Trump's ability to stretch the powers of the Presidency far beyond the starting point of authoritarian rule is attributable to a single safeguard that has failed the American people - the U.S. Supreme Court, where his far-right wing ideological bedfellows have ignored well-established precedents and twisted reason and logic out of all proportion to justify his abuses of the Constitutional and legislative powers conferred upon him.
Today, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, in affirming a lower court decision, held in an en banc 7-4 decision that enough is enough and ruled that his imposition of sweeping and massive worldwide tariffs exceeded his authority, though they stopped short of issuing a prohibition to allow Trump to appeal to his 5 willing enablers on the Supreme Court.
At least 3 of these enablers can be expected to follow their usual pattern of first deciding to uphold whatever Trump does and then engaging in the most contortionist perversions of logic to attempt to justify their preconceived decisions.
The future of our democracy will then rest upon whether or not the remaining two Justices will do their duty.
PS: It would not surprise me to see the 5 Justices once again dodge a decision unfavorable to Trump by pulling the ultimate sleaze by contriving a procedural issue, such as lack of standing or some other such issue, to delay ( for all eternity) having to make a decision, and in doing so, allowing Trump to proceed with his abuses of power until the case can be heard again, if ever.
EMERGENCY, not. I can pick up a rifle, but BLUE state governors hold the key to stop the assault of constituents. Too much is at risk to wait! Mobilize Blue state National Guards when threatened. Wait until then. The invasion of one state by another is a call to state Governors to mobilize their National Guards to resist an UNLAWFUL assault. The U.S. military should not accept UNLAWFUL orders, and should not be present no matter how good they are at spreading mulch and collecting trash. The sooner we get this over with, the better. This confrontation is coming. It is coming! REMEMBER JANARY 6th! They started this civil war right then. We are stronger now than we will be tomorrow. The confrontation is not a battle or a war. It is a standoff at State borders. One state would be trying to invade another. One is the offender. The other, the defender. Spare me the “you are inciting violence”. We all know TACO. Blocking a road at the border is not advocating violence, it is moving the conflict from the cities to the border, a much safer place for the state’s citizens.
Also, the gerrymander fight is on. There is a new playbook. The old rules have been struck down by the Supreme Court. We need to change the gears here as fast as possible for deadly PREEMPTIVE strikes. Newsom has moved out on this already. Who is next? Hochul. Where are you? NO EXCUSE! Change your state Constitution. Pritzker. What are you doing?
"From Poland to South Africa to the United States, Michael Podhorzer explained, unions have been the most effective check on oligarchs and autocrats. And if we want to save democracy, we start by rebuilding them. “There are no shortcuts or workarounds.” Can the union of CDC save the agency? Let's start with one focused fight and win.
It would not surprise me to see the 5 Justices once again dodge a decision unfavorable to Trump by pulling the ultimate sleaze by contriving a procedural issue, such as lack of standing or some other such issue, to delay ( for all eternity) having to make a decision, and in doing so, allowing Trump to proceed with his abuses of power until the case can be heard again, if ever.
Norm, so much to address here yet I find that I just want to say thank you. Incredible work. So much illegal and unconstitutional and cruel being thrown at us by this regime and to know that you are fighting back on so many fronts and so successfully is a balm. Thank you. Thank you. Wendyl
Thanks for the reminder about Solidarity and its role in bringing down the Soviet Union.
Regarding the other point, time and time again there are millions of Americans who vote against their own self-interests as they did yet again in the 2024 election. They were sucked in by all of the empty promises of the carnival barker, grifter and felon who is drunk with power and who lusts for more. I wonder if any of them are suffering from voter's remorse because they sure as the hell should be.
And, once again, I will ask this question: Why can't we file a class action lawsuit against drumpf? Every single thing he has done since entering the Oval Office once again, has been either perverted or ignorant or unjust or illegal!!! If any ONE of us had done even ONE of the numerous illegal things he has done, we would have been dragged off to jail; tried; convicted; and imprisoned for what we did. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!!! Not even Mr. Bone Spurs!! Why has he not been hauled off to El Salvador yet? Where is our justice if we cannot fight back the same way he fights. Why can't a class action lawsuit be filed? Somehow, I think there are enough of us out there willing to sign up for this. I have my pen in hand. Pass me the paper!
I am all for unions. Worked in Minnesota where the AFL CIO was. But if only the Teamsters would get on board. I know that some local shops are on board but the president of it is still a Trump supporter I am told........
