Many people who, in the past, were reluctant to expand the Court have now come around to the critical necessity of doing so. That realization cuts across ideology from progressive to right-leaning indy. And this MAGA SCOTUS has only itself to blame - from its willingness to ignore long-standing precedent, to its abuse of the shadow docket, to its utter financial and ethical corruption. Time to expand and REFORM the Supreme Court.
"In short, those who value the rule of law and objective truth should applaud the Missouri Supreme Court’s rejection of the Missouri MAGA Republicans’ nonsensical argument that “no exception” means “no exception unless we want the power to gerrymander the state over the wishes of the voters.”"
SO difficult to be living in a time where those charged with upholding the will of the voters are so blatantly refusing to do so.
I was one of those who was reluctant to expand the Court. But tRump loaded up the Court with some fairly committed Republican idealogues, and they are comparatively young (this was also by design, right, Federalist Society?), so there's no other choice to return the U.S. to a nation of laws that protect everyone...not just the big republican donors.
Same here, Bonnie. I was one of those who resisted the early calls to expand the court, but then I started listening to and following Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Norm Ornstein. Both of them are sober, experienced people who based their recommendations for court expansion - and reform - on the solid evidence of this Court's own behavior. I'm on board now!
That's very kind, Hiro, but the thanks really belong to Sen. Whitehouse and Norm Ornstein who've done an outstanding job of raising public awareness of the myriad issues with the current Court and what we can do about it.
I don't know about all of you, the Substack Faithful, but I'm "feeling", after almost 2 years of pulling our collective hair out, we've reached a wonderful tipping point in Trump's reign of terror.
The man is finished. The man is TOAST. He's Trump Toast, the greatest toast. And he's bringing MAGA and the indistinguishable GOP with him. RIP MAGA GOP.
The polls are insurmountably against you.
Voter registration is wildly against you.
Hispanics and young voters are against you.
The odds makers say you're facing historic losses.
Even mild mannered Charlie Cook says "you're Cooked".
The Courts keep stopping your blatant efforts to subvert mail in voting.
Every day the media reports your lies about the economy, affordability, deportations and healthcare.
The Sword of Damocles is pointing right at your head.
We the People are speaking loud and clear. We love our country, as defined by our Constitution, not as defined by a cabal of Uber rich oligarchs and their snake oil salesman lying leader who's motto is "the buck stops anywhere but here".
We will persist right through Nov 6 and beyond until our current pestilence is "history".
Yes! However, trump may be toast but the ideology, power and people who put him in place are all still here. To address all that we need to maintain a Blue Wave now and in 2028; we need to somehow educate those focused only on inflation that a) it’s not the president’s fault all the time ( for example under Biden), b) it IS completely the president’s fault now, and c) it may not be completely fixed in one election cycle as the trump administration have made a complete mess of EVERYTHING! And then? Trump and his administration need to be prosecuted relentlessly for crimes committed, hearings made public, truthful information from the hearings saturating the public’s consciousness and appropriate consequences meted out.
We need to convince the great majority of Americans, regardless of their past political stripes that a government "of the rich, for the rich and by the rich" dooms the American people to poverty and unnecessary suffering.
At some point Republicans who go along with Trump's every whim, no matter how illegal or unconstitutional, will realize that they have sold their souls to the devil. Guess what? No exchanges or refunds. Very happy that the Missouri court read and understood the plain language of their constitution.
Thank God for the lower courts. But it still never ceases to astound me how the sniveling, bootlicking Republicans are fine with standing back and letting Trump ruin our country and its standing around the world. And they have the gall to call their movement "Make America Great Again." As far as I've seen, nothing Trump and his minions have done has made America anything but worse off than it was when Obama or Biden were our presidents.
Has Trump and his regime done anything that really benefits the majority of the people in this country; or for anywhere else in the world, for that matter? Think about it.
