Given that this past week saw the 237th anniversary of the signing of the newly-written Constitution by the members of the Constitutional Convention, it’s appropriate to consider a likely political situation that may exist after the November 5 election, which could go a long way toward seriously changing the way our constitutional government works.
Until some wrongs are righted, the Republic will never be safe. Citizens United overturned; voting rights passed; gerrymandering eliminated; bodily autonomy protected, filibuster eliminated. Supporters of democracy will ALWAYS, ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ON GUARD. Evil never sleeps or goes away.
You could eliminate the opening clause and be more accurate if no less frightening. We're in the mess we're in because we thought after Nixon left that we were safe and went back to just living our lives.
Finally someone stating the truth, we are in for a protracted effort to rid our republic of this maga hate machine and return our country to a level of civility.
Let's keep the MO Senate seat in view too. It's a long shot, but entirely possible that our senior Senator will be hawled out on his hindquarters if the margins for the Presidential race are as strong as they might be.
Hoping for the miracle myself - the Republicans controlling the Senate will never allow any of the voting rights laws to pass, so forget voting reform. The judiciary will suffer as noted, and we will be screwed for a generation as needed reforms to SCOTUS and the federal courts go undone. Also undone will be any attempts at gun control, debt relief and a host of other things. Blech!
Great post - the analysis is crystal clear and I trust the Democrat Brains Trust is thinking this way. I always have this fear though that Democrats desperately want to play by rules and conventions that simply don't hold any more in GOP-MAGA land. As an Australian (where power transfers overnight after an election) I've always disliked the lame-duck lag in the US, but this time, if Kamala Harris wins, I hope she and her team exploit its foibles to the hilt!
Thanks. Tom. These are some scenarios I have been thinking about for some time.
First on trump: if our dreams come true and he is soundly defeated, there are all the trials he will have to face. But two major problems trump faces here are MONEY and the willingness of lawyers to defend him. Since trump will have faced his second (and considering his age and state of dementia) probably his last time up to the plate. Will his dictator buddies be willing to invest any more money in him? Will he still be able to "borrow" the millions needed for his usual defense of stall, stall, stall until the other team runs out of money or patience? This time he isn't facing Jake the plumber, he's facing the Federal Government and We will not run out of money.
Second also on trump:; Our legal system requires the defendant to be of "sound mind". As all of us can see, donald john trump is in middle stages of dementia not early onset. I'm sure that no psychiatrist would find him of sound mind.. My understanding is that this does not exonerate him but will land him, where he belongs, in a hospital for the criminally insane.
As to the Senate, I wouldn't discount Sherrod Brown, he has been a good Senator. And Ohioans aren't stupid. They're probably as disgusted with JD as the rest of the Country is. Governor DeWine also came out against trump/vance in their attack on Springfield. So we just might squeak in 3 wins.
Thanks for quoting Ben Franklin, one of my favorites.
If they find Trump not of sound mind to contribute to his own defense, apparently there are many vacant beds available in mental hospitals and insane asylums around the world. His family can have their pick.
Wow, your brain has been working overtime. Amazing assessment of the situation. One question? As I recall the SC kept the option of ruling on specific actions of a president, did it not?? Guess I will go in debt for the senate seats. Unless there is some way I can hack into Peter Thiel’s account. Ha, buying senators is not illegal but I guess hacking is.
At least in this cycle Trump isn't the president, and Pence isn't VP, so there is MUCH less he can do to thwart a Harris victory, even if (and when) he screams blue murder about the vote count. Harris in fact will conduct her own ceremonial tally of the electoral college votes on Jan 6. That should be fun!
Powerful. And, strategic. When you cross the bridge and one path is to achieve a good victory or a sloughing long war are the alternatives maybe sacrificing Atlanta is General Sherman's better choice.
Colin Allred has my full support. In my small town, thus far I have seen TWO trump signs. The rest are Harris/Walz and Colin Allred, plus local candidates. There are lots and lots of yards with NO signs at all...yards that once boasted MAGA signs. There's hope in Texas.
It's hard to not use power when you have it. Biden is a competent and honorable politician, but I suspect even he has given thought to the new presidential power decreed by the Supreme Court and how he might use it--without violating his principles--to sustain our republic. It would be political malpractice if he didn't.
If this is Midway, which is a great place to start, then Jan 6 ‘21 was Pearl Harbor. We need to move faster and smarter and harder everywhere to bury the bastards: MAGA, the oligarchs, and their legal and religious Cardinals.
Until some wrongs are righted, the Republic will never be safe. Citizens United overturned; voting rights passed; gerrymandering eliminated; bodily autonomy protected, filibuster eliminated. Supporters of democracy will ALWAYS, ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ON GUARD. Evil never sleeps or goes away.
You could eliminate the opening clause and be more accurate if no less frightening. We're in the mess we're in because we thought after Nixon left that we were safe and went back to just living our lives.
Exactly, but the treasonous dirty tricksters did right the opposite.
Yes JenSH, exactly.
Finally someone stating the truth, we are in for a protracted effort to rid our republic of this maga hate machine and return our country to a level of civility.
