| Not too long ago we talked about the entry of convicted traitor Chelsea Manning in the Maryland Senate race this year. My sentiments about the idea of casting a vote for someone who was convicted on that many counts of betraying his nation (and was technically never even pardoned, only having had his sentence commuted) haven’t changed. But there was one other wrinkle in this story which hadn’t even crossed my mind and could make it an even worse idea for Manning. Due to a rather obscure and rarely enforced rule, technically it would be illegal for Manning to run and it could even land him back in prison.
The Daily Caller dug up some information on this subject and reminds us that there’s a rule barring active duty military personnel from engaging in any overt political activity. Running for office would certainly qualify.
Some readers might be shaking their heads at this point and noting that Manning is described pretty much everywhere as a “former Army private.” But that’s not technically true. Manning remains an active duty soldier while his convictions are on appeal, though he is on excess leave and in “a non-pay status.” He still has a military ID card and remains eligible for many military benefits, including medical care. Does that mean he’ll be prosecuted? Unknown but probably unlikely. Exceptions are made to this rule (or it’s simply ignored) on a regular basis. But we have to say “probably” here. Just because a rule is rarely enforced, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be. In order to be completely in the clear Manning would need to have an exemption granted by Mad Dog Mattis. How likely does that sound to you? And then, the decision to prosecute is, “discretionary by the chain of command.” I probably don’t need to remind you who is actually at the very top of that chain of command currently. Does going after Manning in another Court Marshal really sound like something completely beyond the universe of options Trump would consider? Sure, the press would make such a move out as being vindictive and petty. And to be honest, it probably would be. I may not like the fact that Manning had his sentence commuted but the fact is that he did and the rules are the rules. Sending him up on this obscure charge doesn’t sound worth the bother, particularly when his chances of beating Ben Cardin are roughly the same as an egg surviving a fall off the Sears Tower. But this is 2018, folks. I’ve already learned not to try to guess what’s going to happen next. |
Poster Comment:
I hope someone starts a WH petition to demand that he be prosecuted.
#1: Gatlin To: Tooconservative (#0)
I nominate Deckard.
Do I hear a "second"?
Gatlin posted on 2018-01-23 11:46:54 Reply Private Reply
#2: Tooconservative To: Gatlin (#1)
And it would be sweet to undo another of 0dinga's leaving-office executive orders to commute that sentence.
Tooconservative posted on 2018-01-23 12:02:45 Reply Private Reply
#3: Gatlin To: Tooconservative (#2)
Gatlin posted on 2018-01-23 15:22:47 Reply Private Reply
#4: sneakypete To: Tooconservative (#0)
NEVER give your enemy anything they can turn and use against you.
sneakypete posted on 2018-01-23 19:15:35 Reply Private Reply
#5: Tooconservative To: sneakypete (#4)
I think it would create a split in the Dem party.
They haven't all gone SJW by any means. And it only takes a few tens of thousands in PA/WI/MI to flip a presidential election.
In the end, no one wants to go to the mat so some convicted traitor can run for Senate.
Tooconservative posted on 2018-01-24 08:56:56 Reply Private Reply
#6: sneakypete To: Tooconservative (#5)
I almost hope he/she/multiple choice wins so there is a possibility I could see it blowing wet kisses into Chuckie's,Lady Lindsey's,and other closeted homo ears.
sneakypete posted on 2018-01-24 10:03:29 Reply Private Reply