General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWe've lost the Supreme Court. What now?
Well, we could continue to write about it on DU and other places, but that won't accomplish anything, really.
I suggest we take our disappointment and anger at what has happened and direct that energy into some really serious GOTV efforts. We can't really influence the course of things here on DU, even though it's a great place to vent. What we can do is convince people that voting isn't optional. It's imperative.
Wherever you are, even in red states, there are races that can be won. Wherever you live, there are frustrated people who can't see how their vote will affect anything.
Whatever else you do between now and November 6, you can help convince someone or many people to get up and go vote. It matters. It matters more than ever this year.
Please. GOTV!
dalton99a
(81,513 posts)BigGermanGuy
(131 posts)we haven't had control of the court in decades. I know we sometimes viewed Kennedy as a middle ground, but he wasn't. Kavanaugh is his replacement. He clerked for Kennedy, and while there isn't proof, it seems Kennedy personally approved of him.
We were however, robbed, of our Merrick Garland pick. As such, I would contend the next democratic president expand the court by two. This will flip the Gorsuch Garland Seat, and an additional will give us a liberal court as we would have had, had Garland been appointed (yes I know he was a moderate republican, but he would have been viewed as a liberal pick).
So. Vote. Control the Senate to prevent any further appointments. And in 2020, expand the court.
dalton99a
(81,513 posts)First, win in November to stanch the head wound bleeding.
Then win in 2020.
onetexan
(13,041 posts)If he's convicted this sexual predator won't be able to stay on the SCOTUS and we can get a liberal candidate on with 2020.
BigGermanGuy
(131 posts)saying a sitting justice can't rule from prison?
onetexan
(13,041 posts)there has been no sitting justice ruling from prison. There is a "good behavior" clause. You can google the qualifications to be a supreme court justice.
StarryNite
(9,446 posts)Welcome aboard BigGermanGuy!
DownriverDem
(6,228 posts)FDR tried to add SC seats and it didn't go through.
BigGermanGuy
(131 posts)stopped him, and this was towards the end of his tenure.
but now that the right has decided to upend decency, i'm not so sure the left would stand in the way.
calimary
(81,300 posts)Actually, today, it's more like Vote, DAMMIT!
bdamomma
(63,868 posts)need to VOTE period. This will affect them. I'm sure those dirty repigs do not care about generations to come.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)We need to reach out to every demographic category.
FakeNoose
(32,641 posts)Many of them already do understand.
olegramps
(8,200 posts)underpants
(182,824 posts)They'll never have a chance to push an operative like this onto the court.
I don't think they realize what they've awoken. This may be the best GOTV of all time.
BTW - Lindsey is a simple little bitch.
john657
(1,058 posts)"I fear we have awoken a sleeping giant".
bdamomma
(63,868 posts)blew a gasket yesterday afternoon he is was off his rocker, and very very rude. Something or someone is leaning on him just like McConnell too.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)He wants the AG job.
dembotoz
(16,806 posts)we remind folks anytime the gop blathers about their moral high group about what hypocrites they are
we shout the bastards down
at least thats what i plan to do
manor321
(3,344 posts)Just think about the math. Think about how many Senators we need to overrule the Supreme Court (assuming we have the White House!). Think about how small a population is represented by Republican Senators. It's math.
And I'm old enough that this will go on until after I'm dead.
The time for this fight was November 2016 and many of the previous elections.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)Defeatism is not going to provide a solution.
KPN
(15,646 posts)best over the next 40 days or so, and over the next two years and 2020. If then we fail because of further obstruction and GOP chicanery, then we fight harder. Good always prevails over evil in the long haul. It will this time as well.
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,479 posts)https://classroom.synonym.com/can-congress-override-court-ruling-9639.html
MarcA
(2,195 posts)the new or amended law? Or to the point where the law is watered-down
as to be meaningless?
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,479 posts)Last edited Sat Sep 29, 2018, 09:08 AM - Edit history (1)
...this is my understand and I welcome any correction. Cases generally, but not always, reach the SC by appeal. The SC may decide to or refuse to hear a brought to it on appeal. Once nominated and confirmed, an SC justice may be removed by retirement, death or impeachment.
