Scrutable

Bird on a Fire wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 8:57 pm Riyadh is looking increasingly likely, as Trump’s Mar-a-Lago neighbours initiate legal action to stop him moving there when he leaves White House.

Donald Trump’s neighbours at his Mar-a-Lago private club in Palm Beach, Florida, are not excited at the prospect of him moving there post presidency and have initiated legal action to stop him from making it his permanent residence once he leaves the White House.

The neighbours have delivered a demand letter to the town authorities of Palm Beach, addressed to the US Secret Service, which said that Mr Trump lost his legal right to permanently live at Mar-a-Lago due to an agreement he signed in 1993 when he turned his private residence to a private club.

In 1993, the president made a deal that bars any of the club members from spending more than 21 days a year in the club’s guest suites or staying there for longer than seven consecutive days. At that time, the town council was assured that the president would not live at Mar-a-Lago.

Although it is difficult to conceive of the leader of the free world joining the ranks of the various aging Nazis, ousted despots, retired mobsters and deadbeat ex-husbands currently circling the globe in search of a hideout, once presidential immunity is lost it is hard to see what alternative he would have. The president has given us one hint, so subtle as to be nearly imperceptible, that he may have to leave the country: at a recent political rally, he said, “Maybe I’ll have to leave the country.”

Prediction: If the President of the United States becomes an international fugitive, he will seek sanctuary in Dubai, U.A.E. Of course, that assumes he responds to defeat by actually leaving office. Which would require that he follow the law. Which, you know…

dyqik wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:03 pm

Bird on a Fire wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 8:57 pm Riyadh is looking increasingly likely, as Trump’s Mar-a-Lago neighbours initiate legal action to stop him moving there when he leaves White House.

Donald Trump’s neighbours at his Mar-a-Lago private club in Palm Beach, Florida, are not excited at the prospect of him moving there post presidency and have initiated legal action to stop him from making it his permanent residence once he leaves the White House.

The neighbours have delivered a demand letter to the town authorities of Palm Beach, addressed to the US Secret Service, which said that Mr Trump lost his legal right to permanently live at Mar-a-Lago due to an agreement he signed in 1993 when he turned his private residence to a private club.

In 1993, the president made a deal that bars any of the club members from spending more than 21 days a year in the club’s guest suites or staying there for longer than seven consecutive days. At that time, the town council was assured that the president would not live at Mar-a-Lago.

And since Trump registered that as his residence address in order to vote in Florida, it means he committed electoral fraud...

Grumble wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:33 pm

dyqik wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:03 pm

Bird on a Fire wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 8:57 pm Riyadh is looking increasingly likely, as Trump’s Mar-a-Lago neighbours initiate legal action to stop him moving there when he leaves White House.

And since Trump registered that as his residence address in order to vote in Florida, it means he committed electoral fraud...

Not really, it means he breached the agreement already

Bird on a Fire wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:43 pm

Grumble wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:33 pm

dyqik wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:03 pm

And since Trump registered that as his residence address in order to vote in Florida, it means he committed electoral fraud...

Not really, it means he breached the agreement already

I saw a comment somewhere that the electoral commissioner of Florida has already commented on this, and apparently for electoral purposes you just need an address in the state and it doesn't have to be a long-term residence, or something? But I wasn't interested enough to read in detail or click the link, I'm afraid.

I just found it funny that his neighbours think he's a tw.t as well.

RICHMOND — State Sen. Amanda F. Chase, a brash Republican gubernatorial contender who bills herself as "Trump in heels," called on President Trump on Tuesday to declare martial law to prevent his removal from office.

One day after the electoral college formally confirmed former vice president Joe Biden’s victory over Trump, Chase (Chesterfield) doubled down on baseless allegations of election fraud in an early-morning Facebook post.

“Not my President and never will be,” she wrote, referring to Biden. “The American people aren’t fools. We know you cheated to win and we’ll never accept these results. Fair elections we can accept but cheating to win; never. It’s not over yet. So thankful President Trump has a backbone and refuses to concede. President Trump should declare martial law as recommended by General Flynn.”

Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser pardoned by the president, recently shared a Twitter post advocating that the president “temporarily suspend the Constitution” and declare martial law ...

Herainestold wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:13 pm Where might he go?

bmforre wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 4:07 am Reported by WaPo:

Republican contender for Va. governor says Trump should declare martial law

RICHMOND — State Sen. Amanda F. Chase, a brash Republican gubernatorial contender who bills herself as "Trump in heels," called on President Trump on Tuesday to declare martial law to prevent his removal from office.

One day after the electoral college formally confirmed former vice president Joe Biden’s victory over Trump, Chase (Chesterfield) doubled down on baseless allegations of election fraud in an early-morning Facebook post.

