You know, I think most of us are persuaded who read here. We're not going to survive by the powerful pen alone, though. We need people of platforms, with followings, to cooperate and start organizing us into meaningful protests. I'm just a single voice with few resources but am willing, and I am looking for leadership.
In a nutshell the author asks "Will America’s institutions and the American people let him, by the stroke of his pen alone, refashion the future path of constitutional development? Will the public tolerate substituting the judgment of Congress for his alone? That’s the test before the nation now." I think much more emphasis must be made, not on how the agencies are being disrupted, but on how the executive branch is attempting to take over the legislative branch.
I agree with everything stated above but am skeptical our courts being able to enforce the decisions that are currently being enacted. The courts are being ignored and other than getting the military to boot Musk out of our Federal buildings along with his wretched little minions, we have no options. Things are coming to a complete breaking point and the Democrats need to be out in the news relaying all of this to the voters and letting them know exactly what Trump and crew are doing and how it is violating our constitution their rights as US citizens. Am not seeing that at the moment and am pretty leery of the outcome here.
Too right. Unfortunately, what needs to be done and what is being done so far on the Democratic side are two different things.
Also, what are we going to do when the 6/9th corrupt "supreme" court overturns every one of the lower court orders for the Musk/RINO regime to cease and desist?
It took an army and seven years to do it the last time. Judges and lawyers didn't defeat King George III and they also didn't defeat the Confederacy. If we're serious we should be prepared to do it again.
I see a third alternative, which is possibly 'pie in the sky'. Congress discovers that it is the First Branch, given the most potent powers because it is the direct representative of the people. It impeaches Trump. It impeaches Vance if it has to. It controls the money and starves the Executive until it returns to its lane and executes the law rather than making the law. It refuses to confirm Trump's remaining cabinet members and impeaches the ones already confirmed if a case can be made. Congress passes laws reforming the system to better guard against a future Trump. It overrides a veto if it has to.
The constitution itself gives us a path, if we will only take it. I think without fully articulating it, the people realized they must prompt their feckless representatives in congress to do something. Before we despair and assume another civil war is inevitable, we should try with all our might to use the procedural tools at our disposal.
Before we get to a Blue on Blue shooting match, We the Governed must stop granting our consent to the addled, monarchial vision of Donald Trump. We must go on a national strike with 70-80 million Americans protesting against Trump and his 2025 agenda in the streets and in our homes rather than going to work. Losing our democracy is a far wore fate than the economic damage a national strike might cause. This April 19th is the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary battles in Concord and I'm exinton MA. We are facing a 2nd Revolution against our internal monarchists, white supremacists and fascists. April will be a great month for a strike.
Excellent essay! Thank you! What is Trump’s goal and purpose? Simply Self-Aggrandizement. He cares not one whit about America. Sadly, Republicans don’t care about America, either! Their allegiance is to the Republican Party! We need ANOTHER “Declaration of Independence” from these Overlords!
Here’s a suggestion for those Americans who support our foundation, I.e. our Constitution: draft another “Declaration of Independence”, which lists all the way we take back our supporting pillars of checks and balances from Trump and his Republicans, and…..make it their campaign platform! THAT is a winning formula! How ‘bout that, Mr. DNC Chairman?
I wonder if the objective of the Trump/Musk co-presidency is EXACTLY what Anthony Michael Kreis closed the piece with: "categorical institutional dissolution." Republicans have majorities in both Houses of Congress, the Supreme Court is stacked 6-3 in their favor, and they control the Executive. What possible reason is there for the illegal and unconstitutional actions they've taken? If they want to eliminate USAID and the Dept. of Education, they have the votes to do it LEGALLY and CONSTITUTIONALLY, and yet, they chose not to.
Yup, I cringe whenever an op-ed mentions Reagan...the beginnings of MAGA and the oligarchy, of trickle-down economics and tax breaks for the rich. This false "fairness doctrine" by the media needs to stop as is distorts reality for people to young to know the truth.
I don't know if you've heard, but scholars, professors, experts, and experienced professionals are considered part of the deep state. You can preach to the choir here, and we will appreciate it.
Beyond that, you represent institutional power that the president wants to erase, or at least, silence. He has convinced enough voters that he needs the freedom to act as he wishes to deliver reforms to a bloated system. Right now, a CBS/YouGov poll shows that 70 percent of 2,000 + Americans surveyed think Donald Trump is doing what he promised to do.
To me, it would suggest that more Americans are focused on other things besides democracy. They wanted change. He convinced them that he was that change. The optics and sound bites seem to show that changes are happening quickly. Musk is the billionaire tech bro who will cut out all that's unnecessary and keep what's necessary. Musk gets to decide which is which because he's really smart. He builds things.
Most Americans seem to be good with that.
