I value this Substack so much! I learn everyday from amazing writers and thinkers. Thank you for making this administration's foolery and evil (as some of their actions are ridiculous, while much is terrifying and evil) accessible and understandable.
As an Australian with no legal training I find this entertaining and enlightening....and cheering. But it occurs to me that it's all going to go to the Supreme Court and I have no confidence of this artfully packed body putting the law ahead of their political leanings.
Hmm, the world didn’t buckle or tremble before Orange Ozymandias, I guess the Trump Protection Racket only works on timid American companies and media.
This article lays out why it was so easy for Trump to do what he did. Lots of laws, lots of regulations that address conditions decades ago and a group of people more familiar with those laws than most of congress, an entity that has managed under Republican majorities to be interested only in taking away rather than fixing or making laws that are more applicable to our citizens’ needs.
Trump managed to convince a lot of Americans that tariffs would solve all their problems by leading eventually to the end of federal income taxes. That millions of Americans believed that is why our government and lawmakers are so ineffective. We’re electing the worst among us because the worst among us are a majority at this point.
I agree with your premise, but I'm not sure that Trump's people actually are more familiar with the laws. It appears that they've been cherry-picking certain statutes and Acts to justify their plans, but simply reading the law is never completely sufficient. There is a legal concept called substance over form which refers to the fact that it's important to understand the regulations and court cases that underpin any law, as well as the legislative history and reasoning; it's necessary to follow the letter of the law, but it isn't sufficient. This is showing up in case after case as they lose in court. They also believe that the Supreme Court will rubber stamp anything Trump wants, but that isn't happening either in every case. I do hope when Democrats get a trifecta, they do some serious housekeeping - repeal and/or rewrite a lot of these old laws, including the Comstock Act.
Speaking as a man, balls are soft, vulnerable and painfully squishy. I much prefer to use the term 'backbone' to express fortitude. (I rather suspect the 51% of people without a Y chromosone think so too).
"Amy, John, Brett … THINK OF YOUR LOVELY STOCK PORTFOLIOS!'. That says it all. This legal fight has all kinds of unsuspected ramifications including the Civil Service Reform Act if I'm not mistaken.
Tariffs are the global version of Trump’s business philosophy - do whatever you want and make others pay for it. Corollary one: be sure to stiff those you promised to reward. Corollary two: threaten and intimidate those who try to complain or expose you. And all the while the “Chief Negotiator” is lounging around the White House, playing golf, “truthing” in ALL CAPS, accepting lavish bribes, and occasionally stepping up to the mic to utter gibberish, with the subtitle, “Somebody stop me!”
I value this Substack so much! I learn everyday from amazing writers and thinkers. Thank you for making this administration's foolery and evil (as some of their actions are ridiculous, while much is terrifying and evil) accessible and understandable.
Thanks K! Really appreciate it.
As an Australian with no legal training I find this entertaining and enlightening....and cheering. But it occurs to me that it's all going to go to the Supreme Court and I have no confidence of this artfully packed body putting the law ahead of their political leanings.
Hmm, the world didn’t buckle or tremble before Orange Ozymandias, I guess the Trump Protection Racket only works on timid American companies and media.
To Trump — as tariffs bring industry back to America … AND millions of immigrants deported … oh boy, time to bring back slavery!
This article lays out why it was so easy for Trump to do what he did. Lots of laws, lots of regulations that address conditions decades ago and a group of people more familiar with those laws than most of congress, an entity that has managed under Republican majorities to be interested only in taking away rather than fixing or making laws that are more applicable to our citizens’ needs.
Trump managed to convince a lot of Americans that tariffs would solve all their problems by leading eventually to the end of federal income taxes. That millions of Americans believed that is why our government and lawmakers are so ineffective. We’re electing the worst among us because the worst among us are a majority at this point.
I agree with your premise, but I'm not sure that Trump's people actually are more familiar with the laws. It appears that they've been cherry-picking certain statutes and Acts to justify their plans, but simply reading the law is never completely sufficient. There is a legal concept called substance over form which refers to the fact that it's important to understand the regulations and court cases that underpin any law, as well as the legislative history and reasoning; it's necessary to follow the letter of the law, but it isn't sufficient. This is showing up in case after case as they lose in court. They also believe that the Supreme Court will rubber stamp anything Trump wants, but that isn't happening either in every case. I do hope when Democrats get a trifecta, they do some serious housekeeping - repeal and/or rewrite a lot of these old laws, including the Comstock Act.
Me too
Congress has lost its “balls”….
Speaking as a man, balls are soft, vulnerable and painfully squishy. I much prefer to use the term 'backbone' to express fortitude. (I rather suspect the 51% of people without a Y chromosone think so too).
"Amy, John, Brett … THINK OF YOUR LOVELY STOCK PORTFOLIOS!'. That says it all. This legal fight has all kinds of unsuspected ramifications including the Civil Service Reform Act if I'm not mistaken.
The annual deficit will be $2.5 trillion over each of the next 2 years. We need a tax cut like we need a hole in the head. The fiscal irresponsibility is unfathomable. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/the-25-trillion-annual-deficit-plan?r=3m1bs
Tariffs are the global version of Trump’s business philosophy - do whatever you want and make others pay for it. Corollary one: be sure to stiff those you promised to reward. Corollary two: threaten and intimidate those who try to complain or expose you. And all the while the “Chief Negotiator” is lounging around the White House, playing golf, “truthing” in ALL CAPS, accepting lavish bribes, and occasionally stepping up to the mic to utter gibberish, with the subtitle, “Somebody stop me!”
What a mess!