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orthoclad

(2,910 posts)
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 10:01 AM Jul 2022

Midterms may be too late

shoutout to turbinetree for [link:https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216979536|

No other problem is as pressing as the right-wing supermajority on the highest court. This court has no hesitation in issuing slapdash rulings which are cementing the power of the far right. Roe. EPA. Death Row. It is in the process NOW of deconstructing the US government's ability to protect the rights and safety of the people. It's worst is yet to come.

In October, before the midterms, this Dominionist Court could give unprecedented power to state legislatures: "the ability to regulate federal elections without oversight from state courts" [link:https://www.rawstory.com/experts-warn-of-election-havoc-across-the-us-if-north-carolina-case-succeeds/| per turbinetree).

During the Obama years, the Republican party was busy at state and local levels; they gained about 1000 seats. And now that that party has no platform except obeying the will of Herr Drumpf, we can easily guess the result if the Court gives them power over elections. The popular vote will be defeated. As the current right-wing slogan goes, we're a "constitutional republic" (code for oligarchy), not a democracy.

The right wing has shown great disdain for their own voters for years, exposing them to covid death and driving them into poverty, let alone their disdain for the general population about human rights and climate catastrophes. This is because they are confident that the vote won't matter. Between gerrymandering, vote suppression, outright fraud and subversion, and their trump card in this Court ruling, the right wing will seize and cement generational power.

We absolutely MUST curtail the Right Caucus on the Court, and fast. Impeach the liars for perjury, investigate the Thomases, and mainly expand the Court to 13 seats to match 13 Circuit Courts. We have to have serious, realistic pressure on this Court BEFORE October, even if we have to call Congress back into session. Time off for campaigning won't matter if the election is cooked. Campaign by working for the people. We are at a tipping point, and it's racing at us.

(moved from other forum)

23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Midterms may be too late (Original Post) orthoclad Jul 2022 OP
Well said! K&R n/t CaliforniaPeggy Jul 2022 #1
We are going to have to hope it is not too late because there is no way to do it before the Demsrule86 Jul 2022 #2
Big margins will help, but orthoclad Jul 2022 #5
Pressure to what end what?...beating up the caucus when the votes are not there is no way to win Demsrule86 Jul 2022 #13
I was imprecise orthoclad Jul 2022 #16
Impeachment is the only way to deal with them and Demsrule86 Jul 2022 #18
Prosecution for perjury and/or rape would work, too orthoclad Aug 2022 #21
There isn't going to be a prosecution Demsrule86 Aug 2022 #22
Well then, I guess it IS too late... brooklynite Jul 2022 #3
It is too late. Demsrule86 Aug 2022 #23
what are the chances any of that will happen? maxsolomon Jul 2022 #4
Introducing a bill of impeachment, orthoclad Jul 2022 #10
And there would be absolutely no reason to do that as we don't have 66 votes in the Senate for Demsrule86 Jul 2022 #14
Wado................thank you turbinetree Jul 2022 #6
That's why gubernatorial elections this year and next are extremely important. TheRealNorth Jul 2022 #7
Everything from dog-catcher up orthoclad Jul 2022 #8
Love your optimism! PJMcK Jul 2022 #9
It's not up to me to plan orthoclad Jul 2022 #11
Your OP implies we've already lost PJMcK Jul 2022 #12
Well, I gave three suggestions orthoclad Jul 2022 #17
We need 66 votes to impeach which is the only way to get rid of SCOTUS judges. There Demsrule86 Jul 2022 #19
We can't just wring our hands orthoclad Aug 2022 #20
Doesn't the Constitution give state legislatures the authority to run elections? Kaleva Jul 2022 #15

Demsrule86

(68,469 posts)
2. We are going to have to hope it is not too late because there is no way to do it before the
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 10:10 AM
Jul 2022

midterms and if you want it done period...GOTV like your life depended on it...probably does. If you have some grand scheme that does not include Manchin and Sinema helping (they won't) to overturn the filibuster...let me know.

orthoclad

(2,910 posts)
5. Big margins will help, but
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 10:18 AM
Jul 2022

pressure on the caucus can be started. Roosevelt did something similar, and got that court to back off.

