The Contrarians do not get deflected by the next problematic action of the administration, they just add another case to their pursuit of political malpractice. You are heroes of the pro-democracy movement.
Yes, heros. But voters must become heroes themselves to overcome every conceivable Trump intimidations against voting. He said "cheat like hell." He is on the cheating war path.
Ever notice that all Orange’s rallies have young, attractive, and white women lined up behind him? I wonder how much each of these dupes are paid for their sickening ardor. A whole slew of Valerie Harps.
"Trump’s outrageous executive order attempting to rewrite the rules of how we vote cannot be implemented this close to an election...."
You can't be permitted to rewrite rules the Constitution doesn't grant you any authority over, no matter WHEN. Power to determine "time, manner and place" is given to the states, not to the Post Office or the Executive Branch. You could argue Congress has some limited influence but there is no role at all for the President, for his appointed surrogates and scalawags -- not at the beginning, not in the middle, nor at the end. Period.
I am going to guess that the MAGA majority will want to make tRump's USPS gambit an opt in program for states that wish to participate. Oregon will decline and Texas will participate. The result will be a total mess, but that's the purpose.
Vote tampering and election meddling, not to mention inhibiting the delivery of the U.S. Mail are all illegal activities, not under the 'official acts' of a president. The running of elections is the province of the states: The president has no authority here. There is good prosecutorial reason here.
That is normal, sane reasoning. Unfortunately, these are not reasonable nor sane times. USPS is part of the executive branch, so running it is a core function. In the unitary executive theory, the president can rewrite the regulations to be whatever he wants at any time. He can also dismiss all collective bargaining rights by declaring there are national security issues present. SCOTUS has eroded the checks and balances and inverted the reasoning of the founders and their rejection of having a king.
Norman Eisen and other groups are attempting to retain and apply "normal sane reasoning" using the laws of the land as written.
The USPS is actually now an independent agency of the executive branch, not normally so closely scrutinized by a president, though this one seems to think that he should have a finger in every pie and micromanage everything in sight. The supreme court has indeed played into the current situation, with disastrous effect.
SCOTUS has vaporized the concept of "independence" with only one remaining exception - the FED. If the budget comes from the executive branch or the President can appoint board members, there is no independence.
Per "The Jailhouse Lawyer", we only have the rights that 5 current members of the Supreme Court say we do.
Diesel is up over 60% for the year; Trump, who claimed to have won his catastrophic war of choice in the 1st hour, now promises to escalate the war after the election. In the meantime, be very afraid of imaginary "violent" reflecting pool vandals, & the most dangerous enemies within, communist/Dems.
Dems: an order of magnitude better than the Trump & Co packs of corrupt sociopaths. Trump & Co epic corruption, grifting & bribery. How much is too much?
"Lewandowski allegedly told foreign governments to “hire me on the side,” pressured companies with billions of dollars in federal contracts at stake, and retaliated against businesses with which he held personal grievances. "
Lewd-owski is only following his leader's approach to get rich "on the side" with offers and pressures. Cut from the same cloth, and with examples of 'appropriate behavior' like this, higher expectations are not reasonable.
Trump is clearly getting desperate. Calling for people to imagine he's on a ballot that he isn't, and throwing money at voters (voter tampering and bribery, the assets that they'd never see) are more signs of floundering. Even the weird "convention" stands out as a violation of the Hatch Act.
Mr. Eisen and others are doing a yeoman's job at keeping these issues before the public and before the rule of law in the country. Our best support for their efforts is to get out and vote.
I am glad that someone is keeping the pressure on Trump, but a man who chose to adopt the values of Roy Cohn will not be deterred. He doesn’t care. If the $45K “gifts” are disallowed, what consequences will follow? Presumably, the recipients will be required to disgorge the illegal funds, although by the time that happens (if it ever does), the money will be long gone. And disgorge to whom? Trump? $90k is chump change to him. These are not consequences that will have a deterrent impact. As usual, the legal system grinds too slowly to make any difference. That’s the primary lesson Trump learned from Cohn.
