• @xenomor@lemmy.world
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    2205 months ago

    As an organization, they are actively and intentionally interfering with electoral politics. Their lifetime appointments were designed to remove them from that dynamic, but they have decided to bypass that principle. The structure of our federal government is designed to deal with problems like this by having the other branches check them when they step out of line like this. Unfortunately, neither of the other branches have shown any desire to take action. As a result we are currently caught in a self-reinforcing death spiral of anti-democratic corruption that will eventually undo the union unless something changes. What a time to be alive.

  • @cmoney@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    How can we word this so tRump gets his way but also so Biden doesn’t get immunity and when will I get another luxury vacation or motorhome?

    Clarence Thomas probably.

      • @Andonyx@lemmy.world
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        85 months ago

        Obligatory: Uncle Tom was actually a good guy. The idea that he was some kind of traitor or such comes from a crappy adaptation of the book. In the actual book he dies to save some other slaves.

    • @Maggoty@lemmy.world
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      105 months ago

      Oh no it’s just straight delaying his trial until after the election. They have no problem writing a 100 percent ironclad opinion on presidential immunity and then denying that immunity to Biden for reasons pulled out of a fever dream.

  • @Maggoty@lemmy.world
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    755 months ago

    I don’t know why anyone is surprised. All of the court watchers who aren’t MAGA told us SCOTUS would sit on this as long as they possibly could. Which, assuming they’re still coloring inside the rules, means the last ruling of the season. And they’ll drag out all the other cases too so it doesn’t look weird. In fact on Strict Scrutiny they’ve been warning that the court is dropping a bunch of no contest decisions because they’re expecting one big drop with shitty partisan decisions that have no logic beyond the personal politics of the majority.

    • @hglman@lemmy.ml
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      165 months ago

      That the charges weren’t made until late last year is also a failure, the whole process has been unreasonable long.

      • @Maggoty@lemmy.world
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        75 months ago

        That was part of the game though. If any part of that process was sped up for him the Republicans would have ammo in their accusations about the trial. And rich people have long made sure the justice system goes slowly.

        • @hglman@lemmy.ml
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          75 months ago

          I mean the reasons exist but if the system cannot rapidly respond to attempts to destroy it then those attempts will succeed.

        • @Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          Part of “the game” is to make sure that the trial would start far too late for it to end before the elections… To make sure that Trump can get elected before the ruling is over… And then give himself immunity?

          • @Maggoty@lemmy.world
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            35 months ago

            Yes, but it’s important to remember that there are multiple players in this game. The Democrats and the prosecutors want the trial done before then but they can’t be seen to be speeding it up or even to be impatient. This gives the defense and the Republicans plenty of opening to show the trial down.

            • @Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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              -35 months ago

              This was entirely predictable. There was no reason for the Democrats to wait so long to start the process. They wanted to make sure Trump could run for the Republicans so they can keep fearmongering everyone into voting for Biden.

              • @Maggoty@lemmy.world
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                55 months ago

                They did start the process very early though. The problem is there’s a whole thing before bringing charges that they had to go through. They aren’t skipping any step because that could be grounds for an appeal. Even before officially opening an investigation they had to make sure they had the grounds to do that. So there was an investigation before the investigation, likely trying to get something less ephemeral than speech=riot; like direct ties to fake electors. Then they can start the official investigation where they get people on the record in meetings with the FBI. Finally when that’s gone far enough they can get a grand jury to look at everything. Then finally they can charge Trump and start preparing for a trial.

                In both of the investigative phases anyone partial to Trump can slow them down by rescheduling repeatedly and lying to investigators. (Which has already resulted in charges for some of them because it’s much easier to prove.) Then the grand jury doesn’t usually meet every day, in fact they may only meet once a week.

                Taking two years to figure out there was a connection, and another year to gather enough evidence for a grand jury isn’t unusual. Especially in cases involving rich and influential people.

                • @hglman@lemmy.ml
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                  05 months ago

                  Look at the lib escalate into a spiraling web of complexity in order to justify failure. No, the timeline here was unreasonable and will allow trump to win again. The Dems have served up a silver platter to the wealthy.

  • @randon31415@lemmy.world
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    695 months ago

    MAGA SCOTUS justices in this case, MAGA judge in the classified docs case, MAGA prosecutor in the Georgia case … good thing we hit him with four cases at the same time.

    • @Asafum@feddit.nl
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      555 months ago

      Fucking seriously. How stupid are we that people would see exactly what you laid out and just say “hmmm, oh well the justice system is just slow or something.” Except its only with his cases that are in front of Republican appointed “judges.”

    • @btaf45@lemmy.world
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      135 months ago

      In the case of the supreme court it is painfully obvious. It’s because Thomas likes to live like a billionaire and Alito hates gays.

