General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMidterms may be too late
shoutout to turbinetree for https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216979536
No other problem is as pressing as the right-wing supermajority on the highest court. This court has no hesitation in issuing slapdash rulings which are cementing the power of the far right. Roe. EPA. Death Row. It is in the process NOW of deconstructing the US government's ability to protect the rights and safety of the people. It's worst is yet to come.
In October, before the midterms, this Dominionist Court could give unprecedented power to state legislatures: "the ability to regulate federal elections without oversight from state courts" https://www.rawstory.com/experts-warn-of-election-havoc-across-the-us-if-north-carolina-case-succeeds/ per turbinetree).
During the Obama years, the Republican party was busy at state and local levels; they gained about 1000 seats. And now that that party has no platform except obeying the will of Herr Drumpf, we can easily guess the result if the Court gives them power over elections. The popular vote will be defeated. As the current right-wing slogan goes, we're a "constitutional republic" (code for oligarchy), not a democracy.
The right wing has shown great disdain for their own voters for years, exposing them to covid death and driving them into poverty, let alone their disdain for the general population about human rights and climate catastrophes. This is because they are confident that the vote won't matter. Between gerrymandering, vote suppression, outright fraud and subversion, and their trump card in this Court ruling, the right wing will seize and cement generational power.
We absolutely MUST curtail the Right Caucus on the Court, and fast. Impeach the liars for perjury, investigate the Thomases, and mainly expand the Court to 13 seats to match 13 Circuit Courts. We have to have serious, realistic pressure on this Court BEFORE October, even if we have to call Congress back into session. Time off for campaigning won't matter if the election is cooked. Campaign by working for the people. We are at a tipping point, and it's racing at us.
(moved from other forum)

CaliforniaPeggy
(153,258 posts)Demsrule86
(71,089 posts)midterms and if you want it done period...GOTV like your life depended on it...probably does. If you have some grand scheme that does not include Manchin and Sinema helping (they won't) to overturn the filibuster...let me know.
orthoclad
(4,728 posts)pressure on the caucus can be started. Roosevelt did something similar, and got that court to back off.
Investigating the Thomas (singular intended) looks like it's on track.
Demsrule86
(71,089 posts)a midterm. And your post implies the caucus is somehow to blame...if we pressure them enough, why they could whip up some votes and do it...that is not the case. And you do a disservice to imply that it is.
orthoclad
(4,728 posts)The caucus I refer to is the group of right-wingers on the court, especially the Trump picks.
Demsrule86
(71,089 posts)we don't have 66 votes and won't have 66 votes. We can add Justices. This requires a 51-votes to win...not 66 votes in the Senate if we win enough seats. Thanks for the information.
orthoclad
(4,728 posts)Demsrule86
(71,089 posts)That is for a 30 or 40 years old crime. But even if there was, you could not force him to resign.
brooklynite
(96,882 posts)...because nobody in Democratic Party Leadership (including President Biden, Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer) plan to do either of the things you say are necessary. Add to which, Impeaching SC Justices would accomplish nothing, because you need 2/3 of the Senate to remove them.
Demsrule86
(71,089 posts)maxsolomon
(36,088 posts)non-zero?
welcome to DU.
orthoclad
(4,728 posts)say on Beerenaugh, would be a start, and would be a shot across the bows.
It's like applying for a job: don't disqualify yourself before starting the paperwork.
The J6 committee is already looking at Ginni. Coincidentally, Clarence dropped his Fall legal seminar.
Demsrule86
(71,089 posts)conviction. And January 6 can do nothing about the court as the only avenue is to impeach them. We could after the midterms maybe add justices if we have the votes. I believe that is a simple majority. Democrats would love to fix the courts but our hands were tied back in 16 when some had a giant pout and refused to vote for the Democratic nominee..now it is going to be really tough to fix...it could have been prevented and should have been prevented.
turbinetree
(25,924 posts)
TheRealNorth
(9,629 posts)Legislatures in WI, MI, PA, and other states will be emboldened to try if they know a Republican governor commands the National Guard.
orthoclad
(4,728 posts)A lot of honest election workers have been harassed and intimidated, and replaced by appatchiks. The right wing has taken to heart the dictum that all politics are local.
PJMcK
(23,378 posts)So what do you suggest?
This is the hand weve been dealt. We have to fight like hell with the cards that we have in front of us.
Welcome to DU and have a nice weekend.
orthoclad
(4,728 posts)It's up to the people in power who we have elected to do this work.
PJMcK
(23,378 posts)Ill ask again: what do you propose?
Your response suggests we cant do anything. Do you really believe that?
orthoclad
(4,728 posts)in the OP. And I said "may".
There are people with experience and knowledge in positions of power who would know better than I do. But the Trump Court is already a disaster, in a position to do much more damage. We should not ignore them; this is a house on fire. Resistance is not futile .
Demsrule86
(71,089 posts)is nothing we can do at the moment...impeachment would be stupid because it would rile up the GOP base before the midterm and would not result in any convictions. What you want is not possible.
orthoclad
(4,728 posts)and do nothing. Sen. Whitehouse is on the track.
Kaleva
(39,063 posts)"Article I, Section 4, Clause 1:
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."
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S4-C1-1-1-1-1/ALDE_00001036/