Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

H2O Man

(78,539 posts)
Fri Dec 26, 2025, 06:54 PM 21 hrs ago

The Storm

"They had forgotten, if they ever knew, that the Constitution is designed to be a law for rulers and people alike at all times and under all circumstances; and that no doctrine involving more pernicious consequences to the commonweal has ever been invented by the wit of man than the notion that any of its provisions can be suspended by the President for any reason whatsoever.

“On the contrary, they apparently believed that the President is above the Constitution, and has the autocratic power to suspend its provisions if he decides in his unreviewable judgment that his actions in so doing promotes his own political interests or the welfare of the nation. As one of them testified before the Senate Select Committee, they believed that the President has the autocratic power to suspend the Fourth Amendment whenever he imagines that some indefinable aspect of national security is involved.”
Senator Sam J. Ervin, The Senate Watergate Report, Carroll & Graf, 2005, page 13.


There is an old saying that the cover-up is worse than the crime which became popular in the post-Watergate era. I can think of no greater example of an old saying being wrong. For the series of crimes that are collectively known as “Watergate” were far more dangerous to our country than was the cover-up – despite more of the Nixon administration were incarcerated for the cover-up than the original crimes.

The genesis of Watergate began in 1970, with the infamous Huston Plan. It spread in June of '71, when the USSC ruled 6 to 3 that the NY Times could publish the “Pentagon Papers.” Concerns about “leaks” led to wiretapping within the administration, and the formation of “the plumbers.” In June of '72, operatives connected to Nixon's re-election campaign were arrested for the break-in to the DNC's headquarters in the Watergate complex.

It would not be until the summer of '74 when Nixon finally resigned in disgrace. The 26 months between the break-in and resignation seemed to last forever. I remember the frustration that my generation experienced, believing at that time that Nixon was the very worst man who could ever hold the office of American president. Lately, of course, we experience that same frustration. I, for one, find myself thinking of one of Jimi's lyrics: “I have been here before, in days of old. And that is why I'm so concerned.”

Trying to hide the Epstein scandal files is similar to the White House refusing to release Nixon's tapes. The republicans in DC were as entrenched as the maga today, up until the House committee voted on articles of impeachment. I could go on and on, but will instead point out that the cast of criminal characters in that era were of superior capability to the current den of thieves. And the USSC was more just.

Just as Nixon had a prolonged mental melt-down as more and more evidence surfaced, the felon is decaying. In November of '73, he told a gathering of journalists at Disney World in Florida that, “in all my years of public life, I have never obstructed justice. People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook.” But more and more people recognized he was a crook.

The felon's message on Christmas made “I am not a crook” sound like the Gettysburg Address, despite no one mistaking Nixon for a stable genius. Rather, one can assess these types of rants as an accurate measure of mental decay accelerating under pressure. It comes at a time when friends and associates find it difficult to pretend everything is under control.

Like the felon, Nixon only had one friend in adult life, Charles “Bebe” Rebozo, a Florida banker. Thus, even among the republicans in the House and Senate, no one actually liked him. Any support of Nixon was entirely based upon self-interests in their political careers. At a certain point, various republicans would peel away. The felon, of course, has only had one friend in his adult life, Jeffrey Epstein, who laundered money through banks. The felon and the pre-dead Epstein both recognized the other was a snake. The post-dead Epstein's ghost is the files that have the felon twisting slowly in the wind.

There were some mighty talented investigators uncovering Nixon's crimes. Though the felon has tried to fire all of the talented prosecutors who had any connection with investigations, two things stand out: first, there still are some in the DOJ, and second, those who have been fired are not powerless. For example, the current DOJ was aware of the million-plus documents in the New York office, but hoped no one else was. But their luck didn't hold, making it so they announced this “find” after a fired former prosecutor reminded them. If they had not, it would have been “leaked” to the media.

Speaking of the Comey family and associates, there are a number of people that the felon cannot fire that are coordinating with staff in some Democrats' offices to expel the felon from the Oval Office. This includes an effort to make Jack Smith's second report public. This effort will gain steam in 2026, much in the manner that the Epstein's victims' campaign did this year. It is now a matter of how many republicans get on board. Those opting to not run for re-election are likely the most likely to turn. They dislike the felon, and blame him for what will happen in the mid-terms.

