I believe the SCOTUS is going to permanently disqualify tRump from holding office.

[Sibelius Fan]

For a number of reasons (and against my every instinct):

1. The amicus briefs filed were very strong supporting disqualification, especially considering who filed them

2. The SCOTUS is realizing that the consequences of the Dobbs decision are not going the way they expected

3. Roberts is already upset that the SCOTUS is viewed as highly partisan, and he knows a pro-tRump decision will only serve to solidify that negative impression. The Thomas scandals don’t help. Neither do Alito’s partisan lies.

4. tRump has already said that he will ignore the courts if he is elected - SCOTUS needs to stop him for self preservation, if nothing else

5. The courts have been reining in tRump even as the politicians fail to do so. SCOTUS may view disqualifying tRump as a way to save what’s left of the R Party. They may be getting an earful from the old guard big money donors who want tRump gone.

6. They see the signs - tRump is going down in at least one criminal case. He has already been adjudicated to be a rapist. Time to cut bait and cut conservative losses.

[rurallib]

1. Sure hope you are correct

[vanlassie]

2. Will he leave the country then?

What a service they could perform.

[Glamrock]

14. Fuck yes he'll leave the country!

He’ll appeal the conviction and fly to Moscow. Or Saudi. My bet is on Moscow.

[Glamrock]

16. Hell yes he'll leave the country!

He’ll appeal the conviction and fly to Moscow. Or Saudi. My bet is on Moscow.

[Blue Owl]

35. Right this way sir

(Fuck — I’ll even say “sir” if it means he leaves the country)

[Joinfortmill]

3. You're right about self preservation.

They'll do it to save themselves. Other than that, this court is an abomination of corruption.

[kimbutgar]

4. And if we get TFA as a dictator the SCOTUS becomes moot!

And they will have no power anymore. They still are a co equal part of the three branches of government for now.

[LiberalFighter]

10. SCOTUS need to understand what happens to them if he does become dictator.

[Dan]

5. Add in his comment

That he will be a Dictator only on day 1. It only takes one day to set into motion the destruction of the American Experiment in Democracy/Republic.

[0rganism]

20. Has anyone asked him about days 2 and 3?

Seems like a very logical inductive step to be dictator on day 1 and day n+1, thus becoming dictator/god-emperor forever. .

[louis-t]

27. He'll play golf on days 2 and 3.

Gotta keep those taxpayer dollars coming in.

[0rganism]

30. LOL we should be so lucky

"18 holes-in-one? How do you do it sir? I've never seen such fantastic golfing ever before!"

[Frasier Balzov]

6. Yes, if they completely miss their off-ramp.

The right to ballot access is the mirror image of the right to vote.

What does it take to lose the right to vote?

The majority is surely capable of crafting a decision which ensures ballot access to Trump while making themselves appear to be champions of the right to vote.

[orangecrush]

26. There is no right

To engage in insurrection and be on the ballot .

[Tribetime]

7. The thing is this court doesn't care about anything

But helping Republicans

[CTyankee]

13. Except for how history will judge them. Do they really want Trump to be in their legacy?

What the Court does is forever history. And I think that is in their minds; it kinda has to be. Plus, as we all know too well, they have wives/husbands/kids/grandkids -- all hostages to the future.

[Attilatheblond]

36. Thing is, there will be no truthful history if Trump manages to steal this election

And a LOT of people are probably setting up the steal as we speak.

Roberts violated Irish law years ago when he used a straw party to adopt his Irish children. I REALLY don't think he is worried about history, as he has managed to bury the unsavory parts of his own for years now.

[MadameButterfly]

22. yeah but what helps Republicans

at this point? Maybe getting them out of servitude to Trump.

[Fiendish Thingy]

8. I'm not as convinced as you are

I think they could reject it, even unanimously, on narrow technical grounds- that is, not denying Trump engaged in an insurrection or gave aid and comfort to insurrectionists, but claiming there has been some error or omission in process.

