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Nevilledog

(54,482 posts)
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 11:25 AM Friday

The wreckage Merrick Garland leaves behind

https://www.publicnotice.co/p/merrick-garland-failures-explained

It has often been said that Donald Trump was running for president to keep himself out of prison. Mission accomplished.

But the fact that Trump wasn’t behind bars long ago, that he didn’t suffer any consequences for his criming and now likely never will, can be laid squarely at the feet of one man: Attorney General Merrick Garland. Garland dragged his feet on prosecuting Trump for election interference and pilfering classified documents, making it easy for him to run out the clock.

Coming in on the heels of a literal insurrection, Garland was a bad fit for his job from the jump. He made clear early on that he didn’t see addressing issues from the Trump era as a priority, declaring that he would not look backward. Garland is an institutionalist, leading him to see his real job as protecting the Department of Justice rather than imposing any consequences on Bill Barr and others who turned the DOJ into a corrupt playground.

Someone who saw the abstract notion of an institution as more important than actual people and actual wrongdoing was never going to be the person who aggressively pursued an ex-president whose crimes were always in full view, which was what the country desperately needed back in 2021.

Bringing a knife to a gunfight

Rather than moving quickly to prosecute people — including Trump — for January 6, Garland’s first moves were to take actions that actually favored Trump, all in the name of protecting the institution.

In May 2021, the DOJ went to court to block the release of most of a Bill Barr memo that might have revealed how hard Barr worked to avoid charging Trump with obstruction of justice after the Mueller report. There, Garland was continuing work that had begun under Trump. But while it made sense that Barr would want to block the release of information revealing his role in helping Trump, it made no sense for Garland to want the same. The country had both a right and a need to learn everything possible about what happened during the first Trump presidency and led to a spasm of treasonous violence. That’s far more important than getting a generally favorable ruling on the DOJ’s right to sit on memos.

