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I have a solution.

"Defendant Menace" is such a new concept that it does not even make sense to me. Yet I propose an ingenious approach to combat these grandiose dramas: - Community Service.

Why take a binary judicial approach? DJT clearly needs to force the situation:

He wants to either be out of jail and be a menace, or to be in jail and be a martyr.

So, let us get our shit together and take the third path. 

As Donald Trump has made a choice to make threats to judicial family members, that simply cannot stand. I suggest replacing jail time with community service - specifically, roadside trash collection, for say 200 hours.  Let’s face it, it’s an elegant solution, blending a masterstroke civic engagement and the American spirit of rehabilitation with a sprinkling of humility. Imagine, if you will, the former president, not in his usual attire, but donning “casual wear” (yet with a mandatory court order: He Must Wear his Gaudy Gold sneakers for brand awareness). At the very least, in the end we get the beautification of our highways, or at least that one stretch, on that one side of that one Highway.

Furthermore, not only does this offer a respite from his notorious threats and theatrics, but it also may instill a sense of reasonable behavior (a tall order for him, admittedly). This "community service" isn't just about cleaning up the literal trash along our roads; it's a metaphorical cleanse of the political spectacle, offering wins across the board. Specifically: safety for society's vulnerable, a break from political grandstanding, a lesson in accountability for Trump, and a refreshing change of scenery that might just brighten his disposition.

It’s also incredibly difficult for him to whine about, “Oh, the humanity”, since cleaning up trash is hardly sledging big rocks into little rocks. In fact, it’s symbolically appropriate since he has dispensed so much trash talk in his life. Oh, and the photo ops would positively suck (...for him).

After the former guy has faded from the scene, we are still going to have to manage his sycophants and cult members. We will have to do this thoughtfully and considerately. It could be akin to a detoxification Superfund-like initiative aimed at de-radicalizing his fervent base. Why not entertain a solution that adds a touch of practicality to the mix? In this case, the path to national sanity is paved not with grand judicial actions but with a taste of community service, while wearing brand-name golden sneakers. What could be more patriotic than community service?

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author

I love this idea. I had proposed a soup kitchen in an earlier column but road crew would be even better. Since the Secret Service can't easily guard him in jail, community service is also more workable.

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How about Trump as a road construction flagger? Nice image of him holding the STOP/GO sign.

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author

Nice, JoAnne!

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But he has to wear the trump sneakers…!

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I despise Donald Trump, BUT

Some of the legal maneuvors used aganst Trump will undermine anti Trump forces.

The Hush money suit re Stormy Daniels is a prime example. The latest argument I have heard in favor of prosecuting Trump for this infraction is, to put it mildly, underwhelming: Supposedly, Trump, by attempting to hush up his affair with Stormy, was attempting to create for voters a false and prettified image of who he was. BUT THAT IS WHAT ALL POLITICANS DO. ALL POLITICANS ATTEMPT TO MOLD THEIR IMAGE. Also, the common masses will react to this litigaiotn by concluding that the only real gripe against Trump is his womanizing.

Trump should be sued for January 6, for being an agent of Russia and for stealing state secrets from the oval office; the sexual shit should be forgotten

Also, may I share my latest post. Some people have said that I come accross like a scold. In this monlogue, my political salvos are leavened with laughter: https://davidgottfried.substack.com/p/7-corporate-rip-offs-assiduously

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This is just another mental midgets thread. Sorry to interrupt. I will show myself out. Carry on.

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So that is what you call 50% of Americans!! even Mr. Alter would disagree. I guess you think we are slim and sophisticated too.

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30%

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Yes this is true but still liberals dismiss his canny ways and so he outsmarts them

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He is NOT canny - he only outsmarts American ostriches, a species racing towards extinction.

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Yeah, sure. He’s really just a dunce who made himself a multi billionaire in the toughest real estate market in the world, then got elected president, having never held any political office. He’s not smart at all. You’re the smart one here. Right.

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Thanks, I agree!

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I dunno. Bragg has Trump on the misdemeanor for false records, for sure, but the felony enhancement to that looks like a reach to me.

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author

Actually, the counts on falsifying business documents are felonies.

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No they don't because we are a devolved country. Most Americans can't name those physicists other than maybe Einstein. We only care about money. We are totally anti-intellectual which is why people like Trump. Since this is a democracy those people are the voice.