  • @ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works
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    625 months ago

    Lula’s Brazil had Bolsonaro handled within six months. Banned him from running until 2030 over his January 8th coup attempt in 2023.

    The failure to respond in 2021 doomed us all.

    • @hglman@lemmy.ml
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      75 months ago

      The system doesn’t want to save it’s self, we are on a clear path towards fascism.

    • @Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      These trials could have started far sooner. But they were intentionally delayed by Democrats.

      The Democrats purposely did not prosecute Trump in time because they do not want anyone else than Trump to be running.

      Imagine if they couldn’t “But Trump” right now.

      • @Burn_The_Right@lemmy.world
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        55 months ago

        The Dems did fuck up, just not exactly as you describe. The Dems elected a neoliberal who appointed a conservative Attorney General. He did exactly what you’d expect a conservative AG to do and paved the way for Trump to return to power.

        • @solomon42069@lemmy.world
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          25 months ago

          By design. The duopoly of American politics is firmly controlled by the rich, they stir up drama to get the public’s approval for their side hustles.

        • @Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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          05 months ago

          Huh no of course not. They literally propped up Trump in 2016

          So to take Bush down, Clinton’s team drew up a plan to pump Trump up. Shortly after her kickoff, top aides organized a strategy call, whose agenda included a memo to the Democratic National Committee: “This memo is intended to outline the strategy and goals a potential Hillary Clinton presidential campaign would have regarding the 2016 Republican presidential field,” it read.

          “The variety of candidates is a positive here, and many of the lesser known can serve as a cudgel to move the more established candidates further to the right. In this scenario, we don’t want to marginalize the more extreme candidates, but make them more ‘Pied Piper’ candidates who actually represent the mainstream of the Republican Party,” read the memo.

          “Pied Piper candidates include, but aren’t limited to: • Ted Cruz • Donald Trump • Ben Carson We need to be elevating the Pied Piper candidates so that they are leaders of the pack and tell the press to [take] them seriously."

      • @RadioFreeArabia@lemmy.cafe
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        -25 months ago

        This is most probably what’s really happening. The same way Democrats try to get right wing extremists in Republican primaries to win because they see them as easier to win against.

  • @slickgoat@lemmy.world
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    625 months ago

    Subpoena them one by one and confront them about specific issues. For instance Thomas and all those billionaire friends who keep dropping money in his lap. Congress committees have the power to do this.

    Let sunlight into the dirty little acts of corruption and impeach. Hit them instead of just complaining all the damn time. Also, six or seven year term limits. Then every single president will get a chance to appoint a couple and the bench makeup will be more balanced.

    • @eric5949@lemmy.world
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      325 months ago

      Congressional subpoenas mean absolutely nothing after Trump’s term though. They’ll just ignore then and what, you expect Merrick Garland to arrest a Supreme Court Justice for contempt of Congress? If it even gets that far.

      • @slickgoat@lemmy.world
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        175 months ago

        Not so, I believe that Steve Bannon is going to the lockup for ignoring his in a week or so. I don’t fancy that the supremes will want to risk that. It just takes will to apply the law. That’s it.

        Of course, the Dems will huff and puff and do nothing.

        • @eric5949@lemmy.world
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          185 months ago

          Of course, the Dems will huff and puff and do nothing

          That’s my point, Merrick Garland of all people, Mr I don’t want to appear political so I’ll slow walk trump, isnt going to arrest a Supreme Court Justice mere months before an election if he ever would in the first place.

          • @slickgoat@lemmy.world
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            115 months ago

            I think that arresting a Supreme isn’t going to happen. For a start the legal machinations and appeals will take at least two years. But, a subpoena is at least fighting back, and a threat. What is the alternative? Hand wringing?

            The Conservatives wake up each and every day actively trying to destroy the American republic. Do you think that overturning Roe was just luck? That was a 25 year process. I’m not advocating violence, but just not taking it when your balls get stomped. There are shocking things that can be done. Boosting the bench to overcome the current bias, bringing in terms limits, and subpoenas for corruption. The subpoena won’t necessarily lead to impeachment or arrest, but it will bring out every little dirty detail in public. Do you think that’s not a threat to a dirty bench?

            • @Maggoty@lemmy.world
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              65 months ago

              People need to go listen to the confirmation hearings of the older judges where they said they considered Roe v Wade settled law that would take quite a lot to over turn. And then read the opinion that places medieval catholic church law above our Constitution. It should be required. With highlights and margin notes in comic sans red marker because apparently that’s fun and attention grabbing.

            • @BluescreenOfDeath@lemmy.world
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              55 months ago

              If the constitution isn’t equally enforced, it might not have categories of importance written in, but it’s functionally no different.