“Not my President and never will be,” she wrote, referring to Biden. “The American people aren’t fools. We know you cheated to win and we’ll never accept these results. Fair elections we can accept but cheating to win; never. It’s not over yet. So thankful President Trump has a backbone and refuses to concede. President Trump should declare martial law as recommended by General Flynn.”

Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser pardoned by the president, recently shared a Twitter post advocating that the president “temporarily suspend the Constitution” and declare martial law ...

Unbelievable?

JQH wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 4:13 pm I know the US has fairly liberal free speech laws and IANAL but it seems to me he crossed the line into treason quite some time ago.

bolo wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 4:22 pm

JQH wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 4:13 pm I know the US has fairly liberal free speech laws and IANAL but it seems to me he crossed the line into treason quite some time ago.

IANAL either, but as I understand it, speech (alone) cannot legally constitute treason in the United States. It has to cross the line into conspiracy or incitement or something more than just speech.

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.

bolo wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 4:22 pm

JQH wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 4:13 pm I know the US has fairly liberal free speech laws and IANAL but it seems to me he crossed the line into treason quite some time ago.

IANAL either, but as I understand it, speech (alone) cannot legally constitute treason in the United States. It has to cross the line into conspiracy or incitement or something more than just speech.

The United States Attorney's Office stated that the Hutaree allegedly planned "to kill an unidentified member of local law enforcement and then attack the law enforcement officers who gather in Michigan for the funeral".[18][19] The press release further stated that nine had been indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit on charges of seditious conspiracy, attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, teaching the use of explosive materials, and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. The indictment said that the Hutaree planned to attack unspecified law enforcement vehicles during the funeral procession for an unspecified officer or officers they planned to kill on an unspecified occasion, using unspecified explosively formed penetrator improvised explosive devices (which under federal law are considered "weapons of mass destruction").[19]

The trial began on February 13, 2012.[26] On March 27, 2012, a federal judge acquitted seven Hutaree defendants of the most serious charges related to conspiracy and sedition; they were free to go. David Stone Sr. and Joshua Stone continued to be held on weapons-related charges.[27][28] On August 8, 2012, David Stone Sr., Joshua Stone and Joshua Clough were sentenced to time served on weapons-related charges, to which they pleaded guilty, and placed under supervision for two years.[29]

After the acquittal of seven Hutaree members, the property seized during a March 2010 raid was returned to the owners. Items included a wedding ring, firearms and surplus items of military equipment previously owned by Hutaree members.[30][31] The FBI returned Tina Stone’s six guns, including her AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.[32]

Seized items that had been returned included hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition, numerous weapons and other material, but several items, including illegal weapons taken as evidence, had been destroyed by the Justice Department.[31][33][34]

FlammableFlower wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 7:01 pm That first photo definitely had the fascist vibe about it...

FlammableFlower wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 7:01 pm That first photo definitely had the fascist vibe about it...

headshot wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 6:36 pm Any thoughts on this? https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house ... e-scenario

No, Biden hasn't won yet — one more nightmare scenario

The goal is not to win, the goal is to delay, to prevent the "tiebreaking" provision of the ECA from happening.

Remember, the presiding officer under the ECA is Mike Pence. He can be expected to interpret the rules in a way highly favorable to the Republicans. He can help the GOP delay any resolution until about Jan. 18.

Now comes the endgame maneuver. The Constitution specifies that if there is no Electoral College winner, the Senate chooses the vice president and the House picks the president. The Senate, claiming that there is no Electoral College result, picks Pence.

And it won't be a Biden-Pence administration. The Democratic majority in the House can't pick Biden because when picking a president, the House votes by state delegation, and the Republicans control more House delegations.

The House Democrats will never let that vote happen. Which means we won't have a president. If we don't have a president by noon on Jan. 20, the law of presidential succession comes into play.

Aoui wrote: Fri Dec 18, 2020 5:14 pm https://axios.com/pentagon-biden

Grumble wrote: Fri Dec 18, 2020 5:18 pm

Aoui wrote: Fri Dec 18, 2020 5:14 pm https://axios.com/pentagon-biden

404 error

Aoui wrote: Fri Dec 18, 2020 5:14 pm This seems a bit...umm...not good.

bolo wrote: Fri Dec 18, 2020 6:07 pm

Aoui wrote: Fri Dec 18, 2020 5:14 pm This seems a bit...umm...not good.

According to the WaPo version of this story, the "halt" is only until tomorrow, and is just because they have been overwhelmed by the volume of requested briefings.

The latter part is lame, but a one-day hiatus doesn't worry me.