Article III (Article 3 - Judicial)
Section 1 - The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
Parliamentary sovereignty (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_sovereignty) is not a part of US government. The SC is the final arbiter of that which is conforming to the Constitution. The SC maybe overruled by Constitutional amendment which requires (as of now) ratification by 38 of the legislatures of the existing 50 states. The SC does not act out of volition but only in response to case brought to it. Whether a majority or a unanimous opinion on a law or case that maybe shared by the justices, until a case is brought and accepted the opinions of the justices are their own.
avebury
(10,952 posts)to bring napalm to a gun fight with the Rethugs. The GOP must be shrunk to a size small enough to flush down a toilet.
Nay
(12,051 posts)aggiesal
(8,916 posts)Just like California.
The GOP in CA. is now pretty useless.
This was because we had a legitimate state redistricting committee of
5 Dems, 5 Reps & 5 Ind to keep the R's from gerrymandering this state.
What we got was a pretty good distribution of districts with Dem's everywhere
without cheating.
If the Dems screw this up in Sacramento, the rest of the country will point
west and say, "See what the liberals want to do?"
uponit7771
(90,346 posts)MineralMan
(146,317 posts)the fundamental crisis we are facing. We have just over a month to work on getting voters to the polls. Filing charges in MD won't accomplish anything quickly enough to make a difference.
KPN
(15,646 posts)guys with a fork. We need to go after them.
calimary
(81,300 posts)installed on the Supreme Court by REPUBLI-CON presidents. No, make that... installed on the Supreme Court by a republi-CON president and a RUSSIAN ASSET who cheated his way in with the help of a HOSTILE FOREIGN POWER.
Let the games begin. How nasty and dirty can WE play? Is it time yet?
There are lawsuits. There IS a move to make in Maryland, to file a complaint, where there's NO statute of limitations.
There is activism. INDIVISIBLE. LOOK FOR YOUR LOCAL INDIVISIBLE GROUP. AND GET INVOLVED. Yes, I'm SHOUTING!!!
https://www.indivisible.org
The thing I like about the Indivisible movement is this: one of their top priorities is meeting with our reps. Senators and Congressmembers. And taking our "asks" - that is, our concerns, our issues, our demands, DIRECTLY to them. Usually it's a staffer or a local/regional manager or somebody. But as I've observed going to many of these, they take notes. They ask questions. They pass it up the food chain if it's not the rep him/herself in the meeting. Sometimes, as I have found, personally, the rep him/herself IS there or DOES show up, stop by the conference room on the way to his/her office, and takes a seat. It happened exactly that way with Richard Bloom, the state assemblyman for our district. In Dianne Feinstein's office, it was a regional manager both times I went. In Kurt Schrader's office (Oregon CD5), we meet with a young lady on staff, and she takes notes to pass on upwards. Haven't met Schrader yet.
There's LOTS of activism and outreach that Indivisible generates or sponsors - like tomorrow's canvassing for a State Senate candidate who seeks to flip his district from red to blue. That candidate actually showed up last night during our planning meeting, gave a brief talk listing his key issues and what HE'S learned from his own canvassing efforts, meeting people and engaging with them. If he wins, first of all, he offers better representation than the GOPer in that seat now. AND we all have personal connections with him, since he's seen several of us during various kinds of meetings. He's gonna be at that canvassing event tomorrow when we go to sponsor and participate.
FURTHER: Since it looks like Kavanaugh's gonna make it all the way through, seems to me we DO INDEED need to consider impeachment once we get power back.
The ONLY way we can follow through on that is if we VOTE, en masse, SHOW UP to the polls on November 6th, in numbers so big that it is NOT close enough to steal. Whether it's Kris Kobach or the Russians. Numbers BIG ENOUGH that it's beyond stealing.
That will enable us to flip the House of Reps, AND the Senate. So we can not only put the brakes on this monstrous, racist, regressive, despicable, AND deplorable "administration," and present some proper checks and balances as envisioned by our Founders when they originally set this up, but finish the job that these jackals refused to do. Call in the FBI. Get them started on an investigation.
