I couldn't agree more fully. Well said. "Constitutional crisis," is sort of like a vague reference to "health problems" when someone notices that their heart stops beating for a spell. Vagueness, magical thinking, and dissociation may allow you to make it to your next business lunch, but the storm is still coming.
"The Constitution isn’t in “crisis,” and America is still a democracy. Unfortunately, a near majority of Americans elected a mobster, and based on Trump’s current approval ratings, they’re enjoying the show." Yes, and no.
Somehow this makes me feel better? No, not really. The majority of voters chose this asshole, knowing he's a liar, he's stupid, and he's self serving. They either are gullible aka stupid, or as craven as he is. I'd say the majority are stupid or, to be generous, naive.
If the Constitution is or is not in crisis is semantic. The facts are that one branch - Executive- has been given the run of the country because the Legislative branch doesn't care and the voters liked what they saw. Trump's actions serve the GOP purpose, namely, putting white dudes on top, and lining their pockets. The Courts (some of them) are hearing lawsuits as is their wont - that will take forever. The Supreme Court has already ruled that Trump can pretty much do what he wants.
Once the nation agrees that some are above the law, the Constitution is just one more piece of paper. In electing Trump, it's already made that decision.
Constitutional crisis is language that appeals to an educated elite that surrounds themselves with the news and palace intrigue. Once again, the gap between those in the beltway and those outside of it is on display. People see the federal government as a reality show because they have already lost faith in its ability to help them thanks to years of malpractice and right wing messaging demonizing the entire federal apparatus, not just excessive parts. It may suggest decadence but it also is another indicator of inequality and division.
We’re past the crisis stage and now. In our early Nazi takeover stage. Republicans are nothing more than Nazi Reichstag deputies—legislators in name only. Courts will be defied because no one can enforce their rulings.
We blew it, America. We can point to many actions and inactions of the past decade that got us here, but here we are now. The only question is whether people take to the streets in mass demonstrations and (hopefully nonviolent but who knows) resistance, or are we too cowed by it.
I haven’t been this pessimistic about our country in my lifetime.
What does marching do, really? Guns and violent assholes are everywhere in our country. My kid doesn't want me out in public protesting the coup because I might get shot, the same kid who did years of "active shooter/lockdown" drills in school. I live in a "blue" state and the Patriot Front is applying for a permit to come to my town and what? Recruit members? March around so they can intimidate? They arrive in larger numbers now. They expect the local police to intervene to prevent violence against them. Citizens who protest fascism, though, are sitting ducks.
.
Women marched in record numbers in 2017 and what did it do? They lost their rights to bodily autonomy and in many places in America now will either die avoidable deaths, survive with horrific injuries (such as to parts of their reproductive systems), or face murder charges and prison time. Soon abortion will be outlawed nationwide, which could restrict females' ability to travel between states or countries. Women under 45 might be denied tubal ligations or hysterectomies. The Comstock law(s) will soon be enforced to prevent anyone from legally obtaining mifepristone/misoprostol, to prevent them from making it available to a pregnant female.
.
What's next for all of us? Being considered a nonperson if you identify as being on the LGBTQ+ spectrum? Getting rid of birth control, or restricting its use to straight married couples who believe in a Christian God? Restricting POC and females from applying for academic positions and other jobs? Getting railroaded into prisons, private or otherwise, where you'll be hired out to do the jobs no one else will do or won't pay living wages for? I never thought I'd be living in a country like Iran but here we are. All because too many people couldn't bring themselves to vote for the POC lady.
.
As a Ukrainian put it in social media after the 2024 election, and no I don't have a link so I'm paraphrasing: "We are risking everything to save our country. All you had to do was show up and darken an oval on a ballot."
.
If we Americans are exceptional at anything, it's avoiding inconveniencing ourselves. So who's going to risk their livelihoods in a shit economy by joining a general work strike? No enough of us.
I can totally understand being tired of it, but...I have to acknowledge they're right, it IS a Constitutional crisis because you have the Executive Branch (responsible for law enforcement) that's given over to an international criminal syndicate (led by a mob boss), with a completely captive Legislative Branch (which the American public helpfully gave them), and a mostly captive Judicial Branch (especially where it counts in the end, a captive Supreme Court). The cases are the only recourse (and they are a bit of hope except the problem with anything judicial is that it's reactive, not prophylactic).
So Connolly is really just playing for the cameras and trying to get a public appeal to Republicans to do the right thing. But he knows it's futile. Remember, the Republicans of course have the benefit of the unreconstructed and as well being the representatives of those who have ALWAYS had rights in America. So they tap into that wide deference and can wild out like this. Americans were very happy to do this for the benefit of their own bigotries.
Perhaps one day they'll learn this kind of thing has a price. After all we notice that there's not the drumbeat of "Grocery prices are bad, aren't they" now? Almost like that was more right wing media human centipede-driven FUD because the Republican owners wanted to make sure Democrats were turfed out of power.
