Today James Carville posted a raunchy, dark rant he called "SCROTUS" that can basically reflect the entire judicial system. They have agendas, and if you have enough lawyers and can buy the time, the loopholes are there. Each delay takes me into a deeper level of cynicism and disappointment.
Trump in a cell while having zero contact with the outside world in any way is my fondest dream. May he suffer broke and alone for what I hope will be the rest of a lengthy and miserable remainder of his life. Any of the other perquisites of a grimy penitentiary end of life will be a well-deserved bonus in paying the American people the price for what he has done to our country.
I wish the New York Times stop bringing up this God Damn Biden’s age issue. Why not Trumps anti democracy issue and his mental condition. I saw Senator Romney saying he won’t vote for Trump but he agrees with his policies and ran a better administration. WTF!!!! All Trump did was sign a tax cut, criminalize immigrants, tried to have the military attack peaceful and lawful demonstrations and antagonize allies, completely miss the boat on Covid, and destroyed potential agreements with China that hurt American. Farmers. We have enough problems with extremists and yet the less extreme moderates still chant “I agree with Trumps policies”. I ask What policies? I only see chaos, tantrums and a meanness that has never before denigrate the presidency.
So much to think about, thank you, Joyce for clarifying the legal issues ahead. What stands out for me is the comment from Justice Ginsburg. She was a fab justice, and earned my respect right up until she didn’t retire to allow President Obama to appoint a new justice. Hubris? Not sure what her motive was, but because she didn’t retire at over 80 years old, a cancer survivor, we now have a Court full of right wingers. Had she retired during Obama, we’d have one less maniac justice.
Readers, I would greatly appreciate any suggestions you have to make this letter clearer and more to the point. My plan is to have this letter printed as a FOUR FOOT WIDE x SIX FOOT TALL vinyl banner and mail it to the Supreme Court.
DRAFT (still proofreading)
March 4, 2024
To All Justices of the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States of America
1 First Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20543
Dear Supreme Court Justices,
In America, No. One. Is. Above. The. Law. No One. I firmly believe that one’s status should not influence whether a person should be brought to justice, or not. If a crime is committed by the CEO of a company, that CEO should be brought to justice. The same would apply if a low-level employee of that company committed a crime. The principle of “no one is above the law” should – MUST - equally apply to those who serve in elected or appointed positions..... and to all (staff) who serve those who are in elected or appointed positions. A crime is a crime, regardless of who commits the crime. No one, and I mean “NO ONE” should be given a pass.... for any reason. FOR ANY REASON. Commit a crime, pay for it. I am a __-year-old citizen of the United States of America. With avid interest, I’ve been following the investigations and hearings about the disgusting, unconscionable, criminal riot that took place at our Capital on January 6th, 2021 and about former President Trump’s involvement in trying to overturn the free and fair elections that ousted him from the White House. Based on what I’ve read and studied, former President Trump committed crimes against the American People. In former President Trump’s case, he has been indicated four times – each time by a jury of his peers – for committing crimes against the America People. We have no Kings or Queens in America. Everyone – EVERYONE - is subject to being brought to justice, no matter what a person’s status is, no matter what a person’s earnings or net worth are, no matter what a person’s current position is, no matter what a person’s former position was, no matter what a person’s level of education is, no matter where a person lives, no matter what a person’s race is, no matter what a person’s religious beliefs are, and the fact that a person is running for election to the highest office in America should have no bearing, absolutely no bearing at all, on whether or not a person is brought to justice. U.S. citizens are privileged to live in a democratic republic. That said, that privilege can only continue if we guard against threats to our country and our constitution and take action when crimes are committed. In the case you’ve agreed to hear, former President Trump claims that he is immune – above the law – for any and all illegal actions he took while he was, and after he was, President of the United States of America. No person should be immune from criminal actions. NO PERSON SHOULD BE IMMUNE FROM CRIMES COMMITTED. YOU MUST NOT GRANT TRUMP IMMUNITY. YOU MUST NOT DECLARE THAT TRUMP IS ABOVE