If we're the majority in the Senate, WE have subpoena power, and WE have the power to set the agenda in all the committees because we'll have majority membership on those committees and OUR people will chair those committees and determine what's done therein.
We can subpoena jerks like Mark Judge and COMPEL his testimony under oath. We can devote the time to a full investigation, so that ALL these potential witnesses who wanted to come forward and tell their story can do so, on the record, under oath. And with OUR DEMS in the leadership positions, wouldn't it be nice to swat away any objections from what would probably be Ranking Member Chuck Grassley - the former committee chairman who now has no power to do anything except interrupt with a bunch of harrumphs. AND we can engage the FBI to do a full investigation.
And that can be only the beginning.
We can begin impeachment proceedings in the House of Reps. A Supreme Court Justice CAN be impeached. Why not him? It's been a long time since the last one. Only one justice has been impeached by the House of Representatives (Samuel Chase, March 1804), but he was acquitted in the Senate (March 1805).
Supreme Court of the United States - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States
And frankly, if all we get is impeachment of him, and somehow the Senate doesn't follow through, that will STILL be a mark on his record, in the history books, in his biography, and more. He will be the second justice to be impeached, and many years beyond this, people can google him and go to Wikipedia and read all about the big blot on his record. He'll go down in history with that as his legacy.
And one other thing, too. If we can flip both houses of Congress, we can start dismantling the CONS' efforts to destroy our rights, our institutions, and what protects us, our privacy, our right to vote, our future, and our very survival on this planet - our PLANET'S survival! They care not. WE DO. And WE MUST.
Otherwise, the Supreme Court will from here on be permanently blemished.
This ISN'T over, and this must NEVER be over. Until true and genuine justice is done.
KPN
(15,646 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)We're likely to take the House in November, and taking the Senate is not impossible. In fact, it's chances are no steeper than once given to a Trump win.
Then we begin the work of rebuilding the Administrative State.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)TheBlackAdder
(28,205 posts).
Flake could have stopped this in his tracks and spared Murkowski and Collins the grief of a vote.
However, Collins, Flake, Manchin & Murkowski supposedly have an agreement to vote as a bloc.
In order for them to do this, Flake has to release the nomination to a full floor vote.
Perhaps Murkowski wants to go on record stopping him, so there is no doubt she supports the indigenous of AK.
.
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)once he voted here, then we know how the others are voting.
He's not looking all hang dog like he did in the elevator and in the room now if the group had decided to vote no.
KPN
(15,646 posts)what Flake actually said, he was extremely ambiguous about his personal views re: Kavanaugh and he also said theres more doubt than certainty. I read those as a NO vote on the floor.
We shall see.
Trust Buster
(7,299 posts)Justice Kennedy is being replaced. He was right wing. 2020 is the real battleground. If her health holds out, Ginsburg will need to be replaced. Thomas will be getting up in age and might also be a possibility between 2020 and 2024. Let us not make the mistakes in the run up to 2020 that many dems made in 2016.
Texin
(2,596 posts)As someone personally victimized by someone much like him, NO ONE except the victims of such a person would ever conceive of such a man being able to do and to have done the things he's been accused of. His banality and his family's affluence and influence, together with his collective victims' traumatic shock in the aftermath of his wretchedness that kept them silent until now, have given him over thirty+ years of cover. And now he's a lock for perhaps the single most powerful position of judicial authority in the world.
Trust Buster
(7,299 posts)Court.
KPN
(15,646 posts)Trust Buster
(7,299 posts)Lost the Court.
samnsara
(17,622 posts)bdamomma
(63,868 posts)Canada probably is getting very strict with their immigration laws because if anything does happen in the US (not that I predicting/assuming that) Canada will be the next little America.
Freddie
(9,267 posts)Shes an RN and her husband is a construction worker so I think theyd be most welcome. Told her it would be a better place to raise their kids. Shes not giving up hope on the USA quite yet.
bdamomma
(63,868 posts)I hope everything works out for your daughter and her husband.
