Thousands of words will be written about just how bad this, and frankly most, decisions of this Supreme Court is. But what I want to know is why for Trump? Why have so many people who were once thought of as honorable (well except maybe Thomas, Alito and Kavanaugh) prostituted themselves for a garbage person like Trump? I get the desire for an authoritarian ruler by the billionaires and the religious fanatics, but Trump? Surely there were other men (and it would never be a woman) who could fill the role without all of the baggage that Trump brings with him.
It’s all about history’s cycles. History repeats itself. For a quick total immersion of all the past historic fun, sign up for newsletters of Legume, Robert Reich , Joyce Vance, Mary Trump and Heather Cox Richardson (and also if you want an accelerated get smart why all this nonsense is occurring) It’s like a art mosaic or perfectly fitting jig saw puzzle. Toss in bedside reading of the birth of Nazi Gernany in the 1930’s and one will really get the picture.
By the way, pls spare us. No more debates unless another rule added that in one’s allotted time the candidate MUST directly and fully stay on point and answer/ respond to the question. ( I’d not it brings forth a hair trigger mute). Trump redirected the question 90% of the time and not held accountable by CNN other than “ you now have 32 seconds, 82 seconds.. to answer the question” where are and were the pundits on this aspect of debate failings? Why do producers in the media invite these question dodgers for interviews. I need a strong drink.
Agreed! I belong to all of the forums you mentioned and they are invaluable for parsing through the static and getting real facts, not pretty words and spun fiction.
It's not just for Trump - Alito gave up the game in that recording that came out a few weeks ago. It's an ideological war with these folks, driven in their supreme belief in what they think a fantasy novel should dictate to everyone And I'm not talking about "Atlas Shrugged."
I absolutely believe that Alito pines for a return to 16th century Spain with a dimwit monarch being led around by the Church. He himself would assume the role of Grand Inquisitor personally torturing heretics and overseeing autos da fe.
Without doubt, there is a large Catholic contingent within the fascist takeover of this nation. It is there for all to see. Insidious and blatant. SCOTUS, for example, and the lawyers who put them there. Your point is well taken with respect to the connection between the Inquisition and the now completed coup. Both lead to the same political and religious ends.
all the fanatical so called Christian groups united to get the Rs in power to remove women's rights-- making divorce illegal, suffrage, BC etc are next up.
MAGA Mike Already said he will not certify for Biden-- just kick it up to the SC of TRUMP- the SCOT.
Excellent question. I believe that it was serendipitous that Trump happened along at the right time in history and nothing more. It could have been anyone even though he is a spectacularly poor example. The underpinnings of decay in our historical democracy has been progressing for at least a century or more interrupted with limited periods of unbelievable patriotic loyalty to the flag. The rhetoric used has become more existential in the last 50 or 60 years so society has been inoculated against viewing parties not their own as nothing but "other" or enemies. The turn toward populism appears inevitable, and as long as people remain susceptible to the rhetoric of fear, potential loss, and grievance the slide toward authoritariansism will accelerate.
Because this movement is much bigger than Trump. Trump is the celebrity magnet for the uneducated voters who will layer in the needed support to get this authoritarian agenda in place. He is an undesirable but necessary tool. Once this coalition of hard right thinkers are in power, it will be too late for the American people to have any say in a profoundly altered American system of government. SCOTUS just showed us what is ahead.
The six justices are all right wing Catholics. They think this country should be run by religious nuts and specifically Catholic. Bill Barr is a Catholic dominionist, just one of many in Trump's orbit. As an atheist, I don't expect to do well if the worst happens.
NOW what have you got to say? Was I not right all along? for at least 9 years?
The six Grand Inquisitors have won. Bannon will emerge from jail as Hitler did brandishing a new manifesto, Mein Reich!
Howdy Doody with a Hitler complex will ride off into the sunset to his new hotel in Saudi Arabia, his mission accomplished.
The rest of us will languish in concentration camps or praying in churches to save our skins (as the Spanish and Portuguese Jews did, until even that stopped working).
As Hans Landa said: "Ooooh! That's a bingo! .... How fun!"
Indeed! A first modest step precisely targeted to check and balance a branch of government gone rogue would be to direct Treasury to sequester all funding for supreme court salaries and operations. It would be a crime, but so what? Communicating with a cabinet member and department head are presumptively part of his duties; and no reference to the criminal law may be made in determining whether it was an "official" or personal act. Though he might be impeached for abusing his oath of office, he cannot be convicted if Dems support him. The time is now for some hardball pushback!
Garbage in - garbage out. Plus Donnie gave what they wanted.
You made me think of Grover Norquist’s quote (below). The legislation is now written by the groups who fund the corrupt justices. Just about all, if not all of the justices have connections to the Federalists Society, Heritage Foundation - the Project 2025 fans. All of the ‘conservatives’ were pre-approved by them to get to this point. You could say a small circle of friends have the court system by the throat.
“… The leadership now for the modern conservative movement for the next 20 years will be coming out of the House and the Senate. . . . [We just need to] pick a Republican with enough working digits to handle a pen to become the president of the United States . . . [and] to sign the legislation that has already been prepared.” Grover Norquist
Peter, I can't help but think that they champion TFG precisely because of his attack dog style that has served him so well all these many decades! He stiffed contractors and workers, and though he was at times made to pay, he dragged his feet and paid only a fraction of what should have been his penalty. Guilty of violating fair housing laws? Again, when paying out penalties, TFG posted net gains. In other words, he has beaten the system, and now, in a most spectacular way, he has again won despite his craven character.
I agree, to a point, but the cases in NYC show us that without Roy Cohn and without the protection of the NY Mob, he can be beaten if the prosecutor does his job. Even in the face of the 6 theocrats in robes and Loose Cannon, Jack Smith can rid us of this cancer.
Many, many politicians are also garbage people. Some hide it better. But there is a class of voters who are also trash and who have dreamed of a thug president who will rule with a Trumpian mentality. Having a scumbag for a president validates these people.