The assumption that most Americans are currently as invested in democracy as they were during the Revolutionary War might be a stretch. Too many other distractions are competing for Americans' attention these days. They mainly want a more affordable life. These guys promised they would make that happen.
The other guy rarely came out of the White House. Then his party replaced him without any primaries. Was that democratic?
This guy doesn't pretend to play by the rules, but billionaires always have directed American policy to some extent, haven't they? Trump and Musk are just doing it out in the open.
Most Americans are not out in the streets protesting. They are willing to try something different.
The CBS poll is horrifying. But I had and have a lot of questions about that poll as it was referenced in the Presidential Airplane Show pre-Super Bowl. (49% approval yesterday and now well over 50%).
More horrifying to me was the conversation I had today with a friend whose family are long-time Democrats who basically know NOTHING about what’s going on because the news outlets they read or watch (NOT Fox) are not covering this in any detail and also because they (personally) didn’t find his first term “all that bad” (oh, J6, etc… )
The best I could muster in response was “sorry they’ve been lied to” and “let’s find them some better news sources”.
Because I’ve read history, seen what’s happening here playing out in other countries, maybe some are “willing to try something different” - but I’m not buying what this group is shoveling. I’ve been complaining for decades that we are ever more a stupid country (in many ways) - yup… it’ll be easy just to slide right into fascism here - we seem well on the way.
I’m not good with that.
Your points above are very good.
To the degree that I have a plan, it’s not to surrender in advance or just give up.
We'll, when they come for you or your family members or your Medicare or your neighbors school meals or your vaccines, or your social security or your religious freedom or your air traffic control or your water for irrigation or your "born in America to immigrant parents" neighbor and when you have to pay Elon Musk for access to any and all government services through a cellphone app just calmly explain to your children it's okay because these guys are just "shaking it up" and giving themselves another 2 Trillion in tax breaks...Why? Because they need it.
You know, I think most of us are persuaded who read here. We're not going to survive by the powerful pen alone, though. We need people of platforms, with followings, to cooperate and start organizing us into meaningful protests. I'm just a single voice with few resources but am willing, and I am looking for leadership.
Justine, you might try websites for the following: Indivisible, Working Families Party, MoveOne for planned rallies, text for Call-in campaigns etc.
Resistanceflag.org
Buildtheresistance.org
In a nutshell the author asks "Will America’s institutions and the American people let him, by the stroke of his pen alone, refashion the future path of constitutional development? Will the public tolerate substituting the judgment of Congress for his alone? That’s the test before the nation now." I think much more emphasis must be made, not on how the agencies are being disrupted, but on how the executive branch is attempting to take over the legislative branch.
I agree with everything stated above but am skeptical our courts being able to enforce the decisions that are currently being enacted. The courts are being ignored and other than getting the military to boot Musk out of our Federal buildings along with his wretched little minions, we have no options. Things are coming to a complete breaking point and the Democrats need to be out in the news relaying all of this to the voters and letting them know exactly what Trump and crew are doing and how it is violating our constitution their rights as US citizens. Am not seeing that at the moment and am pretty leery of the outcome here.
Too right. Unfortunately, what needs to be done and what is being done so far on the Democratic side are two different things.
Also, what are we going to do when the 6/9th corrupt "supreme" court overturns every one of the lower court orders for the Musk/RINO regime to cease and desist?
It took an army and seven years to do it the last time. Judges and lawyers didn't defeat King George III and they also didn't defeat the Confederacy. If we're serious we should be prepared to do it again.
Bob, I think we have to be prepared because the alternative isn’t acceptable.
I see a third alternative, which is possibly 'pie in the sky'. Congress discovers that it is the First Branch, given the most potent powers because it is the direct representative of the people. It impeaches Trump. It impeaches Vance if it has to. It controls the money and starves the Executive until it returns to its lane and executes the law rather than making the law. It refuses to confirm Trump's remaining cabinet members and impeaches the ones already confirmed if a case can be made. Congress passes laws reforming the system to better guard against a future Trump. It overrides a veto if it has to.
The constitution itself gives us a path, if we will only take it. I think without fully articulating it, the people realized they must prompt their feckless representatives in congress to do something. Before we despair and assume another civil war is inevitable, we should try with all our might to use the procedural tools at our disposal.
Get rid of gerrymandering so Texas can be blue again.
One fervently hopes that when we depose this ersatz king, it will be done in a non-violent manner.
One fears that it won't happen that way....
Before we get to a Blue on Blue shooting match, We the Governed must stop granting our consent to the addled, monarchial vision of Donald Trump. We must go on a national strike with 70-80 million Americans protesting against Trump and his 2025 agenda in the streets and in our homes rather than going to work. Losing our democracy is a far wore fate than the economic damage a national strike might cause. This April 19th is the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary battles in Concord and I'm exinton MA. We are facing a 2nd Revolution against our internal monarchists, white supremacists and fascists. April will be a great month for a strike.
