What fresh hell?

[evolves]

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/us/supreme-court-state-legislatures-elections.html

Next up from this runamuck SCOTUS:

The Supreme Court announced on Thursday that it would hear a case that could radically reshape how federal elections are conducted by giving state legislatures independent power, not subject to review by state courts, to set election rules in conflict with state constitutions.

The case has the potential to affect many aspects of the 2024 election, including by giving the justices power to influence the presidential race whenever state courts interpret their constitutions to require changes to state election laws.

FUCK these fascist assholes.

[Scrivener7]

1. THIS is the coup we needed to be frightened of, and it happened in 2016.

It's done now.

[Bluethroughu]

5. The fucking fascists want a war...

Who bennefits?

That's where we start the fight.

This election of 2022 will be our last if it isn't a fucking blue Tsunami that washes over this country.

Then we start the fight, we go after every fucking dime these SOBs have and build the infrastructure the majority wants from it.

These fascist autocrats on our Supreme Court will be the first muzzled when we win, add 17 new justices to the court, two to each district circuit court.

Pass universal Healthcare, pass a federal living wage, college/trade school to anyone who wants it, and raise social security. Codify everything we want in our lives into our Constitution.

Fuck the fascists.

I'm pissed, sorry about the language, but these fascists have taken us back 150 year today.

[Scrivener7]

11. Don't apologize. This is absolutely terrifying.

[in2herbs]

28. Even if Biden were to announce plans to expand the court right now, the court's

voting rights decision would likely come down before any new judges were sworn in and become the new law of the land. There won't be any of the new expanded court judges involved in the oral arguments re voting rights that the court announce it will hear.

So yeah. Don't any of us apologize because it is terrifying.

[Magoo48]

78. Yet, nothing will happen until something is done. Do it and see.

Take a lot of actions, see what works. It beats the shit out of stern rebuttals, hand wringing, pearl clutching, and the old huum-ha, lateral shuffle.

[in2herbs]

80. I know it wouldn't happen until after mid-terms, but after that I would like to see the Ds

in Congress reduce all funding to these red states in relation to the percentage of women in those states. In other words, if a red state's population is 50% female the federal government to these red states should be reduced by at least 50%. They want to be separate, let them pay their own bills. But, I don't hold a lot of hope that our Ds in Congress will take a financial stand cuz the Gun Rights bill Biden just signed is going to send $$ to the red states.

I know that such a proposition to reduce funding to red states will hurt the population but so will guns if that's the length that has to be gone to in order to restore our constitutional rights and do away with R mentality for generations to come.

Further, for any person or politician to which there is even a scintilla of treasonous evidence, they should be prosecuted. Not prosecuted if its only thought the prosecutors can win the case. Prosecute to make examples of what will happen to others in the future who want to overthrow the government.

[Magoo48]

82. It sounds good to me.🙋‍♂️

[llashram]

33. yep

[keep_left]

39. It's probably too late for this, but I've always felt that the unions and other labor groups...

...should be funding the kind of K Street/think tank infrastructure that the far right has been building since time began. By the late '70s it was clear what we were dealing with, and the election of Reagan sealed the deal.

But nowadays we need a lot more than just think tanks. I still can't understand why big labor didn't get on task all those years ago. To be fair, there are a few left think tanks (e.g. Institute for Policy Studies), but not nearly enough to combat the "Rolodex factor", where the news media can just call any old hack from a right wing think tank and get a canned sound bite.

[Grasswire2]

47. yes, and a NYT best-selling investigative journo friend told me 20 years ago...

....that America needs a UNION-BASED street newspaper.

Gritty, hard-hitting, and on every corner news stand.
Written from the POV of workers.

If a weirdo religious cult can put a free newspaper on American streets en masse, unions could do it.

[TheRealNorth]

70. A lot of Unions got gutted in the '80's

Before they realized what was happening.