It's gratifying to see a red state Supreme Court disallow a MAGA SoS from playing Calvinball with the clear language of the state Constitution. Can these Missouri justices give a master class on constitutional interpretation to the Red Court, please.
It’s always great to get a judge who follows the laws as they are intended. In the Trump presidency he will do anything malevolent to subvert the Constitution or the law by manipulating those who are and have been on his side. Looking forward to seeing MAGA come crashing down.
Understanding the downstream of no exceptions will be important when democrats regain power. Think hard about it. If you make a rule how will you deal with it when your favorite pal or best supporter breaks it. Will they suffer the same consequences? Think about high school, did the star football player have to follow the same rules as the more disposable kid?? Does the person found with drugs on a college campus get the same sentence as the ghetto kid found with drugs?
It seems to me that Dems have been far more willing to hold everyone, including their own, to the legal standards that apply to ordinary citizens. You can't say that about MAGAs.
Democratic leaders, like Al Franken and Swalwell, got chucked out for what they did: Republican leaders continue to do what they did and get elected, or stay in office. That sounds like greater accountability to standards.
Precisely. Franken got turfed out without so much as an ethics investigation, and Swalwell was dumped in a New York minute - as he should have been. Yet, Max Miller, wife and child beater, is still a sitting member of the MAGA majority and running for election. So is impeached fraudster and serial adulterer Ken Paxton in TX. This is NOT a 'both sides' issue.
Really? You think we need to understand that rules need to be applied equally across the board and no one should be above the law? You think our applauding the Missouri judges is only because they’re doing it to Republicans and that once Democrats get in power we’ll turn into howling MAGA’s if our team is held to the rule of law? Did we cry “fake news” when Clinton’s name was disclosed as being in the Epstein files? Ask Al Franken how his kissing turned out for him. Bob Menendez? Please, both sides-ism won’t work here.
Obviously you have forgotten that Clinton was Impeached over the Monica “thing” although this picadillo with another adult, although with a power differential, seems quaint in comparison compared to trump et al.
Wow, I was evidently not clear that I was talking about going forward. Make reasonable rules and enforce them evenly. This applies to more than national politics. Local politics, schools, campus, poor town, rich town, black, white, and so on. I am the kind of person that doesn't believe a relative of a cop deserves special treatment when they flash an " I'm a relative of a cop" card.
Kudos to Missouri State Supreme Court for holding the line with plain reading of constitutional provisions. I’m sick of the twisting of terms, words and the use of labels
Upholding the constitution & the rule of law? A novel concept for current SCOTUS. Expand the Supreme Court to restore the rule of law.
Many people who, in the past, were reluctant to expand the Court have now come around to the critical necessity of doing so. That realization cuts across ideology from progressive to right-leaning indy. And this MAGA SCOTUS has only itself to blame - from its willingness to ignore long-standing precedent, to its abuse of the shadow docket, to its utter financial and ethical corruption. Time to expand and REFORM the Supreme Court.
"In short, those who value the rule of law and objective truth should applaud the Missouri Supreme Court’s rejection of the Missouri MAGA Republicans’ nonsensical argument that “no exception” means “no exception unless we want the power to gerrymander the state over the wishes of the voters.”"
SO difficult to be living in a time where those charged with upholding the will of the voters are so blatantly refusing to do so.
Looking at you, Extreme Court!
'Extreme Court.' SOO stealing that!
I was one of those who was reluctant to expand the Court. But tRump loaded up the Court with some fairly committed Republican idealogues, and they are comparatively young (this was also by design, right, Federalist Society?), so there's no other choice to return the U.S. to a nation of laws that protect everyone...not just the big republican donors.
Same here, Bonnie. I was one of those who resisted the early calls to expand the court, but then I started listening to and following Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Norm Ornstein. Both of them are sober, experienced people who based their recommendations for court expansion - and reform - on the solid evidence of this Court's own behavior. I'm on board now!
Same here.
Thank you Jane.
