The Contrarian
Talking Feds
Jamie Raskin and the Constitutional Cavalry
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Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -27:32
-27:32

Jamie Raskin and the Constitutional Cavalry

Harry Litman of

talks once again with constitutional patriot and House Oversight Committee member Jamie Raskin about the tight spot we are in after just one month of Trump rule. Harry presses the Congressman for thoughts about communicating to the country the perils to the rule of law and constitutional scheme themselves. Raskin sets out a short range, mid-range, and long-range agenda for clawing the country back and restoring the rule of law. They go over the most promising and the most worrisome of the 60+ lawsuits against the Administration. They focus at length on the mischief and illegality of the Elon Musk DOGE operation and how that seems to be hitting home with more people daily. And they end with detailed discussion about the terrible perversions at the Department of Justice and what it will take to return the Department to its full institutional footing in the future.

Discussion about this episode

Jamie Raskin is just absolutely THE BEST congressperson. He is the absolute authority on the Constitution.

As Far as Democrats being heard, no one approaches AOC, Jasmine Crockett and the very few others who dare to counter the Muskrat, OFPINO and all their republicon hangers-on.

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Thank you CongressmanJamie Raskin!

May all Americans come to see the truth of what is happening to our government and fight for our democracy. 🙏

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Mr. Raskin is a model citizen and a statesman. It's hopeful that he will be one of the raised new voices to lead the Democratic Party in the years ahead.

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We ARE the calvary.

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Should be "𝗪𝗘 are the cavalry".....

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I agree, Richard.

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Unfortunately, with no training, no cohesion, no leverage, and no mounts.

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Guess we’re gonna have to figure that out.

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And, with Jamie's visionary leadership...we WILL WIN!

davebuehlerphd@gmail.com, Silver Spring, Maryland

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We need to keep taking to the streets, folks. Regularly. Rest, then get back out there. Rest again and then back out there again.

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"We know that Trump is taking a very, you know, aggressive stance toward it and really in the firings and in impoundments and in the shuttering of agencies. basically saying, you know, not pushing the envelope, but just tearing it to shreds and saying, try to stop me."

Aggressive? Try vindictive, but it's all done for show--to intimidate everyone in this country. To say, if you oppose Mister, this is what will happen to you too. They have destroyed people's lives already in this performative operation refusing to honor paid performance awards for firees on their way out the door, so that they leave with nothing. "See? This is what will happen to you, and worse."

My father came to America from Cuba before the revolution there. These are the tactics used by the dictator Fidel Castro, used by every dictator throughout history. But intimidation only goes so far with people made desperate; then the threats escalate--to prison and death sentences. We are way past the juncture where this can be fixed, Rep. Raskin. Unless Republicans in Congress as well as the maga judiciary immediately drop their charade and support the Constitution, we will all be in Big Brother's sights.

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I wish I could believe someone were coming to save us, but I don't. If there were a remedy that did not involve the slow wheels of lawsuits and judgments, maybe. But these guys were ready to kill off democracy out of the gate, and Dems were not ready with a solution. Sadly, I don't see that playing catch-up will work.

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I can't believe someone as smart as Rep. Raskin thinks Congress is still relevant. I saw a video of Elizabeth Warren today squawking about the consumer protection bureau. For Jah's sake! That is the least of our worries right now! These goons are literally dismantling government agencies--big ones, important ones to our health and security--THAT is the news of the day. The man is cleaning out the Pentagon and FBI!

Nothing happens once they finish these little tasks! And here they are all, having polite conversations in the echo chamber. And I say this as someone IN the echo chamber. This shit is of no use to us right now.

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Warren's comments were totally justified. She was talking about the CFPB as an example of something that was put in place to protect the consumer, the average American, and that has recovered far more than it costs to run. Yet it is being decimated, putting the lie to the claims that DOGE is doing anything other than attacking the government with a machete.

