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Jun 20·edited Jun 20Liked by William Otis

Thanks, Bill, for focusing on the long-term damage Biden and Garland are doing to our culture. If these two get to continue the charade for another four years, there will be another long-term effect: lawlessness extending beyond street crime.

The "rule of law" in a civil society, which we love to brag about, does not really rely on courts, prosecutors and cops. Like the tax code, it relies mostly on the cooperation of the vast majority of citizens. That is why a place like New York City, with a 12M daytime population and only 30,000 cops, doesn't burn down every day.

When most people believe the law is crooked, they look to outlaws as heroes, and follow in their footsteps. The law becomes whatever you can get away with, and the powers-that-be enforce the the law through brutality.

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Jun 20Liked by William Otis

Are you aware that Jack Smith was the prosecutor who got former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell convicted of taking “official action” in exchange for money, campaign contributions, something of value? In September 2014, McDonnell was found guilty on 11 counts of corruption. BMcD appealed, ending finally at SCOTUS where it was thrown out 8-0. Pretty much across the political board, I'd say.

Did BMcD screw up? - IMHO he sure did. He should have known and done better, but was he properly charged? No, and as a native Virginian, I can tell you that what a pol at the state level can do here and get away with is, well, let's just say, pretty elastic. However BMcD was an extremely attractive moderate to conservative Republican - the sort who might do well statewide - and overall a bit of a choirboy, considering the atmosphere in Richmond. He'd have made a good US Senate candidate, and US Senator. But needless to say, his political future was kaput after the conviction even though it was tossed out. He didn't have deep pockets, had family responsibilities and needed to get back to work; and he has been OK overall.

This is what is supposed to happen to Trump, but Trump is wealthy, famous, and about as sensitive as a toilet seat. It isn't working but they keep trying! The odds are Trump gets off on appeal on the whole mess, but as of now he's a felon, just as BMcD was. If you follow politics - and I'm a political junky - it's obvious, but who follows politics?

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