The release of more Epstein scandal files will provide more reasons for all but the most malignant of the felon's supporters to turn on him. Not all of them will publicly oppose him, they will not lift a finger to help him. Look for other leaks on things such as Mr. Smith's report, since there are copies of various evidence elsewhere, that he used to build his foundation. These will flood the political environment as November approaches.

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Storm (Original Post) H2O Man 21 hrs ago OP
We're all dying for the felon to be exposed in full Saoirse9 21 hrs ago #1
All we have been H2O Man 16 hrs ago #5
Beatles Anthology Saoirse9 16 hrs ago #7
Interesting. H2O Man 16 hrs ago #10
So despite all our laws and Constitution, we really can't expel a president bucolic_frolic 20 hrs ago #2
It's not fast. H2O Man 16 hrs ago #6
I have always thought that the ultimate lesson of Watergate is that PoindexterOglethorpe 20 hrs ago #3
Right. H2O Man 16 hrs ago #8
Nice essay. usonian 19 hrs ago #4
Very good. H2O Man 16 hrs ago #9

Saoirse9

(3,920 posts)
1. We're all dying for the felon to be exposed in full
Fri Dec 26, 2025, 07:13 PM
21 hrs ago

It is maddening to me that we have to wait until 2026 for the full story to emerge.

The release of more Epstein scandal files will provide more reasons for all but the most malignant of the felon's supporters to turn on him. Not all of them will publicly oppose him, they will not lift a finger to help him. Look for other leaks on things such as Mr. Smith's report, since there are copies of various evidence elsewhere, that he used to build his foundation. These will flood the political environment as November approaches.


How can it be that we know how evil the felon is, but the full extent of his evil remains unknown to the general public?

Some of what has been released through Epstein files is truly horrific. That he raped so many young girls, then threatened to kill their families if they sought help. That one young girl had a baby and trump saw to it that the infant was thrown into Lake Michigan. That one young girl was killed when she sought help.

He's so depraved, how is this not more well known?

H2O Man

(78,539 posts)
5. All we have been
Fri Dec 26, 2025, 11:55 PM
16 hrs ago

asking is for the cards to be put on the table. We've made it clear -- anyone who participated in the sex crimes be identified, no matter if they are a Democrat, republican, third party, dead or alive. This goes way beyond "politics" ......it is a matter of justice and the rule of law. If there is someone in your community who sexually abuses underage teens or children, arrest them. It doesn't matter what church they go to, their economic status, their ethnic background. No! A healthy community wants offenders to be incarcerated.

Now that I've said that, I must add that I am delighted, as a Democrat, at the hand we were dealt. So the above paragraph is what I think. It's what I say to old friends who voted for him, but are recognizing the felon is not who they thought he was. But how I am feeling is sometimes different than what I think. For example, when I was saying the above paragraph to an old friend in the grocery store, I felt like saying, "I warned you that he was a sociopath." But I don't need to, because in the fog of their dim awareness, they are starting to see it coming into focus.

If it was up to me, the inhabitants of the DU community and others would take the time to see the new, expanded version of the 1995 documentary season of the Beatles Anthology while relaxing, maybe having a drink or a hit off a pipe. Laugh. Dance to the music. Sing along with the greatest group of musicians in recorded history. And when people get to the part where Nixon is trying to kick John Lennon out of the country, come back and again read the OP.

Saoirse9

(3,920 posts)
7. Beatles Anthology
Sat Dec 27, 2025, 12:15 AM
16 hrs ago

Was amazing. Just seeing how much the four of them loved each other. And listening to music I hadn’t heard in decades (some of it). I still smile just thinking of it. They have brought and continue to bring joy to millions.

About a third of the country are brainwashed. I ran into a local professor at the gym. He said it boiled down to 2 kinds of trumpers. Evil, and stupid. I said that so many seemed brainwashed, so I was thinking there might be a 3rd category. And he said no they’re not brainwashed they’re stupid. I had no argument.

I had Christmas with a beloved aunt. My uncle passed 11 years ago and she will never stop mourning. I can’t blame her, my uncle was a saint. I was worried about 2 other guests because sometimes her friends are trumpers. Turned out, they were worried we would be trumpers. It was a delightful surprise and they were such pleasant companions for a few hours.

