Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,198 posts)
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 09:40 AM Feb 2018

I think Donald Trump just gave us a huge gift.

He just gave us a soundbite of him saying, “Can we call that treason? Why not?”

It works perfect whenever we discuss his relationship with Vladimir Putin and Russia.

It’s the gift that will keep on giving, over and over and over again.

38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I think Donald Trump just gave us a huge gift. (Original Post) Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2018 OP
I hope you're right about that...nt 2naSalit Feb 2018 #1
Treasonous Trump exboyfil Feb 2018 #2
Traitor Trump works too... Pachamama Feb 2018 #4
Better exboyfil Feb 2018 #5
"Benedict Donald".....? lastlib Feb 2018 #18
+1 uponit7771 Feb 2018 #34
Just for reasons of it being untrue, Ferrets are Cool Feb 2018 #8
Definition of treason exboyfil Feb 2018 #9
According to the Supreme Court, one can ONLY be guilty of Treason Ferrets are Cool Feb 2018 #19
Should we be using the word sedition instead? Delmette2.0 Feb 2018 #21
I think we can agree that there are hundreds of words Ferrets are Cool Feb 2018 #22
I haven't heard this. Would you please cite where you Upthevibe Feb 2018 #23
Lawrence can explain it much better than I. Ferrets are Cool Feb 2018 #25
Excellent.....Thank you for posting Lawrence... Upthevibe Feb 2018 #36
You are very welcome. nm Ferrets are Cool Feb 2018 #38
Correct. TomSlick Feb 2018 #33
I agree with Cheney (ugh) traditional definition of war may not apply. Pepsidog Feb 2018 #28
It is Trump projecting his guilt of his Treason... Pachamama Feb 2018 #3
It's what he did with "Fake News" Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2018 #13
Senator Merkley's smackdown... alterfurz Feb 2018 #6
In yo face with the treason burn! flibbitygiblets Feb 2018 #26
+1000 Pachamama Feb 2018 #30
Now he said it first. world wide wally Feb 2018 #7
Theres so many of his own words that can be used against him! onlyadream Feb 2018 #10
Good point Roy Rolling Feb 2018 #11
I can be used against him, because he'll never apologize. ginnyinWI Feb 2018 #12
I think it will play in a loop when Mueller's report comes out. lagomorph777 Feb 2018 #14
+1 flibbitygiblets Feb 2018 #24
He never fails to play his hand randr Feb 2018 #15
excellent point--though it remains to be seen if TV pundits would do the level of research yurbud Feb 2018 #20
Lets do it! Cracklin Charlie Feb 2018 #16
this is the definition of treason bdamomma Feb 2018 #17
Trump wears his Id on his sleeve C_U_L8R Feb 2018 #27
Very true. nt Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2018 #29
K&R orangecrush Feb 2018 #31
movie Shaka Zulu Dr Fynn describes loyal subjects praising Shaka - keithbvadu2 Feb 2018 #32
Hopefully, it will play through history something like this... MrPurple Feb 2018 #35
I think so.. I want this accusation of Cha Feb 2018 #37

exboyfil

(17,865 posts)
2. Treasonous Trump
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 09:47 AM
Feb 2018

I wish the Dems would use it. I was actually using it a few days before the speech (as where others of course).

Trump USA

Personal loyalty oaths
Political disagreements are treasonous
Calls to jail political opponents

Pachamama

(16,887 posts)
4. Traitor Trump works too...
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 10:08 AM
Feb 2018

Shorter syllables to keep it rolling of the tongue....

My personal favorite is Comrade Trump....ties him to Russia and where the treason begins....



I wish not just Democrats, but all patriotic Americans would use those terms....

lastlib

(23,287 posts)
18. "Benedict Donald".....?
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 11:22 AM
Feb 2018

Of course, a lot of the "poorly educated" that he claims to love won't get it........

Ferrets are Cool

(21,110 posts)
8. Just for reasons of it being untrue,
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 10:26 AM
Feb 2018

I have to disagree with this one. I hate "he who shall not be named" with a burning passion, but it is impossible for him to commit treason. He is guilty of LOTs of things that should land him in jail, but treason is not one of them.
He only showed his stupidity yesterday when he used that word to describe Democrats that didnt clap for him.

exboyfil

(17,865 posts)
9. Definition of treason
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 10:39 AM
Feb 2018


Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 807; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(2)(J), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)


1. Failure to enforce legislative mandated sanctions is giving Russians aid and comfort.
2. Colluding with Russians to eliminate prior sanctions as a quid pro quo for assistance in winning a U.S. election is giving aid and comfort.
3. Interference by the Russian government in our elections is an act of war thus they are enemies. Don't believe me, then believe Dick Cheney (maybe the only truthful thing he has ever said). http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/325928-cheney-russian-election-interference-could-be-act-of-war