Per tRump's filter, if you work for the executive branch, you work for him directly and personally above all other loyalties. Per SCOTUS, the president cannot be held accountable if he is acting in his primary role. Gift giving to an aid is a business executive's way of doing things, not what used to be acceptable for a politician. Who would have authority to enforce the law against gift giving by a public official when that happens to be the president? Who would have standing to sue over the violation of law by the president?
But I wonder if gift giving is considered an official act. If everything he does is an "official act," I cringe to think what that means. My mind goes to all kinds of places! I guess we need to define what an official duty is; otherwise, going to the loo would qualify.
The supreme court clearly had this in mind when they did not specify what was considered to be "official". Lots of wiggle room and legal confrontations abound.
It's not clear how the Hatch Act would apply to the President. She is his executive assistant. He is rewarding exemplary behavior. That is a normal function of a business executive.
I'm sure that's how he views it, the presidency is just another business he's running his way. That often didn't work out well for him and his employees. Same today.
In normal times, this would be handled by the department of justice (no caps intentional). Obviously, these are not normal times. Trump's toady in the doj wouldn't prosecute on a bet.
Is there a satute of limitations issue at play in "The Epstein Files" charade? Delay until prosecution is no longer possible? (No offense intended, but only lawyers could create such a system.)
About the $45000 payments...were they paid out of Trump's pocket? The White House operating budget? Is there a legal way to give government employees a bonus?
The corruption is what’s going to get him. The Trumpers my husband works with are starting to get p.o’d.
IMHO it's EPSTEIN. Everyone has a mother. Opposition to a complete investigation supports rape and child molestation!
Virtually every Congressional Republican is implicated in obstruction of justice.
Thank you for this post and reminding us what exactly you do for us. Without you we would be in trouble.
The Contrarians do not get deflected by the next problematic action of the administration, they just add another case to their pursuit of political malpractice. You are heroes of the pro-democracy movement.
Yes, heros. But voters must become heroes themselves to overcome every conceivable Trump intimidations against voting. He said "cheat like hell." He is on the cheating war path.
Illegally buying votes is NOT an official Presidential duty. Prosecute him!
Ever notice that all Orange’s rallies have young, attractive, and white women lined up behind him? I wonder how much each of these dupes are paid for their sickening ardor. A whole slew of Valerie Harps.
The definition of harping :)
I noticed it too and hell yes, they are paid. Why else would they be there?
Joanie, there are also "others" at most of them. Maybe not this last one.
"Trump’s outrageous executive order attempting to rewrite the rules of how we vote cannot be implemented this close to an election...."
You can't be permitted to rewrite rules the Constitution doesn't grant you any authority over, no matter WHEN. Power to determine "time, manner and place" is given to the states, not to the Post Office or the Executive Branch. You could argue Congress has some limited influence but there is no role at all for the President, for his appointed surrogates and scalawags -- not at the beginning, not in the middle, nor at the end. Period.
NORM. I am hopeful knowing he and his crew are out there.
I am going to guess that the MAGA majority will want to make tRump's USPS gambit an opt in program for states that wish to participate. Oregon will decline and Texas will participate. The result will be a total mess, but that's the purpose.
Vote tampering and election meddling, not to mention inhibiting the delivery of the U.S. Mail are all illegal activities, not under the 'official acts' of a president. The running of elections is the province of the states: The president has no authority here. There is good prosecutorial reason here.
That is normal, sane reasoning. Unfortunately, these are not reasonable nor sane times. USPS is part of the executive branch, so running it is a core function. In the unitary executive theory, the president can rewrite the regulations to be whatever he wants at any time. He can also dismiss all collective bargaining rights by declaring there are national security issues present. SCOTUS has eroded the checks and balances and inverted the reasoning of the founders and their rejection of having a king.
Norman Eisen and other groups are attempting to retain and apply "normal sane reasoning" using the laws of the land as written.
The USPS is actually now an independent agency of the executive branch, not normally so closely scrutinized by a president, though this one seems to think that he should have a finger in every pie and micromanage everything in sight. The supreme court has indeed played into the current situation, with disastrous effect.
SCOTUS has vaporized the concept of "independence" with only one remaining exception - the FED. If the budget comes from the executive branch or the President can appoint board members, there is no independence.