And you're right - it will be many years before we have a woman as president.
Trump has the support of his personality cult MAGA-- no others have the cult following & MSM bends over backward to spin everything Trump does into gold! SC of TRUMP -the SCOT & Rs seized the momentum.
This is an opportunity for Biden to clean house in the Congress of all the insurrectionist supporters and get the government back to the business of running the country. It is a a glass half empty that can be turned into a glass half full. Biden may be subject to law suits but his oath of office and duty to his country is to protect against all enemies foreign and domestic...never saw a more obvious display than that of certain congressional members that are gumming up the machinery. They seem to be the root of all our problems having been corrupted by big money interests.
At Present he has the enforcement option both legally and realistically... but that option may soon disappear as Trump and associates, are and have been concerned that they will be forcibly, held accountable and loose their option to "uses/support" Trump and thusly the Project 2025 program, by the legitimacy that "The Congress" provides. Once congress is no longer a corrupted support structure things will be much tougher for those that want to hide in the background of this takeover plot.
His time to act is running out and he needs to grab onto this short window of perhaps 93% last opportunity to take back control of the country through the channels available to him. The Congress I believe needs to be the first step and is the most obvious step as the majority of the country is now fully aware of the idiocy involved in having a "pool guy" put in charge of the FDA simply because "...he's really really smart about chemicals and that sort of stuff...I mean he knows what to use to keep the pool water clean and you know that's really important to know when you..."
Even Americans without a college degree have more common sense than we give them credit for... but they need to not be uncontrollably bombarded by nonsensical misinformation from wealthy individual owned media that pander to their worst fears that create an alternate reality that creates fear and mistrust which leads to the chaos that leads us to where we are now. They know better than to take their tractor or lawn mower to a dentist for repairs. Given the scenario of life under a crazed dictator vs a kindly ole grandfather who is somewhat effective? They know that sacrificing your life for your country while in battle during WWII doesn't make you a "loser".
They just need to know that this is what he truly believes. They understand treason and the difference between truth and lies and those that lie need to be held accountable...they just need to know what's true and who is actually lying to them and why. And if there aren't enough Americans anymore that can tell the difference...does it actually matter?
What a bunch of literal horseshit. This Country has turned into a joke. Trump has managed to twist the Supreme Court to do his bidding, half the Country has lost their mind and believes the lies of the whacko, I think someone snuck something into half the water supply in America. I don't understand how anyone can let Trump, who is the worst President we have ever had by any standards lead them by the nose. America used to be a great Country and under the Leadership of President Biden our reputation was being restored now SCOTUS just proved they are nothing more than Trump’s Lackeys and that their interests lie only where the money is. I am truly disgusted.
Correct- MSM is feeding them lies too. & Sinclair owns most of the legacy channels on TV. More propaganda- they have done & are continuing to do psy ops on the minds of Americans - information warfare- starting with Fox, traitor Flynn & all the R traitors in Congress, on the Sunday shows spewing lies
I don’t understand why all the traitors in Congress were never removed after Jan6.
One reason: MSM, supporting a fascist agenda; Another is AG GOP M GARLAND who is a lifelong Republican operative- hope he’s fired in the next Biden admin- along with FBI WRAY & Louie(don’t call him a saboteur of the PO) DeJoy.
Sigh that’s why I subscribe to Popular information.
Judd Isn’t controlled by monied interests; isn’t afraid of the right wing cabal & tells US the facts.
(Hope he dies a deep dive into AG GOP GARLAND at some point).
Didn’t our forefathers fight a revolution to get away from a king? Now our presidents can act as kings. Is the next step for him to claim to be descended from God?!
I’m so glad my parents, who lived through the Great Depression and Workd War II, aren’t around to see this.
We're deep in the woods now but the game isn't over.
One thing to keep in mind is no matter what advantages they give themselves, the criminal and corrupt republicans also have a boatload of hubris and a history of incompetence. Think Comer, Jordon and the rest of the criminally corrupt clowns.
Jan 6th should have worked but it did not. Why? incompetently corrupt criminals. They will screw us all but only if we let them. If we don't fight back while we still can. Now is time to put president Biden back into office and now I am quite sure the president recognizes what is happening here and what must be done to counter the corrupt judges who lied about what they would hold inviolate, then violated precisely what they said they would uphold in their initial interviews when being vetted for their lifetime appointments.
Major money people have their thumbs on the scales. Established "authorities" such as MSNBC, The NYT, WSJ, Washington Post all bleating the same, sad, craven song. Give up. trmp won. The game is over.
This does give me hope (despite my most recent comment!) as I think the media and the fascists don't understand, see, hear, the huge grass roots support, efforts and enthusiasm to right the wrongs here, electorally. Maybe it's not about marches and flags. Of course that could all be anecdotal, and it's easy to think while there's battles to still be won, the overall war is lost, for at least a generation.
I really try to practice "stoic optimism" but damn is it hard to do...
How is it NOT over; just what do you expect from the Dems? From and article published by Axios this morning:
Democrats vow to get "aggressive" with SCOTUS after Trump ruling
Reality check: Even if Democrats win the House in November, they would have little power to stop a Republican-controlled White House and Senate from tightening their grip on the court, some lawmakers noted.
There is "very little we can do except elect a Democrat [as president] who will appoint vacancies if Democrats hold [the] Senate," Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) told Axios.
Proposals to create ethics rules on justices, expand the court and impose term limits, some of which lack universal support even from Democrats, are "all good issues but aspirational," Cohen added.
I was a bit horrified this morning to read that the Pope had suggested Ukraine surrender to the Russians.
My Latvian friend has first-hand experience of life under Putin. In 1940, the Russian army rolled into Latvia where they created misery and poverty, deporting many Latvians to Russian prisons, until 1991 when Latvia regained their independence.
