Donald Trump Thinks The Extradition Process Is Too Slow, Suggests Just Killing Edward Snowden
from the oh...-so-that-hairdo's-called-an-'asshat' dept
I'm not sure at which point Fox News' "Fox & Friends" decided Donald Trump held a valid opinion on anything beyond bankruptcy proceedings and divorce settlements, but the hosts went ahead and let the man talk (about current affairs, no less).
Trump has no time in his busy life for due process or anything else we Americans take for granted in our justice system. There's only one way to deal with a "spy" like Edward Snowden.
"You know, spies in the old days used to be executed," Trump said. "This guy is becoming a hero in some circles. Now, I will say, with the passage of time, even people that were sort of liking him and were trying to go on his side are maybe dropping out… We have to get him back and we have to get him back fast. It could take months or it could take years, and that would be pathetic."At this point, we're still dealing with the rhetorical. Trump thinks swift justice is the best justice and allowing Snowden to roam the earth somewhat freely is "pathetic." The severely wounded pride of the Republic can't bear the weight of another leak. Trump goes back against his first statement with his followup.
"This guy's a bad guy and, you know, there's still a thing called execution," he went on. "You really have to take a strong… You have thousands of people with access to material like this. We're not going to have a country any longer."It no longer sounds like Trump wants Snowden taken into custody. It sounds more like he'd prefer someone to put out a hit on him. Again, Trump's concern for this glorious nation of ours drives his soulful plea to kill an American citizen who's only been charged with
Of course, Trump doesn't have the power to see this action carried out. But, then again, neither does the government. Snowden isn't a "spy" and hasn't been charged with treason, one of the few federal crimes that includes execution as a punishment option. So, this is just Trump fantasizing about putting Snowden down because he doesn't like what he's done.
As for "not having a country any longer," does this mean Trump is happy with the status quo? The country we have currently is the country we want? Snowden's leaks exposed the government for what it is: a complicit entity that carries water for security agencies and g-men. This is a country whose citizens' rights are being sacrificed on the cross of safety. We hardly have a "country" as it is -- at least not one that would be easily recognized by the founding fathers. And this is what would be saved by the death of Edward Snowden? This is what would be preserved by spilling blood in order to stem the flow previously suppressed information?
If so, who wants it? I know I don't. But if Trump feels this sort of thing is necessary to "protect" the nation, then it's certainly the country he deserves.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: donald trump, ed snowden, edward snowden, execution
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
This shows that Trump doesn't think before he speaks
Does Trump really want the government having all those records on hands so that, some day when someone in power takes aim at a new person or threat, it can follow a trail back to him and accuse him of supporting terrorists?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Yeah, if you have a dissident causing problems for you, the solution is state-sponsored summary execution! That will stop anyone from agreeing with what he did!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Breaking News
It will be called "You're Terminated" and will feature a different weapon each week. Brought to you by the NRA and a bunch of other douche bags.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The guy is clearly saying he want to solve issues by force.
Maybe the people should put a hit of the fucker.
What would happen to anybody who tried to raise money to "kill Trump Kickstarter" or "Trumps must die" campaign?
If he was hit by and IED I wouldn't care, you know there is always the IED option to deal with fuckers like that.
I fully expect my comment to raise concerns and if I ever get traced, I would be treated as a terrorist but D. fucker Trump apparently is above the law and can say that crap on live air with no consequences?
That shit ain't right, it isn't right at all.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Um, yes, they are. It's called targeted killing.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
>Um, yes, they are. It's called targeted killing.
United States Bill of Rights, Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
The government cannot simply decide to kill someone without violating the constitution. Not that that seems to bother them very much these days.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
written by lobbyists,
rubber stamped by elected officials,
withheld from the general public.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
So, would Trump be fine with the same treatment for him?
Sure we COULD try to get Trump arrested for alleged fraud, but Trump with all his millions could drag a trial out for years with all the lawyers he'd hire. It would be much easier and quicker to avenge the people he defrauded if we executed him with an armed drone, regardless of if he's in America or some foreign country on a supposed 'business' trip.
I'm sure Trump would have no problem with that once so ever! After all, if due process isn't for Snowden why should it be for anyone else?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Breaking News
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re:
Really? Explain the NSA.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
In 1989 he financed a full page ad in a newspaper calling for death sentence for 5 kids who supposedly raped a woman in a park.
Turned out they were innocent...
Here's an article about it:
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/01/nyregion/angered-by-attack-trump-urges-return-of-the-death-pen alty.html
http://thegrio.com/2013/04/23/donald-trump-tweets-then-deletes-what-were-central-park-f ive-doing-in-the-park/
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
It is sad for our country
It is a gift to instantly deduce or intuit all of the facts and to instantly know the answer to everything and to instantly act accordingly.
That is a man I would trust with a big red button. To facilitate access, they should get rid of that football, and launch protocols and just give Trump a remote he can carry in his pocket. (It would be important that the remote has a large "Trump" label on it.)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
/GrammarNazi
Also, agreed. The US couldn't care less about the Bill.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Breaking News
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Thanks to the Republican-initiated Patriot Act.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Trumped
The USA is its Constitution. Any government organization that tries to skirt our basic rights is committing treason. No Exceptions.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
What kind of out of the blue assumption is that, do you feel because you do, that ALL AMERICANS ARE NOT HAPPY, or at least accepting of how your country is run ?
I doubt everyone is 100% happy all the time, and some are unhappy most of the time, but to make a claim that Trump is "happy with the status quo" or NOT happy with some particular things.. Is just stupid, overreaching tripe..