Disagree. The fact that the term has been overused (it has), and that the Republicans in Congress could stop it (they could), doesn’t mean that we are not in a situation in which the governing document of this country isn’t at significant risk of being rendered completely irrelevant (it is). This is especially true when people in powerful positions have said out loud that they view court orders as little more than “Hey man, that’s just your opinion,” (which they have), and the courts have zero means of enforcing their orders, other than mechanisms (like the marshals, the DOJ, and the military) that are controlled exclusively by the chaotic evildoer(s) themselves. Unless they back down (and why would they, since they’re in this apparently solely for positional power coupled with personal gain),
It is definitely a crisis. The point is that the crisis is not in or of the Constitution. The Constitution provides a remedy for a lawless executive branch; the legislature is just not acting.
We agree that there’s a crisis, and that there are people who could do something about it, but aren’t. We differ on whether the crisis is in or of the Constitution. My thinking is that this is a crisis of the Constitution, which is itself at risk, and along with it, all of the protections of the rule of law and civil society in America. However, maybe it doesn’t matter whether we call it a “Constitutional” crisis or just an existential crisis for this country. Either way, it’s pretty terrifying.
Yeah, I'm tired of hearing it too, because those who can do something to stop it, are too cowardly to do so, or are going along with it, because they think that it will benefit them.
As for the Abomination approval ratings, I've heard that they are historically low, but are also historically high. As with everything trump, ratings are a mess.
"high" is 49% which is LOW for someone at this time in their presidency. Look for it to go lower when the price of a washing machine triples. That might be the ONLY thing that gets Trump's attention.
For him, they’re high, because 47% is good for a guy who usually pols 40%, but it’s very low for a POTUS starting out. But I don’t see how it matters—Republicans don’t care.
Given how the state of polling is, I'm honestly not surprised about any of this. But this is also where I want to caution people again about the rightwing media human centipede. It's fully powered and it will destroy any Democrat it's trained on. Since AOC is the new favorite just watch what it will do to her unless Democrats get hip to it and take it seriously.
Why can’t that bastard Elon be held in contempt?!?
Brother, you really know how to nail a thing down hard.
Good on ya.
It isn’t a “constitutional crisis” - it’s a WAR. And we unfortunately must get out and fight it, or we won’t have a constitution or anything else.
I couldn't agree more fully. Well said. "Constitutional crisis," is sort of like a vague reference to "health problems" when someone notices that their heart stops beating for a spell. Vagueness, magical thinking, and dissociation may allow you to make it to your next business lunch, but the storm is still coming.
IMO, the constitutional crisis started with Roger Stone's fuckery that led to Bush v. Gore
Is the past usage of “constitutional crisis” a kind of boy cries wolf too many times?
I honestly don’t care how one labels it, but if the dismantling of our government isn’t a crisis of some sort, I don’t know what is.
"Unfortunately, a near maority of Americans elected a mobster..."
Thank you for that "near" - I continue to console myself that the senile decayed yam only got 49.8% of the vote.
This is all really serious stuff, but "personal kaiju" made me snort my tea. Thanks, SER.
"The Constitution isn’t in “crisis,” and America is still a democracy. Unfortunately, a near majority of Americans elected a mobster, and based on Trump’s current approval ratings, they’re enjoying the show." Yes, and no.
Somehow this makes me feel better? No, not really. The majority of voters chose this asshole, knowing he's a liar, he's stupid, and he's self serving. They either are gullible aka stupid, or as craven as he is. I'd say the majority are stupid or, to be generous, naive.
If the Constitution is or is not in crisis is semantic. The facts are that one branch - Executive- has been given the run of the country because the Legislative branch doesn't care and the voters liked what they saw. Trump's actions serve the GOP purpose, namely, putting white dudes on top, and lining their pockets. The Courts (some of them) are hearing lawsuits as is their wont - that will take forever. The Supreme Court has already ruled that Trump can pretty much do what he wants.
Once the nation agrees that some are above the law, the Constitution is just one more piece of paper. In electing Trump, it's already made that decision.
Constitutional crisis is language that appeals to an educated elite that surrounds themselves with the news and palace intrigue. Once again, the gap between those in the beltway and those outside of it is on display. People see the federal government as a reality show because they have already lost faith in its ability to help them thanks to years of malpractice and right wing messaging demonizing the entire federal apparatus, not just excessive parts. It may suggest decadence but it also is another indicator of inequality and division.
The Churchill quote, "The terrible "If's" accumulate", is appropriate for our current timeline.
We’re past the crisis stage and now. In our early Nazi takeover stage. Republicans are nothing more than Nazi Reichstag deputies—legislators in name only. Courts will be defied because no one can enforce their rulings.
We blew it, America. We can point to many actions and inactions of the past decade that got us here, but here we are now. The only question is whether people take to the streets in mass demonstrations and (hopefully nonviolent but who knows) resistance, or are we too cowed by it.
I haven’t been this pessimistic about our country in my lifetime.
