To all of you writing tonight about your fears and fury. You are seen and heard. And remember they act like this because they know they can and will likely lose. The future is arrayed against them. They are terrified of what that will mean to their precarious hold on power. Keep the faith. Organize Out -hustle them. And vote.
This sounds like a prayer rather than a plan. We must ask how conservative people can be led back into the fold of republicanism & democracy.
They'll be around forever whether you like it or not. A cult controls more than a third of our nation. "Plug your ears and vote blue" isn't an answer.
Sane people have to lead the Republican party again - even if they don't want the job. Letting one of our two parties remain infected with the present disease is a recipe for the death of the whole body.
To anyone reading this who gives a damn:
Put on a red hat and go to a local Republican meeting. Say everything you think. Get mad about how much of a disgrace Trump & our dysfunctional Congress are. If they say you sound like a liberal, say you've been a Republican since the day you were born, and you're so mad you can't take it anymore. If you seem mad & righteous enough, they'll start nodding along, even if you just say everything you would normally.
These people are voting for Donald J Trump for President of the United States. They're sheep. If you're a shepherd rather than a wolf, your duty calls. The longer you shirk it, the more the wolves feed, grow, & multiply - and there's a damn lot of 'em already.
Blue wave in November—>Blue majority in House and Senate and Biden re-elected—>end filibuster—>add four seats to the Supreme Court and admit DC and Puerto Rico to the union of states and then we can move the nation into an era of democracy worthy of the aspirations we claim to cherish.
I agree with everything, but adding 4 seats to the Supreme Court. I prefer the term limit of the Judiciary as discussed in Inequality Media today. I signed the petition too. There is no guarantee that adding more voices, unless they are Constitutional Lawyers who approach the Constitution as the Supreme Law of the Land as stated in Article 6 section 2. We don't seem to have been very good at that recently
Enforceable ethics rules for the Supreme Court, impeach Thomas and Alito, term limits for the Court, add 4 more justices to the Court to correspond to the number of federal judicial districts. The Court has ZERO credibility, ZERO!
No term limits would not require an amendment, Just a law passed in both Houses and signed into law by the sitting President. It is not changing anything written in the Constitution. The sticking point here is giving President Biden the Presidency again but giving him both Houses, preferably with only Real Republicans in the minority, no Gaetz, Beobert, Greene, etc.
I'm not saying I have the full answer, but it's something we need to think about.
Some thoughts:
1) That extremism has metastasized from the 90s til now via the conservative-to-reactionary media pipeline. The internet accelerated this by orders of magnitude. Disrupt, degrade, and derail MAGA hives wherever you find them. One dedicated troll and a VPN can disrupt just about any forum. Learn the Russian lesson.
2) If you're an intellectual & outspoken person, or want to be, simply join the Republican party - in name only. Be a RINO on purpose. Be at their meetings telling them they're crazy. Be at their meetings asking them questions they don't want to answer. Be there to anchor the Overton window firmly in sanity. Vote in local Republican primaries for non-crazy candidates, and if there are none, run yourself. You can still vote the way you actually feel in November.
3) Learn to speak their language. "Trump is a joke." "Trump is a clown." When they get mad, tell them, "Take off the face paint and act like an adult. This is our country, not a TV show." Stick to your guns. "Trump is a clown." "Trump is a joke." Say it enough times and it'll get to them. I've done it. Eventually they beg you to tell them what to do. Tell them to vote for Nikki Haley or RFK or the Libertarian party.
It can be done but it will take work. The good news I have for you is this -- it takes *way* less work than you think to singlehandedly change the tenor of a space, online or in real life. Stand your ground no matter what and never back down. That's why they like the big mouth. Stop trying to persuade and start fighting. These people see the very act of "persuasion" as a sign that you're lacking the guts & vitriol they thrill to. These people respond far better to confrontation - they respect mettle, and that's all. Videlicet: steel yourself.
I am struggling tonight just trying to think about this. I’m grateful that you can think about it and WRITE about it. I am going to need your words in the coming weeks.
“We the people” need to be pissed off (excuse my language) and stay that way until the election to vote blue up and down the ticket. Much of the blame lays squarely at McConnell’s feet. However, much blame can also be laid at the feet of those good people (Congress) who stood by and did nothing to fix this when there was a chance. Democrats need to rise to the challenge and vote like their life depends on it…because it does!