Just what we expect from Masnick and his ilk.
We hardly have a "country" as it is -- at least not one that would be easily recognized by the founding fathers.
that's your opinion Tim !!! it might be true it would not be easily recognized by the founding fathers, after all they lived at a different time than us, but even in their day there was spying, terrorists and knowing "things change" the founding fathers in their wisdom created the Supreme Court, to do that recognition for them.
So NSA as phone companies for your phone bill, and you feel that gives you cause to state We hardly have a "country" as it is
What a freaking joke..
But well done for keeping Snowman in the news and not his message, (whatever that was!!!)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Breaking News
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
maybe you should just shoot him..
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
Your colors are showing.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Troll
Barfing all over the place again
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
the government is making it about the messenger and not the message. and apparently, you are trying to do the same exact thing..
your colors keep showing, darryl.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
You're not helping matters, Tim
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
Australia dropped plans for snooping. Yeah, snooping like the NSA would have done!
First George Orwell's works are in the Australian public domain, and now this. Infuriates you to live in a country of filthy thieving freetards, doesn't it?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Breaking News
Nonetheless, its been such a long time since the bill of rights (and its 1st amendment) actually meant something. There's no point to having a constitution if nobody abides it, or even knows what it says... the days when people actually cared are becoming a distant memory.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Breaking News
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: This shows that Trump doesn't think before he speaks
Khodorkovsky
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
You're obviously not concerned about it.
Though if I remember correctly, you're willing to accept a subpar government.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: You're not helping matters, Tim
*slow clap for you*
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Breaking News
Man Darryl...do you even try to think before you speak?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re:
Probably wouldn't work. It would just bounce harmlessly off of his hair.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
You are fucking nuts to think this is RvD issue where one party is 'better' than the other.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Breaking News
People mock him relentlessly for it - also free speech.
I feel like your last line has to be a joke. It is right? I mean Donald is the one literally suggesting that we have guns so people like snowden should watch what they say so that has to be an intentionally humorous juxtaposition... right?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Breaking News
Getting away with stupid opinions without criticism is his lifeblood.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re:
Actually, the US government doesn't seem to care much about the Constitution. Period. If it did, you wouldn't have CBP checkpoints 20 miles from the US-Mexico border and you wouldn't have CBP officials inspecting vehicles and asking for documentation when leaving the US.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Every poll is showing that most Americans are not happy with the direction the country is taking, so Tim is on solid ground here.
That's not the role of the Supreme Court at all. The issue of changing circumstances is addressed with the process to amend the Constitution.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Breaking News
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
I Used to Like Donald Trump
[ link to this | view in thread ]
just to play devils advocate ...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: just to play devils advocate ...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: just to play devils advocate ...
What I am saying is that he falls short of hero.
A hero stands, he does not run.
And if the hero falls to tyranny it's our responsibility to ensure that the tree of liberty does not wither ....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Constitution free zone
http://simplefactsplainarguments.blogspot.com/2013/02/dhs-establishes-constitution-free-zones. html
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: just to play devils advocate ...
Up until someone can convince me, show me without a shadow of a doubt, that Snowden committed an unpardonable and heinous act, what he has just uncovered) in my book, is an act of patriotism and heroism and it took a hell of a lot of courage to do it.
I refer you to: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-23/u-s-surveillance-is-not-aimed-at-terrorists.html
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: just to play devils advocate ...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: just to play devils advocate ...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: just to play devils advocate ...
A hero runs when running is the best way to further his goals. I don't know if this was Snowden's calculus or not, but as soon as he's in the hands of the US authorities, then all of the attention will be focused on him, the messenger, and away from the real problems that he revealed.
It would accomplish the exact opposite of what he said he wants to accomplish. Therefore running is the right thing to do.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Breaking News
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
It isn't actually illegal to advocate violence, etc. as such. You can advocate violence in such a way that it becomes illegal (assault, starting a riot, etc.), but the context is critical.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Breaking News
He's horrible at it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
I think you midded the word "yet" at the end of that.
The wording they've been using is "Aiding enemies of the USA", this wording is a direct reference to the charge of treason, so they may be keeping their options open.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: just to play devils advocate ...
A stupid hero stands and takes a fall for no good reason.
A smart hero gets the hell out of town.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: It is sad for our country
[ link to this | view in thread ]
This means that Donald Trump should be arrested then bailed, and if (I hope not) something happens to Snowden, then Trump would be a suspect in possible paying someone to have him assassinated.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Breaking News
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Trumped Up
How can you charge someone with a crime when we don't even know what crime he committed other than to let us all in on a massive government spying program that they've kept under the radar for years?
Have you heard anyone in the media speak out, on behalf of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, that the NSA trampled all over?
We're all focusing on Snowden and forgetting the government just overstepped its bounds, on a massive scale.
This should be the real story.
-------------------------------
The Fourth Amendment (Amendment IV) to the United States Constitution is the part of the Bill of Rights which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, along with requiring any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause. It was adopted as a response to the abuse of the writ of assistance, which is a type of general search warrant, in the American Revolution. Search and seizure (including arrest) should be limited in scope according to specific information supplied to the issuing court, usually by a law enforcement officer, who has sworn by it. The Fourth Amendment applies to the states by way of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Contents
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Constitution free zone
DHS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Constitution free zone
DHS ... Hypocrisy much? o_O
[ link to this | view in thread ]
trump
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]