There is so much to comment upon. But now we must consider whether the first constitutional confrontation has arrived. The DC District Ct ordered the administration to fund USAID projects effective 9:00 pm PST tonight. The DOJ appealed to the Circuit Court, which declined to touch the order. They then went to USSCT this afternoon. The ruling tonight, from J Roberts: stay the order. All briefing due by Friday noon, EST.
You know Roberts has already done his research and prepared his base argument. Whatever it may be. Will the President be permitted to refuse to issue payments directed by Congress, despite clear precedent requiring that he cannot do so. In a sense this is a good case because actual lives depend on the ruling. Whether the moving party wants to argue that is a tough decision, but so far as o know, the issue is clear.
We will know a lot about our future once we know how this goes. It may go, of course, to the full panel.
Good column Marc. I’m as scared as you. I know opposition is growing among the people, their poll numbers are down, etc. BUT…where’s the power? It’s in Trump’s hands as you point out—military, FBI, etc. If the protests get too big he can just declare an emergency, cancel elections, arrest the hell out of protesters, outlaw speech, etc. We’re doomed for at least 4 years. The comparison with Chile is most apt—years long struggle with no guarantees. We’re just beginning.
There is so much to comment upon. But now we must consider whether the first constitutional confrontation has arrived. The DC District Ct ordered the administration to fund USAID projects effective 9:00 pm PST tonight. The DOJ appealed to the Circuit Court, which declined to touch the order. They then went to USSCT this afternoon. The ruling tonight, from J Roberts: stay the order. All briefing due by Friday noon, EST.
You know Roberts has already done his research and prepared his base argument. Whatever it may be. Will the President be permitted to refuse to issue payments directed by Congress, despite clear precedent requiring that he cannot do so. In a sense this is a good case because actual lives depend on the ruling. Whether the moving party wants to argue that is a tough decision, but so far as o know, the issue is clear.
We will know a lot about our future once we know how this goes. It may go, of course, to the full panel.
For a different perspective regarding the roots of the Ukraine/Russia war, I offer this ... https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/why-nato-expansion-explains-russias-actions-in-ukraine/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIrDG1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHflgKCv94FqAAETmkHoiBhI-TID0LJzuqK_lvG9Ik1NNgjMCVEQRVNpanQ_aem_BtVSqCGLYFguYGVRoci-rA
Is winning this argument your priority, while Trump enables Putin’s mission to sweep as far as he can westward across Europe?
Good column Marc. I’m as scared as you. I know opposition is growing among the people, their poll numbers are down, etc. BUT…where’s the power? It’s in Trump’s hands as you point out—military, FBI, etc. If the protests get too big he can just declare an emergency, cancel elections, arrest the hell out of protesters, outlaw speech, etc. We’re doomed for at least 4 years. The comparison with Chile is most apt—years long struggle with no guarantees. We’re just beginning.