It is cold comfort to know that when the history of America's descent into fascism is written, the Roberts Court will be known as the facilitators and supporters. But i guess John Roberts sees that legacy as better than the risk of opposing trump.
Hopefully, it's a bit premature to make that prediction. The real determiner will be how the Birthright Citizenship is handled. The previous ruling was procedural and said nothing about the issue.
And if America really does descend into fascism, you can bet that it won't be written about! At least not in this country.
Not premature. There is no one ruing that draws the line, but if there was it would be the immunity that the court gave him - not birthright. The path is clear and the Republicans on the court will support fascism.
That "immunity" comes with caveats, but it's also the thing that will stop bLondi from attempting to file charges against Biden for "acting while impaired" or some such nonsense.
Look at what happened when the MAGA cult didn’t like the way Coney Barrett looked at Trump at the State of The Union. They went nuts and then when she has ruled with the minority they went even more ballistic. Then the threats started. I’m sure there is fear involved in some of these really outrageous decisions and because Trump’s cult is crazy and some are dangerous it is understandable even if wrong. Thomas and Alto have nothing to fear. They are in Trump’s pocket and the minority judges don’t either, but the other conservatives do if they dare support the constitution. The fear is a huge problem. It’s a time for courage not fear but I have no idea how it’s to be instilled in them. Stepping aside an option but then Trump would just appoint someone worse. It’s really sad when ordinary citizens have more courage than those who have the most power.
In my view the Supreme Court gave Trump the green light to continue building these concentration camps and I don’t see that stopping unless the people of this country stop holding scattershot protests and instead have ones with clear goals in mind. Very few Americans want these concentration camps or masked men with no identification kidnapping people off the street. Trump does cave to pressure but it has to be mass targeted pressure or it doesn’t work. The ACLU is the organization handling almost all immigration cases including ones related to Alligator Alcatraz. In my view they are doing invaluable work we desperately need right now.
Without getting into the intricacies of constitutional law, which neither of us is really qualified for (and not to be critical, but my not having ever been involved in politics and having no particular directional path to adhere to, I might have an unbiased edge on you), this ruling could have significant negative implications for Rump and his Final Solution for the undocumented "ravishing hoardes." Had SCOTUS not intervened, he could have had every State in the New Confederacy doing his police work for him, as well as constructing his federal Gulag.
Hint: if there is such a thing as a Progressive in FL (and there might be; I live on the West Coast where lots of liberal DamYankees live), have them file suit in federal court regarding the legality of a state constructing a detention facility for the federal government, without even a formal contract between the two. It has to be at least a FL taxpayer, but even that doesn't necessarily guarantee legal standing. Perhaps someone in the ACLU could tear themselves away from defending undocumented individuals or denying that when the Second Amendment says the "right of the people," it means PEOPLE and not states, and establish the legal ramifications. Getting AA shut down would be a personal insult to Rumplestiltskin.
I know that this is not going to be popular on this site, but Julie, you said it all:
"I am not a lawyer..." I disagree that your undoubted knowledge and experience in politics enable you to identify which rulings are proper and which are "craven politics." Lacking not only a law degree, but a lifetime of studying SCOTUS (which thankfully I have neither), no mere mortal is capable of instantly identifying bogus rulings, particularly based on "I don't agree with it."
It's true, there are two votes that will automatically support tRump. Just as there are two votes that will automatically oppose them. I have used this phrase before: they represent four sides of two counterfeit coins. Two others are borderline lackeys for each extreme, but there are three that try and base their rulings on {GASP!} law and precedent, rather than emotion.
Mass demonstrations are useful in drawing attention to issues, but regardless of the fantastical talk of "revolution" and "armed resistance" ) and remember, MAGA outguns all the unicorns put together), it is SCOTUS that will eventually be the sole arbiter of the country's future.
I think calling them out for being afraid of their irrelevance is too charitable. Trump was not in office when they made the immunity decision, or before that, when they ruled against the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision on Trump’s ineligibility to be on the ballot because he violated the 14th Amendment by fomenting an insurrection. To me it looks more like a supermajority of the Court has been consciously enabling him and the tyrannical turn of his regime. More than irrelevance they fear and have contempt for “the libs” just as much as the rest of MAGA. Ideology has become more important than the Constitution and the rule of law itself. They are willing accomplices.
I agree with you Joseph. Julie gives them too much credit. Trump is their man. They are right in it with him and Project 2025. They are the head MAGAs. And they are raking in the bucks. Not just Thomas and Alito, but all the Republican MAGAs on the Supreme Court.
It is cold comfort to know that when the history of America's descent into fascism is written, the Roberts Court will be known as the facilitators and supporters. But i guess John Roberts sees that legacy as better than the risk of opposing trump.
Hopefully, it's a bit premature to make that prediction. The real determiner will be how the Birthright Citizenship is handled. The previous ruling was procedural and said nothing about the issue.