Codeine
(25,586 posts)we lost the Supreme Court nearly two years ago. All the Kabuki theater wasnt going to halt the inevitable. Americas young people need to understand elections matter.
Gothmog
(145,291 posts)The SCOTUS was on the ballot in 2016. The GOP hardcore voters who hated trump still voted for him due to the SCOTUS. We had sanders voters who either stayed home or voted for stein because they did not care about the SCOTUS
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)We must, as always, look ahead.
Gothmog
(145,291 posts)I first met Beto at the National Convention where he was a super delegate and I was a mere pledged delegate. I liked him. I met Beto at an early campaign event at a bar in early 2017 and liked him. I never thought that Beto could beat Carnival Cruz but gave him some money. Texas may be in play in the Senate and the confirmation of an asshole like Kavanaugh will help Beto
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
Even if Kavanaugh is rejected, trump has a dozen other possible nominees who will vote to overturn Roe that we can not blocked. Mitch McConnell told trump not to nominate Kavanaugh due to issues and a bad paper record. Kavanaugh's confirmation may still be defeated but Rove v. Wade will be overturned. I suspect that trump and the Senate may be able to get another less controversial nominee through before the mid terms. FBI and other due diligence will not matter for the next nominee if Kavanaugh is rejected by the Senate. Roe v. Wade is dead no matter what.
We need to win at least the House in the mid terms. There are House seats in play that I am excited about. Lizzie Fletcher and Collin Allred are tied in their races. I never thought that I would see my own district in play but Sri Preston Kulkarni is competitive. Pete Olson is a piece of furniture and has never been challenged. Sri has been turnout so many new Asian voters that the GOP got nervous and did this offensive ad
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
We need to get control of the House and if Kavanaugh is confirmed the Senate. However make no mistake, Roe v. Wade will be overturned no matter what
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)turn our government over to the Republicans. It's really the very least they could do, instead of this eternal bitching and whining about how other Democrats should have done more.
That's regardless of how the committee vote turns out and regardless of how the full senate votes. If they didn't want Republican control, they should have done their job.
BumRushDaShow
(129,062 posts)as Democrats "ran away" from Obama. That meant that the GOP could then eliminate "regular order" in terms of Senate business, and torpedo the rest of the rules regarding confirmations so they could also hold up the Garland nomination once he was selected, until the nomination died at the end of 2016. The loss of the 2016 election sealed the fate.
moose65
(3,167 posts)It was also 2014, when we lost 9 Senate seats in a complete bloodbath. Democratic Senators (like my own, Kay Hagan) tried to run from Obama and be Republican-lite, and it cost us dearly. I do really wish that Democrats would take a long view of elections, not just panic for the one that is coming up! If we had just held onto a few of those seats, Garland would probably be on the court right now, and this wouldn't be a problem!
OliverQ
(3,363 posts)It's a cesspool of corruption and stupidity.
Sadly, no other country I'd be inclined to go to has options for me to move.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)for this election?
mythology
(9,527 posts)Vote, support our candidates with time and money and efforts, work in our local communities to make the world a better place.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,719 posts)But nothing lasts forever. We have to play a long game, a very long game. Some of us probably won't even live long enough to see the outcome. Work from the bottom up. Someday, maybe as soon as 2020, there will no longer be a GOP president. And even Supreme Court justices don't live forever (although I desperately hope RBG can hang in there for a few more years). If we work hard at grass-roots politics we will no longer have a GOP House and Senate, and maybe even more importantly the GOP may be kicked out of at least some - maybe many - state legislatures and governorships.
State level elections will become crucial if the current Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, because right now, in many states, there are a lot of retrograde legislators who are frothing at the mouth for the chance to outlaw all forms of abortion. Without the restrictions of Roe they will be able to do it. And if Roe is overturned as a result of a majority decision that there is no Constitutional right to privacy, Griswold v. Connecticut (birth control), Loving v. Virginia (interracial marriage) and Lawrence v. Kansas (consensual gay sex) could go right out the window, too.