[keep_left]

74. Yes, you're right about that. But what about the powerhouse unions we still have?

The UAW, IBEW, etc.? We really need them to step up on this. I can guess why they're not; it's probably because K Street is thousands of miles from a lot of their members, and they think the dues-paying members need representation closer to home. They're not wrong. But the problem is that the policy that is directly harming them is being made in far-right "think" tanks on K Street.

They need to be doing both.

[TheRealNorth]

75. Not sure UAW is the powerhouse it once was

Maybe Teamsters still has some sway. AFSCME and Teacher's unions took a big hit after Republicans attacked Public sector workers after 2010 and Janus v. AFSCME, which basically made public union dues voluntary.

Honestly, the most powerful unions in most states now are probably the law enforcement unions. And we know who most of them back.

[keep_left]

76. Well, you definitely have a point. But as you say, there are still a few unions with some degree...

...of militancy. The Teamsters and IBEW are still out there organizing. IBEW in particular shouldn't be overlooked; they are very active in the technology workplace. But things aren't great right now, and the battle is on several fronts. One of the most important is the courts, and not just the Supreme Court. There have to be some major changes to labor law, including reversing the worst decisions of the last 20 years (at least).

[Dave says]

17. Yup

Gotta thank those stay-at-home and Bernie voters for the wonderful world they have given us.

[Mr. Evil]

45. Nope.

If blame is to go around, I blame an antiquated voting system (Electoral College) and Mitch McConnell. Moscow Mitch is a master manipulator and he facilitated all of this years ago.

There are a few others but, I'll leave it at that for now.

[Dave says]

58. I agree

McConnell gets most of the blame. But we shouldn’t have lost the blue wall in 2016. IMO, the idealogical fight should be loud and raucous during the primaries (it was), but after that all of us using the big D for party affiliation should rally around our candidate. Enough failed on this latter point to cost us a generation-changing election, maybe costing us our democracy itself.

Even before 2016, Clinton said we need to win by 6% to win at all, given the various election games played by Republicans. She knows better than I. We needed everyone to vote D. Not Green nor sulk at home because their (and my) favorite candidate lost in the primaries.

[Grasswire2]

49. But she won by 3 million votes.

There was no failure of the popular vote for HRC. No movement by other voters caused her loss.

Trump rigged the electoral college by seeking and receiving specific polling data from Russia. That's it.

So stop fighting the last primary.

[Sogo]

55. This.

[Grasswire2]

60. thank you nt

[LisaM]

30. It happened in 2000.

They halted the counting of legitimate votes and that is why we have the SCOTUS we have now.

[Sogo]

56. Yep.

[live love laugh]

62. And WE ALL quietly accepted it.

Prince was prescient when he wrote the song 1999.

[LisaM]

66. No we didn't.

Some of us protested. I called every representative I had (at the time, I had a Republican senator) and let them have it. Even though the footage wasn't aired, a lot of people protested at the inauguration (I only found that out by watching Farenheit/911, the networks certainly didn't show it). I joined DU. I gave money to organizations and candidates.

I did what I could, but what frustrates me the most now is that people are already forgetting it.

[live love laugh]

61. ✅✅

[CrispyQ]

2. The news just gets worse everyday.

"No matter how cynical I am, I can't keep up." ~Lily Tomlin

[Irish_Dem]

10. That's how I feel.

I am cynical and realty based.
Even I am having difficulty keeping up with the evil happenings.

[RockRaven]

3. If Democrats don't expand SCOTUS well before 2024, they will never have another POTUS...

A permanent RW overthrow of the Constitution is in process right out in the open. Waiting until it happens to react will be too late.

[TheRealNorth]

4. I know some people don't want to hear this...

But I think our only chance to prevent a fascist takeover now is that we prepare ourselves for Civil War so that the Republicans are so afraid of the devastation that they will be reluctant to try this shit. We must not only promise to burn their house down but have the capability.

[ck4829]

7. We really do.

[vercetti2021]

8. We gotta

There is no options left anymore. Fight for your freedom.

[wnylib]

25. It is, unfortunately, coming to that.

I don't see any way to avoid it now.