*snip*

Yes, I know this is from 2024. I was reminded of it today in light of the Bolton raid.
124 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The wreckage Merrick Garland leaves behind (Original Post) Nevilledog Friday OP
Biden's worst decision by far BeyondGeography Friday #1
Yep. kentuck Friday #2
It didn't need to become "hindsight", many of us saw it, many of us talked about our dislike for Garland, Escurumbele Friday #63
Hindsight? Cirsium Friday #73
Indeed Katnip. Saturday #96
I do not disagree. kentuck Saturday #116
Understood Cirsium Saturday #117
A giant historic mistake that should have been corrected. dalton99a Friday #13
I am not arguing, but I think it goes back to Obama in a way. hamsterjill Friday #39
They tried to make friends with Republicans by appointing one of them Ligyron Friday #46
But we know that Judge Garland would have just been another Alito LiberalArkie Friday #62
If not Biden MorbidButterflyTat Friday #67
Obama was only going to appoint him because he was "Republicon-approved" FoxNewsSucks Friday #90
The position of Attorney General, in a country that's just had an attempted coup, should never be viewed as a Crunchy Frog Saturday #98
Look forward, not backwards displacedvermoter Saturday #106
His second choice was Doug Jones MadameButterfly Friday #43
We let the White Supremacists get up off the mat LuvLoogie Friday #50
Hell, they are why we have the fucking Electoral College in the first place! Jilly_in_VA Friday #58
The confederates should have been treated prodigitalson Saturday #94
Preet Bharara would have been exceptional as well Polybius Saturday #118
Yes, he would have gotten the job done too MadameButterfly Sunday #122
AARRGLE BARRGLE!!! Fiendish Thingy Friday #3
John Roberts helped MadameButterfly Friday #45
I still have to call out J-9 Friday #85
If Gordon Lightfoot were alive, there'd be The Wreck of the Merrick Garland. TheBlackAdder Saturday #112
Pick your preferred AG Fiendish Thingy Saturday #115
A weak man with no imagination. NewHendoLib Friday #4
This message was self-deleted by its author BannonsLiver Friday #8
Like who? MorbidButterflyTat Friday #66
haven't seen the Garland cult in a while Skittles Friday #81
Post removed Post removed Friday #82
Sadly, not all. Nt iemanja Sunday #121
Garland was an overrated bum. dalton99a Friday #10
AND, in my opinion popsdenver Friday #35
Every time I hear about a "moderate" Republican with a very good reputation MadameButterfly Friday #48
He's home right now, admiring his clean hands. BeyondGeography Friday #16
Probably going out regularly Bettie Friday #21
I think both Garland and Biden knew prosecution of trump would be a chitshow. We never should have relied on courts Silent Type Friday #5
The stolen documents was a no brainer gab13by13 Friday #11
Agree. Unfortuantely, it lost steam the minute they found documents in Biden's basement. There were a million Silent Type Friday #22
The convicted pedofelon abUSED the Seal of the President of the United States Justice matters. Friday #32
The Biden docs may have swayed public opinion but are not the reason MadameButterfly Friday #49
Think it would have hurt case UNLESS evidence was introduced of trump distributing, selling, etc., the documents. Silent Type Friday #55
a few docs in Biden's garage would not have even entered MadameButterfly Friday #56
I doubt everyone on a jury would see it like you or me. Plus, with not proof of misuse other than having records, he Silent Type Friday #60
Wasn't that case MorbidButterflyTat Friday #68
In what way were you thinking of "taking out" Trump, then? (nt) muriel_volestrangler Friday #18
The 'courtly' way, going on context alone EYESORE 9001 Friday #19
Beating him on policies, at debates, matching him rally for rally, etc. Instead, we forgot the basics. Does that help? Silent Type Friday #20
I thought it looked like people were trying that too muriel_volestrangler Friday #23
I know Biden didn't have stamina, he and staff should have known too. trump's crimes, rapes, ignorance, racism was on Silent Type Friday #25
No, Hornedfrog2000 Friday #26
Believe if you give people somthing to vote for - rather than trying to convince them to vote against - they will come. Silent Type Friday #31
Sure worked w the baggers... Ligyron Friday #59
I can make a case that the Federalist Society gab13by13 Friday #6
Careful, you'll be accused of not being part of the realty based community BannonsLiver Friday #7
Biden should have declared an emergency and sent the chief insurrectionist to Guantanamo dalton99a Friday #9
I was thinking the same thing back then. Haggard Celine Friday #64
with a crystalizing and near perfect example of what a truly partisan ( and corrupted? ) DOJ looks like stopdiggin Friday #12
So because Pam Bondi is a Nazi Garland was an effective AG? BannonsLiver Friday #15
It's just that the Merrick Garland boogie-man thing is so ..... tired .. stopdiggin Friday #17
Garland is not a boogie-man Autumn Friday #29
I wouldn't call him a "boogie man". BannonsLiver Friday #52
Merrick Garland has much to answer for but he is not the only one culpable biophile Friday #14
We know the Republicans are guilty MadameButterfly Friday #53
You are absolutely right; Dems tend to self sabotage 😑 biophile Friday #83
He should be heckled nonstop Hornedfrog2000 Friday #24
For what purpose? MorbidButterflyTat Friday #70
Enough ... we are all facing real danger of a dictatorship Greywing Friday #27
but you do not understand how hard it is to deal out punishments and hold such awesome power ImNotGod Friday #28
Oh damn, the Garland cheer leaders are going to be upset. republianmushroom Friday #30
Good iemanja Friday #89
Oh, no. Now they're insisting that it's time to move on and only bad Democrats would talk about this. Scrivener7 Saturday #104
I'd like to know who Newsom will appoint as AG to deal with the crimes Trump and his henchmen are now committing. sop Friday #33
If he can't get the person he wants because he can't get a super majority gab13by13 Saturday #102
Supermajorties are not needed to confirm Cabinet picks. Celerity Saturday #111
You don't need a super-majority Polybius Saturday #119
Justice delayed became justice denied Martin Eden Friday #34
I remember Biden's short list for AG was ... Jeebo Friday #36
Who appointed Garland? Who kept him on for the full four years? DickKessler Friday #37
Imagine if Glenn Kirschner was named AG instead of Garland........ AZ8theist Friday #38
Garland was EXACTLY what the country didn't need. NoMoreRepugs Friday #40
Looking backwards is really stupid Nigrum Cattus Friday #41
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it Emile Friday #42
You're right! MorbidButterflyTat Friday #65
Maybe not Merrick Garland, but someone just Emile Friday #77
Many of us were calling out Garland's uselessness in real time Orrex Friday #61
+1. Delay is how Trump wins. dalton99a Friday #78
This message was self-deleted by its author BannonsLiver Friday #71
Really? Cirsium Friday #74
"Ignore history. Don't learn from mistakes." writerJT Friday #76
Strongly disagree. nt Celerity Saturday #110
Garland isn't the only reason our country is in this horrific mess democrank Friday #44
Merrick Grland neds to pay a very steep price for his treachery to the country. lark Friday #47
Even institutionalists can be effective BaronChocula Friday #51
We can work to take care of the important business before us... Escape Friday #54
+1. The word bipartisan should be stricken from every Democrat's dictionary dalton99a Friday #72
MG screwed the country intentionally, it's pretty obvious that he had never any intent to prosecute Dump. Clouds Passing Friday #57
i completely agree with this samsingh Friday #69
At no point... Blue Owl Friday #75
MGDS Oopsie Daisy Friday #79
"Bringing a knife to a gunfight" debsy Friday #80
I will never forgive I_UndergroundPanther Friday #84
Made the mistake the so many made in 2016 D_Master81 Friday #86
Totally agree kkmarie Saturday #95
Yeah, and... OldBaldy1701E Saturday #105
Oddly, I'm going to give Garland a wee bit of a pass. Pacifist Patriot Friday #87
Exactly iemanja Friday #88
Too Many Missteps and Too Much Corruption Aepps22 Friday #91
He had ONE JOB .... and he fucked it up royally (or loyally?) live love laugh Saturday #92
The man who gave Trump a two year head start. prodigitalson Saturday #93
And yet, look at how tooth-spittin' mad we were Oeditpus Rex Saturday #97
It wasn't the nominee we were mad about. We were pissed Emile Saturday #99
Uh-huh... Oeditpus Rex Saturday #101
Told you so Snoopy 7 Saturday #100
Since Garland didn't have the stomach, guts or boldness needed to prosecute the Felon Janbdwl72 Saturday #103
Looks like most of the Garland defenders have seen the light. nt doc03 Saturday #107
I doubt it. Many just are not posting in this thread. Celerity Saturday #113
A lifetime of crime-ing by a rich man with impunity lostnfound Saturday #108
Wow! So many bashing Biden and Obama. Joinfortmill Saturday #109
And fellow DUers with differing opinions MorbidButterflyTat Saturday #120
DURec leftstreet Saturday #114
Every time I see this thread title MorbidButterflyTat Monday #123
Wait 'til Dems next turn in the WH... when they choose to move on rather than prosecute like with W/Cheney/Trump AStern Monday #124

