The Race For 2024

[Shadowy Man]

Judge (now Justice) Gorsuch himself said: "a state's legitimate interest in protecting the integrity and practical functioning of the political process permits it to exclude from the ballot candidates who are constitutionally prohibited from assuming office."

What case was that? What were the facts of the case? Details matter.

If you read the opinion you can trace the citation.

It is one thing to exclude a clearly unqualified candidate - a 25 year old, say, or a naturalized citizen like Cenk the Middle Aged Turk.
It is quite different matter when states take it upon themselves to, in effect, interpret COTUS as they see fit without prior precedent set by SCOTUS.
And let's say a secretary of state makes the wrong decision and excludes somebody who is 36 years old, either through malice or incompetence. Should federal government, including SCOTUS, be powerless in reversing such decisions because "it is the states who run elections"?

I agree that the SCOTUS will have to step in. But that fact doesn’t mean that what the Maine Secretary did was wrong. Higher courts may come to a different legal opinion when they review the appeal that’s how our system works.

Maine's Secretary of State directly quotes this as support of her decision. She also points out that Maine law obligates her to determine the qualifications of petitioning candidates.

What she quotes is not necessarily the reason she really made the decision. This is an issue of the interpretation of the COTUS, which is several paygrades above Maine SecState's.

Not according to Maine law. The feds could make a law to supersede that but have they?

Elections are not done Federally, they are handled by the States.

Sure. But federal government is very much involved, and it can override the states. There is the federal Voting Rights Act. SCOTUS decides on things like electoral maps. So why should not SCOTUS decide who is eligible under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution? If matters of interpretation of the US Constitution are not their bailiwick, what would be?

I think SCOTUS should and extremely will step in. I don’t disagree with you.

Derec's comment that neither state courts nor secretaries of states have the power to enforce the Constitutional qualification provisions appears to be wrong. It is reasonably clear from the laws and historical precedents that States govern these.

14th Amendment explicitly states that the power of enforcement is given to the US Congress.

I recognize that Section Five of the Fourteenth Amendment provides that "[t]he Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article." ... But that does not mean that action pursuant to Section Five is a prerequisite to the substantive provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment having any legal force.

Why not?

You can take that up with her.

It's a good read; I recommend all to read it.

Why bother, when the almost certainly upcoming SCOTUS decision is the one that really matters.

It likely covers a lot of the issues that the SC will address so a bit of a preview.

 

[Copernicus]

When SCOTUS does rule on this issue, I hope that they won't just do another "no precedent" unexplained ruling and then sneak out the back door like they did with Bush v Gore. They owe it to the country to explain their reasoning for allowing Trump to get another shot at taking down Constitutional democracy in the US.

 

[Tigers!]

Only 11 months till your election. Thank goodness.
The tsunami is getting ready to roll.

 

[Ford]

I was listening to NPR today on the way to the grocery store. They had an interview with the lead plaintiff in the Colorado case against Trump. She was the Republican majority leader of both the Colorado House and Senate. It was a very compelling interview. Hear and Now

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Looks like Haley is officially past Boots for 2nd in the GOP primary polling. She is roughly 982% behind Trump, but any minute now, the world will start making sense again, and that lead will vanish. Any minute now...

...

waiting

....

waiting

....

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Looks like Haley is officially past Boots for 2nd in the GOP primary polling. She is roughly 982% behind Trump, but any minute now, the world will start making sense again, and that lead will vanish. Any minute now...

...

waiting

....

waiting

....

Somehow the DeSantis campaign got my mobile number. (I like the Republicans thinking I'm one of them--their mailings are very useful in telling me who to vote against, but that's mailings, not phone calls.) Text shows up today:

Breaking: Nikki Haley says your vote in the Iowa caucus will need to be "corrected" by New Hampshire. Stop anti-Iowa Haley and support Ron DeSantis on January 15.

 

[TSwizzle]

Only 11 months till your election. Thank goodness.
The tsunami is getting ready to roll.

It's going to be a fun ride!