That's very kind, Hiro, but the thanks really belong to Sen. Whitehouse and Norm Ornstein who've done an outstanding job of raising public awareness of the myriad issues with the current Court and what we can do about it.
In case you are not following, today's Pauld Krugman's editorial on Trump beef import reveals the fundamental character of his administration.
Jane, you write precisely, not offensively. We read too many of them.
13 is our lucky number.
"Upholding the constitution & the rule of law?"
Seems to be a big ask of either the Dems or the Repubs.
Still waiting for motions to recuse on bias for Thomas and Alito.....
Please don't hold your breath.
You're waiting in vain.
I don't know about all of you, the Substack Faithful, but I'm "feeling", after almost 2 years of pulling our collective hair out, we've reached a wonderful tipping point in Trump's reign of terror.
The man is finished. The man is TOAST. He's Trump Toast, the greatest toast. And he's bringing MAGA and the indistinguishable GOP with him. RIP MAGA GOP.
The polls are insurmountably against you.
Voter registration is wildly against you.
Hispanics and young voters are against you.
The odds makers say you're facing historic losses.
Even mild mannered Charlie Cook says "you're Cooked".
The Courts keep stopping your blatant efforts to subvert mail in voting.
Every day the media reports your lies about the economy, affordability, deportations and healthcare.
The Sword of Damocles is pointing right at your head.
We the People are speaking loud and clear. We love our country, as defined by our Constitution, not as defined by a cabal of Uber rich oligarchs and their snake oil salesman lying leader who's motto is "the buck stops anywhere but here".
We will persist right through Nov 6 and beyond until our current pestilence is "history".
Nothing will so cleansing as a LANDSLIDE!
Go America.
I'm slightly on the optimistic side but I was also optimistic before the 2024 election.
Agree. I won't celebrate until all the votes are counted.
Re-counted?
Yes! However, trump may be toast but the ideology, power and people who put him in place are all still here. To address all that we need to maintain a Blue Wave now and in 2028; we need to somehow educate those focused only on inflation that a) it’s not the president’s fault all the time ( for example under Biden), b) it IS completely the president’s fault now, and c) it may not be completely fixed in one election cycle as the trump administration have made a complete mess of EVERYTHING! And then? Trump and his administration need to be prosecuted relentlessly for crimes committed, hearings made public, truthful information from the hearings saturating the public’s consciousness and appropriate consequences meted out.
We need to convince the great majority of Americans, regardless of their past political stripes that a government "of the rich, for the rich and by the rich" dooms the American people to poverty and unnecessary suffering.
Well said, Merrill! May the odds be ever in our favor!
I love the Humpty Dumpty reference! It explains it all: we live in reality, and they live in fairytale- land.
I mean, they even root for staged wrestling games, how bizarre is that?!! Cosplaying rump and his regime!
Orange make up or egg on his face? Tipping point? Great metaphor, Jen!
At some point Republicans who go along with Trump's every whim, no matter how illegal or unconstitutional, will realize that they have sold their souls to the devil. Guess what? No exchanges or refunds. Very happy that the Missouri court read and understood the plain language of their constitution.
It seems the Trump regime is made up of:
1) lackeys
2) Storm Troopers (or wannabes)
3) snakes
Am I missing anything?
Thank God for the lower courts. But it still never ceases to astound me how the sniveling, bootlicking Republicans are fine with standing back and letting Trump ruin our country and its standing around the world. And they have the gall to call their movement "Make America Great Again." As far as I've seen, nothing Trump and his minions have done has made America anything but worse off than it was when Obama or Biden were our presidents.
Has Trump and his regime done anything that really benefits the majority of the people in this country; or for anywhere else in the world, for that matter? Think about it.
OK. Let me think for a second... nope. Not a damn thing! He's completely without any redeeming qualities or accomplishments.
Well, that didn't take long, Chris, and good evening!
It's gratifying to see a red state Supreme Court disallow a MAGA SoS from playing Calvinball with the clear language of the state Constitution. Can these Missouri justices give a master class on constitutional interpretation to the Red Court, please.