Escurumbele

(3,862 posts)
63. It didn't need to become "hindsight", many of us saw it, many of us talked about our dislike for Garland,
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 02:38 PM
Friday

many talked about what was going to happen because of Garland not doing anything that it would allow trump to run the clock, many saw what was happening, but those of us who did were criticized for doing so.

IT IS Biden's worst decision to not fire the guy and get someone who would prosecute immediately.

I understand when a president nominates someone who clearly showed to be a loyal member of an opposing political party, and if that opposing party were the Democratic party, I don't think I, as president, would be worried, but when you get fanatical republicans, and all of them seem to fall in that category, then one has to worry. We have seen the result of keeping Garland in office, all the wasted work by sending the thugs to jail to then have trump pardon them all.

The situation is beyond frustrating, I am glad to see some Democrats begin fighting hard, but it has to be harder, laws must be discovered (I am sure there are some 'rarely used laws' out there) to stop this madness, seek them out.

Article 25th should be in everyone's mind, there is plenty of proof out there.

Cirsium

(2,828 posts)
73. Hindsight?
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 03:38 PM
Friday

Foresight would have been more than sufficient.

By 2020 how could anyone have failed to recognize the dire threat posed by Trump?

Katnip.

(23 posts)
96. Indeed
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 04:25 AM
Saturday

Foresight would have also been beneficial on every single occasion a Democrat brought an olive branch to a gun fight.

hamsterjill

(16,397 posts)
39. I am not arguing, but I think it goes back to Obama in a way.
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:20 PM
Friday

It was Garland that Obama was going to appoint to the Supreme Court and we know how THAT went down. I think Joe was trying to give Garland a consolation prize.

In my opinion, while Garland might have made a good Supreme Court Justice, he did not have the strength to be a good Attorney General. And yes, that should have been corrected as that fact became more clear.

Ligyron

(7,978 posts)
46. They tried to make friends with Republicans by appointing one of them
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:44 PM
Friday

The pukes don’t care, they hate Dems and see that as kissing ass.