THE LAW. I am concerned about my children and grandchildren. If you do violate the principle that no one is above the law and grant Trump immunity from prosecution, what do I say, what am I supposed to say, to my children and grandchildren when they ask me why former President Trump was not tried for crimes he committed while he was President or after he was President? Do I tell them that former President Trump was declared by the Supreme Court of the United States of America to be immune from prosecution? Do I tell them that the Supreme Court of the United States of America decided that he was, like no other American is, above the law? What sense would either of those answers make, considering the principle in America that “NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW”? Should I tell my children and grandchildren that the principle of NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW is actually “NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW except for a former President”? Do I tell them that the Supreme Court of the United States of America made its decision based on politics and political favors rather than on the Constitution of the United States of America? If you do declare that Trump has immunity from crimes he committed against the American People, think about that in the context of how you would answer your own childrens’ or grandchildrens’ questions to you about why former President Trump was never brought to justice. And, finally, I find it to be despicable and disgraceful that the Supreme Court of my country is dragging its feet on the issue of Trump being immune or not being immune from prosecution. All of you no damn well that if Trump does not to go trial before the upcoming presidential election, Trump will, on his very first day in office, fire the Attorney General of the United States, fire the Special Prosecutor, ending, completely, all prosecutions against him. Therefore, you must not only declare Trump to be not immune from prosecution, you must do everything in your power to ensure that Trump goes to trial before the upcoming elections. If you do not, the American People will hold each of you personally accountable for the biggest crime ever committed against the American People. Respectfully yours,
Aside from the obvious legal shenanigans Trump, abbetted by SCOTUS, seem to be playing, he won't win election. Haley just won DC Republican primary by a wide margin. Since Trump last lost, the insurrection occurred, his rhetoric is frightening and I truly believe January 6 had a wider effect than was "polled." Jack will have a lot of pressure off then. (Afterwards, we impeach Thomas and add to SCOTUS!)
According to the NYT, SCOTUS may issue its Colorado decision tomorrow at 10 am EST. It will be interesting how they twist themselves and the Constitution into a decision allowing a man who tried to overthrow the Constitution (and promises to do the same if elected) to run for President.
I gave Republicans a small pass previously, but now Trump is speaking his “truth” out loud. I am just baffled by these sheep. No offense to the 🐑 🐑.
At the State of the Union I hope Biden tells point by point what he has already accomplished. Then I hope he goes a step further stating what he was wanting to and how the Republicans won’t even listen - just a blanket no! They are truly a do-nothing party.
I’d also like to know what happened to Trump’s four hundred million liquid dollars that he claimed he had. I’m glad they aren’t giving him a “special” pass. I hope he can’t come up with the money for the bonds so appeals are off the table.
The only thing I’ve learned is patience waiting for all these delays…
I did make my brownies and took them to my friend. She isn’t budging an inch but did thank me for the brownies. I was able to talk with another neighbor who is an independent but now voting for Biden.
Joyce, thanks for the detailed account of the coming week. We know what’s going to happen and appreciate you so much.
I had two discouraging conversations, this weekend. In one, the woman was advocating voting for Trump because of the crime rate in her neighborhood in NY03. As if the crime rate has soared, of late. (It has not. It has long been a problem with its mixed sub-neighborhoods.) And because she knew, personally, of one recent victim of such, she's magnifying that into a crime surge that justifies not just not voting for Biden, but for Trump, actively. ??
The other conversation was with a man I had taken for greater intelligence, here declining to recognize Biden's accomplishments, belittling the recent historians' comparitive presidential rankings, and referring to Trump as "despite him being possibly corrupt." I confess to getting a bit too animated, and tried to begin articulating Biden's accomplishments with inheriting a non-existing vaccination distribution plan, and was met with, that was all the result of the Trump administration!