Let’s hope the plaintiffs provide strong and convincing arguments to counter any process or technicality questions from the justices.

They will have 40 minutes.

[LeftInTX]

17. I'm sure they will. Colorado ballots are being mailed out on Monday. They won't make a decision before then.

Trump will likely win the Colorado primary before they make a decision.

Then what?
Can they remove a primary winner?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

9. If the SCOTUS applies the law and look at real history, I agree with you

TFG engaged in an insurrection and the other arguments in TFG's filings are very weak.

Time will tell

[S/V Loner]

11. I agree...

It's the only way out for the GOP to be rid of trump and still keep most of his supporters. I think the word is out to Roberts, Thomas (although Ginnie probably has more pull), Alito, Barrett, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh to get rid of him. Their seats are safe.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Consider that if they go the wrong way there could be an insurrection by the other side.

[FloridaBlues]

15. Personally I doubt Court will remove him. They will find a legal way not to remove.

[DUgosh]

32. I agree

They will not remove

[bif]

18. They're too chicken to do it.

[MadameButterfly]

19. All very strong points except #3 where they are screwed either way.

The problem is relying on logic, when half the court is crazy. Self interest is what matters to the crazies--the question is will they sacrifice their judicial power to Trump to escape death threats from his base?

Yes, Thomase's and Alito's benefactors might just realize that a trashed economy costs them more than they gain in tax cuts. Ironic if their financial interests are what saves us. Maybe they've noticed oligarchs in Russia falling out of windows?

If SCOTUS rules now they can get Nikki Hayley instead of Joe Biden. And, Trump is not just losing court cases, he's losing his mind. Maybe they don't want to serve under Caligula.

Of course if Republicans, rich or poor, were smart, we wouldn't be in this position.

[Blue Idaho]

21. The SC will at least remove any doubt

That TFG has permanent lifetime immunity. If they don’t, he could order a MAGA hit squad to murder every Supreme Court member and then walk away.

[Vinca]

23. I don't know if they can stop him from being on a ballot, though. They were all states' rights when

it came to Roe, so they can't very well take those rights away when it comes to managing their own elections. What am I saying? It all depends on what Ginni wants anyway.

[orangecrush]

24. I'm not betting on it

And if they rule that Trump is our king, America should take to the streets.

[exboyfil]

25. Added bonus

Trump releases the Kompromat he has on SCOTUS as retaliation.

I don't seeing either happening though.

The Republicans were fools for not voting for impeachment in 2021. I tried to tell that to my newly minted Representative, and she had some fluff about him going away anyway as Biden takes office. This has played out just how I expected it would to this point.

If Trump is on the ballot, it is a coin flip as to whether he gets back into office (even with 10 million less votes).

[Silent Type]

28. Suppposedly, Clarence Thomas's buddy, Harlan Crow, is opposed to trump, as are Kochs. But, I think SC will

decide not to remove trump from ballot based upon 14th Amendment. But, nowadays, who knows?

[iemanja]

29. I don't think so

[senseandsensibility]

31. Your prediction may be a longshot, but

can you imagine the bragging rights you'll have if you turn out to be correct? I, for one, won't blame you!

[budkin]

33. There's no way 5 of them will vote against him on this

It's just not gonna happen.

[Goodheart]

34. Never underestimate the scumminess of republican justices.

I'm not as confident as you are.

[D23MIURG23]

38. Number 4 is the one that gives me hope.

Trump's lawyers just lost an appeal on whether the President is completely above the law. They are all smart enough to know the score. If he's reelected he'll bring a bunch of authoritarian toadies with him and they'll actively try to destroy the authority of every other branch of government, and politicize what they can't destroy.

There isn't an incentive more powerful than the security and relevance of one's position.

SCOTUS isn't going to hear a case that is ambiguous on it's merits, so they aren't going to run afoul of history. The only issue is going to be whether the conservatives are willing to piss some of the people in their social circles off to do the right thing. I could see all of them except for Thomas and Alito doing that.