As a lawyer, I’m so absolutely disgusted by this Supreme Court—worst ever. As I said in another post…there is no rainbow at the end of this mess they have created. I feel like Anger from the movie Inside Outside. We must do better. VOTE!
Bear in mind that there were no southern Democrats in Congress when the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments were passed. More can get done without obstructionists .
Is that the only answer? I pray 🙏🏼 that voting for Blue is the answer, but my trust in holding GOP accountable is frazzled...any additional suggestions???
Another tenet of proof that lessons in life have the greatest effect on people. It does make me wonder if the people that blindly bow to this egomaniacal unmentionable have thought whether their own rights might be at stake under his leadership.
I feel you Marcia…getting a Blue majority in the White House and Congress will allow the administration to make changes to prevent this in the future. And we will need to hold their feet t the fire to do this.
Of course, if the Supreme Court rules that a President does have absolute immunity, Biden can have tRump deported to Russia tRump seems to like it so much. <- being facetious. The one thing we cannot do is throw up our hands and do nothing.
I believe there needs to be more accountability from “RINOS.” After all it is their party who has morphed into this embarrassing and destructive cult. Where is George W? Paul Ryan? Boehner? They hate the Donald (I think) At least the Cheney’s have stood up, and so has Adam Kinzinger. There have to be many of the Never Trumpers who are willing to choose country over party. We will need their help, and help from independents.
Imagine you're John Roberts. The country you've dedicated your life to serving has been brainrotted near to oblivion in the space of ten years by a suite of technologies that isn't even that fun. The Grand Old Party that you favored has made a clown its king. The institutions of the Democratic Party are in thrall to bizarre strains of racialist thinking and to bizarre psychological theories at once regressive and transgressive. What's the point?
I half expect him to declare himself president. Honestly, if he gave a good enough speech, I'd go for it.
I’m furious. What exactly, do they have to add to the circuit court decision? All these political hacks are doing is pushing timelines out for Cheat-O-Lini.
I can’t vote. I am not American. Heavily considering turning off the news. Yet I can’t turn away. What will happen in the USA will affect the world. It’s scaring me sh*tless.
It’s heartbreaking that at this point in time when the human race needs to come together to try to save the planet there is a steady rise of fascism in leadership which will end up destroying us all.
They are showing just why the Supreme Court should be, or already have been, expanded. I fear that the President being unwilling to do that is the driver to losing our Democracy.
I take your point, Paul, but I think that the people define the institution. And if we revere the institution it gives cover and legitimacy to the people using that legitimacy to destroy the nation.
I think the decisions define the institution and our changing history with its ups and downs. The People (not the court) must be clear about how our government (political system) and politics function, so we don’t see these kind of mirror tricks. Somehow we are failing to have an educated citizenry. Make America Read Again.
Great post Elliot, my grandkids would say you sound like me. I have been ranting for months about the unconstitutional Supreme Court. Per the Constitution they have one job - to assure that all legislation passed into law is compatible with the Constitution - those are not the exact words but that is what the words mean. So, throwing out Roe v Wade was within the purview of the Court. Per Amendment 10 anything not given to the (Federal) Government or prohibited to the States "are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Since there is no mention of abortion (or any other medical procedure) in the Constitution, Medical Procedures law if needed, is up to the States or the people therein.
On the other hand Amendment 1 specifically and emphatically separates State and Church "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion" So the States - who must make their laws within the purview of the Constitution cannot make laws invoking any text based on religion or religious beliefs.
But, Citizens United is unconstitutional since commerce IS mentioned in Article 1 in several places. Also the writing of Legislation is specifically given to the Legislative Branch NOT the Executive or Judicial Branches and Citizens United was new law.
I agree all of them are undermining democracy. During the hearing on the 14th Amendment, Section 3 , Justices Kagan and Jackson questioned the authority of the Constitution, did it really mean the President is an officer of the government? of course he is, as are Senators, Congress persons, the Judiciary, and Executive officers. What are they Kindergartners they need all big words explained to them?
Nothing in the Constitution says well, we wrote that but we really didn't mean it. Of, course my education is mostly in biology, chemistry, and physiology, so, I don't believe in seances or talking to ghosts such as Thomas and Alito claim when they say they KNOW what the framers of the Constitution really had in mind.
Thank you very much for this well written article on why the judiciary is fast losing respect amongst those of us who read and love the Constitution
I honestly do not know how you could put together such a well written thoughtful piece. I am so angry I am having trouble stringing two coherent sentences together.
