They are not going to follow the rulings of the court. They learned from last time

[boston bean]

Last time the courts helped stave off some damage.

This time Trump is throwing everything at the wall. Lawsuits are lodged and rulings are already being ignored. Secondly, They are baiting lawsuits to get to SCOTUS in hopes of a favorable ruling. Which is likely.

This is a plan to further erode our democracy. It allows the Republican congressman to not have to vote on any of this. So, they go along with what they could not do in normal practice which is to do this legislatively. They are, on purpose, not wielding the power they have to reach their goals, instead they stand back and say the president is right. They are using him as much as he is using them. All of it is unconstitutional and illegal. But they do not give a shit. They are reshaping our country into their christofascist dreamland.

Our organized resistance at the party level is basically zero.

This is where I believe the democrats are failing. They are still, in many ways, playing by the gentlemanly rules while democracy is being stabbed to death in broad daylight.

Yes, there is little they can do beyond filing law suits. They have no legislative power. Republicans are in power.

However, we have leaders who, I will say, are lacking in their motivation to fight to save us. By fighting I mean do what republicans would do. Let me give an example.

Yes, they went over to treasury and asked, pretty politely to be let in. What would have republicans done. Look back to 2000 where they screamed let us in at the ballot counting. Creating a media frenzy. We don’t do that. We must start. That was organized by political operatives. We don’t seem to have any of those. See Brooks Brothers Riot.

Second we give a lot of money to our politicians. We need a nation rapid response team to help with messaging on social media. We are just a bunch of rag tag organizations of differing purpose and right now we need a completely unified measure.

In summary, the above recommendations are for our leaders. However, It is going to come down to us.

We will need nation protest in many forms. I really like days and weeks of targeted non spending. I like short term strikes.

In the streets protests will be necessary.

Those are my two cents any how. I have been a Democrat my entire life. I still have the same principles. I want my party and us to fight to save our country. We need us and our leaders to do it, it has to be both. The courts will be a losing strategy. Trump will just not abide by the rulings and there will be many pardons.

[sop]

1. Of course Trump will ignore court rulings.

During his hush money trial Trump ignored Merchans' orders ten times, despite being threatened with contempt and jail time.

[33taw]

2. Jail the secretary of the Treasury and Musk on contempt charges.

[boston bean]

3. They will be immediately pardoned.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. There won't be more free and fair elections.

They know the outcome would be devastating to them.

Economic collapse is possible. Along the lines of 1837, 1929, 2008. Contraction, but with currency collapse, crypto uncertainty, dissolving sovereignty. We are not likely to fare well.

[sop]

8. Not so sure the last one wasn't rigged by Elon's computers.

[valleyrogue]

5. Do you think the USSC is going to bail him out?

A lot of people don't understand how few cases the USSC takes. There will be literally hundreds of court cases where Trump and company will be held in contempt if they DON'T comply.

The administration really hasn't done its damage because of the numerous court cases ruling against it already.

Judges have a hell of a lot of power. Being in contempt of court is one of them.

You NEVER want to piss them off. Trump knows it good and well.

[boston bean]

6. Umm, he will just pardon. And keep on Keeping on.

He is going to ignore any ruling he does not like. They are already telling you this. Believe them.

[Alice B.]

7. I need to look for it; it may've been in Jay Kuo's latest Substack, but courts have lesser known ways of enforcing...

... and compelling compliance... such as hiring private companies. Also, it may've also passed by with little fanfare yesterday but I think they complied with putting the websites (CDC etc) back online and restoring their content to a specific date.

Ah, yes! From yesterday's "Status Kuo:"

"And as Elias noted, courts can even hire private companies if necessary to help enforce contempt orders and proceedings. Rare, but possible in this environment.
...
And you probably really don’t want to piss off many federal judges by openly defying all their orders. It is growing increasingly harder for the Trump White House to make the case that a “rogue judge” is standing in the way of its mandate when order after order comes out against it. The higher this stack of orders, the higher the obstacle to overcome. That’s why each and every court win matters.

Perhaps that’s also why, despite rumblings about open judicial defiance, the Trump Justice Department has apparently elected to go the “official route” of appealing orders it doesn’t like, rather than simply thumbing its nose at them. Recently, it sought to appeal McConnell’s emergency ruling to the First Circuit, which on Tuesday shot down its request for a stay pending appeal."

