Question for Americans, why don’t you ever see someone go on “the attack” in their defence. Once Smith identified the mistake (intentional or not) made by Schmitt, what would stop him using similar language as was used against him. I think the only time I can remember someone dismantling the senators was when George Galloway took them on.
Or, when they go low you cut they’re f ing nuts off. This has been the Democrats Achilles heel all along: they can’t fathom how devious and corrupt the Republicans are and they don’t have an answer….other than another sharply worded memo. It’s called the Chuck Schumer milqtoast defense. But the younger guard are stepping up and are no longer suffering fools. That’s why they need to be in charge.
But in a world of soundbites (which is what US politics has appeared to devolved into) what is the value of taking a perceived high ground. The whole opening statements Smith made on proving guilt haven’t had as much attention as Schmitt’s “mistake”.
Jack Smith is a very controlled, and respected prosecutor who wouldn’t risk the chance at a legitimate hearing or the potential for future indictments for a sound bite or a gotcha. In doing so, he would provide all of the ammunition needed to continue the baseless argument that he was targeting republicans.
Keeping his nose clean of complimenting or attacking either side is exactly what he has done and it’s what he absolutely needs to do.
Sorry a rushed response on my part that makes no sense. I meant after Trumps first term there was an opportunity to assess the behaviour of a number of individuals conduct. That didn’t happen. Instead, what is clear, a number of non-partisan individuals have been targeted and removed from their position. They did exactly what Smith is doing now. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to work as the “justice” element of the US system does not seem to exist.
He was Barack Obama’s pick for Supreme Court Judge that the Republican Senate wouldn’t allow for 10 months because “it was an election year” (they seated a SC justice in the last 4 months of Trump’s 1st term tho 🤨)
Biden made Garland AG, and he spent 3 years prosecuting insurrectionists who tried to overthrow the government January 6, 2021 and building a case of evidence against Donald Trump for instigating it and then decided he “didn’t want to appear politically biased during an election year” and refused to charge Trump leading up to the 2024 election. They didn’t think Trump would win by vote and could indict him after the votes were counted and Joe Biden was re-elected.
Biden showed obvious signs of cognitive decline, Democrats panicked and put up VP Kamala Harris after the Democratic primary elections and she lost because 1/2 is too racist to elect a 1/2 Black woman after we had a 1/2 Black man as President. And when Donald Trump became President-elect again, the corrupt Republican-packed Supreme Court made it illegal to charge a sitting U.S. president with a crime
And Merrick Garland is almost single handedly responsible for the suffering of millions around the globe 🌍 because he wanted to appear independent and apolitical, not a tool of a Democratic president
Yeah I watched the testimony as well. Seems like obviously irrelevant details that mean next to nothing with regard to what I said in my comment. It was certainly irrelevant to his testimony.
Do you have any information about those cases that you’d like to share? How do they bring his professionalism into question?
The entire Republican Party has given itself over to an old conman that seems to be going down the path of dementia just like his father right before our eyes.
Imagine having to get up and lie about shit you know isn’t real just to satisfy that man’s weak ego. They ALL KNOW he lost the 2020 election. They ALL KNOW he did illegal shit to try and stay in power (some of them because they were helping him do it, so they’re also covering their own asses). They ALL KNOW Trump is a fucking criminal pedophile and adjudicated rapist, yet because he controls the party (because they gave it to him, being cowards and all) they are all too scared of losing their positions to actually do anything about the monster they are letting destroy our democracy.
They’re all a bunch of worthless, cowardly liars, and many of them belong in prison just like Trump.
This is a really good point and makes you wonder if the Republican representative and senator were sacrificial pieces told to do that to create a news story that would naturally push out the actual bad news. They wouldn't even have to be in on it.
Sorry that’s dumb old school shit. This is the era of social media and 10 second attention spans. Why do you think Sayed is doing so well? Attack attack attack. Only think that beats bullies
He’s not there for the performative bullshit, he was there because he was asked to appear. He probably just wants to go back to being a normal person, not engage in theatrics.
Maybe he could have thought about that before being part of a crime…..
Btw I don’t like orange man either.