 

[Copernicus]

The Supreme Court has announced it will hear the Colorado appeal. The deadline for hearing arguments from the plaintiffs is January 31. Thomas, of course, will not recuse himself, even though his wife was part of the conspiracy. We know how he is going to vote. Ditto for Alito, almost certainly another vote to keep Trump on the ballot. The other justices are less predictable, although three of them owe their lifetime appointments to Trump. I suspect they will vote in Trump's favor, but it will be interesting to see what kind of mental gymnastics they go through to get there--if they choose to explain their reasoning at all.

 

[ZiprHead]

One of Trump's lawyers came right out and basically said "Justice I like beer needs to remember how he got where he is."

Damn, these people are sleaze bags.

 

[Copernicus]

One of Trump's lawyers came right out and basically said "Justice I like beer needs to remember how he got where he is."

Damn, these people are sleaze bags.

Do you have a source for this? Some of Trump's lawyers are stupid, but are they that stupid?

I could only find this, which is almost as insulting:

“Unprofessional”: Experts blast Trump lawyer for saying Brett Kavanaugh “quid pro quo part out loud”​

 

[laughing dog]

One of Trump's lawyers came right out and basically said "Justice I like beer needs to remember how he got where he is."

Damn, these people are sleaze bags.

Do you have a source for this? Some of Trump's lawyers are stupid, but are they that stupid?

I could only find this, which is almost as insulting:

“Unprofessional”: Experts blast Trump lawyer for saying Brett Kavanaugh “quid pro quo part out loud”​

Interesting to see if Kavanaugh either ends up recusing himself or even standing up to Trump.

I think that statement may backfire on Trump and his lawyers.

 

[Copernicus]

One of Trump's lawyers came right out and basically said "Justice I like beer needs to remember how he got where he is."

Damn, these people are sleaze bags.

Do you have a source for this? Some of Trump's lawyers are stupid, but are they that stupid?

I could only find this, which is almost as insulting:

“Unprofessional”: Experts blast Trump lawyer for saying Brett Kavanaugh “quid pro quo part out loud”​

Interesting to see if Kavanaugh either ends up recusing himself or even standing up to Trump.

I think that statement may backfire on Trump and his lawyers.

It is hard to see how it couldn't backfire. Kavanaugh and the two other Trump employees are now going to have to be careful about leaving the impression that they were acting out of loyalty to Trump as opposed to legal principles. I expect Thomas and Alito simply not to care. They don't shy away from flaunting their political biases in public, much to the chagrin of Roberts.

 

[Patooka]

Interesting to see if Kavanaugh either ends up recusing himself or even standing up to Trump.

I think that statement may backfire on Trump and his lawyers.

That's the one razor thin silver lining with regards to lifetime appointments. Transactional arrangements mean jack shit.

 

[ZiprHead]

One of Trump's lawyers came right out and basically said "Justice I like beer needs to remember how he got where he is."

Damn, these people are sleaze bags.

Do you have a source for this? Some of Trump's lawyers are stupid, but are they that stupid?

I could only find this, which is almost as insulting:

“Unprofessional”: Experts blast Trump lawyer for saying Brett Kavanaugh “quid pro quo part out loud”​

Yup, that's the one. Real mob type stuff there.

 

[Copernicus]

Interesting to see if Kavanaugh either ends up recusing himself or even standing up to Trump.

I think that statement may backfire on Trump and his lawyers.

That's the one razor thin silver lining with regards to lifetime appointments. Transactional arrangements mean jack shit.

As Trump's niece, Mary Trump, has said, everything in the family he was brought up in was considered transactional. That mindset was bred into them from birth. Lifetime appointments would be seen as sinecures for which the recipient should be highly motivated to reciprocate. However, he has nothing further he can do for those already on the Court--no hook left with which to guarantee their loyalty. That may be why he is reportedly fretting that they may not vote in his favor on this one. He is desperately trying to remind them of how much they were abused by Democrats and some Republicans during their abbreviated Senate confirmation processes. What they owe him. Neither Kavanaugh nor Barrett had the experience or reputation to qualify them for Supreme Court appointments. That was him giving them a gift for life. It's hard to believe that they aren't just a little bit grateful.

 

[Patooka]

Interesting to see if Kavanaugh either ends up recusing himself or even standing up to Trump.

I think that statement may backfire on Trump and his lawyers.

That's the one razor thin silver lining with regards to lifetime appointments. Transactional arrangements mean jack shit.