We must reshape the Court. It no longer works for it to be political appointees with lifetime tenure. I don’t care if we add justices; remove justices; rotate justices with 10 year terms, whatever works to shape it such that it represents the majority and protects not only our rights, civil liberties but our lives and the life of the planet.
I watch with astonishment here in Aotearoa New Zealand wondering how you can claim you are a democracy. I see corruption everywhere in the USA and the supreme court looks completely corrupted. I see in some states that voting booths are unavailable to many who would vote blue if they could get a vote in without restriction. You should all be screaming at the top of your voices your democracy is broken. It makes me very angry and I don’t even live there.
As stated infinitum heretofore, justice delayed is justice denied. I can see one pathway forward, provided all the cards fall into place in November; expand the court, enact legislation for term limits/mandatory retirement, and legislate binding ethics laws specifically including SCOTUS with consequences such as expulsion from the court.
It seems that "We" don't have a Court anymore, really just an ad hoc tribunal, supported by the much-aggrieved wealthy who see life as a win/lose proposition and must have their way, thank you very much. The problems with this Court need to be dealt with politically, and harshly because they have in fact made themselves a political institution, no longer the Judicial Branch of our Government.
Thank you, Mr. Kirschner, for your spot on comments. I am livid, heartsick and struggling tonight. Your words encourage me; we cannot give up or give in. Thank you for being here.
Everyday something happens involving the upcoming election that knots my intestines and puts a huge lump in my larynx. Their announcement today is a horror. I could set fire to Mitch McConnell for blocking the Merrick Garland appt, and I have to add that I am disappointed in RBG for not stepping down sooner. We are left with a mess of a government. What do we do?
To all of you writing tonight about your fears and fury. You are seen and heard. And remember they act like this because they know they can and will likely lose. The future is arrayed against them. They are terrified of what that will mean to their precarious hold on power. Keep the faith. Organize Out -hustle them. And vote.
This sounds like a prayer rather than a plan. We must ask how conservative people can be led back into the fold of republicanism & democracy.
They'll be around forever whether you like it or not. A cult controls more than a third of our nation. "Plug your ears and vote blue" isn't an answer.
Sane people have to lead the Republican party again - even if they don't want the job. Letting one of our two parties remain infected with the present disease is a recipe for the death of the whole body.
To anyone reading this who gives a damn:
Put on a red hat and go to a local Republican meeting. Say everything you think. Get mad about how much of a disgrace Trump & our dysfunctional Congress are. If they say you sound like a liberal, say you've been a Republican since the day you were born, and you're so mad you can't take it anymore. If you seem mad & righteous enough, they'll start nodding along, even if you just say everything you would normally.
These people are voting for Donald J Trump for President of the United States. They're sheep. If you're a shepherd rather than a wolf, your duty calls. The longer you shirk it, the more the wolves feed, grow, & multiply - and there's a damn lot of 'em already.
Amen!
Blue wave in November—>Blue majority in House and Senate and Biden re-elected—>end filibuster—>add four seats to the Supreme Court and admit DC and Puerto Rico to the union of states and then we can move the nation into an era of democracy worthy of the aspirations we claim to cherish.
I agree with everything, but adding 4 seats to the Supreme Court. I prefer the term limit of the Judiciary as discussed in Inequality Media today. I signed the petition too. There is no guarantee that adding more voices, unless they are Constitutional Lawyers who approach the Constitution as the Supreme Law of the Land as stated in Article 6 section 2. We don't seem to have been very good at that recently
Enforceable ethics rules for the Supreme Court, impeach Thomas and Alito, term limits for the Court, add 4 more justices to the Court to correspond to the number of federal judicial districts. The Court has ZERO credibility, ZERO!
No term limits would not require an amendment, Just a law passed in both Houses and signed into law by the sitting President. It is not changing anything written in the Constitution. The sticking point here is giving President Biden the Presidency again but giving him both Houses, preferably with only Real Republicans in the minority, no Gaetz, Beobert, Greene, etc.
A nation with a disloyal opposition is a house divided. The situation has to be resolved, one way or the other. "Win elections forever" isn't a plan.
Reasonable people need to rejoin the Republican party, and get the crazies out by hook, crook or dagger.
How would that even happen? Most of Republican voters have become hostages to their own ideological extremism.
I'm not saying I have the full answer, but it's something we need to think about.
Some thoughts:
1) That extremism has metastasized from the 90s til now via the conservative-to-reactionary media pipeline. The internet accelerated this by orders of magnitude. Disrupt, degrade, and derail MAGA hives wherever you find them. One dedicated troll and a VPN can disrupt just about any forum. Learn the Russian lesson.