If we do get the wins that we need in this year's elections, the fascists will rebel in all out war.

If the court makes the changes being proposed, we will rebel.

War is always bad. Civil war is the worst. We have to be prepared for it, but it's better to avoid it if possible. But since it seems almost inevitable, it would be better if we win the seats we need and they are the ones to rebel. We can crush a rebellion. Hsrder to crush the fascists when they are the ones in power, but not impossible.

[hadEnuf]

12. We should have been doing this long ago because it's the only thing they will understand.

Discussion, compromise & Democracy itself means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to these people.

The only thing they do understand is the power to kick their asses worse than they can kick ours.


This has actually been apparent for quite a long time now, IMO.

[TheRealNorth]

19. I agree

Some of us knew or suspected that this was the Republican end game, but i understand the reluctance to believe your onservative neighbor or family member wants to trample on your rights, cut off your head, and shit down your throat (if you don't "acquiesce" ). But we are now entering the "End Game".

[vercetti2021]

22. Oh I knew these years ago

When my right wing neighbor threatened to kill us for giving his dog ( which later died to his incompetence) that he left out in 110° weather One Summer water. Which required us going into their backyard.

Next day went out and bought my first rifle. I've been ready for these freaks to kick in my door. Just gonna be surprised when I shoot back

[hadEnuf]

34. Yes, they haven't been arming themselves to the teeth for years for nothing.

[Bluethroughu]

24. Totally agree.

[progressoid]

48. How would that work?

Did the demonstrations (which the media portrayed as riots) after George Floyd make a difference?

So will we have to ramp it up? And then the 3 percenters, Patriot fronters, etc ramp up their attacks. What's the end game?

[TheRealNorth]

52. I think you know the answer.

But hey, if you are not a POC or a Muslim or Jew, and if you keep quiet and your mouth shut, and you're not a woman who is concerned about being forced to keep your rapists baby, you will probably be okay in the GOP's neofascist America. At least until you get in the way of the ambitions of someone with power.

As for me, someone who will not tolerate living in a fascist country, it's either fight, or end up in a place with something like, "Arbeit Macht Frei" above the entrance.

[progressoid]

54. No, I don't know.

I'm not unaware of what's going on. I POC family members and three daughters of child bearing ages. It's a shit-show out there.

So I'm not trying to be flippant. Honestly, what is the game plan? Who would be in charge?

[Diablo del sol]

65. People need to take heed.

In a deep red state, get out.

Dems need to quit negotiating. Manchin and Sinema don’t get on board, kick them out and unleash hell on them. People love fighters, asking people to be patient and vote in more Dems is not fighting.

[TheRealNorth]

67. We gotta be more tactical

For now, we need to whisper sweet nothings to Mancin and Sinema. Appointing liberal judges is too important. But that is until we no longer need them. And when Sinema comes up for election in 2024, she should be primaried.

[Diablo del sol]

69. We need to crush them

Appeasement plays into the both sides do it.

Al Franken got thrown out for a picture of him air grabbing boobies. With a lady wearing a flak jacket. A Repuke set up and OUR side jumped all over him. FUCK that.

[TheRealNorth]

71. I agree we need to crush them....

I am just saying we shouldn't take a hammer to everything that looks like a nail.

There are times we need to be more Machiavellian about it. At least, that's my opinion.

[Diablo del sol]

72. There is a great old Smothers Bros. skit on everything looking like a nail.

Might not have aged well.

[ck4829]

6. "State legislatures are not subject to review by state courts", interesting

Take the word 'state' out of this and see if they still think it's a good idea.

[KS Toronado]

81. I was thinking....

"giving state legislatures independent power, not subject to review by SCOTUS",
strange they don't want courts looking into election fraud.

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

9. Guns, Abortion, Climate, Courts, check...OK gang, we're done here, time to recess for a month

[ultralite001]

13. Time to impeach the entire SCOTUS...

and start with a clean slate...

That is all...