I sensed that the guy was confident of his news sources (he did at least denigrate the NY Times, proudly, as if that entitled him to the recognition as well-informed)!
Rather than pursue the question posed about entitlement of opinions, with me then saying, different opinions, of course, but we're way beyond respecting different opinions. This is it. We either vote for Biden or we kiss Democracy goodbye. You see it otherwise? (Which I should have done.)
I instead I just concluded this was not the occasion to take it further (i.e. despite Trump being "possibly corrupt"?) and retreated from the conversation. Why? Because one's energy is limited, at least mine is. And it's best not to dissipate it unwisely. Put it to maximum constructive use. Better to focus where the result will not only result in a vote, but a comprehended-why- enthusIAStic vote, that doesn't comprise entirely of the vote, itself, but the getting up-off-the-couch and actively persuading others to also vote Biden. We already see signs of being co-opted out of our organizational thrust--saving Democracy--by the Republicans. Imagine the chutzpah! But, THAT is where our argument lies.
Sincere apologies for the rant. I step down off the soap box. Forgive me, friends.
But this is it. Put one's energy to maximum effect. Reason with the ill-informed? Or persuade people just how important the 2024 election is.
"It’s worth noting that his [tfg's] wife and her parents, as well as his son Barron, all speak Slovenian" [Joyce's remark]. Not only are they non-English speakers, but Melania was undoubtedly an immigrant and the way she got her citizenship, based on a so-called Einstein-Visa (..."an immigrant has to provide evidence of a major award or meet three of 10 criteria proving excellence in their field) is highly suspicious. I know of no award and cannot cite 3 criteria of excellence that she might have brought with her. Do you? So she would be the first on the list of people to be sent back where they came from?
Thank you Joyce, for being a light for us and for speaking clarity to drivel. I will never lose hope so long as you remind us that ‘We’re all in this together.” 💙
Don’t give up on the person you are becoming. You’re becoming a beautiful, strong, compassionate, smart, caring American for all walks of life especially when you vote blue.
Sometimes when something is right under your nose you just can’t see it. I am Australian and I have been watching, and following, America since John Kennedy was President, and I just cannot fathom how Trump has any support at all in America. In Australia, if there was a contest between Trump and an empty chair the chair would win in a landslide.
I am now retired (I’m 81) but before I retired I was a Barrister (in American parlance I was a Trial Attorney) so I spent a lot of time arguing cases before Australian Courts. Following the Civil Discourse makes me feel very doubtful about the strength of the Justice system in America. That comment is made, obviously, in the context of the various legal cases involving Trump. The court system seems to me to be working at an almost glacial pace. And there is just so much discussion about the legal system being infected (I use that word advisedly) by politics. Rulings by Courts are seen through the prism of whether the Judge was a Democrat or a Republican, when such a consideration should be monumentally irrelevant. Your Supreme Court seems to me to be seen as a political, as distinct from a legal, institution.
So far it might be said that the Courts, despite glacial slowness, have held up well. Recent decisions in New York regarding fraud, and the sexual assault case are examples of that. But the cases in the District of Columbia, Georgia, and Florida are examples of the glacial slowness I have mentioned. And the case about immunity is almost a joke in a legal sense. The only possible saving grace in relation to the immunity issue is that the Supreme Court might have decided to emphatically bury the issue once and for all, as it should be.
Civil Discourse has repeatedly, and correctly, said that Democracy is on trial in America this year. It would ordinarily be said that Democracy would be on trial in the context of voters delivering a verdict.
My view is that the survival of democracy in America in 2024 is very much in the hands of the legal system. America’s legal institutions are under immense pressure this year, certainly more so than in the last 75 years.
Today James Carville posted a raunchy, dark rant he called "SCROTUS" that can basically reflect the entire judicial system. They have agendas, and if you have enough lawyers and can buy the time, the loopholes are there. Each delay takes me into a deeper level of cynicism and disappointment.
