I apologize for the many questions.

I’m still baffled by all the mess surrounding the US elections. Before blaming the people, I’m wondering how it is even possible that Trump could be eligible in the first place. How could the administration allow him to be represented after all the felonies, including those where he clearly sold his country by sharing top secret information with Putin? It seems there is evidence that he has been a puppet for decades. I mean, isn’t that the definition of a traitor? What were the secret services doing? Wasn’t the FBI created to combat the very thing Trump is? Where is all the anti-communist sentiment that the US has become accustomed to?

  • radix@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    73
    ·
    11 hours ago

    He is over 35, a natural born citizen, and has lived in the US for 14 years. He was impeached, but not convicted. Accused of insurrection, but the wheels of justice turned too slowly.

    That’s the extent of the legal requirements to be eligible to be President. The theory was that any other social disqualifications would be handled at the ballot box.

    That theory is now proven to be incorrect, but fixing it takes a constitutional amendment.

    • Ziggurat@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      edit-2
      6 hours ago

      Out of curiosity, can a judge temporarily strip someone from their election/vote right as part/alternative to a sentence ? It’s a relatively common sentence for French politicians found guilty of corruptions (Which save the cost of keeping them in prison and limit their ability to re-offend) but no idea whether it’s universal or unique

    • oce 🐆@jlai.lu
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      17
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      11 hours ago

      The theory was that any other social disqualifications would be handled at the ballot box.

      That theory is now proven to be incorrect, but fixing it takes a constitutional amendment.

      That could be a slippery slope too. Imagine a constitutional amendment making someone ineligible because of a “social disqualification” such as sexual orientation.

      • SkyeStarfall@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        2 hours ago

        As if a queer president could get elected these days

        In the end worrying about this hypothetical is what made the situation actually life-threatening to queer people

      • Flax@feddit.uk
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        27
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        9 hours ago

        I think Americans need to realise that Trump won by popular vote- anything to prevent this legally would be undemocratic. You’ll need to change social attitudes or maybe put up a better candidate/run a better campaign in opposition.

        • richieadler@lemmy.myserv.one
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          11
          ·
          edit-2
          3 hours ago

          I think Americans need to realise that Trump won by popular vote

          That means that most USians are appalling people.

          As a Latin-American suffering for decades the consequences of US foreign policies, I’m not surprised.

          • sOlitude24k@lemmy.myserv.one
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            7
            ·
            6 hours ago

            Gonna have to second this. We decided that, despite everything, none of it was a dealbreaker.

            It’s definitely tough to accept that 72 million Americans made that choice, and even more than that didn’t even give enough of a shit to turn up to vote.

            It’s disappointing and embarrassing.

            • AlbertSpangler@lemmings.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              3
              ·
              3 hours ago

              Cunts watched him insult the parents of slain soldiers, mock someone’s disability and everything else, and still voted for him multiple times.

              Fuck your country.

        • hoshikarakitaridia@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          10
          ·
          edit-2
          7 hours ago

          I mean making someone ineligible to be president for as long as he is under investigation for insurrection, treason or other crimes against the United States sounds pretty straightforward.

          He could always wait and get back into it the next cycle if the investigation gets dropped or if he’s proven innocent.

          • kata1yst@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            11
            arrow-down
            3
            ·
            7 hours ago

            It sounds straightforward until it’s used as a weapon by the sitting administration to prevent competition at the ballot box.

            • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              4
              ·
              7 hours ago

              You know, because every president commits a little light treason here and there! Same as speeding in a car. It’s not that big of deal /s

              • VindictiveJudge@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                3
                arrow-down
                1
                ·
                6 hours ago

                Dude, this isn’t really a hypothetical. We’ve already seen this exact tactic get used in places like Russia. You just bring bullshit charges against whoever opposes you. The veracity of the charges is completely irrelevant.

                • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  2
                  ·
                  6 hours ago

                  This idea rejects the idea that we can put any faith in our courts, even if we add extra measures to make them more trustworthy. If this is true, why bother even faking any of this shit? Let’s just all begin thinking of ourselves as slaves and our leaders as untouchable gods.