I'm sorry but I must disagree with Jeffrey Tulis in his note to Bill. Nothing, NOTHING, should ever "...dim the memory of his decision to acquit Donald Trump of his impeachment for insurrection."
Very disappointed the SC decided to take the case. Maybe very naive also. We can only hope there are enough real republican conservatives out there who, like me, will hold their nose, appreciate the big picture and vote for Biden
"I have many faults. Misunderstanding politics is not one of them."
This from the man who, with Trump's political future at his mercy in February 2021, calculated that Trump was already finished. That he, McConnell, did not *need* to exert any influence in the caucus he led. That for the Senate to *act* might endanger some NRSC donations.
RE connections....Mitch set the stage for the "lifeline" BS by not allowing Garland a shot, and by shoving Barret through in a rush.
Like Kissinger, he will have much to answer for at the pearly gates, assuming he ever even gets close....I'm sure Maga is working on his direct slide into the abyss.
We, on the other hand, must throw a large boulder in the pond to create a massive wave of blue that flushes the stink off the entire system.
I hope you’re wrong but as time passes, I get the feeling we are being handed to a dictator by the hands of facist operatives. I will never give up but I am one in a sea of facist operatives. May god help us all
I hope you're right. It certainly angers me that someone so amoral and so disdainful of laws that restrain his own actions might be given back the power to hold himself completely above the law. It is profoundly unjust, and I hope it brings people out in droves to deliver a resounding defeat at the polls.
They didn't give up in 1776 and they were fighting a king and a heavily armed British military, as well as their neighbors who sided with England. We, the people, are
more! Our weapons are our
ballots. Vote them out, up and down ballot, primary and
general! Not one step back,
anyone!
You want change? Vote Blue!
Secure the presidency, the house and senate! Donate
whatever you can afford to secure these dem seats.
They declined to hear the case when Jack Smith requested it back in December, saying it needed to go through the circuit court. So that court took the time to write an opinion that legal eagles said was so carefully crafted as to leave the Supreme Court with no issues to resolve, Then SCOTUS took its sweet time in announcing that sorry folks there are still issues that our superior minds need to wrestle with, and it will take months, and we know something about court timelines, but we just want to be diligent in getting it right, and if Trump gets back in power and can simply brush away the whole process of justice as it concerns himself, well really what else could we do? We're the supreme guardians of the rule of law, after all!
Republicans and "former Republicans" were just shocked--shocked, I tell you--that the Supreme Court ruled they way they did. I mean, after all, these Republicans were also fine with the strategy and tactics used to get these 6 votes. They were fine with looking the other way at Harland Crow purchasing a couple of people for his own agenda. They were fine with Mitch scuttling Garland's nomination until after the election and were fine with putting Barrett there weeks before the election. They were fine with EVERYTHING that was accomplished in order to get their agenda rubber stamped with 6 votes.
Now are just aghast at giving trump a benefit. What did these people think would happen???
You said it so well. I personally think that next to Trump, McConnell has done more damage to our democracy than anyone. His obstructionist tactics during the Obama presidency prevented any real progress. His stacking of the Extreme Court with people lying about their commitment to precedent and his scuttling of the Garland nomination have much to do with where we are today. The Court he enshrined has continually eroded our rights.
As Robert Hubbell reminds us every day in his excellent newsletter, "The courts are not coming to save us."
Unfortunately, we have to do that hard work ourselves. To those who are demoralized by this Supreme Court decision - Welcome to the club! But instead of feeling depressed, here are a couple of things we can do:
Sign up for Jessica Craven's "Chop Wood, Carry Water". Every day she gives readers the text of a sample phone call or email you can use to call or write your Senators & Representative. It's easy.
You can do it!
Sign up to write Postcards to Voters at :https://postcardstovoters.org Tony the Democrat will have us writing lots of postcards this summer & fall. He provides the text & the addresses. All you need to buy are the postcards & a few brightly colored ballpoint pens. And you can ask for as many or as few addresses as you think you're capable of doing. Just think - you can help save democracy by sitting at your dining room table or your desk.
I just happen to be reading "Frantz Fanon and the Psychology of Oppression". There is a point at which oppression has to be stopped at any cost.
I'm sorry but I must disagree with Jeffrey Tulis in his note to Bill. Nothing, NOTHING, should ever "...dim the memory of his decision to acquit Donald Trump of his impeachment for insurrection."
The "Delay is a Choice" essay by @WilliamKristol finally motivated me to join TheBulwark+ after being a long-time reader and listener.
Very disappointed the SC decided to take the case. Maybe very naive also. We can only hope there are enough real republican conservatives out there who, like me, will hold their nose, appreciate the big picture and vote for Biden
"I have many faults. Misunderstanding politics is not one of them."