Trump in a cell while having zero contact with the outside world in any way is my fondest dream. May he suffer broke and alone for what I hope will be the rest of a lengthy and miserable remainder of his life. Any of the other perquisites of a grimy penitentiary end of life will be a well-deserved bonus in paying the American people the price for what he has done to our country.
I wish the New York Times stop bringing up this God Damn Biden’s age issue. Why not Trumps anti democracy issue and his mental condition. I saw Senator Romney saying he won’t vote for Trump but he agrees with his policies and ran a better administration. WTF!!!! All Trump did was sign a tax cut, criminalize immigrants, tried to have the military attack peaceful and lawful demonstrations and antagonize allies, completely miss the boat on Covid, and destroyed potential agreements with China that hurt American. Farmers. We have enough problems with extremists and yet the less extreme moderates still chant “I agree with Trumps policies”. I ask What policies? I only see chaos, tantrums and a meanness that has never before denigrate the presidency.
So much to think about, thank you, Joyce for clarifying the legal issues ahead. What stands out for me is the comment from Justice Ginsburg. She was a fab justice, and earned my respect right up until she didn’t retire to allow President Obama to appoint a new justice. Hubris? Not sure what her motive was, but because she didn’t retire at over 80 years old, a cancer survivor, we now have a Court full of right wingers. Had she retired during Obama, we’d have one less maniac justice.
Thanks Professor. Vote. Vote Blue! Vote freedom and fairness. Vote liberty. Vote Joe and the team. Vote out the screaming meanies. ☯️☮️❤️🫵🏻all.
Readers, I would greatly appreciate any suggestions you have to make this letter clearer and more to the point. My plan is to have this letter printed as a FOUR FOOT WIDE x SIX FOOT TALL vinyl banner and mail it to the Supreme Court.
DRAFT (still proofreading)
March 4, 2024
To All Justices of the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States of America
1 First Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20543
Dear Supreme Court Justices,
In America, No. One. Is. Above. The. Law. No One. I firmly believe that one’s status should not influence whether a person should be brought to justice, or not. If a crime is committed by the CEO of a company, that CEO should be brought to justice. The same would apply if a low-level employee of that company committed a crime. The principle of “no one is above the law” should – MUST - equally apply to those who serve in elected or appointed positions..... and to all (staff) who serve those who are in elected or appointed positions. A crime is a crime, regardless of who commits the crime. No one, and I mean “NO ONE” should be given a pass.... for any reason. FOR ANY REASON. Commit a crime, pay for it. I am a __-year-old citizen of the United States of America. With avid interest, I’ve been following the investigations and hearings about the disgusting, unconscionable, criminal riot that took place at our Capital on January 6th, 2021 and about former President Trump’s involvement in trying to overturn the free and fair elections that ousted him from the White House. Based on what I’ve read and studied, former President Trump committed crimes against the American People. In former President Trump’s case, he has been indicated four times – each time by a jury of his peers – for committing crimes against the America People. We have no Kings or Queens in America. Everyone – EVERYONE - is subject to being brought to justice, no matter what a person’s status is, no matter what a person’s earnings or net worth are, no matter what a person’s current position is, no matter what a person’s former position was, no matter what a person’s level of education is, no matter where a person lives, no matter what a person’s race is, no matter what a person’s religious beliefs are, and the fact that a person is running for election to the highest office in America should have no bearing, absolutely no bearing at all, on whether or not a person is brought to justice. U.S. citizens are privileged to live in a democratic republic. That said, that privilege can only continue if we guard against threats to our country and our constitution and take action when crimes are committed. In the case you’ve agreed to hear, former President Trump claims that he is immune – above the law – for any and all illegal actions he took while he was, and after he was, President of the United States of America. No person should be immune from criminal actions. NO PERSON SHOULD BE IMMUNE FROM CRIMES COMMITTED. YOU MUST NOT GRANT TRUMP IMMUNITY. YOU MUST NOT DECLARE THAT TRUMP IS ABOVE THE LAW. I am concerned about my children and grandchildren. If you do violate the principle that no one is above the law and grant Trump immunity from prosecution, what do