous opportunities to do so.
Sen. Marco Rubio, FL
What was the damage?
which former RNC Chair Michael Steele described as
Word-salad crazy.
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, OH
The president’s ability to classify and control access to national security information flows from the Constitution. He alone decides. He said he declassified this material. He can put it wherever he wants. He can handle it however he wants.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune, SD
Elections generally are about winning Independent voters and moderate Republicans. We’ve lost three elections in a row, now. He’s been the issue.
Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana
Let’s be clear about what’s happening: Joe Biden is weaponizing his Department of Justice against his own political rival,. This sham indictment is the continuation of the endless political persecution of Donald Trump.
This indictment certainly looks like an unequal application of justice. You can’t help but ask why this is happening. It feels political, and it’s rotten.
Regular Good News
Illinois
Gov. Pritzker signs Illinois anti-book banning bill into law
Starbucks & Gay Pride
Starbucks workers protest before annual shareholder meeting
The company opposes unionization, saying it already provides industry-leading benefits and that its stores function better when the company works directly with employees. The labor activists say workers have trouble obtaining enough hours to qualify for Starbucks benefits.
Starbucks: The Union is lying, we totally support LGBTQ rights and Pride month.
Starbucks denies union's accusation of banning Pride decorations
Union: Starbucks is lying. We have the messages to take down Pride decorations.
Starbucks workers say company won’t let them hang up pride decorations
Nearly all of the Fortune 500
Yes, we support LGBTQ rights and Pride month. Why would we turn down business? Bomb threats? Pffft! Call us when the cops find a real bomb.
Then they set off the bomb under themselves.
4 Fortune 500 companies are led by openly LGBTQ CEOs. Here’s what they’ve said about their experience in corporate America
Major corporations are going all in for Pride Month while also supporting anti-LGBTQ+ legislators
Kabalevsky "Comedians' Galop" - Ormandy conducts
Bad News for Rs is Good News for Us
E. Jean Carroll
E. Jean Carroll can pursue $10 million lawsuit against Trump, judge says
AND use the I-DJT’s blathering on CNN as evidence.
Fani Willis
Nevada 'fake electors' appear before D.C. grand jury investigating Jan. 6
Women Pastors!!??! Perish Forbid!
PBS: Southern Baptists refuse to take back megachurch because it has women pastors
This is Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, with 23,000 members. Also Fern Creek Church.
WATCH LIVE: Senate Judiciary committee hearing on Supreme Court ethics reform
Can Congress create and enforce a SCOTUS ethics code? Constitutionally, yes. Justices serve during “good behavior”. Politically, it would take both Houses, and a large majority of the public.
Circus Music
Science! Animals! Weirdness!
Also, it’s safe up there. NOBODY in the wild, not even crocodiles, bothers a hippo.
BMW electric cars are a bit late to the party, but BMW brags in its TV ads that they wouldn’t bring out an electric BMW until it was worthy of being a BMW.
Funny or Cry
Support your local cartoonists, and the striking writers.
OK, Blue Eyes, Sing Us Out
Judy Collins—Send in the Clowns