              The whole idea of the three different branches of government was supposed to be that each would keep the others in check. Once the Senate refused to convict Trump for contempt of Congress, I could see the writing on the wall. The houses are no longer co-equal, and one party likes it that way because it means they get to do shit like take away abortion from those godless libtards.

        • @Maggoty@lemmy.world
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          25 months ago

          By which time they will have decided Trump v. Biden 2024 in a repeat of 2000. Or at least that’s what my depression brain is telling me. Logical me says it will definitely take years but they’ll end up impeached or having their seat stolen out form under them around about 2026. At which point they’ll claim they’re retiring and Sinclair news will blast every local news station with stories about how concerning it is to see politicians running judges out of office. But we’ll get through it.

    • Chainweasel
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      195 months ago

      If Gym Jordan doesn’t have to comply with a congressional subpoena, what makes you think Clarence Thomas will?

      • @slickgoat@lemmy.world
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        65 months ago

        I’m not sure of the person you refer to (sorry, not American) but surely that’s the problem. Not applying the law equally. Can a common murderer or thief decide that a legal direction doesn’t apply to them?

        • Chainweasel
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          135 months ago

          Jim Jordan (Gym is a nickname from years ago when he allowed students to get molested by a school doctor) is a representative from the state of Ohio who was involved with the January 6th plot to overthrow the government.
          When they investigated it, they subpoenaed him and he refused to show up. So far it’s been 3 years and no action has been taken whatsoever.
          He helped plot a coup, he’s STILL in power, and he ignored a subpoena from Congress with no consequences whatsoever.
          He ranks considerably lower than the Supreme Court does in the grand scheme of things and if they’re not going to force him to comply, they won’t force any of the federal justices to comply.

          • @slickgoat@lemmy.world
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            45 months ago

            Thank you for your detailed explanation.

            The problem appears to be a lack of enforcement of already established law. Well, if you were permitted to ignore the law why the hell wouldn’t you? That is my entire thesis. Stop allowing “important” public figures flout the law.

            • @BluescreenOfDeath@lemmy.world
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              85 months ago

              The real issue is it’s too easy for Republicans to paint it as weaponizing of official powers against political rivals who are absolutely innocent. The fear from Democrats is that holding him accountable would damage their public image badly enough to lose them seats in the House/Senate, thus giving the Republicans more power. Imagine a Trump Presidency with both the House and Congress controlled by MAGA Republicans.

              If you want to know how Republican voters could see it that way, just watch Faux News for a few days. I work for an ISP that delivers TV services, and it’s scary how many old people have Fox turned on 24/7.

              Project 2024 scares the shit out of me. I’ve applied for passports for me and my two daughters, if Trump wins the next election I’m getting the fuck off this carnival ride.

    • @Asafum@feddit.nl
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      245 months ago

      It won’t end until they succeed. This isn’t stopping with trump they will continue until they have permanent control. They can see the writing on the wall and that the numbers don’t look good for their future in government so they need to solidify that control.

  • @Rapidcreek@lemmy.world
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    275 months ago

    The “hand is not hidden”. It’s out in public with a raised middle finger to democracy and our way of life.

  • @Kaput@lemmy.world
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    225 months ago

    Please USA, don’t go full Nazi. That would be quite inconvenient for your neighbors, and the world probably.

  • @henfredemars@infosec.pub
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    145 months ago

    Why should we be surprised? As a nation, we’ve shown the justices that there are no consequences. It seems they are not beholden to anybody.

  • FuglyDuck
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    135 months ago

    It’s intentional specifically to buy the orange turd as much time as they possibly can, maybe delay the trial until after the election.

    Which is incredibly stupid.

  • AutoTL;DRB
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    75 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    For those looking for the hidden hand of politics in what the Supreme Court does, there’s plenty of reason for suspicion on Donald Trump’s as-yet-undecided immunity case given its urgency.

    But it’s considerably more drawn out than the schedule the court established earlier this year on a challenge from Colorado after that state took Mr. Trump off its presidential primary ballot.

    The court is a busy place, though the justices are completing decisions at the second slowest rate since the 1946 term, according to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal.

    And yet Mr. Trump’s lawyers continued to take the untenable position, in response to questioning, that a president who orders the assassination of a political rival could not face criminal charges (absent impeachment by the House and conviction in the Senate).

    In 1974, the Watergate special prosecutor squared off against President Richard Nixon over his refusal to release Oval Office tape recordings of his conversations with aides.

    Even if presidents enjoy some immunity for official acts, plotting to remain in office while continuing to question the results of an election they clearly lost isn’t one of them.


    The original article contains 1,151 words, the summary contains 189 words. Saved 84%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!