I am so grateful that Norm frequently reminds us that, as Contrarians, we are doing our small part to support the just cause of saving America from the sociopathic lunatic dictator and his sycophants and minions. Norm comes across as The Happy Warrior and we need more of his optimism and encouragement. To you, Norm, I say: keep up the good work and keep on fighting. We are with you.
Why are so many judicial order "stayed while under appeal," especially ones of such importance. Thankfully some Constitutionally-literate judges ruled the tariffs are illegal. Yet they allowed them to remain in place for another month. In the case cited by Norm an order was also stayed pending appeal. This Administration counts on those orders being stayed on appeal to further pervert the rule of law, shamelessly.
Norm, Thank you for all you and the Contrainans are doing for all Americans!
I question why aren’t we talking more about the Heritage Foundation and their project 2025 influence on the Trump administration? We need to explain that Russell Vought and Stephen Miller, both Christian Nationalists (actually white-supremicists) are working toward a white nationalist agenda. They need a light shown on their work. Sixty eight percent of eligible voters did not vote for Trump. We don’t want this!
Unions have been fighting forever the exact same thing that Trump has been dishing out to America since his acquisition of power in January, that being the use of power, money and greed to acquire more of the same. The main difference is intent. Unions strive to make the lives of their members better. Trump and his cronies strive to make their pockets deeper, state they have a right to do so because it is "the American way", using any tactics they can (moral or immoral, ethical or unethical) to achieve that end, and claiming also their right to do it because it is also "the American way".
If we do not do something about this soon we will find ourselves fighting another civil war. Trump et. all must be removed and arrested now.
"These are the Times that Try Men's Souls"
Trump's ability to stretch the powers of the Presidency far beyond the starting point of authoritarian rule is attributable to a single safeguard that has failed the American people - the U.S. Supreme Court, where his far-right wing ideological bedfellows have ignored well-established precedents and twisted reason and logic out of all proportion to justify his abuses of the Constitutional and legislative powers conferred upon him.
Today, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, in affirming a lower court decision, held in an en banc 7-4 decision that enough is enough and ruled that his imposition of sweeping and massive worldwide tariffs exceeded his authority, though they stopped short of issuing a prohibition to allow Trump to appeal to his 5 willing enablers on the Supreme Court.
At least 3 of these enablers can be expected to follow their usual pattern of first deciding to uphold whatever Trump does and then engaging in the most contortionist perversions of logic to attempt to justify their preconceived decisions.
The future of our democracy will then rest upon whether or not the remaining two Justices will do their duty.
PS: It would not surprise me to see the 5 Justices once again dodge a decision unfavorable to Trump by pulling the ultimate sleaze by contriving a procedural issue, such as lack of standing or some other such issue, to delay ( for all eternity) having to make a decision, and in doing so, allowing Trump to proceed with his abuses of power until the case can be heard again, if ever.
EMERGENCY, not. I can pick up a rifle, but BLUE state governors hold the key to stop the assault of constituents. Too much is at risk to wait! Mobilize Blue state National Guards when threatened. Wait until then. The invasion of one state by another is a call to state Governors to mobilize their National Guards to resist an UNLAWFUL assault. The U.S. military should not accept UNLAWFUL orders, and should not be present no matter how good they are at spreading mulch and collecting trash. The sooner we get this over with, the better. This confrontation is coming. It is coming! REMEMBER JANARY 6th! They started this civil war right then. We are stronger now than we will be tomorrow. The confrontation is not a battle or a war. It is a standoff at State borders. One state would be trying to invade another. One is the offender. The other, the defender. Spare me the “you are inciting violence”. We all know TACO. Blocking a road at the border is not advocating violence, it is moving the conflict from the cities to the border, a much safer place for the state’s citizens.
Also, the gerrymander fight is on. There is a new playbook. The old rules have been struck down by the Supreme Court. We need to change the gears here as fast as possible for deadly PREEMPTIVE strikes. Newsom has moved out on this already. Who is next? Hochul. Where are you? NO EXCUSE! Change your state Constitution. Pritzker. What are you doing?
https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/gerrymander-fight?r=3m1bs
"From Poland to South Africa to the United States, Michael Podhorzer explained, unions have been the most effective check on oligarchs and autocrats. And if we want to save democracy, we start by rebuilding them. “There are no shortcuts or workarounds.” Can the union of CDC save the agency? Let's start with one focused fight and win.
It would not surprise me to see the 5 Justices once again dodge a decision unfavorable to Trump by pulling the ultimate sleaze by contriving a procedural issue, such as lack of standing or some other such issue, to delay ( for all eternity) having to make a decision, and in doing so, allowing Trump to proceed with his abuses of power until the case can be heard again, if ever.