[OMGWTF]

79. Really? Judge Jackson just got there yesterday.

[LaMouffette]

14. Oh. My. God. This is unbelievable. The court must be expanded NOW. But can it be done?

[Dan]

26. When people believe that there is no hope, that they no longer have a voice, no real rule of law

Then there nothing left - but the alternatives.

[LaMouffette]

29. That's what HE said to get his mob to attack the Capitol. Please don't get me wrong!

I absolutely agree with you and think that maybe our side should have stormed the Capitol when Trump was not convicted by the Senate Republicans either of the two times that he was impeached.

And maybe it's time that our side stormed the Supreme Court.

[hadEnuf]

43. We are right and they are wrong. They are anti-American traitors and we are not.

When the right is in the majority, the wreak havoc and stick it to us. When they are in the minority, they wreak havoc and stick it to us.
This cycle of nonsense needs to stop.

We should stop screwing around and wringing our hands on what will be "acceptable" to the right and just do what needs to be done, like charge and convict Trump and his cohorts and possibly expand the SCOTUS for starters.


We don't have to be lawbreakers. We just need to quit treating them like they are "fellow lawmakers".


They are not.

[LaMouffette]

64. I agree 1,000 percent.

I think the Dems in Congress are hesitant because convicting a president and expanding the SCOTUS are two things that have never been done before (not sure about whether expanding the SCOTUS has been done before), but they need to get over that and act fast before their hands are completely tied.

[Ford_Prefect]

15. The Confederacy has risen indeed, or seems about to be resuscitated.

This is judicial and Constitutional heresy

[Meadowoak]

16. We need a national strike, until everyone of those fuckers resign.

[liberalla]

18. This is going to be really bad... how bold, how brazen.

I'm pissed and I'm scared about this. Fuckers.

[Magoo48]

20. Please Dem representatives, represent us. Please Chuck, do something radical, or just something.

Please President Biden, promote radical moves by congress. Leverage our reps to action.

We are watching it all slip away. Lead us into action. Do something new; the old ways aren’t working. We elected you to act on our behalf. Try something, we will appreciate the effort.

[Grasswire2]

50. Oy.

Open your eyes. Those who cling to the old ways are the ones who have power.

Those who have passion, and fire, are relegated to the bench.

[Magoo48]

77. Sad that.

[Novara]

21. It looks to me that they are just aching for such cases

In order to radically remake America into the Xtian Taliban.

They shouldn't even be TAKING this case. For them to do so sends a very clear message what they plan to do.

Sorry, Roberts, your court has no legitimacy and you will go down the history toilet with them.

[JustAnotherGen]

23. All the Senate had to do

was pass in full the John Lewis VRA and We The People Act.

It wasn't a difficult ask.

[Farmer-Rick]

27. Wow that's pure evil

You will never have a liberal win ever again.

[3825-87867]

31. Think that's bad? Try this on...

Did you know there's NO requirement to become a Supreme Court Justice? Not even Age or Nationality? Or sanity?

All it takes is confirmation by the Senate of a nomination,

Now, imagine a Republican President, Republican Senate and that president nominating, say, the Orange Anus!

Or imagine the dictator(s) or judges or politicals of another country as a Justice?

Volksgerichtshof - People's Court of the Nazis. Chilling. Look it up on wikipedia,

How's that grab ya, darlin'? (60s ref)

You can sleep well tonight, America. Your Constitution is protecting....someone.

[Martin68]

32. WTF?!

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

35. Blue States should consider having a trigger plan in place to secede

from the US while President Biden is still Commander in Chief.

I will not be be governed by an non-elected, undemocratic fascist SCOTUS with a majority appointed by a traitorous enemy of the state.

[CaptainTruth]

40. No state can secede without a constitutional amendment allowing secession.

See Texas v White et al, 1869

"U.S. Supreme Court case in which it was held that the United States is “an indestructible union” from which no state can secede."

Primary Holding
States do not have the right to unilaterally secede from the United States, so the Confederate states during the Civil War always remained part of the nation.