GOTV. It's all we've got left.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)see the end of.
charliea
(260 posts)In 2016 I was thinking that we were on the right path. The President had nominated a reserved centrist to the Court to replace the odious Scalia, who McConnell had actually gave as an example of who he could vote for but who he said Obama would never pick. Hillary was about to be elected and the likelihood that she'd get a pick for the court was high.
Now I know that pathway is gone and we're in the long battle for an honest society. I want to re-establish that for my kids and grandson. I don't expect to outlive that weasel if he does get on the court, but I'll fight him and his ilk until I'm gone.
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. Mark Twain
I don't think ours currently deserves it...
#RESIST
bdamomma
(63,868 posts)is a good suggestion. We are not in good place right now, but we will have to fight back hard and not do this
redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)I have been making calls the past year and knocking on doors for candidates. I have come in contact with a number of older and middle aged voters who have been lifelong democrats who feel the party no longer wants them and no longer cares about them. One man said he was told by some people he volunteered with at a call center that because he was in the middle instead of far left he was a DINO. He said that was his last time volunteering for the party and he would not be doing it again. I asked him when this was and he said it was during the heart of the primary season in 2016.
I wish this were an isolated incident but it wasn't. We are losing people who have traditionally voted in every election because we are not respecting the various views in our own party. We just need to keep our eyes on the prize and quit that nonsense. Do we need to welcome young people with more left leaning views into the party, of course, but they should not come in with the notion of pushing others out of the tent. If we do that, we are doomed to more of the same.
I will keep doing what I do, I go two or three times a week to the call centers, or walking precincts as much as I can with my back. I try to ignore the nasty stuff here and when I volunteer, I refuse to answer questions about my views when they are trying to litmus test me, I won't play that game with them. We all need to vote, or our republic will be no more and it won't matter what test you passed.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)Raster
(20,998 posts)MineralMan
(146,317 posts)I don't expect there to be enough no votes.
Raster
(20,998 posts)You have a phone, right?
You know how to write letters to editors, right?
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,719 posts)go down the Federalist Society's list and find another right-wing judge (maybe with fewer skeletons in their closet) who holds the same antediluvian legal theories as Kavanaugh. Even if K. wasn't a likely sex offender he'd still suck as a Supreme Court justice.
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,855 posts)I don't think that I'll be optimistic about the USA until lots of privileged people here suffer, and suffer badly.
I'm not referring to privileges of skin color.
I'm referring to privileges like the dollar being the reserve currency of the world, killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people with our military for pointless reasons without enduring similar losses, etc.
Our government chose to stimulate the economy with "Military Keynesianism" long ago, and we'll eventually reap what we've sown. Reality will only "sink in" when enough Americans are shown that the rest of the world doesn't NEED them and they endure great hardships themselves.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)KPN
(15,646 posts)mbusby
(823 posts)...add two more justices to the supreme court.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)It all comes down to that. We can't do anything until we regain control of Congress. We can begin that process next month.
I can't believe anyone doesn't understand that, but apparently many do not.
What you suggest isn't a bad idea, but it's impossible if we don't have the votes in the House and Senate. So, go GOTV, please...
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)(Ward 10 Mpls), but I still urge everyone I think is on our side to vote. If they say they're not registered, I give them them website on my phone so that they can register.
I agree with you 100% MM this election is too important to not vote.
Fla Dem
(23,677 posts)By Dylan Matthews@dylanmattdylan@vox.com Updated Jul 10, 2018, 3:33pm EDT
Almost as soon as Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement from the Supreme Court, putting the legality of abortion and the safety of protections for LGBT people in immediate jeopardy, calls started pouring in from liberals and leftists for a drastic response: court-packing.
>>>snip<<<
And the selection of Brett Kavanaugh as Kennedys replacement, ensuring the court will move dramatically to the right, only led the calls for court-packing to proliferate.
There is nothing in the Constitution mandating that the Supreme Court have nine members, and a simple act of Congress could increase that number to 11, or 15, or even more. That effectively creates a way for a political party in control of the House, Senate, and presidency to add a large number of ideologically sympathetic justices to the Court, all at once.