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Yes! MANY Americans have heard of or have been helped by the CFPB, and is an excellent, simple example of the ignorance, stupidity, selfishness, and total lack of valid interest of two people in actually rooting out true waste & inefficiency, while instead, creating confusion, chaos, and lost jobs............ especially when one considers that these two also fired 18 Inspectors General whose jobs were running depts ALREADY focused on eliminating waste, inefficiencies, and fraud,, and whose work has been considered quite effective.

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I think the point is that this agency is not the point, just as cost cutting is not--fear and intimidation are the point, with all of these programs and workers just collateral damage. They are swinging their dicks around because they can, basically saying, Try to stop us. The target doesn't matter--CFPB, Education, EPA--the shredding of the Constitution is what matters. Without that rule of law, we've got nothing. But I'm with you, my friend. Best wishes.

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I like Mr. Raskin, but I am still so disappointed in all Dems in Congress. They could have stopped all of this by invoking Section 3 of the 14th amendment and then NOT certifying Trump's electoral votes. An insurrectionist cannot hold the office of president, just like a 35-year-old or foreign-born citizen cannot. Trump is an adjudicated insurrectionist, and though SCOTUS said his name could stay on the ballot in Colorado, it did not say he was eligible to become president since it does not have that authority. Only Congress does, and it would have required a 2/3 vote to waive the requirement that he not be an insurrectionist. Congress abandoned our country and constitution because they were too afraid of the optics of not certifying his vote. Cowards. I'm still waiting for Dems to address this decision and open up about why they completely failed us here and own up to it. I'm happy he's fighting now along with AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Chris Murphy, Elizabeth Warren and others, but I could not be more disappointed with most Dems who literally have been completely useless, esp. Hakeem Jeffries. AOC needs to become House Minority Leader. I don't care about their usual rules are of seniority. These are not normal times, and Jeffries needs to pass on the torch. But, seriously, I have no faith in the Democratic party at all. With the way Harris threw our country under the bus when she did NOT demand forensic audits and hand recounts in swing states, I don't know if I will ever feel comfortable with the party again. I'll still vote Blue if we ever have an election again, but they've completely lost my trust. I wish I could get a refund on all the money I donated to Biden and Harris and many in Congress. If we get out of this mess, we need a complete reboot of the Democratic party, and many in office will need to be replaced by more passionate, progressive people. Sorry for the diatribe, but I'm still just angry that they failed us so completely.

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Thanks for saying this. As a lifelong (very blue) independent, I, too, have struggled mightily with the money and inertia of Congress.

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Harry Litman is talking way, way too much. The point of having a guest is to hear ftom the guest. Mr. Litman, please keep your talking a minimum in the future.

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Thank you Ann. I completely agree. Harry Litman talked way too much. I was so frustrated as I wanted to hear a lot more from Jamie Raskin who was his guest. I have so much respect for Congressman Raskin and so wanted to hear more from him.

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I agree with Jasmine Crockett that we need someone sane to do daily “briefings” on what’s actually going on and how it will affect us all. A more ethical, likable,engaging version of Mario Cuomo giving alternative briefings during the pandemic.

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Imagine for a minute- an NFL game without refs………. That’s exactly what is happening in our political arena- ugh! RESIST at every level in every way.

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18 eggs in Kirkland, Washington - $28.99

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Articles of impeachment !!

OUT OUT DAMNED SPOT

(Damned orange spot!)

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Fantastic interview with Congressman Jamie Raskin ..... "Eggs Benedict" .... perfect description of our current time We the People find ourselves.

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Thanks so much for Jamie Raskin. His most discouraging comment was that this would end when MAGA loses its political power. It's going to be a long slog. Meantime, remember there is a fourth branch of government: We the people can rise up, speak up, write up and stand up long enough, hard enough and loud enough to be heard by our moribund congress.

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Thank you, Jamie Raskin & Harry Litman. I especially appreciate Jamie's framing of the response to the assault on our government in three time-zones. It is so important to think this way! Short-term, Mid-Term, Long-Term. All are important and we, the concerned citizens, need to engage and stay engaged for all three! Trump's "shock & awe" campaign tends to affect our adrenal systems (which is exhausting!). We need to hold steady instead and keep at it to protect and reinstate democratic equality of our rights. Thank you, Jamie!

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