Ferrets are Cool

(21,110 posts)
19. According to the Supreme Court, one can ONLY be guilty of Treason
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 11:36 AM
Feb 2018

when the USA is engaged in a war that has been declared a war by Congress.
That is the reason that no one has been tried for treason since WWII. ( more explicitly since participating in WW2 )

Delmette2.0

(4,170 posts)
21. Should we be using the word sedition instead?
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 11:50 AM
Feb 2018

Sedition Act 1948. ... The act criminalises speech with "seditious tendency", including that which would "bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against" the government or engender "feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races".
Sedition Act 1948 - Wikipedia

Ferrets are Cool

(21,110 posts)
22. I think we can agree that there are hundreds of words
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 11:55 AM
Feb 2018

that fit the PGIC that are true. Liar, bigot, racist, pig, misogynist, evil, divider....the list goes on and on, without calling him names that don't actually apply. The sedition one is not one I am familiar with. I would have to do some research. From that definition alone, it sounds like something the PGIC has done.

TomSlick

(11,109 posts)
33. Correct.
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 09:08 PM
Feb 2018

The word "treason" should not be thrown around lightly. Treason is the only crime defined in the Constitution. The reason the Constitution defines treason is to limit it. Without a war there can be no treason.

Trump is disloyal and unAmerican (not to mention, narcisstic, racist, etc.) but not treasonous.

Just because that idiot misuses a word is no reason for the rest of us do so.

Pepsidog

(6,254 posts)
28. I agree with Cheney (ugh) traditional definition of war may not apply.
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 12:06 PM
Feb 2018

Call me hawkish, but I believe Russia flagrant acts of cyber espionage and campaign interference may well rise to an act of war. I doubt we will ever engage in a conventional war with Russia or China, but I have little doubt that at some point in the future the United States will engage in a cyber war with any one of a number of our adversaries. Thus the traditional definition of “war”
as contained in the U.S. Code will be expanded when interpreted by the courts. While I haven’t read the statue dealing with treason and do not know if the word “war” was defined, surely the concept of war will need to expand to take into account acts of war (aggression, attacks) against the nation. Should Russia continue meddling in our country’s right to free and fair elections then I believe we have to defend ourselves through any means necessary, including military actions as a last resort.

Pachamama

(16,887 posts)
3. It is Trump projecting his guilt of his Treason...
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 10:05 AM
Feb 2018

It also might be that the strategy is to throw the word "Treason" around before it is actually what would be said of him when he is charged and exposed on the crimes he committed.....maybe to muddle the word and the seriousness of it...maybe to rally the base to be supporting him against the "real traitors" and re-direct the base against those that would dare to call him that...

But I think even if its all of the above, he definitely is projecting his own crimes....

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,198 posts)
13. It's what he did with "Fake News"
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 10:57 AM
Feb 2018

He turned a real story that had negative implications against him into a clichéd tagline for him to throw out whenever he wanted.

ginnyinWI

(17,276 posts)
12. I can be used against him, because he'll never apologize.
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 10:56 AM
Feb 2018

Never, not for the most trivial thing. I know he just tossed it out there because he was high on endorphins from his adoring fans cheering him on, but it's too late--he said it. He will deny he said it, video proof or not! But he said it.

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
14. I think it will play in a loop when Mueller's report comes out.
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 10:58 AM
Feb 2018

Even if that report has to be leaked, if, say, Rosenstein is replaced.

randr

(12,415 posts)
15. He never fails to play his hand
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 10:59 AM
Feb 2018

His Freudian slips will fill books.
Now that the cat is out of the bag it is time to have a national discussion of exactly what "treason" is.

yurbud

(39,405 posts)
20. excellent point--though it remains to be seen if TV pundits would do the level of research
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 11:47 AM
Feb 2018

required to have that discussion.

You know, like google the word.

Maybe if you throw in some sex, they could handle it:

"Is it treason if the President keeps buying his wives from Eastern Europe and paid RUSSIAN hookers to pee on him?"

bdamomma

(63,922 posts)
17. this is the definition of treason
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 11:09 AM
Feb 2018

apparently tRump doesn't know shit.


"Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open Court.

keithbvadu2

(36,916 posts)
32. movie Shaka Zulu Dr Fynn describes loyal subjects praising Shaka -
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 05:58 PM
Feb 2018

movie Shaka Zulu Dr Fynn describes loyal subjects praising Shaka -

His troops would slaughter those not praising so the praise continued very vigorously.

MrPurple

(985 posts)
35. Hopefully, it will play through history something like this...
Tue Feb 6, 2018, 11:24 PM
Feb 2018

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="

" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Cha

(297,678 posts)
37. I think so.. I want this accusation of
Wed Feb 7, 2018, 03:21 AM
Feb 2018

"treasonous" at Dems.. because they wouldn't clap for the Russian mole.. to BackFire so much..

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»I think Donald Trump just...