LiberalArkie

(18,817 posts)
62. But we know that Judge Garland would have just been another Alito
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 02:26 PM
Friday

We should be questioning as to who recommended Garland for either position and LEARN from that mistake

FoxNewsSucks

(11,303 posts)
90. Obama was only going to appoint him because he was "Republicon-approved"
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 11:12 PM
Friday

according to Mike Lee (R and Asshole-UT)

That's not good enough reason to make him AG years later.

Crunchy Frog

(27,778 posts)
98. The position of Attorney General, in a country that's just had an attempted coup, should never be viewed as a
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 05:18 AM
Saturday

consolation prize. If that's really how Biden was thinking of this, then that is supremely out of touch.

displacedvermoter

(3,904 posts)
106. Look forward, not backwards
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 09:30 AM
Saturday

Barack Obama, January 2009, on the prospect of investigating and protecting Bush 2 war crimes and corruption.

He failed us miserably, let GOP off hook, saddled is with what we now face.

Should Obama end up in criminal docks, he is in large part to blame.

MadameButterfly

(3,450 posts)
43. His second choice was Doug Jones
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:42 PM
Friday

who bankrupted the KKK. Biden, whose career spanned the era of Dems and Republicans working together, was still trying to reach across the aisle. Republicans would have been incensed over Doug Jones. But there was no thanks over Garland.

While we had a chance to do something, we were appeasing Republicans.

LuvLoogie

(8,218 posts)
50. We let the White Supremacists get up off the mat
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:50 PM
Friday

after the Civil War. Now they are trying to finish off anybody who isn't them.

Jilly_in_VA

(12,805 posts)
58. Hell, they are why we have the fucking Electoral College in the first place!
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 02:10 PM
Friday

It was a sop to the slave states. Nothing more. Now we apparently can't get rid of it.

Polybius

(20,736 posts)
118. Preet Bharara would have been exceptional as well
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 02:02 PM
Saturday

But I do love the thought of Doug Jones as AG...

Fiendish Thingy

(20,519 posts)
3. AARRGLE BARRGLE!!!
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 11:35 AM
Friday

An almost fact-free opinion piece that continues the misidentification of the true villain of this story.

But the fact that Trump wasn’t behind bars long ago, that he didn’t suffer any consequences for his criming and now likely never will, can be laid squarely at the feet of one man:


And that man’s name is John Roberts

Pick your preferred AG, and the end result would have been exactly the same- no Trump trial before the election.

MadameButterfly

(3,450 posts)
45. John Roberts helped
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:43 PM
Friday

But he was appointed by a Republican and they probably got what they were looking for

J-9

(110 posts)
85. I still have to call out
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 09:31 PM
Friday

Mitch McConnell. If the senate did the right thing, at the very least the 🍊🫏🤡 wouldn't have been able to run for prez.

Fiendish Thingy

(20,519 posts)
115. Pick your preferred AG
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 11:39 AM
Saturday

The results would have been exactly the same- no Trump trial before the election.

Scapegoating Garland is the easy way out.

Response to NewHendoLib (Reply #4)

Response to Skittles (Reply #81)

MadameButterfly

(3,450 posts)
48. Every time I hear about a "moderate" Republican with a very good reputation
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:46 PM
Friday

I think no good will come of it. Even if honest, too cautious to take the action necessary for democracy.

The people with real integrity have stopped being Republicans.

Bettie

(18,762 posts)
21. Probably going out regularly
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 12:23 PM
Friday

to right wing events, to speak to them about how cautious he was....with their guy, with Biden he rushed right in there, in days, not over a year.

Silent Type

(10,729 posts)
5. I think both Garland and Biden knew prosecution of trump would be a chitshow. We never should have relied on courts
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 11:37 AM
Friday

to take trump out. Unfortunately, most were still depending on courts a few months before collapse at Debate.

gab13by13

(29,521 posts)
11. The stolen documents was a no brainer
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 11:47 AM
Friday

It was a documents prosecution. If Garland hadn’t waited 11 months to send the FBI to Mar-a-Lago the time frame would have been different, maybe we don’t get Aileen Cannon.

Silent Type

(10,729 posts)
22. Agree. Unfortuantely, it lost steam the minute they found documents in Biden's basement. There were a million
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 12:23 PM
Friday

differences in Biden's documents and trump's, but the optics were a bathroom full of documents vs. photos of a Corvette and dusty documents in the garage. The Judge didn't help, but still . . . . .