2) If you're an intellectual & outspoken person, or want to be, simply join the Republican party - in name only. Be a RINO on purpose. Be at their meetings telling them they're crazy. Be at their meetings asking them questions they don't want to answer. Be there to anchor the Overton window firmly in sanity. Vote in local Republican primaries for non-crazy candidates, and if there are none, run yourself. You can still vote the way you actually feel in November.
3) Learn to speak their language. "Trump is a joke." "Trump is a clown." When they get mad, tell them, "Take off the face paint and act like an adult. This is our country, not a TV show." Stick to your guns. "Trump is a clown." "Trump is a joke." Say it enough times and it'll get to them. I've done it. Eventually they beg you to tell them what to do. Tell them to vote for Nikki Haley or RFK or the Libertarian party.
It can be done but it will take work. The good news I have for you is this -- it takes *way* less work than you think to singlehandedly change the tenor of a space, online or in real life. Stand your ground no matter what and never back down. That's why they like the big mouth. Stop trying to persuade and start fighting. These people see the very act of "persuasion" as a sign that you're lacking the guts & vitriol they thrill to. These people respond far better to confrontation - they respect mettle, and that's all. Videlicet: steel yourself.
End the Electoral College.
I hope
And Ranked Choice Voting. The interim compromise in the face of futile efforts at Campaign Finance Reform.
I am struggling tonight just trying to think about this. I’m grateful that you can think about it and WRITE about it. I am going to need your words in the coming weeks.
Thank you, Leslie. I will be here to share them. And thank you for being part of this community.
I would work on that. It might soon come time to *fight* about it.
“We the people” need to be pissed off (excuse my language) and stay that way until the election to vote blue up and down the ticket. Much of the blame lays squarely at McConnell’s feet. However, much blame can also be laid at the feet of those good people (Congress) who stood by and did nothing to fix this when there was a chance. Democrats need to rise to the challenge and vote like their life depends on it…because it does!
As a lawyer, I’m so absolutely disgusted by this Supreme Court—worst ever. As I said in another post…there is no rainbow at the end of this mess they have created. I feel like Anger from the movie Inside Outside. We must do better. VOTE!
Bear in mind that there were no southern Democrats in Congress when the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments were passed. More can get done without obstructionists .
O
Ò
Well said
Is that the only answer? I pray 🙏🏼 that voting for Blue is the answer, but my trust in holding GOP accountable is frazzled...any additional suggestions???
Here’s something for inspiration… and you should follow Marc Elias if you do t already…
https://twitter.com/marceelias/status/1763042062465704023?s=46&t=ERlC0kgrzEVSD_zOceDblg
Another tenet of proof that lessons in life have the greatest effect on people. It does make me wonder if the people that blindly bow to this egomaniacal unmentionable have thought whether their own rights might be at stake under his leadership.
They haven’t. That’s why we are in this mess.
I feel you Marcia…getting a Blue majority in the White House and Congress will allow the administration to make changes to prevent this in the future. And we will need to hold their feet t the fire to do this.
Of course, if the Supreme Court rules that a President does have absolute immunity, Biden can have tRump deported to Russia tRump seems to like it so much. <- being facetious. The one thing we cannot do is throw up our hands and do nothing.
I believe there needs to be more accountability from “RINOS.” After all it is their party who has morphed into this embarrassing and destructive cult. Where is George W? Paul Ryan? Boehner? They hate the Donald (I think) At least the Cheney’s have stood up, and so has Adam Kinzinger. There have to be many of the Never Trumpers who are willing to choose country over party. We will need their help, and help from independents.
They should never have agreed to hear this. Ridiculous and absurd.
Imagine you're John Roberts. The country you've dedicated your life to serving has been brainrotted near to oblivion in the space of ten years by a suite of technologies that isn't even that fun. The Grand Old Party that you favored has made a clown its king. The institutions of the Democratic Party are in thrall to bizarre strains of racialist thinking and to bizarre psychological theories at once regressive and transgressive. What's the point?
I half expect him to declare himself president. Honestly, if he gave a good enough speech, I'd go for it.
I’m furious. What exactly, do they have to add to the circuit court decision? All these political hacks are doing is pushing timelines out for Cheat-O-Lini.
I can’t vote. I am not American. Heavily considering turning off the news. Yet I can’t turn away. What will happen in the USA will affect the world. It’s scaring me sh*tless.