As Trump's niece, Mary Trump, has said, everything in the family he was brought up in was considered transactional. That mindset was bred into them from birth. Lifetime appointments would be seen as sinecures for which the recipient should be highly motivated to reciprocate. However, he has nothing further he can do for those already on the Court--no hook left with which to guarantee their loyalty. That may be why he is reportedly fretting that they may not vote in his favor on this one. He is desperately trying to remind them of how much they were abused by Democrats and some Republicans during their abbreviated Senate confirmation processes. What they owe him. Neither Kavanaugh nor Barrett had the experience or reputation to qualify them for Supreme Court appointments. That was him giving them a gift for life. It's hard to believe that they aren't just a little bit grateful.

I don't disagree with anything you've said. If Trump does get taken down by a bunch of selfish cunts proclaiming, "Yeah Donald, but what have you done for me lately?" I suspect the irony would sustain me for months.

 

[laughing dog]

Interesting to see if Kavanaugh either ends up recusing himself or even standing up to Trump.

I think that statement may backfire on Trump and his lawyers.

That's the one razor thin silver lining with regards to lifetime appointments. Transactional arrangements mean jack shit.

As Trump's niece, Mary Trump, has said, everything in the family he was brought up in was considered transactional. That mindset was bred into them from birth. Lifetime appointments would be seen as sinecures for which the recipient should be highly motivated to reciprocate. However, he has nothing further he can do for those already on the Court--no hook left with which to guarantee their loyalty. That may be why he is reportedly fretting that they may not vote in his favor on this one. He is desperately trying to remind them of how much they were abused by Democrats and some Republicans during their abbreviated Senate confirmation processes. What they owe him. Neither Kavanaugh nor Barrett had the experience or reputation to qualify them for Supreme Court appointments. That was him giving them a gift for life. It's hard to believe that they aren't just a little bit grateful.

Maybe, but if their regard for their integrity, judicial reputations and standing in history outweighs whatever gratitude they may have, Trump may be sorely disappointed.

 

[TSwizzle]

Good grief;

Joe Biden appeared to be completely zoned-out at the end of his first campaign speech of 2024 on Friday night.
Biden had just concluded his remarks when he turned to leave the stage only to have his wife, first lady Jill Biden rush up to him to take him by the hand. As she approached her husband, she appeared to whisper something in his ear but smartly managed to avoid the view of television cameras that were recording the awkward moment. Dr. Jill then attempted to lead her husband off the stage only to have her husband suddenly turn to the crowd and began speaking once again, talking over the exit music that was already playing over the loudspeakers.

Daily Mail

“Dr Jill” always gives me chuckle. But it’s no laughing matter that Brandon looks totally out of it. The old geezer can’t possibly run again.

 

[Copernicus]

Good grief;

Joe Biden appeared to be completely zoned-out at the end of his first campaign speech of 2024 on Friday night.
Biden had just concluded his remarks when he turned to leave the stage only to have his wife, first lady Jill Biden rush up to him to take him by the hand. As she approached her husband, she appeared to whisper something in his ear but smartly managed to avoid the view of television cameras that were recording the awkward moment. Dr. Jill then attempted to lead her husband off the stage only to have her husband suddenly turn to the crowd and began speaking once again, talking over the exit music that was already playing over the loudspeakers.

Daily Mail

“Dr Jill” always gives me chuckle. But it’s no laughing matter that Brandon looks totally out of it. The old geezer can’t possibly run again.

You've got to be kidding. Did you actually watch the video of the end of Biden's speech? The Daily Mail actually posted it with their article. There is absolutely nothing there to support the narrative you quoted. He did not appear the slightest bit "zoned out". He greeted his wife with a smile. Then he turned to the Mike and waved, thanking the crowd. Both he and his wife looked relaxed and were chuckling. Then they walked off the stage together. It's amazing how your propaganda mill can take something completely normal and turn it into a hit piece with absolutely nothing there to support it. And you swallow it without question, because that is how the cult mentality works. "Good grief" indeed.

 

[TSwizzle]

Oh behave. The old duffer doesn’t know if it’s New York or New Year. He’s spinning around that stage clueless. “Dr Jill” is out there to make sure he gets off the stage in case Brandon goes rogue. He’s 81 ffs and he looks every day of it.