Investigating the Thomas (singular intended) looks like it's on track.

Demsrule86

(68,469 posts)
13. Pressure to what end what?...beating up the caucus when the votes are not there is no way to win
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 12:17 PM
Jul 2022

a midterm. And your post implies the caucus is somehow to blame...if we pressure them enough, why they could whip up some votes and do it...that is not the case. And you do a disservice to imply that it is.

orthoclad

(2,910 posts)
16. I was imprecise
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 03:24 PM
Jul 2022

The caucus I refer to is the group of right-wingers on the court, especially the Trump picks.

Demsrule86

(68,469 posts)
18. Impeachment is the only way to deal with them and
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 03:50 PM
Jul 2022

we don't have 66 votes and won't have 66 votes. We can add Justices. This requires a 51-votes to win...not 66 votes in the Senate if we win enough seats. Thanks for the information.

Demsrule86

(68,469 posts)
22. There isn't going to be a prosecution
Fri Aug 5, 2022, 06:13 PM
Aug 2022

That is for a 30 or 40 years old crime. But even if there was, you could not force him to resign.

brooklynite

(94,361 posts)
3. Well then, I guess it IS too late...
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 10:10 AM
Jul 2022

...because nobody in Democratic Party Leadership (including President Biden, Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer) plan to do either of the things you say are necessary. Add to which, Impeaching SC Justices would accomplish nothing, because you need 2/3 of the Senate to remove them.

orthoclad

(2,910 posts)
10. Introducing a bill of impeachment,
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 10:48 AM
Jul 2022

say on Beerenaugh, would be a start, and would be a shot across the bows.

It's like applying for a job: don't disqualify yourself before starting the paperwork.

The J6 committee is already looking at Ginni. Coincidentally, Clarence dropped his Fall legal seminar.

Demsrule86

(68,469 posts)
14. And there would be absolutely no reason to do that as we don't have 66 votes in the Senate for
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 12:20 PM
Jul 2022

conviction. And January 6 can do nothing about the court as the only avenue is to impeach them. We could after the midterms maybe add justices if we have the votes. I believe that is a simple majority. Democrats would love to fix the courts but our hands were tied back in 16 when some had a giant pout and refused to vote for the Democratic nominee..now it is going to be really tough to fix...it could have been prevented and should have been prevented.

TheRealNorth

(9,471 posts)
7. That's why gubernatorial elections this year and next are extremely important.
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 10:33 AM
Jul 2022

Legislatures in WI, MI, PA, and other states will be emboldened to try if they know a Republican governor commands the National Guard.

orthoclad

(2,910 posts)
8. Everything from dog-catcher up
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 10:36 AM
Jul 2022

A lot of honest election workers have been harassed and intimidated, and replaced by appatchiks. The right wing has taken to heart the dictum that all politics are local.

PJMcK

(21,998 posts)
9. Love your optimism!
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 10:37 AM
Jul 2022

So what do you suggest?

This is the hand we’ve been dealt. We have to fight like hell with the cards that we have in front of us.

Welcome to DU and have a nice weekend.

PJMcK

(21,998 posts)
12. Your OP implies we've already lost
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 11:11 AM
Jul 2022

I’ll ask again: what do you propose?

Your response suggests we can’t do anything. Do you really believe that?

orthoclad

(2,910 posts)
17. Well, I gave three suggestions
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 03:33 PM
Jul 2022

in the OP. And I said "may".
There are people with experience and knowledge in positions of power who would know better than I do. But the Trump Court is already a disaster, in a position to do much more damage. We should not ignore them; this is a house on fire. Resistance is not futile .

Demsrule86

(68,469 posts)
19. We need 66 votes to impeach which is the only way to get rid of SCOTUS judges. There
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 03:54 PM
Jul 2022

is nothing we can do at the moment...impeachment would be stupid because it would rile up the GOP base before the midterm and would not result in any convictions. What you want is not possible.

Kaleva

(36,259 posts)
15. Doesn't the Constitution give state legislatures the authority to run elections?
Fri Jul 29, 2022, 12:29 PM
Jul 2022

"Article I, Section 4, Clause 1:

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators."

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S4-C1-1-1-1-1/ALDE_00001036/

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