To many leftists and left-liberals, such drastic action is needed if any progressive legislation in the future is to survive. The concerns in question have less to do with hot-button social issues like abortion and LGBT rights and more to do with the constitutionality of economic regulation and redistributive programs. Just this past Wednesday, the Supreme Court effectively gutted public sector unions under the guise of the First Amendment. In 2012, there were four votes on the Supreme Court (including Anthony Kennedy) for striking down the Affordable Care Act in full. And theres an emerging movement of judicial conservatives, championed prominently by Donald Trumps appellate appointee Don Willett, which wants the courts to become much more aggressive in blocking economic regulation.
If that kind of judicial conservatism comes to dominate the Supreme Court, then even winning back the White House and Congress wont be enough for programs like a $15 minimum wage, or Medicare-for-all, or a free college plan, to be passed and secured. The Supreme Court would stand ready to rule them unconstitutional nearly as soon as they are passed. In such a scenario, court-packing starts to look like a reasonable defensive measure.
More>>>>>
https://www.vox.com/2018/7/2/17513520/court-packing-explained-fdr-roosevelt-new-deal-democrats-supreme-court
Danascot
(4,690 posts)who have only the dimmest notion of what's happening to our country. If we can wake some of them or at least get them to vote because you're urging them to and they trust you, it would help a lot. Think about who you know who fit the description and talk to them.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)Kennedy was a moderate sometimes, but generally voted with the Republican majority.
still_one
(92,212 posts)Regardless of what happens though, as you said this should be a motivating force for us to GOTV, especially since the republicans have declared war on women
OliverQ
(3,363 posts)Manchin might too. Kavanaugh is guaranteed to get confirmed.
still_one
(92,212 posts)issues regarding Alaska fishing rights that Kavanaugh were involved in that might have a greater influence on her vote, though I doubt it
Amishman
(5,557 posts)They know the outcome before the vote
JCMach1
(27,559 posts)Right now
eleny
(46,166 posts)hibbing
(10,098 posts)mulsh
(2,959 posts)It's not too late to register to vote in some states. Here's a site listing voting info an links to on line registration in states where that is an option.
[link:http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/electronic-or-online-voter-registration.aspx|
Lynx is offering free rides to the pols
https://blog.lyft.com/posts/2018/8/22/get-out-the-vote
this is part of my on line Pester The Vote project. Help me help people to register and vote from the comfort of your chair or couch.
elmac
(4,642 posts)it doesn't matter what party is in charge, a fascist supreme court can destroy everything good, safety nets, everything, for decades.
mulsh
(2,959 posts)merely because it's rare doesn't mean it can't happen. this bottom feeder is an unusually bad specimen and I refuse to give up hope.
A feeling my all boys Catholic high school reinforced back in the 70's.
elmac
(4,642 posts)and it didn't even come close so I don't think it can or will ever be a thing. The Court was never a good idea and is now a monster that cannot be controlled.
MarcA
(2,195 posts)No private donations allowed.
elmac
(4,642 posts)PubliusEnigma
(1,583 posts)in2herbs
(2,945 posts)the USSC with 5 or 6 more liberal judges so that progressive decisions will void the decisions of the conservative judges on the USSC. I can't remember which Dem senator was talking during the K hearing when I got the impression that, regardless of whether or not K is approved, with a democrat majority there will be an investigation of the allegations against K.
The depth of what the R's are doing to our country exposes a traitorous influence that is so evil that patriotic Americans cannot go to that space in their minds and so the comprehension of what is happening is lacking.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)bettyellen
(47,209 posts)The Liberal Lion
(1,414 posts)is too corrupt to allow to continue. Until then, I suppose, we of conscience will sit back and continue to hope for the unicorn that will never come. I think after the midterms many will acknowledge the reality of the current situation we are in and the behaviors we will have to adopt as a result. As for me I don't care what the congress legislates, what the execute promulgates, or what the court adjudicates, I will not conform. I am fearless.
inwiththenew
(972 posts)You think it's bad now wait until Trump gets another 1-2 more Supreme Court justices on the bench. If we don't get enough to block the Pence tiebreaker then we are in a world of shit. At a minimum I think that Thomas will retire and we have to hope like hell the other 4 can hold on. Breyer is 80 and RBG is 85. That does not give you a warm and fuzzy.
