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Ocelot II

(123,950 posts)
3. "The first thing we do is, let's kill all the lawyers."
Fri Mar 28, 2025, 10:16 AM
Friday

This quote from Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part II is often used to bust on lawyers - but it wasn't meant for that at all. The line is spoken by the villainous Dick the Butcher, a follower of the insurrectionist Jack Cade, whom Shakespeare describes as “the head of an army of rabble and a demagogue pandering to the ignorant.” Dick is saying that for their coup to succeed they must first eliminate the lawyers - the first line of defense against the demagogue.

Trump is trying to "kill" all the lawyers, and for exactly the same reason, and if he succeeds we are well and truly finished. If lawyers haven't the stones to keep litigating against his crimes against democracy because they're too afraid of losing clients, shame on those cowards. Trump is going after the big firms because they have the resources to take on these cases, and he's trying to put them out of business if they don't give up. There are 149 cases in the works right now, https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration/ - and so far Trump is losing. If he kills all the lawyers there will be no more cases. So, kudos to Jenner & Block and Marc Elias and all the others who are keeping the faith.

Recommendations

13 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

There ya go. I mean, if anyone has the tools to fight back, it's a high-powered law firm. tanyev Friday #1
Yes yes yes! newdeal2 Friday #2
"The first thing we do is, let's kill all the lawyers." Ocelot II Friday #3
I have an amendment to The Bard's line: lastlib Friday #14
Patriot lawyers who will be remembered as heroes. Kid Berwyn Friday #4
Anna Bower: UPDATE: A third law firm--WilmerHale--has filed suit over Trump's executive orders targeting law firms. Dennis Donovan Friday #5
+1 dalton99a Friday #8
tbh, i think this is our last best hope. bucolic_frolic Friday #6
For real. An illegal attack on a law firm should be answered instantly with "Let's dance." AmericaUnderSiege Friday #7
We need to start a go-fund-me for these law firms to fight back for our rights! BComplex Friday #9
They'll probably go after that newdeal2 Friday #10
That is how you do it. Falconry Friday #11
Maybe some them lawyers have some fight in 'em Prairie Gates Friday #12
Schumer's brother's lawfirm bent the knee Owens Friday #13
I totally agree GoreWon2000 Friday #18
Hadn't read that,you have a link? Bengus81 Friday #21
Comrade Krasnov isn't happy unless he's violating the Constitution or at least one law per day. MLWR Friday #15
Yaaaayyyy!!! Scrivener7 Friday #16
That's what the firm that caved should have done. He'll keep at it forever until the SCOTUS tells him not to. Vinca Friday #17
NPR: Two major law firms sue Trump administration over executive orders targeting them Dennis Donovan Friday #19
YES!! Counter sue that fat ass POS and see how fast it's dropped. Bengus81 Friday #20
Statement from Jenner & Block, one of the firms suing trump LetMyPeopleVote Friday #22
Statement from Jenner & Block, one of the firms suing trump LetMyPeopleVote Friday #23
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