Justice matters.

(8,797 posts)
32. The convicted pedofelon abUSED the Seal of the President of the United States
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 12:47 PM
Friday
illegally for years at his shitty golf resorts.

Not.A.Peep.From.The.Then.chief.Of.The.DOJ.About.That.

MadameButterfly

(3,450 posts)
49. The Biden docs may have swayed public opinion but are not the reason
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:50 PM
Friday

the case didn't go forward in a timely fashion, nor would that have endangered the case had it gotten to court.
Trump would have been guilty for sure, and possibly the worst spy in the history of the country.

Silent Type

(10,729 posts)
55. Think it would have hurt case UNLESS evidence was introduced of trump distributing, selling, etc., the documents.
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:59 PM
Friday

That has yet to happen, though we all suspect he did something.

MadameButterfly

(3,450 posts)
56. a few docs in Biden's garage would not have even entered
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 02:04 PM
Friday

into the court case regarding Trump's documents. That's not how the courts work. You can't say yeah, I stole that stereo, but look, someone else did it too.

Smith said he knew why Trump took the documents. He was ready to prove it. I don't know what Smith knew. But there is not a scenario that would make what Trump did legal in the eyes of any court.

Silent Type

(10,729 posts)
60. I doubt everyone on a jury would see it like you or me. Plus, with not proof of misuse other than having records, he
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 02:22 PM
Friday

would have gotten a slap on the wrist if convicted.

Again, folks depended on courts. It didn't work.

MorbidButterflyTat

(3,550 posts)
68. Wasn't that case
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 02:56 PM
Friday

shit canned by *rump's pet judge Cannon in exchange for a Supreme Court appointment?

Somehow probably Garland's fault.

Silent Type

(10,729 posts)
20. Beating him on policies, at debates, matching him rally for rally, etc. Instead, we forgot the basics. Does that help?
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 12:20 PM
Friday

muriel_volestrangler

(104,445 posts)
23. I thought it looked like people were trying that too
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 12:25 PM
Friday

But evidence showing Trump's crimes, presented in court, would have helped that.

In fact, I think the problem wasn't lack of beating him on policies. Debates with him were few and far between, and as you said, the first one with Biden was a disaster. And I think one background problem was that Biden didn't have the physical stamina for endless rallies.

I think the Democrats should have campaigned more on the utter moral unfitness of a rapist, criminal fraud, and attempted coup leader to be president.

Silent Type

(10,729 posts)
25. I know Biden didn't have stamina, he and staff should have known too. trump's crimes, rapes, ignorance, racism was on
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 12:34 PM
Friday

display 24/7 on the media I watch, he was even shown sitting in a court for days in a rape trial, and worse.

Yet, he beat us. It wasn't because of the media or anything else other than we didn't appeal to enough voters and "I wouldn't change a thing [from Biden]" was not an effective campaign message. [Note: I give VP Harris a lot of credit for working tirelessly in the campaign with a few months notice, it just didn't work.]

Hornedfrog2000

(811 posts)
26. No,
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 12:34 PM
Friday

The fact people here dont understand the big problem is this.

Blackmail, being bought and propaganda are the 3 biggest issues we have. No policies, debate, nothing will fix that. Some people here need to go study how putin took power, because that is what we are watching now in the USA.

Silent Type

(10,729 posts)
31. Believe if you give people somthing to vote for - rather than trying to convince them to vote against - they will come.
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 12:44 PM
Friday

gab13by13

(29,521 posts)
6. I can make a case that the Federalist Society
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 11:41 AM
Friday

Is a terrorist organization.

Merrick Garland monitored 11 Federalist Society events.

When Krasnov fired Comey, rabid Magat Senator Mike Lee told Krasnov to replace him with Garland.

BannonsLiver

(19,563 posts)
7. Careful, you'll be accused of not being part of the realty based community
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 11:41 AM
Friday

Last edited Sat Aug 23, 2025, 12:44 PM - Edit history (1)

Haggard Celine

(17,406 posts)
64. I was thinking the same thing back then.
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 02:43 PM
Friday

Donald Trump is the biggest national security threat this country has ever faced. He deserves Gitmo or worse for the rest of his miserable life.

stopdiggin

(14,286 posts)
12. with a crystalizing and near perfect example of what a truly partisan ( and corrupted? ) DOJ looks like
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 11:51 AM
Friday

in the lovely Pam Bondi ....
As today's whipping boy - I give to you Merrick Garland !