Per "The Jailhouse Lawyer", we only have the rights that 5 current members of the Supreme Court say we do.
Hence the need to expand the number of justices on the court to 13 as a number of people have proposed to bring a balance to the court.
The fat felon tried to interfere in an election before. He failed then and he will fail now.
Diesel is up over 60% for the year; Trump, who claimed to have won his catastrophic war of choice in the 1st hour, now promises to escalate the war after the election. In the meantime, be very afraid of imaginary "violent" reflecting pool vandals, & the most dangerous enemies within, communist/Dems.
Dems: an order of magnitude better than the Trump & Co packs of corrupt sociopaths. Trump & Co epic corruption, grifting & bribery. How much is too much?
https://mitchthelawyer.substack.com/p/this-labor-day-you-paid-415-a-gallon?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLDE9LrGpNk
Please, bring on a Blue Tsunami. #VoteBlue!
Prosecution of IT for Jan 6th would have... No More Move On.
Not again.
"Lewandowski allegedly told foreign governments to “hire me on the side,” pressured companies with billions of dollars in federal contracts at stake, and retaliated against businesses with which he held personal grievances. "
Lewd-owski is only following his leader's approach to get rich "on the side" with offers and pressures. Cut from the same cloth, and with examples of 'appropriate behavior' like this, higher expectations are not reasonable.
Trump is clearly getting desperate. Calling for people to imagine he's on a ballot that he isn't, and throwing money at voters (voter tampering and bribery, the assets that they'd never see) are more signs of floundering. Even the weird "convention" stands out as a violation of the Hatch Act.
Mr. Eisen and others are doing a yeoman's job at keeping these issues before the public and before the rule of law in the country. Our best support for their efforts is to get out and vote.
My paid subscription to The Contrarians is the best way I’ve spent money all year!
Thank you for your consistent efforts to keep our democracy afloat. Much appreciated!
Thank you, Contrarians and shout out to Norm, for helping us fight the crazy regime. We need your help and are deeply grateful.
I am glad that someone is keeping the pressure on Trump, but a man who chose to adopt the values of Roy Cohn will not be deterred. He doesn’t care. If the $45K “gifts” are disallowed, what consequences will follow? Presumably, the recipients will be required to disgorge the illegal funds, although by the time that happens (if it ever does), the money will be long gone. And disgorge to whom? Trump? $90k is chump change to him. These are not consequences that will have a deterrent impact. As usual, the legal system grinds too slowly to make any difference. That’s the primary lesson Trump learned from Cohn.
It would likely be OUR money, taxpayer dollars to pay his lovely helpers.
Per tRump's filter, if you work for the executive branch, you work for him directly and personally above all other loyalties. Per SCOTUS, the president cannot be held accountable if he is acting in his primary role. Gift giving to an aid is a business executive's way of doing things, not what used to be acceptable for a politician. Who would have authority to enforce the law against gift giving by a public official when that happens to be the president? Who would have standing to sue over the violation of law by the president?
But I wonder if gift giving is considered an official act. If everything he does is an "official act," I cringe to think what that means. My mind goes to all kinds of places! I guess we need to define what an official duty is; otherwise, going to the loo would qualify.
The supreme court clearly had this in mind when they did not specify what was considered to be "official". Lots of wiggle room and legal confrontations abound.
It's not clear how the Hatch Act would apply to the President. She is his executive assistant. He is rewarding exemplary behavior. That is a normal function of a business executive.
I'm sure that's how he views it, the presidency is just another business he's running his way. That often didn't work out well for him and his employees. Same today.
In normal times, this would be handled by the department of justice (no caps intentional). Obviously, these are not normal times. Trump's toady in the doj wouldn't prosecute on a bet.
The toad would be fired immediately if he tried to prosecute.
Is there a satute of limitations issue at play in "The Epstein Files" charade? Delay until prosecution is no longer possible? (No offense intended, but only lawyers could create such a system.)
About the $45000 payments...were they paid out of Trump's pocket? The White House operating budget? Is there a legal way to give government employees a bonus?