And if America really does descend into fascism, you can bet that it won't be written about! At least not in this country.
Not premature. There is no one ruing that draws the line, but if there was it would be the immunity that the court gave him - not birthright. The path is clear and the Republicans on the court will support fascism.
That "immunity" comes with caveats, but it's also the thing that will stop bLondi from attempting to file charges against Biden for "acting while impaired" or some such nonsense.
Look at what happened when the MAGA cult didn’t like the way Coney Barrett looked at Trump at the State of The Union. They went nuts and then when she has ruled with the minority they went even more ballistic. Then the threats started. I’m sure there is fear involved in some of these really outrageous decisions and because Trump’s cult is crazy and some are dangerous it is understandable even if wrong. Thomas and Alto have nothing to fear. They are in Trump’s pocket and the minority judges don’t either, but the other conservatives do if they dare support the constitution. The fear is a huge problem. It’s a time for courage not fear but I have no idea how it’s to be instilled in them. Stepping aside an option but then Trump would just appoint someone worse. It’s really sad when ordinary citizens have more courage than those who have the most power.
In my view the Supreme Court gave Trump the green light to continue building these concentration camps and I don’t see that stopping unless the people of this country stop holding scattershot protests and instead have ones with clear goals in mind. Very few Americans want these concentration camps or masked men with no identification kidnapping people off the street. Trump does cave to pressure but it has to be mass targeted pressure or it doesn’t work. The ACLU is the organization handling almost all immigration cases including ones related to Alligator Alcatraz. In my view they are doing invaluable work we desperately need right now.
"Florida can't enforce a controversial new law targeting undocumented immigrants entering Florida, the Supreme Court said on July 9 in rejecting an emergency appeal from the state." https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/07/09/supreme-court-florida-immigration-law/84450434007/
I guess they're not quite as "afraid" as one might think.
They aren't afraid of Ron DeSantis, that is true. Donald Trump is a different story, which is why they rule on federal issues differently.
Without getting into the intricacies of constitutional law, which neither of us is really qualified for (and not to be critical, but my not having ever been involved in politics and having no particular directional path to adhere to, I might have an unbiased edge on you), this ruling could have significant negative implications for Rump and his Final Solution for the undocumented "ravishing hoardes." Had SCOTUS not intervened, he could have had every State in the New Confederacy doing his police work for him, as well as constructing his federal Gulag.
Hint: if there is such a thing as a Progressive in FL (and there might be; I live on the West Coast where lots of liberal DamYankees live), have them file suit in federal court regarding the legality of a state constructing a detention facility for the federal government, without even a formal contract between the two. It has to be at least a FL taxpayer, but even that doesn't necessarily guarantee legal standing. Perhaps someone in the ACLU could tear themselves away from defending undocumented individuals or denying that when the Second Amendment says the "right of the people," it means PEOPLE and not states, and establish the legal ramifications. Getting AA shut down would be a personal insult to Rumplestiltskin.
I know that this is not going to be popular on this site, but Julie, you said it all:
"I am not a lawyer..." I disagree that your undoubted knowledge and experience in politics enable you to identify which rulings are proper and which are "craven politics." Lacking not only a law degree, but a lifetime of studying SCOTUS (which thankfully I have neither), no mere mortal is capable of instantly identifying bogus rulings, particularly based on "I don't agree with it."
It's true, there are two votes that will automatically support tRump. Just as there are two votes that will automatically oppose them. I have used this phrase before: they represent four sides of two counterfeit coins. Two others are borderline lackeys for each extreme, but there are three that try and base their rulings on {GASP!} law and precedent, rather than emotion.
Mass demonstrations are useful in drawing attention to issues, but regardless of the fantastical talk of "revolution" and "armed resistance" ) and remember, MAGA outguns all the unicorns put together), it is SCOTUS that will eventually be the sole arbiter of the country's future.
Now, all together: SCREAM!!!
I think calling them out for being afraid of their irrelevance is too charitable. Trump was not in office when they made the immunity decision, or before that, when they ruled against the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision on Trump’s ineligibility to be on the ballot because he violated the 14th Amendment by fomenting an insurrection. To me it looks more like a supermajority of the Court has been consciously enabling him and the tyrannical turn of his regime. More than irrelevance they fear and have contempt for “the libs” just as much as the rest of MAGA. Ideology has become more important than the Constitution and the rule of law itself. They are willing accomplices.
I agree with you Joseph. Julie gives them too much credit. Trump is their man. They are right in it with him and Project 2025. They are the head MAGAs. And they are raking in the bucks. Not just Thomas and Alito, but all the Republican MAGAs on the Supreme Court.
Absolutely 💯.
Thank you Julie for your insights and honesty.
I guess it’s safe to say the Citizens United decision will remain intact with these 6 Republican appointees.
Thanks Julie, my sentiments exactly.
Never. This court broke without being pushed really hard. Sir Robert ran away.....