Norm, so much to address here yet I find that I just want to say thank you. Incredible work. So much illegal and unconstitutional and cruel being thrown at us by this regime and to know that you are fighting back on so many fronts and so successfully is a balm. Thank you. Thank you. Wendyl
Let's not forget that it was a Labor Union-- Solidarity-- that in 1979-81 laid the fundamental ground work for the collapse of the USSR!
But what still amazes and disappoints me is the degree to which the US working class gleefully votes for its own screwing.
Thanks for the reminder about Solidarity and its role in bringing down the Soviet Union.
Regarding the other point, time and time again there are millions of Americans who vote against their own self-interests as they did yet again in the 2024 election. They were sucked in by all of the empty promises of the carnival barker, grifter and felon who is drunk with power and who lusts for more. I wonder if any of them are suffering from voter's remorse because they sure as the hell should be.
And, once again, I will ask this question: Why can't we file a class action lawsuit against drumpf? Every single thing he has done since entering the Oval Office once again, has been either perverted or ignorant or unjust or illegal!!! If any ONE of us had done even ONE of the numerous illegal things he has done, we would have been dragged off to jail; tried; convicted; and imprisoned for what we did. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!!! Not even Mr. Bone Spurs!! Why has he not been hauled off to El Salvador yet? Where is our justice if we cannot fight back the same way he fights. Why can't a class action lawsuit be filed? Somehow, I think there are enough of us out there willing to sign up for this. I have my pen in hand. Pass me the paper!
With you, Nancy! Where do I sign? 😉
I am all for unions. Worked in Minnesota where the AFL CIO was. But if only the Teamsters would get on board. I know that some local shops are on board but the president of it is still a Trump supporter I am told........
Hey Norm. Can we get a class action suit to sue over the illegal breach of 300 million Social Security numbers?
I am so grateful that Norm frequently reminds us that, as Contrarians, we are doing our small part to support the just cause of saving America from the sociopathic lunatic dictator and his sycophants and minions. Norm comes across as The Happy Warrior and we need more of his optimism and encouragement. To you, Norm, I say: keep up the good work and keep on fighting. We are with you.
Why are so many judicial order "stayed while under appeal," especially ones of such importance. Thankfully some Constitutionally-literate judges ruled the tariffs are illegal. Yet they allowed them to remain in place for another month. In the case cited by Norm an order was also stayed pending appeal. This Administration counts on those orders being stayed on appeal to further pervert the rule of law, shamelessly.
Refrain.
See you in September in DC.
https://removalcoalition.org/
Congress returns. There are many issues we can use to convince a few Congressional Republicans. Brian Fitzpatrick is a case study.
Pressure them directly, their donors, families, social friends etc. Picket. Sit in.
Proportionally 4 x more crime in MAGA Mike's home town than in DC. Memphis is the most crimeridden city in the US. Jackson, Mississippi! Bessemer, AL!
Interview the National Guardsmen. Odds are more crime at home.
Norm, Thank you for all you and the Contrainans are doing for all Americans!
I question why aren’t we talking more about the Heritage Foundation and their project 2025 influence on the Trump administration? We need to explain that Russell Vought and Stephen Miller, both Christian Nationalists (actually white-supremicists) are working toward a white nationalist agenda. They need a light shown on their work. Sixty eight percent of eligible voters did not vote for Trump. We don’t want this!
Proud to support your efforts and grateful for your hard work and successes.
Thanks for keeping the Felon in check. It’s a lot of work for all those on the side of democracy. You’re doing great Norm! Keep the good fight going!
It is time for a national strike - starting with the federal unions & spreading from there.
"Oh, you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union
I'm sticking to the union, I'm sticking to the union
Oh, you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union
I'm sticking to the union till the day I die." _Almanac Singers 1941
Unions have been fighting forever the exact same thing that Trump has been dishing out to America since his acquisition of power in January, that being the use of power, money and greed to acquire more of the same. The main difference is intent. Unions strive to make the lives of their members better. Trump and his cronies strive to make their pockets deeper, state they have a right to do so because it is "the American way", using any tactics they can (moral or immoral, ethical or unethical) to achieve that end, and claiming also their right to do it because it is also "the American way".
If we do not do something about this soon we will find ourselves fighting another civil war. Trump et. all must be removed and arrested now.
So very appreciative of all the good news in these articles.
Sometimes we just need to savor the wins