[link:https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/74/700/|]

[TheRealNorth]

44. Well, not without a fight

[NoMoreRepugs]

36. Moment Rethugs control House and Senate and White House the Constitution is going to be changed

dramatically - BANK ON IT. It is the only chance the old white power elite have on maintaining power.

[CaptainTruth]

37. I'll be amazed if SCOTUS says people can ignore state constitutions &...

...ignore state supreme courts. I mean, a court completely undercutting the authority of courts, & saying a state supreme court can't enforce a state constitution? This court is so pro-federalism & a ruling like that seems very anti-federalism to me.

I would be stunned, but of course I won't put it past them.

I hope they realize that if they rule that way a lot of folks like me will take it mean they also believe it's ok to ignore the federal constitution & ignore them, the federal supreme court... welcome to anarchy, folks.

[Shrek]

59. It's a narrow reading of Article I

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.

Historically "the Legislature thereof" has been understood to mean the entire legislative apparatus, including the various checks and balances imposed by the judiciary and the executive.

But if read narrowly it could also mean just the legislature itself as a discrete entity not constrained by any other branch.

[czarjak]

38. How convenient. Any means necessary means what it means. White Right.

[dalton99a]

41. Meh. There is no cause for alarm. Vote harder

[TheRealNorth]

46. And maybe even the Republicans will count those votes.....

If they don't make a difference.

[liberal N proud]

42. This court is radical, unamerican and out of control

The insurrection wasn’t successful, so they are just going to use SCOTUS to take over.

[EndlessWire]

51. I didn't get to read the full article.

I guess it is behind the NYT paywall.

"...including by giving the justices power to influence the presidential race whenever state courts interpret their constitutions to require changes to state election laws." Huh? What does that mean? You mean, like stopping the vote count in case your opponent might win?

So, now the SC is going to be allowed to decide the election? This case is still pending, so maybe something good will happen?

I think that Biden needs to rethink the idea of expanding the Court. I would have preferred impeaching those Justices who lied and who participated in the attempted coup, but, after reading the eagerness of Kavanaugh to hear any such case similar, I think we have no time to lose. Maybe we can do both, just backwards.

This is a Cold Civil War, and the SC is on the enemy side. The SC is absolutely silent on issues important to us, and now they are starting to form the shape of helping the Repub fascist party to win in 2024. Everything is shaping up to help Trump come back.

If you had been a Jew in Europe at the start of WW2, would you have left? I have always thought what courage it took to leave everything you own and just to flee to a place of safety. I have also thought that abandoning America and leaving it to a fascist fate is not something I would want to do.

However, now I have to consider what to do, because I am an old, White, gay female. I see myself as first off the truck, first to get shot, and first forgotten. But, today, I wonder if I should be getting a weapon and training? Because, you know they are coming for gay rights, and they will be coming for me.

Fresh hell, indeed...

[TheRealNorth]

53. The problem with leaving, IMO

Is like what Churchill said about fighting the Nazis. If we lose, the forces of darkness will envelop the globe. Our only hope would be the American fascists fighting the Russian fascists fighting the European fascists fighting the Chineese fascists and they they might destroy each other fighting over natural resources and markets (kinda like how WWI destroyed the Russian, German, Austria-Hungarian, and Ottoman Empires). But who knows if the planet would survive that.

[Colbert]

63. All the more reason to be interested in local and off-year elections

Which is something that the average Democrat doesn't tend to be consistently good at. It seems like they need the thrill of a "rock star" candidate at the top of the ballot or they can't be bothered to turn out.

[TheRealNorth]

68. Yup

If you live in WI, not turning out for the WI State Supreme Court race in 2019 bit back hard this year because it condemned WI to another 10 years of a heavily gerrymandered map in favor of Republicans in the state legislature (as I predicted it would back then).

[Blue Owl]

73. K&R for visibility

This SC must be stopped -- they are nothing more than the GOP's hatchet men (and hatchet handmaid) right now...