I say, what am I supposed to say, to my children and grandchildren when they ask me why former President Trump was not tried for crimes he committed while he was President or after he was President? Do I tell them that former President Trump was declared by the Supreme Court of the United States of America to be immune from prosecution? Do I tell them that the Supreme Court of the United States of America decided that he was, like no other American is, above the law? What sense would either of those answers make, considering the principle in America that “NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW”? Should I tell my children and grandchildren that the principle of NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW is actually “NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW except for a former President”? Do I tell them that the Supreme Court of the United States of America made its decision based on politics and political favors rather than on the Constitution of the United States of America? If you do declare that Trump has immunity from crimes he committed against the American People, think about that in the context of how you would answer your own childrens’ or grandchildrens’ questions to you about why former President Trump was never brought to justice. And, finally, I find it to be despicable and disgraceful that the Supreme Court of my country is dragging its feet on the issue of Trump being immune or not being immune from prosecution. All of you no damn well that if Trump does not to go trial before the upcoming presidential election, Trump will, on his very first day in office, fire the Attorney General of the United States, fire the Special Prosecutor, ending, completely, all prosecutions against him. Therefore, you must not only declare Trump to be not immune from prosecution, you must do everything in your power to ensure that Trump goes to trial before the upcoming elections. If you do not, the American People will hold each of you personally accountable for the biggest crime ever committed against the American People. Respectfully yours,
Aside from the obvious legal shenanigans Trump, abbetted by SCOTUS, seem to be playing, he won't win election. Haley just won DC Republican primary by a wide margin. Since Trump last lost, the insurrection occurred, his rhetoric is frightening and I truly believe January 6 had a wider effect than was "polled." Jack will have a lot of pressure off then. (Afterwards, we impeach Thomas and add to SCOTUS!)
According to the NYT, SCOTUS may issue its Colorado decision tomorrow at 10 am EST. It will be interesting how they twist themselves and the Constitution into a decision allowing a man who tried to overthrow the Constitution (and promises to do the same if elected) to run for President.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/03/us/supreme-court-trump.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb
I gave Republicans a small pass previously, but now Trump is speaking his “truth” out loud. I am just baffled by these sheep. No offense to the 🐑 🐑.
At the State of the Union I hope Biden tells point by point what he has already accomplished. Then I hope he goes a step further stating what he was wanting to and how the Republicans won’t even listen - just a blanket no! They are truly a do-nothing party.
I’d also like to know what happened to Trump’s four hundred million liquid dollars that he claimed he had. I’m glad they aren’t giving him a “special” pass. I hope he can’t come up with the money for the bonds so appeals are off the table.
The only thing I’ve learned is patience waiting for all these delays…
I did make my brownies and took them to my friend. She isn’t budging an inch but did thank me for the brownies. I was able to talk with another neighbor who is an independent but now voting for Biden.
Joyce, thanks for the detailed account of the coming week. We know what’s going to happen and appreciate you so much.
The cynicism of the Disgraced Roberts Court knows no bounds.
I had two discouraging conversations, this weekend. In one, the woman was advocating voting for Trump because of the crime rate in her neighborhood in NY03. As if the crime rate has soared, of late. (It has not. It has long been a problem with its mixed sub-neighborhoods.) And because she knew, personally, of one recent victim of such, she's magnifying that into a crime surge that justifies not just not voting for Biden, but for Trump, actively. ??
The other conversation was with a man I had taken for greater intelligence, here declining to recognize Biden's accomplishments, belittling the recent historians' comparitive presidential rankings, and referring to Trump as "despite him being possibly corrupt." I confess to getting a bit too animated, and tried to begin articulating Biden's accomplishments with inheriting a non-existing vaccination distribution plan, and was met with, that was all the result of the Trump administration!