Let's keep the MO Senate seat in view too. It's a long shot, but entirely possible that our senior Senator will be hawled out on his hindquarters if the margins for the Presidential race are as strong as they might be.
That would be nice indeed.
Go Lucas Kunce
Thanks for talking about the elephant in the room Tom, I've been keeping those ideas to myself.
I didn't know of the different ways to circumvent MAGA blockages.
This ride ain't over yet, not by a long shot. And I suspect it's gonna get weirder before we see the end.
The Supreme Court has become the rule maker
Their rules are Counter Democracy
We either force reform of the Court to bring Democracy back
Or we use their rules against them, then reform the Court and bring democracy back
Or we lay down like dogs and surrender the Handmaids
No more taking the high road and bowing down to cheating treasonous victors
Hoping for the miracle myself - the Republicans controlling the Senate will never allow any of the voting rights laws to pass, so forget voting reform. The judiciary will suffer as noted, and we will be screwed for a generation as needed reforms to SCOTUS and the federal courts go undone. Also undone will be any attempts at gun control, debt relief and a host of other things. Blech!
Great post - the analysis is crystal clear and I trust the Democrat Brains Trust is thinking this way. I always have this fear though that Democrats desperately want to play by rules and conventions that simply don't hold any more in GOP-MAGA land. As an Australian (where power transfers overnight after an election) I've always disliked the lame-duck lag in the US, but this time, if Kamala Harris wins, I hope she and her team exploit its foibles to the hilt!
Probably the only such analysis extant right now.
Should be widely disseminated. Maybe put in Lawrence O’donnell’s hands.
Damn, TC. Good call. It is possible.
Thanks. Tom. These are some scenarios I have been thinking about for some time.
First on trump: if our dreams come true and he is soundly defeated, there are all the trials he will have to face. But two major problems trump faces here are MONEY and the willingness of lawyers to defend him. Since trump will have faced his second (and considering his age and state of dementia) probably his last time up to the plate. Will his dictator buddies be willing to invest any more money in him? Will he still be able to "borrow" the millions needed for his usual defense of stall, stall, stall until the other team runs out of money or patience? This time he isn't facing Jake the plumber, he's facing the Federal Government and We will not run out of money.
Second also on trump:; Our legal system requires the defendant to be of "sound mind". As all of us can see, donald john trump is in middle stages of dementia not early onset. I'm sure that no psychiatrist would find him of sound mind.. My understanding is that this does not exonerate him but will land him, where he belongs, in a hospital for the criminally insane.
As to the Senate, I wouldn't discount Sherrod Brown, he has been a good Senator. And Ohioans aren't stupid. They're probably as disgusted with JD as the rest of the Country is. Governor DeWine also came out against trump/vance in their attack on Springfield. So we just might squeak in 3 wins.
Thanks for quoting Ben Franklin, one of my favorites.
If they find Trump not of sound mind to contribute to his own defense, apparently there are many vacant beds available in mental hospitals and insane asylums around the world. His family can have their pick.
Lovely!! Russia would be my first choice for him! (:-)
Wow, your brain has been working overtime. Amazing assessment of the situation. One question? As I recall the SC kept the option of ruling on specific actions of a president, did it not?? Guess I will go in debt for the senate seats. Unless there is some way I can hack into Peter Thiel’s account. Ha, buying senators is not illegal but I guess hacking is.
At least in this cycle Trump isn't the president, and Pence isn't VP, so there is MUCH less he can do to thwart a Harris victory, even if (and when) he screams blue murder about the vote count. Harris in fact will conduct her own ceremonial tally of the electoral college votes on Jan 6. That should be fun!
He plans to win the electoral college, and has the SC all ready to help him “win.”
Oh dear God, how I wish the entire (sane) electorate would understand this as clearly as you have laid it out.
Powerful. And, strategic. When you cross the bridge and one path is to achieve a good victory or a sloughing long war are the alternatives maybe sacrificing Atlanta is General Sherman's better choice.
Thank you Tom. This was a
brilliant breakdown.
Ted Cruz has his hands full
trailing Collin Allred in TX as
of yesterday. Wouldn't that
be priceless!
Please chip in whatever you
can for these senate
candidates. We MUST have
the senate.
Colin Allred has my full support. In my small town, thus far I have seen TWO trump signs. The rest are Harris/Walz and Colin Allred, plus local candidates. There are lots and lots of yards with NO signs at all...yards that once boasted MAGA signs. There's hope in Texas.
I've been supporting Collin
since he first started his
campaign against Cruz. He's
a dynamic young man and is
what Texas needs to break
free.
That's very interesting, Ellen. A good "snapshot" of what's happening/.
It's hard to not use power when you have it. Biden is a competent and honorable politician, but I suspect even he has given thought to the new presidential power decreed by the Supreme Court and how he might use it--without violating his principles--to sustain our republic. It would be political malpractice if he didn't.
If this is Midway, which is a great place to start, then Jan 6 ‘21 was Pearl Harbor. We need to move faster and smarter and harder everywhere to bury the bastards: MAGA, the oligarchs, and their legal and religious Cardinals.