If we don't get 51 seats then 2016 could end up going down as probably one of the most crucial election in the recent history of the country if Trump gets to put possibly 4 judges on the bench.
Johnny2X2X
(19,066 posts)Gulp.
Hes a corporatist, but hes not an insane righty in most social issues and he cares about the country.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,719 posts)and I can't imagine that he wants "the Roberts Court" to go down in history as somehow debased or illegitimate on account of an absurdly biased and downright lawless appointment process that has resulted in the seating of a judge who has been credibly identified as a sex abuser and who is known to have spent much of his career as a partisan political operative and ratf*cker in the tradition of Karl Rove.
He does have some control as an administrator - he can manage who actually is assigned to write opinions, and he can control recusals. He is also known to prefer consensus over partisanship, and we can only hope he has enough influence over Kavanaugh to keep him isolated in Storeroom B with his red stapler, writing nutty minority opinions like Thomas.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)weeks from DUers discouraging people from activism.
Im sure its not your intention to mislead people, but...
TNLib
(1,819 posts)It's about putting a sexual predator on the bench and when there is one victim there is likely to be others.
This is going to be horrible for our country. Because the truth always comes out and in these types of cases it usually slow and painful.
Dopers_Greed
(2,640 posts)Which involves removing Gorsuch and Kavanaugh from the SC
D00ver
(18 posts)I find it interesting that in todays world of firsts, the sitting Supreme Court as a whole has not come out and made a joint unanimous statement asking for a complete investigation before seating this nominee. A sad day
onetexan
(13,041 posts)members
D00ver
(18 posts)None of the things that have been happening should of. Nothing is normal. Making a statement would at least signal that they prefer to stay neutral
Eliot Rosewater
(31,112 posts)GOP or nazi party.
welcome
fleabiscuit
(4,542 posts)infullview
(981 posts)when the the Dems take the house, they should start a full investigation into the accusations of sexual misconduct and possible perjury. If sufficient evidence is found they can impeach him. I realize that this has only been done once in US history, but desperate times require desperate measures.
elmac
(4,642 posts)the fascists will block any attempt by a Democratic government to go after tRump or nullify anything, they will also keep us fighting for our safety nets for decades. Close elections will also be decided in the fascists favor.
infullview
(981 posts)things may get worse before they get better, but I have to have faith in people's humanity. I for one am willing to expend some shoe leather to help make it happen.
elmac
(4,642 posts)there is little hope for the patient. Things need to drastically change fundamentally, elections just aren't going to do it.
fishwax
(29,149 posts)Great post, MineralMan. K/R.
W T F
(1,147 posts)MineralMan
(146,317 posts)saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)My great appreciation goes out to Mrs. Ford for her testimony, to Senator Feinstein and all the Democratic Senators who spoke up or walked out. The outcome was predictable with a Republican controlled Senate. All of the possible Republican vote no Senators will fold.
I will make a contribution to a Democratic campaign today. There are many excellent Democratic candidates running in November. It is likely many candidates will win by small margins. We must GOTV, it's worth the effort.
PatrickforO
(14,576 posts)a straight party line vote, but then it goes to the floor. Yes, Flake is now saying he will vote yea.
BUT...
It ain't over til it's over.
My wife and I together called my state's republican senator Cory Gardner. His DC office - leave a message. His offices all over Colorado - sorry this voicemail box is full.
We finally got through to Jack in Yuma, which is a little one-horse town out on Colorado's eastern plains, and we registered our displeasure. Jack assured us he'd pass it on.