I sensed that the guy was confident of his news sources (he did at least denigrate the NY Times, proudly, as if that entitled him to the recognition as well-informed)!
Rather than pursue the question posed about entitlement of opinions, with me then saying, different opinions, of course, but we're way beyond respecting different opinions. This is it. We either vote for Biden or we kiss Democracy goodbye. You see it otherwise? (Which I should have done.)
I instead I just concluded this was not the occasion to take it further (i.e. despite Trump being "possibly corrupt"?) and retreated from the conversation. Why? Because one's energy is limited, at least mine is. And it's best not to dissipate it unwisely. Put it to maximum constructive use. Better to focus where the result will not only result in a vote, but a comprehended-why- enthusIAStic vote, that doesn't comprise entirely of the vote, itself, but the getting up-off-the-couch and actively persuading others to also vote Biden. We already see signs of being co-opted out of our organizational thrust--saving Democracy--by the Republicans. Imagine the chutzpah! But, THAT is where our argument lies.
Sincere apologies for the rant. I step down off the soap box. Forgive me, friends.
But this is it. Put one's energy to maximum effect. Reason with the ill-informed? Or persuade people just how important the 2024 election is.
Democracy. It's now. Or never.
"It’s worth noting that his [tfg's] wife and her parents, as well as his son Barron, all speak Slovenian" [Joyce's remark]. Not only are they non-English speakers, but Melania was undoubtedly an immigrant and the way she got her citizenship, based on a so-called Einstein-Visa (..."an immigrant has to provide evidence of a major award or meet three of 10 criteria proving excellence in their field) is highly suspicious. I know of no award and cannot cite 3 criteria of excellence that she might have brought with her. Do you? So she would be the first on the list of people to be sent back where they came from?
Thank you Joyce, for being a light for us and for speaking clarity to drivel. I will never lose hope so long as you remind us that ‘We’re all in this together.” 💙
Don’t give up on the person you are becoming. You’re becoming a beautiful, strong, compassionate, smart, caring American for all walks of life especially when you vote blue.
Sometimes when something is right under your nose you just can’t see it. I am Australian and I have been watching, and following, America since John Kennedy was President, and I just cannot fathom how Trump has any support at all in America. In Australia, if there was a contest between Trump and an empty chair the chair would win in a landslide.
I am now retired (I’m 81) but before I retired I was a Barrister (in American parlance I was a Trial Attorney) so I spent a lot of time arguing cases before Australian Courts. Following the Civil Discourse makes me feel very doubtful about the strength of the Justice system in America. That comment is made, obviously, in the context of the various legal cases involving Trump. The court system seems to me to be working at an almost glacial pace. And there is just so much discussion about the legal system being infected (I use that word advisedly) by politics. Rulings by Courts are seen through the prism of whether the Judge was a Democrat or a Republican, when such a consideration should be monumentally irrelevant. Your Supreme Court seems to me to be seen as a political, as distinct from a legal, institution.
So far it might be said that the Courts, despite glacial slowness, have held up well. Recent decisions in New York regarding fraud, and the sexual assault case are examples of that. But the cases in the District of Columbia, Georgia, and Florida are examples of the glacial slowness I have mentioned. And the case about immunity is almost a joke in a legal sense. The only possible saving grace in relation to the immunity issue is that the Supreme Court might have decided to emphatically bury the issue once and for all, as it should be.
Civil Discourse has repeatedly, and correctly, said that Democracy is on trial in America this year. It would ordinarily be said that Democracy would be on trial in the context of voters delivering a verdict.
My view is that the survival of democracy in America in 2024 is very much in the hands of the legal system. America’s legal institutions are under immense pressure this year, certainly more so than in the last 75 years.
And there are postcards. Check out Activate America for info.