President Felon

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the author's perspective on the conviction of former US President Donald Trump, expressing mixed feelings about the verdict and its potential impact on the country's political divide.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The author's perspective on Trump's conviction

1. What is the author's overall perspective on Trump's conviction?

• The author is not rejoicing over Trump's conviction, as they believe the trial revealed the "venality and squalor of Trump's world" but may not have demonstrated his culpability for crimes that many Americans care about.
• The author argues that while any conviction of a corrupt former president could be seen as a triumph for the rule of law, this particular conviction seems bound to further divide the country.

2. Why does the author not want to see Trump go to prison?

• The author acknowledges that Trump has done immense harm to American democracy, but argues that the worst things he has done may not necessarily be illegal.
• The author is concerned that if Trump loses the next election, half the population will feel the election was "rigged" due to an "unfair prosecution and a spurious conviction."

3. What is the author's view on the real "Trump derangement syndrome"?

• The author argues that the real "Trump derangement syndrome" is to imagine that Trump's "malignantly selfish behavior is remotely acceptable in a president."

[02] The author's concerns about the potential impact of Trump's conviction

1. What are the author's main concerns about the potential impact of Trump's conviction?

• The author is concerned that if Trump loses the next election, half the population will feel the election was "rigged" due to an "unfair prosecution and a spurious conviction."
• The author believes that this is a "social experiment that we shouldn't have been so eager to run," implying that the potential division and unrest caused by the conviction may outweigh the benefits of holding Trump accountable.