Additionally, if congress yields its power to the president, its members have lost their ability to represent their constituents. Taxation without representation? What sort of government remains?
If, as Cynthia suspects, Trump plans to rig the system in his favor anyway, perhaps this shutdown will force his hand. I have wondered if he were going to do that why he did not on day 1 of his term. I still believe he is a weak puppet who won't wade into something he thinks he will fail at. Trump projects confidence in all of his bullshit, but inside, he can't stand to fail.
If you fail at becoming a dictator, you will either be forever tarred as a loser or dead. Maybe it's time to call his bluff. And I say this as part of a federal worker household with everything at stake. It was already at stake. We can't take much more stress like the last 9 months anyway, so bring it on.
Wise words. And I agree with them. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Democrats leveraging the super-majority rule to extract concessions. Never let the Republican lie that Democrats are obligated to show up and give them the veneer of regular order as they cram their anti-social corporate give aways down on the American people go unrebutted.
But, there is one flaw in the argument about Republicans reaping the consequences of the precedent of an all-powerful executive branch under a progressive president. Republicans, using this all-powerful executive branch fully intend and are currently implementing the autocracy that will never allow there to be a progressive president.
The fact that Republicans are completely unmoved by the fact their own constituents are rebelling against their destruction of public benefits compels the conclusion they believe they don't have to respond to their constituents. This is because they expect to consolidate absolute power and rule the peasants as they wish. If the peasants elect a progressive president, they will simply nullify the results, like a dictator would.
No matter what any member of the House of Representatives says putting health care for U.S. citizenry in jeopardy is cruel and inhumane. Acknowledging that the health care system is broken would be the first step.
Putting it bluntly and clearly The President must never be allowed to breach the Constitutional division of power.
GOP Congressional members are fine with the Felon withholding funding for programs they don't like, for dismantling agencies they don't like; because they know their constituents would scream like hell if they voted for the same cuts to programs and agencies, they're constituents like. This is why, when Susan Collins had the chance, she did not block the Big BS Bill in committee. She then voted against the Bill because she wanted to show those in Maine she stood strong against a Bill which is going to destroy so many lives in Maine.
“A future ultra-progressive president could use it to refuse to spend a penny Congress appropriated on border enforcement or to send ICE agents home without pay or to stop building ships for the Navy.” National borders, immigration and military readiness are bipartisan issues. “Ultra-progressive?” Republicans want people to believe that Democrats don’t care about these issues, but it’s not true. It’s the sort of rhetoric they repeat during campaigns.
Maybe use different examples or simply any president from any party could do any number of things, including the examples you provided.
Sad part, there still are people who thought the "Big Beautiful Bill" was a great idea when it passed and think it's bad that the Democrats are shutting down the government on that "Big Beautiful Bill" that was passed "fair and square". At least that's the opinion of one of my "friends on the right". Note: he's a Catholic from West Virginia and long ago probably absorbed the belief that Democrats are evil due to the abortion issue. (That issue certainly shifted many Catholics to the Republican column.) It didn't shift me over as the Republican positions on most issues were not positions I agreed with.) With priests exhorting people to vote for "pro-life" candidates, it made me wonder if people would vote for Adolf Hitler if he promised to outlaw abortion. Turns out they would ... and then some. Too many so called "pro-life" people call are "pro-life" until the baby's born but are against subsidizing health care and many other things that ensure a better life for people.
Single issue voters tend to be pretty myopic, and they're on both sides: i.e. "pro life" voters on the right and the "pro-Palestine" voters on the left, many of whom chose to stay home or vote for Jill Stein because Biden's support for Israel angered them. At this point, it would be in America's best interests for voters to put the country and democracy first, vote for a sane, law-respecting president, and let Catholic priests and Palestine take care of themselves.
This essay describes this president perfectly. He is a cruelly uncaring humanoid who cares not for people, certainly not for laws and rules, not for the Constitution. Making money and taking revenge on his perceived enemies--especially Obama and Biden--seem to be his only interests.
Sir, you keep talking about "republicans" while all I see is a bunch of rightwing boys and girls who rubber stamp whatever nonsense comes out of the tacky fake golden White House.
Additionally, if congress yields its power to the president, its members have lost their ability to represent their constituents. Taxation without representation? What sort of government remains?