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

stopdiggin

(14,286 posts)
17. It's just that the Merrick Garland boogie-man thing is so ..... tired ..
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 12:10 PM
Friday

Not to mention out of focus. But by all means .... Be my guest !

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Autumn

(48,256 posts)
29. Garland is not a boogie-man
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 12:37 PM
Friday

Garland was appointed to a job that he CHOSE not to do. And here we fucking are.

BannonsLiver

(19,563 posts)
52. I wouldn't call him a "boogie man".
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:55 PM
Friday

I would call him ineffective, milquetoast, mealy-mouthed, spineless, naive, old-fashioned etc.

Boogie Man makes literally no sense when considering Garland.

biophile

(895 posts)
14. Merrick Garland has much to answer for but he is not the only one culpable
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 11:52 AM
Friday

As noted above, John Roberts is guilty of many more egregious offenses to democracy. Not to forget Turtle McConnell who rammed through RW judges after denying Garland his due process in the Senate during Obama’s administration, then gifted us with Amy Boney Carrot at the last minute. Plus feckless Republican Congress members, all of them, who will not stand up to drumpf. Add in any person who voted third party or didn’t vote in protest or whatever they called it at the time. Consider even Democrtic men who just couldn’t stand the thought of a woman leading our armed forces. A media who lays down like a rug for anything heinous the RW does or says but hounds the progressives for any imagined offense
There so much blame to be shared!

MadameButterfly

(3,450 posts)
53. We know the Republicans are guilty
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:56 PM
Friday

Last edited Sat Aug 23, 2025, 09:13 AM - Edit history (1)

The problem is we gave them a Democratically appointed AG to help them instead of a fighter to oppose them

Greywing

(1,152 posts)
27. Enough ... we are all facing real danger of a dictatorship
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 12:34 PM
Friday

A blame game does not help the peril we face right now! The focus has to be on how to stop this abomination.

ImNotGod

(972 posts)
28. but you do not understand how hard it is to deal out punishments and hold such awesome power
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 12:35 PM
Friday

while hiding under your desk enjoying milk and cookies while watching reruns of Mr Rogers Neighborhood

Scrivener7

(56,889 posts)
104. Oh, no. Now they're insisting that it's time to move on and only bad Democrats would talk about this.
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 08:49 AM
Saturday

As we knew they would when they were proven disastrously and conclusively wrong.

sop

(15,703 posts)
33. I'd like to know who Newsom will appoint as AG to deal with the crimes Trump and his henchmen are now committing.
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 12:55 PM
Friday

Holding people accountable and restoring the rule of law will be important issues for voters in 2028.

gab13by13

(29,521 posts)
102. If he can't get the person he wants because he can't get a super majority
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 07:41 AM
Saturday

I hope he learned the lesson from Garland to appoint the person he wants as acting AG and when his/her time expires appoint another acting AG who will do the job holding Magats accountable.

Sally Yates then Peter Strzok.

Polybius

(20,736 posts)
119. You don't need a super-majority
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 02:07 PM
Saturday

Presidential cabinet picks are confirmed with a simple majority. They can not be filibustered.

Jeebo

(2,512 posts)
36. I remember Biden's short list for AG was ...
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:09 PM
Friday

... Merrick Garland and Doug Jones. I wonder what would have happened if Jones had been AG? I like to think the orange con man would have been arrested within days after he left office in January 2021.

— Ron

Nigrum Cattus

(931 posts)
41. Looking backwards is really stupid
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:39 PM
Friday

We have to deal with now, not yesterday.
As they say hindsight is 20/20

MorbidButterflyTat

(3,550 posts)
65. You're right!
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 02:45 PM
Friday

I bet no one here ever appoints Merrick Garland as Attorney General ever again! Yay!

Orrex

(65,854 posts)
61. Many of us were calling out Garland's uselessness in real time
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 02:26 PM
Friday

And we were scolded by the cheerleaders who rallied to his defense.

It’s not a question of hindsight; it’s recognizing that Garland’s foot-dragging resulted in exactly what we predicted.

Response to Nigrum Cattus (Reply #41)

Cirsium

(2,828 posts)
74. Really?
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 03:55 PM
Friday

That's what we hear about slavery, about the genocide against the Indians, about the war against Mexico, about the police state atrocities in Latin America, about damned near everything.