So if the Trump/GOP-led war on democracy wins Ukraine, and potentially the US election, I am certain it will be very ugly for us. Does anyone think the GOP will protect American citizens? No, they will only protect themselves as they become even more beholden to the Putin empire. And all this because some Americans are so stupid as to believe and elect a criminal who is in hock to a foreign government. Gee...I guess he had good reason to not reveal his taxes."
And now you want to give up with so much time left in which to effect positive change?
Thank you Adam. I'm still here...just feeling every bit of my 70 years today. Seems like I've been fighting with my government since 1970 when Nixon allowed American students to be shot on campus. I appreciate your comment and want to let you know that I did reach out to AOC's office to offer support of her proposal to draft articles of impeachment for SCOTUS, in addition to donating to her re-election campaign...because she's a fighter, she gives me hope. I am also happy to see that Senator Klobuchar is going to try getting Trump banned from any office based on the 14th Amendment. You're right...we have to not give up.
Ukranians and Poles have experiences under Russian occupation. It’s one reason despite discomfort from their own history the Poles have stepped up bigley. Poles took displaced Ukranians into their homes; provide education and employment.
I know of a small family run company that does that. One of the Ukrainian women was notified in the last week or 2 that her husband (in Ukraine) was killed.
We can also encourage our President to TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE of the extraordinary powers just bestowed on Presidents by this UTTERLY CORRUPT SCOTUS.
If you feel we should mourn the demise of our Democracy at the hand of these scoundrels, wear a black armband, write to every Republican Congressperson to let them know how you feel and VOTE, declaring that the election is rigged unless Democrats win. Why not: It seems to be working for their orange 'jesus'.
I know this is not how I would prefer to win, but you know, since there seems to be no other way, you have to ask yourself; Does it pay to be meek? He could change a lot of things for the better and then put things back the way they were.
Doesn't get much worse than this. Wish I weren't old enough to remember the shock and mockery which greeted Nixon's claim that "when the president does it, that means it not illegal."
Here is the result of DJT's rise to popularity and power: a nation of lawlessness. SCOTUS has succumbed to the warning of the argument before the court by a lawyer representing Mississippi when he explained the danger of Republicans never winning another office. I vaguely remember Justice Roberts voicing that he understood that argument. The Republican unpopularity necessitated unusual favoritism and unfair gerrymandering. Do those 5 men all believe in the conspiracies Ginny Thomas revealed in her call to Mark Meadows? Amy C Barrett seems to think independently of them even though she voted for this peculiar official immunity. Those who do not study the law or follow the "logic" of the conservatives on the court now tend to follow like sheep.
Any and all ways that can act in ways to counter this abuse of power must be ulized and supported. Meanwhile Biden must continue to appoint judges for all open seats.
Now is the time for Biden to use the MAGA SCOTUS ruling against them. Biden should take that absolute power granted him - arrest Trump for treason and remove the offending Supreme Court Justices. Biden may sacrifice his ethical standing, but in the end the American Constitution and Democracy might survive.
Yeah, nothing preserves the Constitution and Democracy like behaving as a dictator. I’m sure there would no pushback or outbreaks of violence following the use of “absolute power.” Certainly not the attempts at civil war the righties promote as ‘god’s will’. All the GOP dominated DOJ would hop on the dictator Biden train; joined by the military, etc.
Nice touch - “He may be sacrificed but …” I can tell people are giving these proposals a lot of thought. /S
Or maybe there are provocateurs taking advantage of our fears. Either way, it’s DOA.
Breathtaking indeed! We have a little over 4 months to get something done, and it's time to call out the Democrats for their inaction, unless they are also too blinded by money and power to act on our behalf. If Biden has immunity, can he not consult with the lower court to determine the measures available to him to fix this mess? SCOTUS has demonstrated they are not following the Constitution, so expand the Court to stop this madness? Use the Justice Department to arrest all the people in Congress who participated in the insurrection? Is it time for Navy Seals to round up these traitors? Just what can be done beyond the angry comments?
You are so correct, Joyce. SCOTUS has gone rogue and is following the wishes of a madman, not our Constitution. That places them outside of the Law.
Those who voted to kill Democracy by giving Trump dictatorial powers need to be impeached and removed and new Justices elected. I would prefer a term limit of 10 years and then they are out. and Yes, the Court could be expanded. after all it has not always been 9.
To be fair, in this medium, venting about the blatant Injustice done to the American People and our Democracy is pretty much all we can do. But yes, there are other ways, and even if we *usually* deplore violence, the Putin camp may force us into it and we may have to defend our country when it is assaulted like this.
It's important to understand how and why we're at this point with this SCOTUS - how Obama didn't get his SCOTUS pick (and that's not McConnell fault), and what ultimately put Trump in office and enabled him to put THREE extremists on the bench.
And we're poised to continue this horror: Alito and Thomas are 75, Soto-Mayor turned 70 last Tuesday. And that's just the Supreme Court. Trump appointed 54 federal appellate judges in 4 years (Obama 53 in 8) which we've seen the results of THAT.
So if Biden AND the Dems don't take the presidency AND the Senate...but sure, tell me again how both sides are the same, or not "progressive" enough, ffs.
If the GOP deserves credit for one thing it's they NEVER lost site of their ultimate goals the last 30 years. The discipline and power is as impressive as it is horrifying.
Do we though, have our vote left? After this ruling I wouldn't put it past the SCOTUS to overturn the November election if Trump doesn't win. They aren't going to stop with this decision, they need their puppet king installed in the White House for the far right to take over the country.
Some bunch of geniuses. Have the ‘conservative’ Justices considered that if a president has absolute power they are not needed. At best a dictator who uses them as a prop. At worst a dictator who … well, we know a wannabe who keeps putting out retribution lists.
Jim, if you think we have our vote left, I have a bridge to sell you in some desert somewhere: They will invalidate as many votes as possible, just like they tried to do in 2020.
