Supporters of Donald Trump have gathered in Florida as he prepares to answer a summons to appear before a federal judge. Whether the gathering will stay peaceful or erupt in violence -- for whatever excuse -- is an open question.
The real problem is whether that issue should even be a question. Underlying that supposition is whether political leaders lie.
What a concept.
Politicians fib.
Who knew?
We all know this, but the real issue is that one side believes that only the other side lies.
Maybe they both do.
Some are more proficient at it than others.
It's hard to ignore a prominent political leader who is a poor liar, especially when his followers are so devoted that they will believe everything he says, no matter how foolish or blatantly false.
Presiding judges in major court units do not typically countenance liars who appear before them. It's one thing to lie to news media and political supporters, but it's not okay to lie to a judge in court.
Unless you believe you can because the judge owes his or her job to you and therefore will rule in your favor no matter what.
Believe it or not is a choice.
That, some say, is an issue for a court proceeding in Florida as to whether and how Donald Trump must face a series of criminal accusations.
The judge in this case was appointed by Trump himself, so another part of the issue is whether she will go forward and hear the charges against him or excuse herself from the case so it will be heard by another judge who would be viewed as neutral.
But judges at this level are appointed by a president, so the question stands: Will any federal judge, of the same political party or a different one, rule objectively?
Another neutrality issue.
Can judges be neutral?
Can they? Yes.
Are they? Usually.
Therein lies the problem, said our resident cynic. Sometimes they are not. But that's when the appeals process kicks in.
The core issue in this case is whether Donald Trump expects "his judge" to rule in his favor, no matter the evidence.
Federal prosecutors are most likely hoping this judge will follow the law and the evidence, and not bend to Trump's wishes.
That may be part of the reason the feds transferred the case from a Democrat-leaning region to Miami, home of many Republicans and Trump supporters.
They hope court officials and jurors will follow the facts and not the ex-president's wishes.
The real problem is whether that issue should even be a question. Underlying that supposition is whether political leaders lie.
What a concept.
Politicians fib.
Who knew?
We all know this, but the real issue is that one side believes that only the other side lies.
Maybe they both do.
Some are more proficient at it than others.
It's hard to ignore a prominent political leader who is a poor liar, especially when his followers are so devoted that they will believe everything he says, no matter how foolish or blatantly false.
Presiding judges in major court units do not typically countenance liars who appear before them. It's one thing to lie to news media and political supporters, but it's not okay to lie to a judge in court.
Unless you believe you can because the judge owes his or her job to you and therefore will rule in your favor no matter what.
Believe it or not is a choice.
That, some say, is an issue for a court proceeding in Florida as to whether and how Donald Trump must face a series of criminal accusations.
The judge in this case was appointed by Trump himself, so another part of the issue is whether she will go forward and hear the charges against him or excuse herself from the case so it will be heard by another judge who would be viewed as neutral.
But judges at this level are appointed by a president, so the question stands: Will any federal judge, of the same political party or a different one, rule objectively?
Another neutrality issue.
Can judges be neutral?
Can they? Yes.
Are they? Usually.
Therein lies the problem, said our resident cynic. Sometimes they are not. But that's when the appeals process kicks in.
The core issue in this case is whether Donald Trump expects "his judge" to rule in his favor, no matter the evidence.
Federal prosecutors are most likely hoping this judge will follow the law and the evidence, and not bend to Trump's wishes.
That may be part of the reason the feds transferred the case from a Democrat-leaning region to Miami, home of many Republicans and Trump supporters.
They hope court officials and jurors will follow the facts and not the ex-president's wishes.
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