Steve Smith
@stheman.bsky.social
Formerly at Smythe's World. A concerned troll.
If a Democratic President decides, either through extradition or from some unstated Article II power, to allow a non-US jurisdiction to try Hegseth, there will not be significant opposition.
December 2, 2025 at 4:49 AM
If a Democratic President decides, either through extradition or from some unstated Article II power, to allow a non-US jurisdiction to try Hegseth, there will not be significant opposition.
None of them in 2029 will vote to convict.
November 29, 2025 at 4:53 AM
None of them in 2029 will vote to convict.
Yes, that’s why Democrats should oppose letting any administration act in such a manner without consequences.
November 29, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Yes, that’s why Democrats should oppose letting any administration act in such a manner without consequences.
Yep, lots of Noem and Hegseth fans amidst the Democratic caucus.
November 29, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Yep, lots of Noem and Hegseth fans amidst the Democratic caucus.
Where are you going to find Democratic senators who would vote to convict on a charge of making Noem or Hegseth accountable for their actions?
November 29, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Where are you going to find Democratic senators who would vote to convict on a charge of making Noem or Hegseth accountable for their actions?
Who is going to compel a President to obey the law’s provision to spring Hegseth from the docket at The Hague?
November 29, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Who is going to compel a President to obey the law’s provision to spring Hegseth from the docket at The Hague?
Under the Trump-Roberts doctrine, statutory protections like that can be ignored by the President.
November 29, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Under the Trump-Roberts doctrine, statutory protections like that can be ignored by the President.
Not really. If the economy continues to suck (or gets worse), any reticence some have over prosecuting those who machine gun the survivors in the life boat will be irrelevant. If the economy booms, Vance will win anyway.
November 29, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Not really. If the economy continues to suck (or gets worse), any reticence some have over prosecuting those who machine gun the survivors in the life boat will be irrelevant. If the economy booms, Vance will win anyway.
Even if the US isn’t a “signatory”, we can still cooperate with its proceedings. More to the point, thanks to Trump and Justice Roberts, the President now has almost unlimited Article II powers. A Democratic president can so act to deport someone like Trump, Noem, or Hegseth to receive justice.
November 29, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Even if the US isn’t a “signatory”, we can still cooperate with its proceedings. More to the point, thanks to Trump and Justice Roberts, the President now has almost unlimited Article II powers. A Democratic president can so act to deport someone like Trump, Noem, or Hegseth to receive justice.
The problem is that Trump will almost certainly pardon the top members of his Cabinet and armed forces before he leaves office, making them above American law. Some international / non-American intervention will be needed to punish malefactors.
November 29, 2025 at 4:06 AM
The problem is that Trump will almost certainly pardon the top members of his Cabinet and armed forces before he leaves office, making them above American law. Some international / non-American intervention will be needed to punish malefactors.
Vote for Vance and the Republicans then if war crimes are your thing….
November 29, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Vote for Vance and the Republicans then if war crimes are your thing….
No, just the ones who commit provable war crimes who the Trump Admin then refuses to prosecute.
November 29, 2025 at 3:49 AM
No, just the ones who commit provable war crimes who the Trump Admin then refuses to prosecute.
People who oppose US government officials committing war crimes and acting on illegal orders ARE morally superior. If calling for a return to the norms of international law costs the Dems another election, at least they will go down fighting for a righteous principle for once.
November 29, 2025 at 3:42 AM
People who oppose US government officials committing war crimes and acting on illegal orders ARE morally superior. If calling for a return to the norms of international law costs the Dems another election, at least they will go down fighting for a righteous principle for once.
Reposted by Steve Smith
It was never true. The entire Bush administration escaped any consequences for their war crimes.
November 29, 2025 at 3:25 AM
It was never true. The entire Bush administration escaped any consequences for their war crimes.
I’m not sure you can claim that Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris based their losing campaigns on their opposition to an adherence to international law and obeying the laws of war.
November 29, 2025 at 3:33 AM
I’m not sure you can claim that Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris based their losing campaigns on their opposition to an adherence to international law and obeying the laws of war.
Good. Let the GOP be the William Calley party. Perfect issue for the JD Vances of the world to distance themselves from Trump.
November 29, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Good. Let the GOP be the William Calley party. Perfect issue for the JD Vances of the world to distance themselves from Trump.
In any event, the easiest way for an American government official to not get hauled before the ICC is to not commit war crimes in the first place.
November 29, 2025 at 3:25 AM
In any event, the easiest way for an American government official to not get hauled before the ICC is to not commit war crimes in the first place.
For one thing, war criminals might not be punished. That seems pretty important, particularly for a nation that, until recently, claimed to be a “pillar of the international order”.
November 29, 2025 at 3:22 AM
For one thing, war criminals might not be punished. That seems pretty important, particularly for a nation that, until recently, claimed to be a “pillar of the international order”.
A willingness to hand over American war criminals may well be an issue in the 2028 Dem primaries, particularly since the whole rationale for why we don’t participate now is that the American judicial system handles these sorts of problems, which is clearly no longer true.
November 29, 2025 at 3:19 AM
A willingness to hand over American war criminals may well be an issue in the 2028 Dem primaries, particularly since the whole rationale for why we don’t participate now is that the American judicial system handles these sorts of problems, which is clearly no longer true.
While back in D.C., La Malinche of Vancouver is voting for the censure of a Democratic colleague protesting Medicaid cuts: www.texastribune.org/2025/03/06/h...
House censures Rep. Al Green for disrupting Trump speech
Green, a Democrat from Houston, was protesting any planned cuts in Medicaid. He said it was worth a punishment to stand up for those who depend on government benefits.
www.texastribune.org
November 29, 2025 at 1:46 AM
While back in D.C., La Malinche of Vancouver is voting for the censure of a Democratic colleague protesting Medicaid cuts: www.texastribune.org/2025/03/06/h...