It’s heartbreaking that at this point in time when the human race needs to come together to try to save the planet there is a steady rise of fascism in leadership which will end up destroying us all.
They are showing just why the Supreme Court should be, or already have been, expanded. I fear that the President being unwilling to do that is the driver to losing our Democracy.
I think expanding the court will become an increasing part of the Democratic platform.
The rot is so deep…..
Yes, I agree..
I sure hope so.
The institution is not a joke. It’s composition (read recent appointments) is a farce. Make the Supreme Court supreme again.
I take your point, Paul, but I think that the people define the institution. And if we revere the institution it gives cover and legitimacy to the people using that legitimacy to destroy the nation.
I think the decisions define the institution and our changing history with its ups and downs. The People (not the court) must be clear about how our government (political system) and politics function, so we don’t see these kind of mirror tricks. Somehow we are failing to have an educated citizenry. Make America Read Again.
How can we combat this??
Great post Elliot, my grandkids would say you sound like me. I have been ranting for months about the unconstitutional Supreme Court. Per the Constitution they have one job - to assure that all legislation passed into law is compatible with the Constitution - those are not the exact words but that is what the words mean. So, throwing out Roe v Wade was within the purview of the Court. Per Amendment 10 anything not given to the (Federal) Government or prohibited to the States "are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Since there is no mention of abortion (or any other medical procedure) in the Constitution, Medical Procedures law if needed, is up to the States or the people therein.
On the other hand Amendment 1 specifically and emphatically separates State and Church "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion" So the States - who must make their laws within the purview of the Constitution cannot make laws invoking any text based on religion or religious beliefs.
But, Citizens United is unconstitutional since commerce IS mentioned in Article 1 in several places. Also the writing of Legislation is specifically given to the Legislative Branch NOT the Executive or Judicial Branches and Citizens United was new law.
I agree all of them are undermining democracy. During the hearing on the 14th Amendment, Section 3 , Justices Kagan and Jackson questioned the authority of the Constitution, did it really mean the President is an officer of the government? of course he is, as are Senators, Congress persons, the Judiciary, and Executive officers. What are they Kindergartners they need all big words explained to them?
Nothing in the Constitution says well, we wrote that but we really didn't mean it. Of, course my education is mostly in biology, chemistry, and physiology, so, I don't believe in seances or talking to ghosts such as Thomas and Alito claim when they say they KNOW what the framers of the Constitution really had in mind.
Thank you very much for this well written article on why the judiciary is fast losing respect amongst those of us who read and love the Constitution
I honestly do not know how you could put together such a well written thoughtful piece. I am so angry I am having trouble stringing two coherent sentences together.
We must reshape the Court. It no longer works for it to be political appointees with lifetime tenure. I don’t care if we add justices; remove justices; rotate justices with 10 year terms, whatever works to shape it such that it represents the majority and protects not only our rights, civil liberties but our lives and the life of the planet.
Good luck to us all!!
I watch with astonishment here in Aotearoa New Zealand wondering how you can claim you are a democracy. I see corruption everywhere in the USA and the supreme court looks completely corrupted. I see in some states that voting booths are unavailable to many who would vote blue if they could get a vote in without restriction. You should all be screaming at the top of your voices your democracy is broken. It makes me very angry and I don’t even live there.
As stated infinitum heretofore, justice delayed is justice denied. I can see one pathway forward, provided all the cards fall into place in November; expand the court, enact legislation for term limits/mandatory retirement, and legislate binding ethics laws specifically including SCOTUS with consequences such as expulsion from the court.
It seems that "We" don't have a Court anymore, really just an ad hoc tribunal, supported by the much-aggrieved wealthy who see life as a win/lose proposition and must have their way, thank you very much. The problems with this Court need to be dealt with politically, and harshly because they have in fact made themselves a political institution, no longer the Judicial Branch of our Government.
Thank you, Mr. Kirschner, for your spot on comments. I am livid, heartsick and struggling tonight. Your words encourage me; we cannot give up or give in. Thank you for being here.
It’s so sad and so true. They are serving Trump, not the majority of the people. So sad 😔
Everyday something happens involving the upcoming election that knots my intestines and puts a huge lump in my larynx. Their announcement today is a horror. I could set fire to Mitch McConnell for blocking the Merrick Garland appt, and I have to add that I am disappointed in RBG for not stepping down sooner. We are left with a mess of a government. What do we do?