Made me feel less alone, as I live in trump country. None of my friends are trumpers but some relatives are.

It’s all out there about trump & Epstein, trump selling our intelligence to our enemies, raping young girls, probably murdering a few. Trying to steal an election. He’s as evil as he is ugly.

I hope all come to pass as you say, but I am tired of waiting. Aren’t you?

H2O Man

(78,539 posts)
10. Interesting.
Sat Dec 27, 2025, 12:35 AM
16 hrs ago

It isn't impossible to hypnotize/brainwash a stupid person. Under many conditions, it is actually easier to, than an intelligent person. Yet intelligence is not immunity, and thus we have witnessed a group delusion system infecting our society. One cannot build a wall to keep that from manifesting in ths country.

In such circumstances, a sociopath can obtain social-political party. When he does, his gravitational pull will always bring the most cruel anti-social personality disordered in close, as the group to carry out his orders. Yet they influence him to become more cruel and destructive in an attempt to both consolidate power and feed their lusts for hurting others.

This has been a terrible era in our country's history. But we will come through it.

bucolic_frolic

(53,849 posts)
2. So despite all our laws and Constitution, we really can't expel a president
Fri Dec 26, 2025, 07:44 PM
20 hrs ago

until the political winds - majorities - turn against him. No man is above the law but the law can't be made to apply in the short run.

H2O Man

(78,539 posts)
6. It's not fast.
Sat Dec 27, 2025, 12:11 AM
16 hrs ago

It was created by the Founding Fathers to be a slow pace for impeachment. That was so that the process would not be abused, such as impeaching a president for lying under oath about an episode of oral sex. Having a longer process protects against heat of passion, emotional influences. It is imperfect, as is our legal system. But I should note that in his 1973 classic, "The Imperial Presidency," author Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., made a strong case that the original intent was that impeachment be used more often.

The other option, as I know that you know, is Amendment 25. It is intended for emergencies. I think we are well beyong a mere emergency now. But I am aware that the cast of characters surrounding the felon remain intent upon protecting him. I do think that several are aware he is out of control, but are not willing to say it openly, because they want to be in the best position to replace him, be in after the 2028 election or before.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(28,436 posts)
3. I have always thought that the ultimate lesson of Watergate is that
Fri Dec 26, 2025, 07:46 PM
20 hrs ago

no one is above the law, not even the President.

Perhaps I was wrong.

H2O Man

(78,539 posts)
8. Right.
Sat Dec 27, 2025, 12:17 AM
16 hrs ago

One would hope. Being young at that time, I remember thinking that. But then came Reagan-Bush and Iran-Contra. Then bush/Cheney, and the Plame scandal. It was as if the hard lessons of Watergate were forgotten.

usonian

(23,356 posts)
4. Nice essay.
Fri Dec 26, 2025, 08:52 PM
19 hrs ago

I have posted that evidence will appear from many sources.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220810679

Including Senator Wyden's "follow the money trail"

The depth of this crime is astounding. No doubt, illicit sex, blackmail and money laundering on a scale that is probably the largest in history, involving world leaders, business tycoons snd maybe even a handful of Supreme Court members. Why bend and break the constitution? Powerful reasons.

A prince has already been de-throned, and that just the start.

Many believe that Trump was not just a "John" but co-owner of the ring until his "partner" got too risky.

He would benefit the most, politically and financially from blackmail.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220735608

It's too juicy to hide.

As for Nixon, it is said that in his madness, he wandered the halls of the White House talking to portraits of past presidents. Trump defaces them. A new layer of evil and derangement.

I hope that the evidence "deposes" him before more Epstein "wag the dog" wars are launched.

He is haunted.



"Great Jeffrey's Ghost!"

H2O Man

(78,539 posts)
9. Very good.
Sat Dec 27, 2025, 12:23 AM
16 hrs ago

The felon was operating in the "beauty contest/models" industry in coordination with Epstein and others. Those provided Epstein and others access to the numbers of victims they required to coordinate a system covering much of the globe. There were a number of ways they laundered money. The felon tended to do so in dealing real estate.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The Storm