Did you see the latest from Israel? "Israel’s new defense minister has said security forces would no longer apply administrative detention orders to Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, and thus only Palestinian suspects can be held indefinitely without trial." That's the US, all right, making the world safe for democracy.
Did you see the latest from Israel? "Israel’s new defense minister has said security forces would no longer apply administrative detention orders to Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, and thus only Palestinian suspects can be held indefinitely without trial." That's the US, all right, making the world safe for democracy.
I have to disagree with your about Schumer's deal. As I said in my own Substack:
Don't diss on this as cowardly until you've thought about the implications.
Schumer's explanation is "the four circuit nominees lacked the support to be confirmed, and Democrats received more than triple the amount of other judges moving forward as part of the agreement." Remember that District judges deal with a LOT more than political cases, things that don't necessarily get appealed, and more Biden appointed judges may give more people a chance at a fair shake.
So IF there really was little hope of getting the appellate nominations approved , this could be a good deal. (One of the nominees for appellate is Muslim and has some outside activities that could bollix the nomination, and two others are women, not a good thing to be with this GOP or, sadly, some Dems.) At this point, practical perhaps has to reign over ideal.
This isn't to say I'm happy. But it is always possible that some trump appellate nominations will be incompetent at the Judge K level, such that even the Extremes have to hold their nose at their decisions. They haven't been ALL pro GOP in their decisions, though they've done some really damaging decisions. This incompetence is less likely with judicial appointments than cabinet, given the Federalist Society vetting. But remember that there still are some skeptical GOP senators, who may become more so if trump tanks the economy. There ARE 20 GOP senators up for reelection in 2026.
First, appellate court justices are far more important than district court justices. Their jurisdictions are geographically wider, they affect far more people with their decisions, and they refine the record that is going to go in front of a Supreme Court appeal.
Second, if they did not have enough Democratic votes to get the four nominees confirmed, then Biden should withdrawn the nominations, pick four decent young white male Democrat lawyers he could find (face facts, Congress critters are less suspicious of white men), it doesn’t matter who, the more anonymous the better, and have Schumer run them through. There is time. The Dems need to get focused. Why let the brown shirts fill four circuit court vacancies with Matt Gaetz clones? Really people, play the fucking game.
Oh, I agree with the increased power of the appellate courts. But one thing I don’t know is what circuits the 4 are up for. Adding a Biden appointment to, say, the 5th Circuit isn’t going to change much.
And the problem with withdrawing and adding new at this point is time. It decreases rapidly. As I said, this has stopped being a question of ideals and comes down to pure practicality in deciding what will overall work best.
It isn't like they didn't know these seats were there to be filled. Even if Harris had won they would be there to be filled, and should have had candidates lined up.
We haven't seen the Extremes on his wilder moves yet, have we? Note one interesting point: Bondi has said she is considering special counsel to investigate 2020 fraud in the swing states. Special Counsel? Lookee--one trump sycophant saying basically Up Yours, Cannon.
Did you see the latest from Israel? "Israel’s new defense minister has said security forces would no longer apply administrative detention orders to Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, and thus only Palestinian suspects can be held indefinitely without trial." That's the US, all right, making the world safe for democracy.
I have to disagree with your about Schumer's deal. As I said in my own Substack:
Don't diss on this as cowardly until you've thought about the implications.
Schumer's explanation is "the four circuit nominees lacked the support to be confirmed, and Democrats received more than triple the amount of other judges moving forward as part of the agreement." Remember that District judges deal with a LOT more than political cases, things that don't necessarily get appealed, and more Biden appointed judges may give more people a chance at a fair shake.
So IF there really was little hope of getting the appellate nominations approved , this could be a good deal. (One of the nominees for appellate is Muslim and has some outside activities that could bollix the nomination, and two others are women, not a good thing to be with this GOP or, sadly, some Dems.) At this point, practical perhaps has to reign over ideal.
This isn't to say I'm happy. But it is always possible that some trump appellate nominations will be incompetent at the Judge K level, such that even the Extremes have to hold their nose at their decisions. They haven't been ALL pro GOP in their decisions, though they've done some really damaging decisions. This incompetence is less likely with judicial appointments than cabinet, given the Federalist Society vetting. But remember that there still are some skeptical GOP senators, who may become more so if trump tanks the economy. There ARE 20 GOP senators up for reelection in 2026.
First, appellate court justices are far more important than district court justices. Their jurisdictions are geographically wider, they affect far more people with their decisions, and they refine the record that is going to go in front of a Supreme Court appeal.
Second, if they did not have enough Democratic votes to get the four nominees confirmed, then Biden should withdrawn the nominations, pick four decent young white male Democrat lawyers he could find (face facts, Congress critters are less suspicious of white men), it doesn’t matter who, the more anonymous the better, and have Schumer run them through. There is time. The Dems need to get focused. Why let the brown shirts fill four circuit court vacancies with Matt Gaetz clones? Really people, play the fucking game.
Except it isn’t a game anymore. It’s a rigged exercise…that looks like normal politics.
Oh, I agree with the increased power of the appellate courts. But one thing I don’t know is what circuits the 4 are up for. Adding a Biden appointment to, say, the 5th Circuit isn’t going to change much.
And the problem with withdrawing and adding new at this point is time. It decreases rapidly. As I said, this has stopped being a question of ideals and comes down to pure practicality in deciding what will overall work best.
It isn't like they didn't know these seats were there to be filled. Even if Harris had won they would be there to be filled, and should have had candidates lined up.
Kacsmaryk? He's worked out quite well for them, actually.
We haven't seen the Extremes on his wilder moves yet, have we? Note one interesting point: Bondi has said she is considering special counsel to investigate 2020 fraud in the swing states. Special Counsel? Lookee--one trump sycophant saying basically Up Yours, Cannon.
Well, if they even care about hypocrisy.
oh they care. It's their number one priority.
Taking a response to your Substack because it's so apropos there...
Thanks for a little background Susan.
Damn, I’m going to donate my retirement salary in 2026. Just kidding. No election in 2026 unless reps only. My view of our future
That would be a bridge we have yet to cross. If you accept it as a given, it will come to pass with more likelihood than otherwise.