You are expressing a vicious and destructive right wing theme.

democrank

(11,718 posts)
44. Garland isn't the only reason our country is in this horrific mess
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:43 PM
Friday

but he’s one of the most consequential reasons.

lark

(25,395 posts)
47. Merrick Grland neds to pay a very steep price for his treachery to the country.
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:44 PM
Friday

Karma, do your thing!

BaronChocula

(3,175 posts)
51. Even institutionalists can be effective
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:52 PM
Friday

Garland was just too timid. Garland strikes me as that type of person who bends over backward not to appear too liberal partisan to the point of overcompensation. Even CNN questioned his meager explanation for naming David Weiss special counsel in the Hunter Biden case.

Attorney General Merrick Garland did not provide a robust explanation on Friday for why he needed to give US attorney David Weiss special counsel status for the Hunter Biden probe, or why it was necessary five years after the investigation began.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/11/politics/hunter-biden-weiss-special-counsel-analysis

I know there are some who still defend Garland, but none of them are "insiders," the people actually in high levels of government who actually know what's up. As a matter of fact the insiders are among his biggest critics. That includes President Biden.

And though Garland has been nominated by Democrats, I certainly don't consider him "part of the Democratic fold."

Escape

(274 posts)
54. We can work to take care of the important business before us...
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 01:58 PM
Friday

while remembering the catastrophe of our Merrick Garland past.

If we get a President Newsom, or qualified other, they damn sure better investigate and prosecute EVERY crime being committed by EVERY criminal in the Trump administration. All of them and every Ice fuck, etc. who are currently carrying out their dictator's orders.

We WILL have to build more prisons.




dalton99a

(89,902 posts)
72. +1. The word bipartisan should be stricken from every Democrat's dictionary
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 03:14 PM
Friday

It is naive. It is stupid. And it is suicidal


Clouds Passing

(5,617 posts)
57. MG screwed the country intentionally, it's pretty obvious that he had never any intent to prosecute Dump.
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 02:09 PM
Friday

Why did JB keep him on until the bitter end?

samsingh

(18,139 posts)
69. i completely agree with this
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 03:02 PM
Friday

look how trump has been able to get so many bad things done, and in four years, no major charges stuck to the person citing an insurrgency. Now, disagreeing with the leader get legal trouble.

it's actually very disgusting.

Blue Owl

(57,136 posts)
75. At no point...
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 04:21 PM
Friday

...did I ever get the impression that Merrick Garland had a fervor for defending or standing up for doing the right thing -- he projected the image of a simpering, frightened turtle who would rather hide inside his shell than bravely defend democracy.

He was no patriot -- maybe he followed a few rules and made some weak efforts while doing the absolute minimum, but nothing of any consequence.

D_Master81

(2,166 posts)
86. Made the mistake the so many made in 2016
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 09:42 PM
Friday

Garland, Biden et al made the same mistake that so many made when running against Trump in 2016, thinking that certainly the American people wouldn’t elect him again. I think Biden and Garland really thought that they could avoid the appearance of jailing a former President and possible future candidate because certainly after January 6th, the felonies, the sexual misconduct, the fraud, the stolen documents he couldn’t be elected again. Only one problem, the American people are dumb enough to elect him again.

kkmarie

(310 posts)
95. Totally agree
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 04:19 AM
Saturday

My opinion is Garland and Biden could have never pursued Krasnov. The magas would have taken to the streets and it would have been armed protests not our cute sign protests.

The magas didn't care about Krasnov being a convicted rapist, being convicted of fraud, being caught with classified documents. Hell, they saw the footage of Jan6 and believe Krasnov saying they were tourists or it was a day of love.

Magas are cheering the kidnapping, imprisonment and abuse of people of color. They hate non-whites and they hate democrats. They are cheering the military take over of DC and cheering Krasnov's threat to take over more cities.

The magas will do anything to protect their whiteness so they gave power to Krasnov, who promised to make America white again.

It would have been a national disaster, my opinion from personally knowing many maga, they will protect and defend their right to hate and their president.

If only we knew how the 90 million who chose not to vote feel now. Again my opinion, those who did not vote are the reason we are here now. They are more at fault than magas, garland, Biden, media etc.

OldBaldy1701E

(8,825 posts)
105. Yeah, and...
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 08:58 AM
Saturday
My opinion is Garland and Biden could have never pursued Krasnov. The magas would have taken to the streets and it would have been armed protests not our cute sign protests.


