Good article. “As a practical matter, this resolution is unlikely to change anything. After it leaves the Senate, it still must clear the House, where its prospects are dim, and, even if it did, it would likely face a presidential veto—one that would require supermajorities that don’t exist to override.” This is why I’m concerned about the midterm elections in November. Robert Reich said in his Substack, “Trump is putting America on a war footing because war is good for him as it is for all dictators. War confers emergency powers. It justifies ignoring the niceties of elections.” What are the odds this is their plan for avoiding electoral rebuke in the midterms? We must prepare to act in advance to protect elections against Trump’s likely attempt to cancel, delay or void them.
As Ezra Levin said regarding ICE, we must demand action from our Congress members because they will not act on their own. Chuck Schumer says Trump isn't returning his calls, so there's nothing he can do. This is when we call and write and push at town halls for advance attention, as you suggest, for critical issues. It's always too late once Trump has done something.
I always get through to my Oregon members when calling their local office. They are also required to take statements and track them, but email works just as well. Just find the .gov website for each rep, hit Contact, and use the form to voice your opinion. Seriously took me 5 minutes to hit all three yesterday. During the crisis when Joe Biden was insisting on running for a second term, I wrote and called weekly.
You bet; this is exactly 47's plan. Read Jon Karl's excellent minute by minute description of how 45 (same person as 47) narrowly missed taking Joe Biden's legitimate win of the 2020 election down. 47 tried maybe 20 ways to make that happen (like 'HANG MIKE PENCE'). The Karl book is BETRAYAL.
The recommendation for Congress to "legislate constraints that bites". Beyond the congressional will to do that, are these constraints hard to craft? Has legislation with bite already been drafted?
I don't understand the need to vote in war powers authority. I thought Congress has always had it. Is this there way of saying, "And we mean it this time!"?
Trump has solid evidence that the Republican members of Congress won't do anything to get in his way; they've already retreated because Trump has control of $2 billion to sponsor and campaign for a candidate to run them out of office at the next election. They've demonstrated they'd rather keep the cushy job than actually do it. Cowards, with a couple of exceptions.
The ''cushy jobs'' at this point may be more in the hands of the voters than in the hands of Trump. Eventually, the lies wear thin, the promises not kept, and the kitchen-table economy of too many constituents continue to be stretched beyond all reason.
I think it's always a good idea to add in the names of the senators most responsible for corralling their brethren. Who actually whipped for the GOP? Let's start naming names and identifying their home states.
Look at the "ResistBot" app as a means to get input directly to your US Congress members (2 Senators & 1 Representative) without having to log into each member's web page, fill out your contact info, etc. each time you want to reach out. You can create your own messages or piggy back on petitions created by "ResistBot" community members. Your message/petition will be sent to your Congress members when you read and agree to submit. Your delivery choices include email (free) + fax or snail-mail (modest fees from "ResistBot" for these paths).
Thank you, Hubert Thomason, for the clear and urgent warning of the trump plan to cancel the mid-terms and possibly the presidential elections, with the US on a war footing. He is aware that the Republicans face a complete wipeout in the mid-terms, and he will do anything to prevent that happening.
This resolution was effectively an act of closing the barn door after the horse had already run away. For too long, Congress didn't want to assert its responsibility and duty to provide checks and balances (and regulation) on unbridled Executive power. Besides, Trump has alredy gone around Congress before; who is to say that he will honor the terms of this new resolution, and if he does not, what will the consequences be? His Department of (in)Justice will surely give him a pass. Impeachment is about the only avenue left.
Good article. “As a practical matter, this resolution is unlikely to change anything. After it leaves the Senate, it still must clear the House, where its prospects are dim, and, even if it did, it would likely face a presidential veto—one that would require supermajorities that don’t exist to override.” This is why I’m concerned about the midterm elections in November. Robert Reich said in his Substack, “Trump is putting America on a war footing because war is good for him as it is for all dictators. War confers emergency powers. It justifies ignoring the niceties of elections.” What are the odds this is their plan for avoiding electoral rebuke in the midterms? We must prepare to act in advance to protect elections against Trump’s likely attempt to cancel, delay or void them.