Generalstrikeus.org
Excellent essay! Thank you! What is Trump’s goal and purpose? Simply Self-Aggrandizement. He cares not one whit about America. Sadly, Republicans don’t care about America, either! Their allegiance is to the Republican Party! We need ANOTHER “Declaration of Independence” from these Overlords!
Here’s a suggestion for those Americans who support our foundation, I.e. our Constitution: draft another “Declaration of Independence”, which lists all the way we take back our supporting pillars of checks and balances from Trump and his Republicans, and…..make it their campaign platform! THAT is a winning formula! How ‘bout that, Mr. DNC Chairman?
I wonder if the objective of the Trump/Musk co-presidency is EXACTLY what Anthony Michael Kreis closed the piece with: "categorical institutional dissolution." Republicans have majorities in both Houses of Congress, the Supreme Court is stacked 6-3 in their favor, and they control the Executive. What possible reason is there for the illegal and unconstitutional actions they've taken? If they want to eliminate USAID and the Dept. of Education, they have the votes to do it LEGALLY and CONSTITUTIONALLY, and yet, they chose not to.
Sorry, but no love for Reagan here, he helped create the mess that we’re in now.
I always knew that Republicans were evil, but they’re totally un-American now.
In 1776, peaceful protests didn’t cut it. I fear we’re in a similar place now.
Yup, I cringe whenever an op-ed mentions Reagan...the beginnings of MAGA and the oligarchy, of trickle-down economics and tax breaks for the rich. This false "fairness doctrine" by the media needs to stop as is distorts reality for people to young to know the truth.
We need to unify and resist! The longer we wait, the harder it will be.
Resistanceflag.org
I don't know if you've heard, but scholars, professors, experts, and experienced professionals are considered part of the deep state. You can preach to the choir here, and we will appreciate it.
Beyond that, you represent institutional power that the president wants to erase, or at least, silence. He has convinced enough voters that he needs the freedom to act as he wishes to deliver reforms to a bloated system. Right now, a CBS/YouGov poll shows that 70 percent of 2,000 + Americans surveyed think Donald Trump is doing what he promised to do.
To me, it would suggest that more Americans are focused on other things besides democracy. They wanted change. He convinced them that he was that change. The optics and sound bites seem to show that changes are happening quickly. Musk is the billionaire tech bro who will cut out all that's unnecessary and keep what's necessary. Musk gets to decide which is which because he's really smart. He builds things.
Most Americans seem to be good with that.
The assumption that most Americans are currently as invested in democracy as they were during the Revolutionary War might be a stretch. Too many other distractions are competing for Americans' attention these days. They mainly want a more affordable life. These guys promised they would make that happen.
The other guy rarely came out of the White House. Then his party replaced him without any primaries. Was that democratic?
This guy doesn't pretend to play by the rules, but billionaires always have directed American policy to some extent, haven't they? Trump and Musk are just doing it out in the open.
Most Americans are not out in the streets protesting. They are willing to try something different.
That may be the hardest change to accept.
The CBS poll is horrifying. But I had and have a lot of questions about that poll as it was referenced in the Presidential Airplane Show pre-Super Bowl. (49% approval yesterday and now well over 50%).
More horrifying to me was the conversation I had today with a friend whose family are long-time Democrats who basically know NOTHING about what’s going on because the news outlets they read or watch (NOT Fox) are not covering this in any detail and also because they (personally) didn’t find his first term “all that bad” (oh, J6, etc… )
The best I could muster in response was “sorry they’ve been lied to” and “let’s find them some better news sources”.
Because I’ve read history, seen what’s happening here playing out in other countries, maybe some are “willing to try something different” - but I’m not buying what this group is shoveling. I’ve been complaining for decades that we are ever more a stupid country (in many ways) - yup… it’ll be easy just to slide right into fascism here - we seem well on the way.
I’m not good with that.
Your points above are very good.
To the degree that I have a plan, it’s not to surrender in advance or just give up.
We'll, when they come for you or your family members or your Medicare or your neighbors school meals or your vaccines, or your social security or your religious freedom or your air traffic control or your water for irrigation or your "born in America to immigrant parents" neighbor and when you have to pay Elon Musk for access to any and all government services through a cellphone app just calmly explain to your children it's okay because these guys are just "shaking it up" and giving themselves another 2 Trillion in tax breaks...Why? Because they need it.
Janice Im terrified you may be right. Our only hope is a few Republicans turning on them and emboldening other rethugs to do the same
Yes, he's doing what he said he would do. That doesn't legitimize his actions.
Who is going to stand up and scream “Follow me!”? And be followed?
Let me suggest Bill Gates and/or Mark Cuban.
Who is going to stand up and scream “Follow me!”? And be followed?
Let me suggest Bill Gates and/or Mark Cuban.
Most definitely do we need to chase away this kingly behavior away!