I’m surprised that no one has published a book called “Donald in Wonderland.”
But then I realized that we Americans — no, really, people all over the world — are living in Donald’s Wonderland.
And each day, of course, we all wonder: when will this insanity end?
It’s always great to get a judge who follows the laws as they are intended. In the Trump presidency he will do anything malevolent to subvert the Constitution or the law by manipulating those who are and have been on his side. Looking forward to seeing MAGA come crashing down.
The MAGA 6 on the Red Court deserve to die in prison for what they’ve done to this country. Bravo Missouri Supremes.
Yes, "who are you, unworthy voting riff-raff, to interfere with our Trumpian servility?" indeed.
Hit that one right on the head, Jennifer. The long-anticipated ideology of the entire Republican Party at last.
“Voters? We don’t need to listen to no stinking voters!” Says MAGA.
Thank you, Jen! I am so excited you’ll be back on Coffee With the Contrarians tomorrow! I have missed you. 💙
🌸 Jen Rubin will be returning to Coffee With the Contrarians Wednesday, September 9 at 9:15 a.m. ET. Please join us Live! 🌸
Had canceled my subscription (which runs out in December) due to Jen's absence on video talks. Just renewed it. What else can I say.
I kept mine going because our paid subscriptions help cover Norm’s court cases. I also enjoy Jen’s written essays.
Yup, Norm tells us that every bloody time you see/hear/read him. I like Jen's columns; followed her here from WaPo.
Me too! So very happy!
Understanding the downstream of no exceptions will be important when democrats regain power. Think hard about it. If you make a rule how will you deal with it when your favorite pal or best supporter breaks it. Will they suffer the same consequences? Think about high school, did the star football player have to follow the same rules as the more disposable kid?? Does the person found with drugs on a college campus get the same sentence as the ghetto kid found with drugs?
It seems to me that Dems have been far more willing to hold everyone, including their own, to the legal standards that apply to ordinary citizens. You can't say that about MAGAs.
Democratic leaders, like Al Franken and Swalwell, got chucked out for what they did: Republican leaders continue to do what they did and get elected, or stay in office. That sounds like greater accountability to standards.
Precisely. Franken got turfed out without so much as an ethics investigation, and Swalwell was dumped in a New York minute - as he should have been. Yet, Max Miller, wife and child beater, is still a sitting member of the MAGA majority and running for election. So is impeached fraudster and serial adulterer Ken Paxton in TX. This is NOT a 'both sides' issue.
Really? You think we need to understand that rules need to be applied equally across the board and no one should be above the law? You think our applauding the Missouri judges is only because they’re doing it to Republicans and that once Democrats get in power we’ll turn into howling MAGA’s if our team is held to the rule of law? Did we cry “fake news” when Clinton’s name was disclosed as being in the Epstein files? Ask Al Franken how his kissing turned out for him. Bob Menendez? Please, both sides-ism won’t work here.
I think we knew Bill was in the Epstein files and since the economy was running high during the Monica thing and other rumors we let him slide.
Obviously you have forgotten that Clinton was Impeached over the Monica “thing” although this picadillo with another adult, although with a power differential, seems quaint in comparison compared to trump et al.
Wow, I was evidently not clear that I was talking about going forward. Make reasonable rules and enforce them evenly. This applies to more than national politics. Local politics, schools, campus, poor town, rich town, black, white, and so on. I am the kind of person that doesn't believe a relative of a cop deserves special treatment when they flash an " I'm a relative of a cop" card.
I have never thought of Missouri being a reasonable state. In history, a lot of terrible things were done in that state.
I applaud this judge's clear and courageous ruling. I am a big fan of law and order!
Kudos to Missouri State Supreme Court for holding the line with plain reading of constitutional provisions. I’m sick of the twisting of terms, words and the use of labels
Excellent judgment from theses justices! Can we trade them for SCOTUS?
yes we can...right after the election