This from the man who, with Trump's political future at his mercy in February 2021, calculated that Trump was already finished. That he, McConnell, did not *need* to exert any influence in the caucus he led. That for the Senate to *act* might endanger some NRSC donations.
It’s a sad day when SCOTUS tells us that they will protect a “dicktator” and in turn destroy our democracy.
Vote vote vote
RE connections....Mitch set the stage for the "lifeline" BS by not allowing Garland a shot, and by shoving Barret through in a rush.
Like Kissinger, he will have much to answer for at the pearly gates, assuming he ever even gets close....I'm sure Maga is working on his direct slide into the abyss.
We, on the other hand, must throw a large boulder in the pond to create a massive wave of blue that flushes the stink off the entire system.
I hope you’re wrong but as time passes, I get the feeling we are being handed to a dictator by the hands of facist operatives. I will never give up but I am one in a sea of facist operatives. May god help us all
I think many of Bulwark readers and regulars folks were hoping the SC would pass on the immunity case, let the lower court decision stand.
That faith feel flat and now the associated delays make it appears that the criminal cases against tRump may never come to trial.
This is angering a lot of people. In fact I think it could piss off a whole lot of people and get them extra motivated to vote BLUE in November.
The US voter needs to hold tRump accountable for his crimes because the courts took a dodge!
Thoughts?
Peter Sanburn
I hope you're right. It certainly angers me that someone so amoral and so disdainful of laws that restrain his own actions might be given back the power to hold himself completely above the law. It is profoundly unjust, and I hope it brings people out in droves to deliver a resounding defeat at the polls.
Another good one Bill! Learned Hand. It's up to us, the voters.
They didn't give up in 1776 and they were fighting a king and a heavily armed British military, as well as their neighbors who sided with England. We, the people, are
more! Our weapons are our
ballots. Vote them out, up and down ballot, primary and
general! Not one step back,
anyone!
You want change? Vote Blue!
Secure the presidency, the house and senate! Donate
whatever you can afford to secure these dem seats.
Postcards to voters. Get
involved.
We CAN do it.
Gaetz's crew most certainly does not represent better days ahead for the Republican party.
Gaetz's crew most certainly means stocking up on birth control pills and "plan B", if you have a "young-ish" daughter.
Every time the US of A is under the tutelage of a reactionary Supreme Court this country regresses. This time around it's on Mitch McConnell.
Its official, SCOTUS is putting their hands on the scales of Justice in favor of Trump.
Even if there is a legitimate question to be resolved, the wait and delay, itself, is certainly sop to Trump from the MAGA wing of the court.
They declined to hear the case when Jack Smith requested it back in December, saying it needed to go through the circuit court. So that court took the time to write an opinion that legal eagles said was so carefully crafted as to leave the Supreme Court with no issues to resolve, Then SCOTUS took its sweet time in announcing that sorry folks there are still issues that our superior minds need to wrestle with, and it will take months, and we know something about court timelines, but we just want to be diligent in getting it right, and if Trump gets back in power and can simply brush away the whole process of justice as it concerns himself, well really what else could we do? We're the supreme guardians of the rule of law, after all!
Blame Merrick effing Garland. He is the reason why Trump is not a convicted felon as I write this.
Interesting day yesterday.
Republicans and "former Republicans" were just shocked--shocked, I tell you--that the Supreme Court ruled they way they did. I mean, after all, these Republicans were also fine with the strategy and tactics used to get these 6 votes. They were fine with looking the other way at Harland Crow purchasing a couple of people for his own agenda. They were fine with Mitch scuttling Garland's nomination until after the election and were fine with putting Barrett there weeks before the election. They were fine with EVERYTHING that was accomplished in order to get their agenda rubber stamped with 6 votes.
Now are just aghast at giving trump a benefit. What did these people think would happen???
You said it so well. I personally think that next to Trump, McConnell has done more damage to our democracy than anyone. His obstructionist tactics during the Obama presidency prevented any real progress. His stacking of the Extreme Court with people lying about their commitment to precedent and his scuttling of the Garland nomination have much to do with where we are today. The Court he enshrined has continually eroded our rights.
As Robert Hubbell reminds us every day in his excellent newsletter, "The courts are not coming to save us."
Unfortunately, we have to do that hard work ourselves. To those who are demoralized by this Supreme Court decision - Welcome to the club! But instead of feeling depressed, here are a couple of things we can do:
Sign up for Jessica Craven's "Chop Wood, Carry Water". Every day she gives readers the text of a sample phone call or email you can use to call or write your Senators & Representative. It's easy.
You can do it!
Sign up to write Postcards to Voters at :https://postcardstovoters.org Tony the Democrat will have us writing lots of postcards this summer & fall. He provides the text & the addresses. All you need to buy are the postcards & a few brightly colored ballpoint pens. And you can ask for as many or as few addresses as you think you're capable of doing. Just think - you can help save democracy by sitting at your dining room table or your desk.
Just do it!