What does marching do, really? Guns and violent assholes are everywhere in our country. My kid doesn't want me out in public protesting the coup because I might get shot, the same kid who did years of "active shooter/lockdown" drills in school. I live in a "blue" state and the Patriot Front is applying for a permit to come to my town and what? Recruit members? March around so they can intimidate? They arrive in larger numbers now. They expect the local police to intervene to prevent violence against them. Citizens who protest fascism, though, are sitting ducks.
.
Women marched in record numbers in 2017 and what did it do? They lost their rights to bodily autonomy and in many places in America now will either die avoidable deaths, survive with horrific injuries (such as to parts of their reproductive systems), or face murder charges and prison time. Soon abortion will be outlawed nationwide, which could restrict females' ability to travel between states or countries. Women under 45 might be denied tubal ligations or hysterectomies. The Comstock law(s) will soon be enforced to prevent anyone from legally obtaining mifepristone/misoprostol, to prevent them from making it available to a pregnant female.
.
What's next for all of us? Being considered a nonperson if you identify as being on the LGBTQ+ spectrum? Getting rid of birth control, or restricting its use to straight married couples who believe in a Christian God? Restricting POC and females from applying for academic positions and other jobs? Getting railroaded into prisons, private or otherwise, where you'll be hired out to do the jobs no one else will do or won't pay living wages for? I never thought I'd be living in a country like Iran but here we are. All because too many people couldn't bring themselves to vote for the POC lady.
.
As a Ukrainian put it in social media after the 2024 election, and no I don't have a link so I'm paraphrasing: "We are risking everything to save our country. All you had to do was show up and darken an oval on a ballot."
.
If we Americans are exceptional at anything, it's avoiding inconveniencing ourselves. So who's going to risk their livelihoods in a shit economy by joining a general work strike? No enough of us.
I can totally understand being tired of it, but...I have to acknowledge they're right, it IS a Constitutional crisis because you have the Executive Branch (responsible for law enforcement) that's given over to an international criminal syndicate (led by a mob boss), with a completely captive Legislative Branch (which the American public helpfully gave them), and a mostly captive Judicial Branch (especially where it counts in the end, a captive Supreme Court). The cases are the only recourse (and they are a bit of hope except the problem with anything judicial is that it's reactive, not prophylactic).
So Connolly is really just playing for the cameras and trying to get a public appeal to Republicans to do the right thing. But he knows it's futile. Remember, the Republicans of course have the benefit of the unreconstructed and as well being the representatives of those who have ALWAYS had rights in America. So they tap into that wide deference and can wild out like this. Americans were very happy to do this for the benefit of their own bigotries.
Perhaps one day they'll learn this kind of thing has a price. After all we notice that there's not the drumbeat of "Grocery prices are bad, aren't they" now? Almost like that was more right wing media human centipede-driven FUD because the Republican owners wanted to make sure Democrats were turfed out of power.
Disagree. The fact that the term has been overused (it has), and that the Republicans in Congress could stop it (they could), doesn’t mean that we are not in a situation in which the governing document of this country isn’t at significant risk of being rendered completely irrelevant (it is). This is especially true when people in powerful positions have said out loud that they view court orders as little more than “Hey man, that’s just your opinion,” (which they have), and the courts have zero means of enforcing their orders, other than mechanisms (like the marshals, the DOJ, and the military) that are controlled exclusively by the chaotic evildoer(s) themselves. Unless they back down (and why would they, since they’re in this apparently solely for positional power coupled with personal gain),
It’s. A. Constitutional. Crisis.
It is definitely a crisis. The point is that the crisis is not in or of the Constitution. The Constitution provides a remedy for a lawless executive branch; the legislature is just not acting.
We agree that there’s a crisis, and that there are people who could do something about it, but aren’t. We differ on whether the crisis is in or of the Constitution. My thinking is that this is a crisis of the Constitution, which is itself at risk, and along with it, all of the protections of the rule of law and civil society in America. However, maybe it doesn’t matter whether we call it a “Constitutional” crisis or just an existential crisis for this country. Either way, it’s pretty terrifying.
Yeah, I'm tired of hearing it too, because those who can do something to stop it, are too cowardly to do so, or are going along with it, because they think that it will benefit them.
As for the Abomination approval ratings, I've heard that they are historically low, but are also historically high. As with everything trump, ratings are a mess.
"high" is 49% which is LOW for someone at this time in their presidency. Look for it to go lower when the price of a washing machine triples. That might be the ONLY thing that gets Trump's attention.
So “all time high” means for him, not for all presidents. But many will read it “for all presidents.”
For him, they’re high, because 47% is good for a guy who usually pols 40%, but it’s very low for a POTUS starting out. But I don’t see how it matters—Republicans don’t care.
Given how the state of polling is, I'm honestly not surprised about any of this. But this is also where I want to caution people again about the rightwing media human centipede. It's fully powered and it will destroy any Democrat it's trained on. Since AOC is the new favorite just watch what it will do to her unless Democrats get hip to it and take it seriously.