But now, they have even more allies in Congress, and trust me, Trump's new VP will not be the relatively 'honest' Mike Pence: It will be someone who is in the bag for Trump and will promise to invalidate the vote before being chose, using the 12th amendment in case of a "contested" election, which they are already getting primed to contest:
If a candidate can't secure these votes, it triggers a CONTINGENT ELECTION . According to this provision, the House will choose the presidential winner[ each state having only 1 vote, and the Senate will elect the vice president. Contingent elections are rare.
As we speak, Manafort is telling Putin that the useful idiot wants him as a campaign manager and is doing his utmost to radicalize as many Americans through the use of fake posts on Social Media, Fox News, Parlor, TikTok, Newsmax, One America News and every radio station they own. [The vast majority of Radio Stations, the Sinclair network etc are all owned by conservatives]
So, Jim, we had better have a bit more than our vote!
The “majority” fails to consider the Trump approach to all things governed by law. To wit JUST DO IT ! FIGHT IT OUT IN THE COURTS SO AS TO DELAY. In the meantime even non-official acts go unimpeded . This level of power is dangerous in any presidential hands but in Trump’s horrifying. No one will be able to control him. No one. The justices should be careful what they wish for because they can be on the receiving end of insanity as well as anyone else.
SCOTUS has turned the presidency into a King. Biden has to act now. We must all vote, but that is not enough. This SCOTUS is illegitimate and must be removed. Impeachment would never work, but in amending the Constitution to create a King while a Democrat is in office, Biden can now use official acts to imprison those who threaten the Constitution. This is not playing dirty, this is about upholding the oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution. To do nothing would be abdication of duty and allowing American democracy to fall. We are at the precipice. American cannot again have a King.
one thought I have is: How about bribing members of Congress into removing jurisdiction of the Court to decide Constitutional Issues (that power isn't actually in the Constitution if Congress limits it--the court gave it to itself in Marbury v Madison.) At least for Constitutional issues regarding the corruption of public officers. And making that law retroactive to at least the date of this case, including the ability to decide when a law is ex post facto.
In fact, it wouldn't even have to be a bribe. It could be the promise of a "gratuity" in the form of a pardon.
yep. They didn't really get into whether a PROMISE to pay a "gratuity" after the person acted as requested counted as a bribe, which has to be "before" the act. But the promise is in fact before.
Before of after doesn't matter, IMHO: in either case, there is an understanding between the parties [who are in communication nearly every day on specific matters] that something will be done in exchange for something else.
Whether the goods are delivered before or after is immaterial, if you think about it. A threat is always in the form of a promise, and then violence gets delivered...
My read for years since Trump was elected in 2016 is we are heading for the end of our America, for the people and by the people.
Looking at France and their election, we have company. The last few years have been one blow after another.
A political, not law based SCOTUS was never a thought when the Constitution was written. The 6 conservatives have become the unthinkable. Political mouthpieces rather than judges ruling on the law. They ended checks and balances for authoritarianism. The highest court in the land has a majority that has become lawless. The infamous kangaroo court.
The influence of billionaires has been found among them and it shows.
The debate last week gave the MSM the ammo needed to burn down the house on President Biden.
I will vote. Try to get out the vote. But nothing short of a miracle or an Asteroid is going stop Donald Trump.
Sadly, all comments I'm seeing online regarding any type of demonstrations are very weak. Take a look at Reddit...people seem to be giving up in droves. Even the comments here seem resigned. AOC has indicated she has some fight left in her...I may reach out to her to see how I can help.
Yes there does not seem to be the energy for it. Partly bc there are so many things to protest at this point! I hope AOC can do something in the way of impeachment but we will see
Glad you asked: Remember that there are more of us than there are of them: Dems keep winning the Popular vote and Republicans keep losing it.
Start small but keep at it:
*- Wear a black armband in sign of mourning,
*- [or put up and upside own flag, because now, it is really justified!]
*- Write to your Republican and Democratic Congress people.
*-Try to do it every day if possible: You do not need to write a long letter [which they may not read anyway: some of them only tabulate]. something like:
"I disapprove of the corrupt SCOTUS DECISION regarding Trump's immunity. and it will show in November". You can email the same message every day: the idea is to show the VOLUME and the STICK TO ITNESS of our feelings
*- Look at the most aggressive Democratic leaders and tell them to keep it up. [follow them on FB, Instagram etc.]
*- Donate if you can, or as Trump said: "Stand back and stand by": This will be a hinge year in our country, as some hotheads MAGAS are trying to push us into a new Civil War. They will be defeated only by our resolve. Our salvation? We are it.
Thousands of words will be written about just how bad this, and frankly most, decisions of this Supreme Court is. But what I want to know is why for Trump? Why have so many people who were once thought of as honorable (well except maybe Thomas, Alito and Kavanaugh) prostituted themselves for a garbage person like Trump? I get the desire for an authoritarian ruler by the billionaires and the religious fanatics, but Trump? Surely there were other men (and it would never be a woman) who could fill the role without all of the baggage that Trump brings with him.
It’s not about Trump. He’ll benefit short term, but he’s just a useful idiot. Project 2025.
Correct. Trump is Howdy Doody with a Hitler complex. The others (Bannon & Co.) know how to pull the strings. The coup is complete.
Exactly. Trump is the means to an end.
This is an all out push by the radical far right. They view the moment as the opportunity of a lifetime to take control.
It’s all about history’s cycles. History repeats itself. For a quick total immersion of all the past historic fun, sign up for newsletters of Legume, Robert Reich , Joyce Vance, Mary Trump and Heather Cox Richardson (and also if you want an accelerated get smart why all this nonsense is occurring) It’s like a art mosaic or perfectly fitting jig saw puzzle. Toss in bedside reading of the birth of Nazi Gernany in the 1930’s and one will really get the picture.
By the way, pls spare us. No more debates unless another rule added that in one’s allotted time the candidate MUST directly and fully stay on point and answer/ respond to the question. ( I’d not it brings forth a hair trigger mute). Trump redirected the question 90% of the time and not held accountable by CNN other than “ you now have 32 seconds, 82 seconds.. to answer the question” where are and were the pundits on this aspect of debate failings? Why do producers in the media invite these question dodgers for interviews. I need a strong drink.