As Ezra Levin said regarding ICE, we must demand action from our Congress members because they will not act on their own. Chuck Schumer says Trump isn't returning his calls, so there's nothing he can do. This is when we call and write and push at town halls for advance attention, as you suggest, for critical issues. It's always too late once Trump has done something.
I have been trying to call congress for years and have NEVER gotten through.
Trying to call anyone in congress is an act of futility.
I always get through to my Oregon members when calling their local office. They are also required to take statements and track them, but email works just as well. Just find the .gov website for each rep, hit Contact, and use the form to voice your opinion. Seriously took me 5 minutes to hit all three yesterday. During the crisis when Joe Biden was insisting on running for a second term, I wrote and called weekly.
You are not just whistling Dixie, Herbert. Their next target has always been the elections.
Expect sabotage.
You bet; this is exactly 47's plan. Read Jon Karl's excellent minute by minute description of how 45 (same person as 47) narrowly missed taking Joe Biden's legitimate win of the 2020 election down. 47 tried maybe 20 ways to make that happen (like 'HANG MIKE PENCE'). The Karl book is BETRAYAL.
47"s middle name.
Thank you for this outstanding article.
The recommendation for Congress to "legislate constraints that bites". Beyond the congressional will to do that, are these constraints hard to craft? Has legislation with bite already been drafted?
I don't understand the need to vote in war powers authority. I thought Congress has always had it. Is this there way of saying, "And we mean it this time!"?
We should have meant it last time.
Trump has solid evidence that the Republican members of Congress won't do anything to get in his way; they've already retreated because Trump has control of $2 billion to sponsor and campaign for a candidate to run them out of office at the next election. They've demonstrated they'd rather keep the cushy job than actually do it. Cowards, with a couple of exceptions.
The ''cushy jobs'' at this point may be more in the hands of the voters than in the hands of Trump. Eventually, the lies wear thin, the promises not kept, and the kitchen-table economy of too many constituents continue to be stretched beyond all reason.
“If Congress wants to stop being treated as an afterthought, it has to stop behaving like one.”
True
I am afraid we have waited too long. The Fascist "blitzkrieg" (lightning war) has successfully taken over all 3 branches of our government.
They will NOT give it up easily.
I think it's always a good idea to add in the names of the senators most responsible for corralling their brethren. Who actually whipped for the GOP? Let's start naming names and identifying their home states.
Congress has been fleeing from it's war-making responsibilities since the Korean "police action".
It's a little late in the game for that body to re-discover its Constitutional spine.
That is certainly true statement, though late, it is still timely. It's time for Congress to resume their duties and responsibilities. Do your jobs.
That is certainly true statement, though late, it is still timely. It's time for Congress to resume their duties and responsibilities. Do your jobs.
Look at the "ResistBot" app as a means to get input directly to your US Congress members (2 Senators & 1 Representative) without having to log into each member's web page, fill out your contact info, etc. each time you want to reach out. You can create your own messages or piggy back on petitions created by "ResistBot" community members. Your message/petition will be sent to your Congress members when you read and agree to submit. Your delivery choices include email (free) + fax or snail-mail (modest fees from "ResistBot" for these paths).
Thank you, Hubert Thomason, for the clear and urgent warning of the trump plan to cancel the mid-terms and possibly the presidential elections, with the US on a war footing. He is aware that the Republicans face a complete wipeout in the mid-terms, and he will do anything to prevent that happening.
And states are aware and will do anything to prevent that happening.
This resolution was effectively an act of closing the barn door after the horse had already run away. For too long, Congress didn't want to assert its responsibility and duty to provide checks and balances (and regulation) on unbridled Executive power. Besides, Trump has alredy gone around Congress before; who is to say that he will honor the terms of this new resolution, and if he does not, what will the consequences be? His Department of (in)Justice will surely give him a pass. Impeachment is about the only avenue left.