But look at what happened. Gardner's mailboxes were all full. My whole state is basically against this pasty-faced privileged prep-school guy who acted like a five-year-old throwing a tantrum while being questioned. I mean, it's not like we're calling for the guy's head - but he clearly doesn't deserve a lifetime job at a quarter mil a year with great benefits on the highest court in the land. He isn't good enough. He doesn't cut the mustard.
Let's all keep the pressure up on this thing, and as you say, MineralMan, let us also get downright angry and work hard on getting people to vote.
Most Americans don't even know we're in a constitutional crisis. Lots of work to do this next five weeks. Lots of work.
TommyCelt
(838 posts)I'm disheartened, more than I imagined I would be, by what has transpired the last week. But I/we cannot allow this to keep us down.
Go door to door. Old people, young people, sane people, people with a brain and a heart who will not allow our country to die; we ALL have to vote as yellow-dogs, I don't fucking care. Vote D all the way down. Protest loudly and in-your-face EVERY injustice, like the women did to Flake on the elevator this morning. Make them AFRAID of the consequences of IGNORING the will of the people for their own good ol'boy security & comfort .
Our freedom is being threatened in a most egregious way. Time to fight.
DFW
(54,399 posts)OK, so they voted to pass him on to the full Senate for a vote. That probably isn't going to happen until next week. No, we don't have any more McCains around to give us hope for a welcome surprise, but we have a weekend to bombard Senators with messages, especially ones up for re-election now and in two years. "We will never forget your vote on Kavanawful. EVER. And that goes for those who vote either way."
Unfortunately for those who held out hope of getting a favorable vote from Flake--remember, more often than not, he has been true to his name. He sometimes talks the talk, but he never walks the walk.
elmac
(4,642 posts)40+ years of fascist control of the supreme court so they can dismantle every safety net, no matter who in in the White house or congress. we were warned about this.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)jalan48
(13,869 posts)MineralMan
(146,317 posts)I was in the DC area then, and was deeply involved in anti-war activity.
Guess what? We didn't end that war. Nixon did when there was no way to continue it further. Nixon, for Jebus' sake.
I remember all of that very, very well.
jalan48
(13,869 posts)would have continued. How long have our wars in the ME been going on? No massive protests, no end to those wars.
tiredtoo
(2,949 posts)Fifty-nine (59) races were either tied or determined by one vote. Your vote does matter! For the record I have been door knocking weekly for the past two months and will continue to do so.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)usaf-vet
(6,186 posts)a proper investigation (FBI) for ALL no matter who the nominee is. We need to insure the country never again see a nominee DENIED their hearing and an up or down vote. No more bulls**t it's to close to an election. No more let the voters speak. No more one set of rules for one party and one set of rule for the other.
Kavanaugh would never have gotten close to that seat if. Obama's nominee had gotten a fair hearing.
And finally I take Senator Whitehouse at his word when he told Dr. Ford he would (no matter how long it took) get to the truth about her assault. If we where right and and Kavanaugh lied he should then be impeached.
I'll bet Lindsey Graham will be the next AG after Session is fired he need Kavanaugh on the court so Mueller investigation will not expose HIS complicity in the 2016 election. He is guilty of something IMO that he wants to cover up.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)Would that not take majorities in both houses of Congress and enough state legislatures? Such a thing would require a Constitutional Amendment. Surely you know that...
usaf-vet
(6,186 posts)And yes believe it or not I do know what it would take to open a Constitutional convention. I also know that it is not what would solve the problem it would only excerbate all of our current Constitutional problems.
The Koch brothers would like nothing better than to open a Constitutional convention so that their money and organizations could alter the current Constitution to make it a document that would ONLY BENEFITs the 1%.
Better than 50 years ago I took and oath to "support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic." I intend to honor that oath to my dying days. As did my father before me and his father before him.
Gothmog
(145,291 posts)His performance on this committee should help Beto
onenote
(42,704 posts)which is when we lost the court.
We resist. We do it on social media. We do it with our friends and colleagues. We do it by supporting groups that are bringing lawsuits challenging Trump's actions. We do it by registering to vote, getting others to register to vote, and by voting.
FreepFryer
(7,077 posts)Cheers, Mineral Man!