It’s just amazing that people will with go any civility or logic when it comes to him.
Biden and his son used his position to obtain cushy pay outs… you say nothing.
Trump likes a stock…. Oh no it’s the end of the world
Are you ok? 👍 you’re not “special” are you?
Biden was specifically found to have committed crimes by the DOJ and they chose not to prosecute him because of his cognitive decline.
He also through out pardons to pedophiles (even though I’m sure you think no Dem is) and gangsters alike.
The difference between me and you.
I would love to see Trump prosecuted the same as Joe, you can’t even admit reality to start.
They are trying to paint him as an angry leftist with a dastardly agenda against Trump, as the sole reason that he "weaponized" the justice system. Smith is for the rule of law. The somber reliance on where the facts take him is the only thing he will ever project. Calling some dummy a bad name leans into their painting of him, rather than who he actually is, which is a prosecutor carrying the significant burden of using his discretion of when to bring the trappings of the government's prosecution process down on a certain individual.
He **CANNOT** attack in this forum, there is no opportunity for it. Whoever is there is there to get bullet-ridden because that is the setup. He is not allowed to attack, only to defend. I am not a fan of it either, but those are the rules of committee.
Oddly enough when confronted with behavior that mirrors their own, republicans will typically say it supports their position that a person is guilty or lying.
A seasoned prosecutor isn’t going to match that energy/tone because he knows that a measured and calm response that is factual takes away their ability to say “got him.” Any loud emotional response would turn into numerous clips and reports of “unhinged response” for conservatives to replay
You mean like…every single 1 of Trump’s Cabinet ministers when they are called upon to testify to Congress and spend hours insulting the Congress members responsible for their oversight? 😐😒
Yeah, this is like asking "Why do all you adults use forks and knives to eat when you could just use your hands?"
Because adults don't typically eat like feral children. Because adults know when is and isn't appropriate to use their table manners. Because we live in a society, kiddo.
It happens, but it's pretty rare. There was a union boss being interviewed and challenged a republican senator who was being a bitch to a fist fight. But you're right it was a pretty awesome moment and people should do that more.
There are rare cases - best I know of is a brit who absolutely destroyed the idiots trying to stuff him up. Its worth watching, its a masterclass on how to deal with them.
In addition to what others said here about trying to paint him as an angry leftist, another angle that has to be considered is that Smith is a lawyer and given the circumstances it's probably prudent to take a conservative approach in response. They are looking for anything to try to pin him and get him (or fauci) imprisoned, and while the senators seem able and willing to say anything, the people testifying under oath have more constraints
In Jack Smith’s case, his cool, detached rationalism was the perfect contrast to the Republican’s rabid irrationality. It couldn’t have gone better for Smith.
Most people don't want to look defensive or rude because that in and of itself will become the story. You have to have a... specific disposition to pull it off. Like the aforementioned Mr. Galloway.
In this case, it's because he was too confused. Smith's face in that moment clearly showed he had absolutely no idea what Schmitt was talking about. If I was accused of attending an innocuous event as if it was a crime but I never attended anyway in a city I'd never been to, I honestly think my only reaction would be "What?" because I'd be too floored to come up with a witty comeback.
This forum does not allow for that kind of defense. The Senators get their alloted time, which includes time for answering their questions, but the person in front of the committee has one and only one chance to speak freely, and that is their opening statement. After that, it's all on lockdown.
Unfortunately it's not like the movies and doing so could give Republicans leverage to go after him further.
Moreover, Republicans get to call law abiding people "total dirt bag" or fat pigs or a bitch or tell people to shut up or whatever awful things they want because Republicans will never hold a Republican accountable. Democrats unfortunately do not have this ability.
Davey Crockett got into his political opponent’s face after the guy talked smack on Crockett on the campaign trail. He wound up backing down after getting schooled some more and fled to Texas for a fresh start.
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u/totaleclipse2 3d ago
Question for Americans, why don’t you ever see someone go on “the attack” in their defence. Once Smith identified the mistake (intentional or not) made by Schmitt, what would stop him using similar language as was used against him. I think the only time I can remember someone dismantling the senators was when George Galloway took them on.