And, they would have been mowed down just as those traitors who stormed the Capitol in 2021 should have been. The MAGA who would actually get out to do something would have been taken care of just as easily. They were attacking the center of government. They were not there to 'protest', they were there for blood.

I mean, I certainly don't recall hearing chants of "We want change!" and "Fairness in Elections!" from those assembled when I saw the various videos of the event. They wanted to kill Pence and Pelosi on sight.

It would have been a national disaster, my opinion from personally knowing many maga, they will protect and defend their right to hate and their president.


Do you really think that? You think that Meal Team Six is going to actually be a threat to our law enforcement, other than the occasional ambush on police that would inevitably happen? I mean, besides those in law enforcement who have 'drunk the kool-aid' so to speak?



Face it, there is an undercurrent of people in positions of power and privilege that do not want this to stop or change. Otherwise, we would not be here in the first place.

Either justice is blind, or it is not. We don't get to pick and choose when to apply it. In the case of that orange gibbon, justice was NOT served. Why should we continue to want the 'return to the rule of law' when it has failed us so badly?

Pacifist Patriot

(25,109 posts)
87. Oddly, I'm going to give Garland a wee bit of a pass.
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 09:42 PM
Friday

Trump has been committing crimes for decades. Well before he ever ran for a political office.

Our justice system has given the wealthy and powerful a pass for far longer than he's been president.

Do I think Garland could have done better? Hell yes. Do I think it started with him? Not remotely.

Blame is widely shared here.

Aepps22

(365 posts)
91. Too Many Missteps and Too Much Corruption
Fri Aug 22, 2025, 11:28 PM
Friday

Garland was a 🤡 and a joke of an AG. Many of us called it out when he was appointed. What really makes me angry is how the SC and other courts ran cover for Convict at every turn. The NY case was enough to put this to bed but remember all of the nonsense we had to deal with.

1. The open and shut documents case was derailed by Cannon who did everything in her power to delay and make arguments that actual lawyers like myself knew were crap.

2. The Colorado disqualification case was another one where the SC ran cover for him.

3. The Georgia Election case that Fannie screwed up because of the affair and distractions. We lost time because of Fannie’s disqualification nonsense

4. The NY Fraud case was a win but the crap SC delay and kings ruling messed that up.

Garland was a problem but just the examples I gave show that an AG could’ve pressed things harder but the SC and the courts were going to run cover for this guy.

Oeditpus Rex

(42,487 posts)
97. And yet, look at how tooth-spittin' mad we were
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 05:14 AM
Saturday

when McConnell blocked his confirmation hearings to the Supreme Court.

Guess we were wrong.

Emile

(37,005 posts)
99. It wasn't the nominee we were mad about. We were pissed
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 07:00 AM
Saturday

about the blockade when Mitch wouldn't allow a vote.

Snoopy 7

(675 posts)
100. Told you so
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 07:17 AM
Saturday

When garland was announce as the person who would look into trumps misdoing, I told everyone that he wasn't who everyone thought he was because Obama nomininated him as his choice for the (un)supreme court. I told you he only nominated him because he was trying to apease the republicans because they wouldn't pass any of his Democratic choices. And, even then they didn't pass garland because they refused to give Obama any wins. When garland was given the job to find fault of anything on trump he just drug his feet because he knew his time line and if he didn't do anything trump would walk. WOW that's what happened in 2023. Why did garland appoint smith to investigate when he had since 2021 to investigate, again drag those feet...

Janbdwl72

(219 posts)
103. Since Garland didn't have the stomach, guts or boldness needed to prosecute the Felon
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 08:28 AM
Saturday

It's too bad he couldn't have just appointed Jack Smith much earlier than he did. Like within the first few months or even first few weeks after the Biden Administration took office.

lostnfound

(17,152 posts)
108. A lifetime of crime-ing by a rich man with impunity
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 10:09 AM
Saturday

A con-man so corrupt and harmful to so many people was given a pass. Every New York politician or prosecutor, people directing the IRS, judges who gave him a slap on the wrist because he was rich, bankers who loaned him money in spite of criminal connections and faked property values?

The whole system is rotten. Blame decades of a two-tiered justice system.

AStern

(478 posts)
124. Wait 'til Dems next turn in the WH... when they choose to move on rather than prosecute like with W/Cheney/Trump
Mon Aug 25, 2025, 03:02 PM
Monday

because "going high" works out so well.

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