Perhaps you are not aware of Keith Olbermann's work?
I think his point is that no one like Olbermann was moderating the debate or deciding which politicians get to appear on TV news shows.
Agreed! I belong to all of the forums you mentioned and they are invaluable for parsing through the static and getting real facts, not pretty words and spun fiction.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat. Seth Abramson.
Never mind the debate. It's over, the damage is done.
Money. Truly the root of all evil.
As I think about it, maybe it's also because they need a moron who only cares about himself and money. He's easily manipulated.
It's also about power for power's sake. Trump is trying to be a god.
It's not just for Trump - Alito gave up the game in that recording that came out a few weeks ago. It's an ideological war with these folks, driven in their supreme belief in what they think a fantasy novel should dictate to everyone And I'm not talking about "Atlas Shrugged."
I absolutely believe that Alito pines for a return to 16th century Spain with a dimwit monarch being led around by the Church. He himself would assume the role of Grand Inquisitor personally torturing heretics and overseeing autos da fe.
Without doubt, there is a large Catholic contingent within the fascist takeover of this nation. It is there for all to see. Insidious and blatant. SCOTUS, for example, and the lawyers who put them there. Your point is well taken with respect to the connection between the Inquisition and the now completed coup. Both lead to the same political and religious ends.
all the fanatical so called Christian groups united to get the Rs in power to remove women's rights-- making divorce illegal, suffrage, BC etc are next up.
MAGA Mike Already said he will not certify for Biden-- just kick it up to the SC of TRUMP- the SCOT.
Excellent question. I believe that it was serendipitous that Trump happened along at the right time in history and nothing more. It could have been anyone even though he is a spectacularly poor example. The underpinnings of decay in our historical democracy has been progressing for at least a century or more interrupted with limited periods of unbelievable patriotic loyalty to the flag. The rhetoric used has become more existential in the last 50 or 60 years so society has been inoculated against viewing parties not their own as nothing but "other" or enemies. The turn toward populism appears inevitable, and as long as people remain susceptible to the rhetoric of fear, potential loss, and grievance the slide toward authoritariansism will accelerate.
"as long as people remain susceptible to the rhetoric of fear, potential loss, and grievance the slide toward authoritariansism will accelerate."
True words indeed.
Because this movement is much bigger than Trump. Trump is the celebrity magnet for the uneducated voters who will layer in the needed support to get this authoritarian agenda in place. He is an undesirable but necessary tool. Once this coalition of hard right thinkers are in power, it will be too late for the American people to have any say in a profoundly altered American system of government. SCOTUS just showed us what is ahead.
The six justices are all right wing Catholics. They think this country should be run by religious nuts and specifically Catholic. Bill Barr is a Catholic dominionist, just one of many in Trump's orbit. As an atheist, I don't expect to do well if the worst happens.
NOW what have you got to say? Was I not right all along? for at least 9 years?
The six Grand Inquisitors have won. Bannon will emerge from jail as Hitler did brandishing a new manifesto, Mein Reich!
Howdy Doody with a Hitler complex will ride off into the sunset to his new hotel in Saudi Arabia, his mission accomplished.
The rest of us will languish in concentration camps or praying in churches to save our skins (as the Spanish and Portuguese Jews did, until even that stopped working).
As Hans Landa said: "Ooooh! That's a bingo! .... How fun!"
This is the end game of a strategy that started after Nixon was forced out. Biden has the power of a King and he needs to use it as a new Cincinnatus.
Indeed! A first modest step precisely targeted to check and balance a branch of government gone rogue would be to direct Treasury to sequester all funding for supreme court salaries and operations. It would be a crime, but so what? Communicating with a cabinet member and department head are presumptively part of his duties; and no reference to the criminal law may be made in determining whether it was an "official" or personal act. Though he might be impeached for abusing his oath of office, he cannot be convicted if Dems support him. The time is now for some hardball pushback!
Garbage in - garbage out. Plus Donnie gave what they wanted.
You made me think of Grover Norquist’s quote (below). The legislation is now written by the groups who fund the corrupt justices. Just about all, if not all of the justices have connections to the Federalists Society, Heritage Foundation - the Project 2025 fans. All of the ‘conservatives’ were pre-approved by them to get to this point. You could say a small circle of friends have the court system by the throat.
“… The leadership now for the modern conservative movement for the next 20 years will be coming out of the House and the Senate. . . . [We just need to] pick a Republican with enough working digits to handle a pen to become the president of the United States . . . [and] to sign the legislation that has already been prepared.” Grover Norquist
Peter, I can't help but think that they champion TFG precisely because of his attack dog style that has served him so well all these many decades! He stiffed contractors and workers, and though he was at times made to pay, he dragged his feet and paid only a fraction of what should have been his penalty. Guilty of violating fair housing laws? Again, when paying out penalties, TFG posted net gains. In other words, he has beaten the system, and now, in a most spectacular way, he has again won despite his craven character.
I agree, to a point, but the cases in NYC show us that without Roy Cohn and without the protection of the NY Mob, he can be beaten if the prosecutor does his job. Even in the face of the 6 theocrats in robes and Loose Cannon, Jack Smith can rid us of this cancer.
Because he is a “useful idiot”
Many, many politicians are also garbage people. Some hide it better. But there is a class of voters who are also trash and who have dreamed of a thug president who will rule with a Trumpian mentality. Having a scumbag for a president validates these people.
And you're right - it will be many years before we have a woman as president.
Ah, but he is a perfect dummy to mold, build their new U.S. order around the playboy mannequin.
Trump has the support of his personality cult MAGA-- no others have the cult following & MSM bends over backward to spin everything Trump does into gold! SC of TRUMP -the SCOT & Rs seized the momentum.
