Trump

[KlaxonCow]

Time to get the hammer and chisels out, lads.

As we've got an "Equal Justice Under Law" that's needs to be removed from the stonework of the Supreme Court.



No, seriously, the foundational principle of "rule of law" that's carved into the stone of the Supreme Court. "Equal Justice for All". Can also be phrased as "no-one is above the law" or "the Law is Supreme".

So, yeah, America is effectively restoring the Divine Right of Kings here.

And for no more than temporary political advantage - but history tells us, these are "principles" exactly because we all must uphold them, regardless of whether it is or isn't "your man" in the top job.

Because, after all, even if we survive through another Trump term - and they don't also "undo" term limits - then it's only 4 years and he can then never run again.

The next President after that might be a Democrat and you've also, by this ruling, just handed them the Divine Right of Kings too. You've handed this supreme power to every President from now on.

This is a very dumb and short-sighted move. To damage a foundational principle, just for a tiny temporary political advantage in the moment.

[Little stoned kiwi]

I, for one, welcome our new overlord.

[Mat]

There's a valid argument for Biden playing them at their own game now, and pre-emptively striking. After all, this new law applies to him as much as Trump.
Now, the form of that pre-emptive strike is important in what it should be.

I've no doubt that if it were Trump, he'd go for the whole Seal Team Six thing and then abolish the two-term limit and implement hereditary rule.

But for Biden, I'd settle for dismantling the Supreme Court as it currently stands, then reforming it, trying as hard as possible to create one where no one party can end up in control of the court.
Then make it so that no-one older than retirement age can stand for President.

And finally, overrule all of the stupid shit they've recently done, such as this and overturning Roe vs. Wade.

This is probably an overly-simplistic view of the situation, and I'm sure there are all sort of legal niceties in place that would prevent Biden doing this.

But here's the rub: Trump won't give a fuck about legal niceties if he gets in; he will ignore the complexities, and just see this as giving him carte blanche to do as he pleases.

So fuck the niceties.

[SuperMappy]

I couldn't handle watching more than 10m of the debate yesterday.

One thing I don't understand.

Why don't people like Kamala Harris? I don't know much about her but the few times I saw her talking she seemed to know what she was saying.

Sorry about the lateness of this reply, but there is some conjecture that if Biden wins reelection he will shortly thereafter resign and that would make Harris the new president. I could swear I remember Biden saying that he only wanted the office for one term then he was going to "hand it off to someone else".

in my opinion this would be a great idea just to watch the right lose their collective minds.

[zip accident]

I couldn't handle watching more than 10m of the debate yesterday.

One thing I don't understand.

Why don't people like Kamala Harris? I don't know much about her but the few times I saw her talking she seemed to know what she was saying.

Sorry about the lateness of this reply, but there is some conjecture that if Biden wins reelection he will shortly thereafter resign and that would make Harris the new president. I could swear I remember Biden saying that he only wanted the office for one term then he was going to "hand it off to someone else".

in my opinion this would be a great idea just to watch the right lose their collective minds.

That would be sneaky enough to be outright wrong in my view. I don't like Trump, and if Harris could win it on her own that would be fair enough and good, but for Biden to win then resign in anyone else's favour would be wrong, in my view. At least as wrong as anything we know Trump has done.

This isn't an election I have a vote in (I'll vote Green again on Thursday unless they do something exceptionally stupid in the mean time), so it's not in any large way my business, I just don't approve of the idea.

I'm not criticising Kennedy (died in office) or FDR (died in office), but resigning within 2 months of winning would be very dirty, resigning two years after winning would be a bit dirty, and resigning after 3 1/2 years? (don't bother) IMVHO obviously.

[Orava]

I am not allowed to vote in this, I could qualify for a uk citizenship but I like the European role with a hard-worn permanent to stay. My vote would probably go to LibDems.

[Barney]

There's a valid argument for Biden playing them at their own game now, and pre-emptively striking. After all, this new law applies to him as much as Trump.
Now, the form of that pre-emptive strike is important in what it should be.

I've no doubt that if it were Trump, he'd go for the whole Seal Team Six thing and then abolish the two-term limit and implement hereditary rule.

But for Biden, I'd settle for dismantling the Supreme Court as it currently stands, then reforming it, trying as hard as possible to create one where no one party can end up in control of the court.
Then make it so that no-one older than retirement age can stand for President.

And finally, overrule all of the stupid shit they've recently done, such as this and overturning Roe vs. Wade.

This is probably an overly-simplistic view of the situation, and I'm sure there are all sort of legal niceties in place that would prevent Biden doing this.

But here's the rub: Trump won't give a fuck about legal niceties if he gets in; he will ignore the complexities, and just see this as giving him carte blanche to do as he pleases.

So fuck the niceties.

Yeah but they ain't gonna do that, are they?

[Mat]

No, and that's a problem the left is facing worldwide. They're simply not prepared to play as dirty as the right.

[tufty]

Its not a question of playing dirty, or not. Biden might have immunity from the acts he could carry out, but he doesn't have the authority to do them. that's why you'd need immunity, they're illegal, outside the scope of what he is allowed to do. So if Biden, for example, decided to strike down the supreme court, they'd be quite right in saying "you're not allowed to do that". Literally the only way he could do this is with some seal team 6 type stuff, and although it's arguably justified to save the US' democracy, it's also very doubtful he'd find people to do it. Because he doesn't have the authority.

[Little stoned kiwi]

Of all the dystopian futures I have considered, I never imagined one involving Judge Trump screaming "I am the law!". His face twisted with malice, his diaper heavy with more malice.

[KlaxonCow]

Uncannily predicted way back in 1989:



(Because, yes, the writers have confirmed that Biff as evil dystopian President of the future was modelled on Trump.)

[SuperMappy]

[SuperMappy]

"Defiant Joe Biden dares ‘elites’ to challenge him at Democratic national convention"

or what? he'll have the killed? He can do that now thanks to the SCOTUS.

I honestly cannot tell if I find politics more interesting as I get older or if politics has become more interesting?

[Harlequin]

I honestly cannot tell if I find politics more interesting as I get older or if politics has become more interesting?

I think it has become more dramatic. Also more comedic, tragic and absurdist.

This sequel to Whoops Apocalypse does keep reusing gags from the first series, though. Rather like the later Blackadders.

[KlaxonCow]

As much as I'd rather not have Trump as the US President again, that is NEVER the way to do it.

But, damn, the bullet hit his ear. And the reports suggest the shooter was firing from quite a distance as well - outside the perimeter of the event - so Trump is one hell of a lucky son of a bitch, that he was saved by the tiniest amount of imprecision / physics.