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Look forward to reading your coverage Jon. Great piece today, far more illuminating than others. Give ‘em hell!

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author

Thanks, Bob...

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He only had to pay $175 mil rather than the almost $500 mil. And his truth network will apparently give him $500 mil. in six months. So, as always, Trump finds a way to escape. Democrats can't see that this guy is very smart. He won an election to a job for which he had NO experience-- running a HUGE bureaucracy-- and he almost won again and now he may win in 2024. He is very smart.

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He doesn't have actual intelligence, he has con man smarts. The weird ability to suss out what the marks & suckers want & give it to them!

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Smart like Mussolini, Hitler, or Stalin? Does anyone today ever compare the intelligence of autocrats like these with say, Einstein, Fermi, or Bohr?

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Yes. In close-up we see the physical strain on Trump. He's hurting.

Step back, the trajectory is obvious. Trump's empire of glitter and grift will be dust in the wind.

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keywords for today - Gonzo, dreary, decrepit, tacky, degradations, Albania(!), criminal, jig, delay, delay, delay, haggard, felon, bullshit, Weisselberg, Cohen, coup de grace, Blanche, gambit, accountability.

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author

Thanks for noticing, JoAnne!

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Passover.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha. 🤣

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Ah, opening day! I can already hear the crack of the bats and the rapping of the gavel. And you, Jonathan, you will be our Vin Scully, our Mel Allen, our Harry Caray. Holy cow, is this going to be fun!

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Nonstop nonsense from you again. It’s not illegal to pay a porn star to shut up. You really have a serious case of TDS.

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Trump wasn’t indicted for paying a porn star to shut up. He was indicted for 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree as part of a "conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election.”

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You are talking out of your ass, which is a symptom of TDS. It’s all about paying the pen star. It’s another completely bogus set of charges, and you and every lowlife hypocrite in this thread cheer it on while up on your high horses about “saving democracy.” Stop acting like the mental midget you are.

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author

Please be more civil, Terry...That's the way we roll here..,.

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Please be more civil? I guess the civility is like the rest of your hypocrisy— it only goes one way. The replies to me have been very uncivil. Including one of your clown followers posting “fuck you.” And that’s not the only one. But your response is exactly what I expect from a hypocrite. How about I joist mute/block you, as you are the ringleader of these mental midget morons Problem solved.

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author

I took the "fuck you" down...that kind of thing is not welcome here...

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I wrote it with a big smile on my face, sweetie pie!

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Why was Trump indicted?

Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan criminal court to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.

He was indicted in relation to payments made to Ms Daniels. He is also under investigation in relation to pay-offs to a former Playboy model to keep quiet about her alleged sexual encounters with him.

(BBC. com, 3/11/23, by Mattea Bubalo & Robin Levinson King)

___________________

KEY POINTS

The indictment against former President Donald Trump charges him with 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records.

The charges are connected to hush money payments to two women before the 2016 presidential election.

A Manhattan Supreme Court grand jury indicted Trump after hearing testimony for several months about a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. (cnbc. com, 4/4/23, by Dan Mangan)

________________

The criminal charges that Donald Trump is now facing in New York stem from three separate instances in which the former president and his associates are accused of making hush money payments during his 2016 campaign: to two women to suppress information about extramarital sexual encounters they said they had with years earlier, and to a onetime Trump Tower doorman who claimed to have a story about a child he alleged Trump had out of of wedlock.

Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He surrendered earlier Tuesday in Manhattan and pleaded not guilty to all charges. (APnews. com, 4/4/23)

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Yes, and like ALL of the other bullshit charges, this is only worthy of spreading on the lawn. You clearly have no understanding of how this has been twisted, pretending the false business records were to hide campaign fraud. It’s already been reviewed by the DOJ, they dismissed it. You’re too ignorant to be arguing this, especially when all you can do is copy/paste. But be sure to post about how you want to “save democracy” and how you revere the constitution. Stay up there on your high horse with all the other liars and dissemblers.

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Terry lives in his mother's basement with a pet raccoon and six goldfish.

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I’m so offended—not. Grow up.

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Mar 26Liked by Meredith

Well, Mr. Alter, I’m definitely in and it’s definitely on, Baby! 👍🏿 Can’t wait for your continued court side reporting! 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

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