This is an opportunity for Biden to clean house in the Congress of all the insurrectionist supporters and get the government back to the business of running the country. It is a a glass half empty that can be turned into a glass half full. Biden may be subject to law suits but his oath of office and duty to his country is to protect against all enemies foreign and domestic...never saw a more obvious display than that of certain congressional members that are gumming up the machinery. They seem to be the root of all our problems having been corrupted by big money interests.
Would be interesting to see but does he have the badges on his side willing to click the cuffs? Or would they turn on him?
At Present he has the enforcement option both legally and realistically... but that option may soon disappear as Trump and associates, are and have been concerned that they will be forcibly, held accountable and loose their option to "uses/support" Trump and thusly the Project 2025 program, by the legitimacy that "The Congress" provides. Once congress is no longer a corrupted support structure things will be much tougher for those that want to hide in the background of this takeover plot.
His time to act is running out and he needs to grab onto this short window of perhaps 93% last opportunity to take back control of the country through the channels available to him. The Congress I believe needs to be the first step and is the most obvious step as the majority of the country is now fully aware of the idiocy involved in having a "pool guy" put in charge of the FDA simply because "...he's really really smart about chemicals and that sort of stuff...I mean he knows what to use to keep the pool water clean and you know that's really important to know when you..."
Even Americans without a college degree have more common sense than we give them credit for... but they need to not be uncontrollably bombarded by nonsensical misinformation from wealthy individual owned media that pander to their worst fears that create an alternate reality that creates fear and mistrust which leads to the chaos that leads us to where we are now. They know better than to take their tractor or lawn mower to a dentist for repairs. Given the scenario of life under a crazed dictator vs a kindly ole grandfather who is somewhat effective? They know that sacrificing your life for your country while in battle during WWII doesn't make you a "loser".
They just need to know that this is what he truly believes. They understand treason and the difference between truth and lies and those that lie need to be held accountable...they just need to know what's true and who is actually lying to them and why. And if there aren't enough Americans anymore that can tell the difference...does it actually matter?
What a bunch of literal horseshit. This Country has turned into a joke. Trump has managed to twist the Supreme Court to do his bidding, half the Country has lost their mind and believes the lies of the whacko, I think someone snuck something into half the water supply in America. I don't understand how anyone can let Trump, who is the worst President we have ever had by any standards lead them by the nose. America used to be a great Country and under the Leadership of President Biden our reputation was being restored now SCOTUS just proved they are nothing more than Trump’s Lackeys and that their interests lie only where the money is. I am truly disgusted.
Correct- MSM is feeding them lies too. & Sinclair owns most of the legacy channels on TV. More propaganda- they have done & are continuing to do psy ops on the minds of Americans - information warfare- starting with Fox, traitor Flynn & all the R traitors in Congress, on the Sunday shows spewing lies
I don’t understand why all the traitors in Congress were never removed after Jan6.
One reason: MSM, supporting a fascist agenda; Another is AG GOP M GARLAND who is a lifelong Republican operative- hope he’s fired in the next Biden admin- along with FBI WRAY & Louie(don’t call him a saboteur of the PO) DeJoy.
Sigh that’s why I subscribe to Popular information.
Judd Isn’t controlled by monied interests; isn’t afraid of the right wing cabal & tells US the facts.
(Hope he dies a deep dive into AG GOP GARLAND at some point).
Didn’t our forefathers fight a revolution to get away from a king? Now our presidents can act as kings. Is the next step for him to claim to be descended from God?!
I’m so glad my parents, who lived through the Great Depression and Workd War II, aren’t around to see this.
Yes, and I am hpersonally hoping that I am not around to see the full blosssom of this insanity.
We're deep in the woods now but the game isn't over.
One thing to keep in mind is no matter what advantages they give themselves, the criminal and corrupt republicans also have a boatload of hubris and a history of incompetence. Think Comer, Jordon and the rest of the criminally corrupt clowns.
Jan 6th should have worked but it did not. Why? incompetently corrupt criminals. They will screw us all but only if we let them. If we don't fight back while we still can. Now is time to put president Biden back into office and now I am quite sure the president recognizes what is happening here and what must be done to counter the corrupt judges who lied about what they would hold inviolate, then violated precisely what they said they would uphold in their initial interviews when being vetted for their lifetime appointments.
Major money people have their thumbs on the scales. Established "authorities" such as MSNBC, The NYT, WSJ, Washington Post all bleating the same, sad, craven song. Give up. trmp won. The game is over.
No it is NOT!!!
This does give me hope (despite my most recent comment!) as I think the media and the fascists don't understand, see, hear, the huge grass roots support, efforts and enthusiasm to right the wrongs here, electorally. Maybe it's not about marches and flags. Of course that could all be anecdotal, and it's easy to think while there's battles to still be won, the overall war is lost, for at least a generation.
I really try to practice "stoic optimism" but damn is it hard to do...
How is it NOT over; just what do you expect from the Dems? From and article published by Axios this morning:
Democrats vow to get "aggressive" with SCOTUS after Trump ruling
Reality check: Even if Democrats win the House in November, they would have little power to stop a Republican-controlled White House and Senate from tightening their grip on the court, some lawmakers noted.
There is "very little we can do except elect a Democrat [as president] who will appoint vacancies if Democrats hold [the] Senate," Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) told Axios.
Proposals to create ethics rules on justices, expand the court and impose term limits, some of which lack universal support even from Democrats, are "all good issues but aspirational," Cohen added.
Joyce. I thought this was who you were:
"Joyce Mar 11
I was a bit horrified this morning to read that the Pope had suggested Ukraine surrender to the Russians.
My Latvian friend has first-hand experience of life under Putin. In 1940, the Russian army rolled into Latvia where they created misery and poverty, deporting many Latvians to Russian prisons, until 1991 when Latvia regained their independence.