If, as Cynthia suspects, Trump plans to rig the system in his favor anyway, perhaps this shutdown will force his hand. I have wondered if he were going to do that why he did not on day 1 of his term. I still believe he is a weak puppet who won't wade into something he thinks he will fail at. Trump projects confidence in all of his bullshit, but inside, he can't stand to fail.
If you fail at becoming a dictator, you will either be forever tarred as a loser or dead. Maybe it's time to call his bluff. And I say this as part of a federal worker household with everything at stake. It was already at stake. We can't take much more stress like the last 9 months anyway, so bring it on.
Wise words. And I agree with them. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Democrats leveraging the super-majority rule to extract concessions. Never let the Republican lie that Democrats are obligated to show up and give them the veneer of regular order as they cram their anti-social corporate give aways down on the American people go unrebutted.
But, there is one flaw in the argument about Republicans reaping the consequences of the precedent of an all-powerful executive branch under a progressive president. Republicans, using this all-powerful executive branch fully intend and are currently implementing the autocracy that will never allow there to be a progressive president.
The fact that Republicans are completely unmoved by the fact their own constituents are rebelling against their destruction of public benefits compels the conclusion they believe they don't have to respond to their constituents. This is because they expect to consolidate absolute power and rule the peasants as they wish. If the peasants elect a progressive president, they will simply nullify the results, like a dictator would.
No matter what any member of the House of Representatives says putting health care for U.S. citizenry in jeopardy is cruel and inhumane. Acknowledging that the health care system is broken would be the first step.
Putting it bluntly and clearly The President must never be allowed to breach the Constitutional division of power.
GOP Congressional members are fine with the Felon withholding funding for programs they don't like, for dismantling agencies they don't like; because they know their constituents would scream like hell if they voted for the same cuts to programs and agencies, they're constituents like. This is why, when Susan Collins had the chance, she did not block the Big BS Bill in committee. She then voted against the Bill because she wanted to show those in Maine she stood strong against a Bill which is going to destroy so many lives in Maine.
A new term: collinslogic
Please don't encourage...
Real definition: LIAR
Slippery flipper-flopper
“A future ultra-progressive president could use it to refuse to spend a penny Congress appropriated on border enforcement or to send ICE agents home without pay or to stop building ships for the Navy.” National borders, immigration and military readiness are bipartisan issues. “Ultra-progressive?” Republicans want people to believe that Democrats don’t care about these issues, but it’s not true. It’s the sort of rhetoric they repeat during campaigns.
Maybe use different examples or simply any president from any party could do any number of things, including the examples you provided.
Sad part, there still are people who thought the "Big Beautiful Bill" was a great idea when it passed and think it's bad that the Democrats are shutting down the government on that "Big Beautiful Bill" that was passed "fair and square". At least that's the opinion of one of my "friends on the right". Note: he's a Catholic from West Virginia and long ago probably absorbed the belief that Democrats are evil due to the abortion issue. (That issue certainly shifted many Catholics to the Republican column.) It didn't shift me over as the Republican positions on most issues were not positions I agreed with.) With priests exhorting people to vote for "pro-life" candidates, it made me wonder if people would vote for Adolf Hitler if he promised to outlaw abortion. Turns out they would ... and then some. Too many so called "pro-life" people call are "pro-life" until the baby's born but are against subsidizing health care and many other things that ensure a better life for people.
Single issue voters tend to be pretty myopic, and they're on both sides: i.e. "pro life" voters on the right and the "pro-Palestine" voters on the left, many of whom chose to stay home or vote for Jill Stein because Biden's support for Israel angered them. At this point, it would be in America's best interests for voters to put the country and democracy first, vote for a sane, law-respecting president, and let Catholic priests and Palestine take care of themselves.
Single issue voters sure are myopic, to say the least. Voters need to look at the whole picture and not one single issue. Or we end up with Hitler.
This essay describes this president perfectly. He is a cruelly uncaring humanoid who cares not for people, certainly not for laws and rules, not for the Constitution. Making money and taking revenge on his perceived enemies--especially Obama and Biden--seem to be his only interests.
He has those two hobbies, and has never played well with others.
Sir, you keep talking about "republicans" while all I see is a bunch of rightwing boys and girls who rubber stamp whatever nonsense comes out of the tacky fake golden White House.
Absolutely, thank you. Great summary.
Why is this story accompanied by a photo of the Texas state capitol building?