So if the Trump/GOP-led war on democracy wins Ukraine, and potentially the US election, I am certain it will be very ugly for us. Does anyone think the GOP will protect American citizens? No, they will only protect themselves as they become even more beholden to the Putin empire. And all this because some Americans are so stupid as to believe and elect a criminal who is in hock to a foreign government. Gee...I guess he had good reason to not reveal his taxes."
And now you want to give up with so much time left in which to effect positive change?
What happed to you?
Thank you Adam. I'm still here...just feeling every bit of my 70 years today. Seems like I've been fighting with my government since 1970 when Nixon allowed American students to be shot on campus. I appreciate your comment and want to let you know that I did reach out to AOC's office to offer support of her proposal to draft articles of impeachment for SCOTUS, in addition to donating to her re-election campaign...because she's a fighter, she gives me hope. I am also happy to see that Senator Klobuchar is going to try getting Trump banned from any office based on the 14th Amendment. You're right...we have to not give up.
Thank you Joyce for hearing me. I want everyone to understand that even though things look bad, they may not be as bad as they seem.
Think of "D-Day." Didn't look so good for the allied forces at all.
PS: I'm just a spring chicken at 64 so what do I know?
Thanks for reposting her comment, Adam.
Ukranians and Poles have experiences under Russian occupation. It’s one reason despite discomfort from their own history the Poles have stepped up bigley. Poles took displaced Ukranians into their homes; provide education and employment.
I know of a small family run company that does that. One of the Ukrainian women was notified in the last week or 2 that her husband (in Ukraine) was killed.
We can also encourage our President to TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE of the extraordinary powers just bestowed on Presidents by this UTTERLY CORRUPT SCOTUS.
If you feel we should mourn the demise of our Democracy at the hand of these scoundrels, wear a black armband, write to every Republican Congressperson to let them know how you feel and VOTE, declaring that the election is rigged unless Democrats win. Why not: It seems to be working for their orange 'jesus'.
I know this is not how I would prefer to win, but you know, since there seems to be no other way, you have to ask yourself; Does it pay to be meek? He could change a lot of things for the better and then put things back the way they were.
Doesn't get much worse than this. Wish I weren't old enough to remember the shock and mockery which greeted Nixon's claim that "when the president does it, that means it not illegal."
Here is the result of DJT's rise to popularity and power: a nation of lawlessness. SCOTUS has succumbed to the warning of the argument before the court by a lawyer representing Mississippi when he explained the danger of Republicans never winning another office. I vaguely remember Justice Roberts voicing that he understood that argument. The Republican unpopularity necessitated unusual favoritism and unfair gerrymandering. Do those 5 men all believe in the conspiracies Ginny Thomas revealed in her call to Mark Meadows? Amy C Barrett seems to think independently of them even though she voted for this peculiar official immunity. Those who do not study the law or follow the "logic" of the conservatives on the court now tend to follow like sheep.
Any and all ways that can act in ways to counter this abuse of power must be ulized and supported. Meanwhile Biden must continue to appoint judges for all open seats.
A Coup D'etat by any other name is still a Coup D'etat and needs to be treated as such by Joe Biden.....or step away and let Kamala do it.
Most Americans have no idea what just happened to our democracy. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Now is the time for Biden to use the MAGA SCOTUS ruling against them. Biden should take that absolute power granted him - arrest Trump for treason and remove the offending Supreme Court Justices. Biden may sacrifice his ethical standing, but in the end the American Constitution and Democracy might survive.
Yeah, nothing preserves the Constitution and Democracy like behaving as a dictator. I’m sure there would no pushback or outbreaks of violence following the use of “absolute power.” Certainly not the attempts at civil war the righties promote as ‘god’s will’. All the GOP dominated DOJ would hop on the dictator Biden train; joined by the military, etc.
Nice touch - “He may be sacrificed but …” I can tell people are giving these proposals a lot of thought. /S
Or maybe there are provocateurs taking advantage of our fears. Either way, it’s DOA.
If we meet this inferno with a high-minded glass of wine, we will never put out the fire. Time to fight.
Breathtaking indeed! We have a little over 4 months to get something done, and it's time to call out the Democrats for their inaction, unless they are also too blinded by money and power to act on our behalf. If Biden has immunity, can he not consult with the lower court to determine the measures available to him to fix this mess? SCOTUS has demonstrated they are not following the Constitution, so expand the Court to stop this madness? Use the Justice Department to arrest all the people in Congress who participated in the insurrection? Is it time for Navy Seals to round up these traitors? Just what can be done beyond the angry comments?
Right. Desperate times call for Desperate measures. Our democracy is under an immediate existential threat.
You are so correct, Joyce. SCOTUS has gone rogue and is following the wishes of a madman, not our Constitution. That places them outside of the Law.
Those who voted to kill Democracy by giving Trump dictatorial powers need to be impeached and removed and new Justices elected. I would prefer a term limit of 10 years and then they are out. and Yes, the Court could be expanded. after all it has not always been 9.
To be fair, in this medium, venting about the blatant Injustice done to the American People and our Democracy is pretty much all we can do. But yes, there are other ways, and even if we *usually* deplore violence, the Putin camp may force us into it and we may have to defend our country when it is assaulted like this.
It's important to understand how and why we're at this point with this SCOTUS - how Obama didn't get his SCOTUS pick (and that's not McConnell fault), and what ultimately put Trump in office and enabled him to put THREE extremists on the bench.
And we're poised to continue this horror: Alito and Thomas are 75, Soto-Mayor turned 70 last Tuesday. And that's just the Supreme Court. Trump appointed 54 federal appellate judges in 4 years (Obama 53 in 8) which we've seen the results of THAT.
So if Biden AND the Dems don't take the presidency AND the Senate...but sure, tell me again how both sides are the same, or not "progressive" enough, ffs.
If the GOP deserves credit for one thing it's they NEVER lost site of their ultimate goals the last 30 years. The discipline and power is as impressive as it is horrifying.
Isn’t it ironic that McConnell for all his duplicity and enabling winds up on the top tier of DJT’s retribution list? https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2024/07/02/nation-world-news/trump-amplifies-calls-to-jail-top-elected-officials-invokes-military-tribunals/
I noted that, too. Had he voted in favor of impeachment, we would have been free of Trump forever.
We are still where we have been for some time; we only have our vote left.
Do we though, have our vote left? After this ruling I wouldn't put it past the SCOTUS to overturn the November election if Trump doesn't win. They aren't going to stop with this decision, they need their puppet king installed in the White House for the far right to take over the country.
Some bunch of geniuses. Have the ‘conservative’ Justices considered that if a president has absolute power they are not needed. At best a dictator who uses them as a prop. At worst a dictator who … well, we know a wannabe who keeps putting out retribution lists.
Well, then we better have our muskets ready—or our arsenic capsules! We can’t wish our way out of this one, or awfulize every day until November.
Awfulize... Hmmm. New word, but really fitting. I really like it. can I use it?
Jim, if you think we have our vote left, I have a bridge to sell you in some desert somewhere: They will invalidate as many votes as possible, just like they tried to do in 2020.
But now, they have even more allies in Congress, and trust me, Trump's new VP will not be the relatively 'honest' Mike Pence: It will be someone who is in the bag for Trump and will promise to invalidate the vote before being chose, using the 12th amendment in case of a "contested" election, which they are already getting primed to contest:
If a candidate can't secure these votes, it triggers a CONTINGENT ELECTION . According to this provision, the House will choose the presidential winner[ each state having only 1 vote, and the Senate will elect the vice president. Contingent elections are rare.
As we speak, Manafort is telling Putin that the useful idiot wants him as a campaign manager and is doing his utmost to radicalize as many Americans through the use of fake posts on Social Media, Fox News, Parlor, TikTok, Newsmax, One America News and every radio station they own. [The vast majority of Radio Stations, the Sinclair network etc are all owned by conservatives]
So, Jim, we had better have a bit more than our vote!
The “majority” fails to consider the Trump approach to all things governed by law. To wit JUST DO IT ! FIGHT IT OUT IN THE COURTS SO AS TO DELAY. In the meantime even non-official acts go unimpeded . This level of power is dangerous in any presidential hands but in Trump’s horrifying. No one will be able to control him. No one. The justices should be careful what they wish for because they can be on the receiving end of insanity as well as anyone else.
SCOTUS has turned the presidency into a King. Biden has to act now. We must all vote, but that is not enough. This SCOTUS is illegitimate and must be removed. Impeachment would never work, but in amending the Constitution to create a King while a Democrat is in office, Biden can now use official acts to imprison those who threaten the Constitution. This is not playing dirty, this is about upholding the oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution. To do nothing would be abdication of duty and allowing American democracy to fall. We are at the precipice. American cannot again have a King.
one thought I have is: How about bribing members of Congress into removing jurisdiction of the Court to decide Constitutional Issues (that power isn't actually in the Constitution if Congress limits it--the court gave it to itself in Marbury v Madison.) At least for Constitutional issues regarding the corruption of public officers. And making that law retroactive to at least the date of this case, including the ability to decide when a law is ex post facto.
In fact, it wouldn't even have to be a bribe. It could be the promise of a "gratuity" in the form of a pardon.
"gratuity". I love it, Susan. that was the argument used by one of those scoundrels.
yep. They didn't really get into whether a PROMISE to pay a "gratuity" after the person acted as requested counted as a bribe, which has to be "before" the act. But the promise is in fact before.
Before of after doesn't matter, IMHO: in either case, there is an understanding between the parties [who are in communication nearly every day on specific matters] that something will be done in exchange for something else.
Whether the goods are delivered before or after is immaterial, if you think about it. A threat is always in the form of a promise, and then violence gets delivered...
I certainly agree. The Extremes don’t.
My read for years since Trump was elected in 2016 is we are heading for the end of our America, for the people and by the people.
Looking at France and their election, we have company. The last few years have been one blow after another.
A political, not law based SCOTUS was never a thought when the Constitution was written. The 6 conservatives have become the unthinkable. Political mouthpieces rather than judges ruling on the law. They ended checks and balances for authoritarianism. The highest court in the land has a majority that has become lawless. The infamous kangaroo court.
The influence of billionaires has been found among them and it shows.
The debate last week gave the MSM the ammo needed to burn down the house on President Biden.
I will vote. Try to get out the vote. But nothing short of a miracle or an Asteroid is going stop Donald Trump.
We need to march
Sadly, all comments I'm seeing online regarding any type of demonstrations are very weak. Take a look at Reddit...people seem to be giving up in droves. Even the comments here seem resigned. AOC has indicated she has some fight left in her...I may reach out to her to see how I can help.
Yes there does not seem to be the energy for it. Partly bc there are so many things to protest at this point! I hope AOC can do something in the way of impeachment but we will see
The Gish Gallop in action AND words coming in a fire hose upon the American people! Too much, too fast—immobilizes us all. Where to start????
Glad you asked: Remember that there are more of us than there are of them: Dems keep winning the Popular vote and Republicans keep losing it.
Start small but keep at it:
*- Wear a black armband in sign of mourning,
*- [or put up and upside own flag, because now, it is really justified!]
*- Write to your Republican and Democratic Congress people.
*-Try to do it every day if possible: You do not need to write a long letter [which they may not read anyway: some of them only tabulate]. something like:
"I disapprove of the corrupt SCOTUS DECISION regarding Trump's immunity. and it will show in November". You can email the same message every day: the idea is to show the VOLUME and the STICK TO ITNESS of our feelings
*- Look at the most aggressive Democratic leaders and tell them to keep it up. [follow them on FB, Instagram etc.]
*- Donate if you can, or as Trump said: "Stand back and stand by": This will be a hinge year in our country, as some hotheads MAGAS are trying to push us into a new Civil War. They will be defeated only by our resolve. Our salvation? We are it.
Yes psychological warfare. Despair is contagious.