[boston bean]

9. JD Vance and Elon and Trump are already telling us the courts cannot order a president to do anything.

A president is king in their eyes. So, they are laying the groundwork and they will ignore rulings to push their agenda. It takes years for these things to get through the system. All the while the destruction continues while they do whatever the hell they like. So, we need other plans than the courts, ok?

[Alice B.]

10. Respectfully, we need other plans AND the courts.

It's just as dangerous for us to cede that ground as it is for them to ignore it.

We need to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time

[boston bean]

11. I think that is my point. We cannot depend on them as the answer.

[Alice B.]

12. Apologies, you're right and I didn't mean to ignore your larger point.

I had just noticed how quickly our news cycle shot past talking about the website-related lawsuits, which to me were a test and some pundits were characterizing as a test -- and I guess I used your post to react to that. I've seen some confirmation on Bluesky that data's been replaced on the CDC site per court order. But broadly, we seemed to stop talking about it and I've been trying to find a more detailed follow-up on that story. All of which may be par for the atmosphere of 24/7 non-stop crises.

And while I know you're pointing out that we shouldn't be lulled into a false sense of security via the courts, I think it's important to acknowledge compliance and examine what it may or may not mean (when it does happen). It's like the proverbial 'touching grass' for me, and I worry about inadvertently sending a signal that the courts don't work at all and that we have given up on them in total. I guess that's my sensitivity which led me to gloss over your strong point that we need to do the work, and shoulder a big part of the load, too.

[Cheezoholic]

14. The court gave ITSELF the crown, not the President

The ruling specifically states they will make any calls on whether an appealed argument against the Executive is within "Presidential Powers" as THEY determine it. While many believe that's a moot point with this court, it's there. That's why after their ruling many of us began starting calling THEM the Court of Kings. I get your point but its important to point out that a President doesn't actually have a free hand to do whatever they want. There is still a potential stop gap, not matter how compromised, at the SCOTUS.

Thats where a true Constitutional crisis will ensue. If any of these rulings make it to the SCOTUS and I believe some will, and quickly, and this AssHat defies a SCOTUS ruling, that's when the final crumbled brick of our countries foundation falls.

[GiqueCee]

19. The "Unitary Executive"...

... that Cheney and Rumsfeld tried to bulldoze through for Bush the Lesser. These assholes are no different than Nazis; the just have better tailors.

[bluestarone]

15. Yep, all because fucking RELIGION!

[GiqueCee]

21. Nailed it...

... I'm not prejudiced; I despise all religions equally. And I crawled out of a particularly deep and fetid cesspool of religious dogma to get here.
I respect everyone's right to have a religion, but I have zero respect for their supposed "right" to impose it on others. And may their Imaginary Sky Daddy have mercy on their wicked souls if they try to impose it on me.
There's a bunch that call themselves "Dominionists". They openly state that their goal is total dominion over the lives of others. Oh, they couch it in benign language, but that's exactly what it boils down to. They slithered out of the same cesspool as the Christian Nationalists, with much the same intentions: The establishment of a malevolent theocracy, with truth and justice for no one... but them. They'll make the Taliban look like Girl Scouts, if given the chance, and they see their chance coming right. NOW.

[shanti]

28. "Under his eye"

Oh yes.

[DENVERPOPS]

20. I am beginning to think

That contempt, ethics violations, ignoring the court orders, fall under the classification of deserving only a "Sternly Worded Letter" and that is all...not even a wrist slap................

I also think that Trump was only stating reality when he told his Trumphumpers at rallies: Vote for me this time, and you will never need to vote again.

During the WBush years one of his aides said: "We will act, and you only will be able to stand and observe"

A major part of their inevitable plan is to do away with the Judicial Branch and Legislative Branch entirely, and consolidate everything under the Executive Branch......There will be NO courts, (including the US Supreme Court).......There will be NO House or Senate.
Also, their will be no need for Tax Accountants, or even Lawyers for that matter. There will be no Government Agencies......

We have almost returned to the "Gilded Age" complete with modern day "Robber Barrons" and are quickly approaching a Depression that will make the first depression look like a hiccup..........

The top 1% in the upper-upper class, is hell bent on crushing all below them into the lower-lower class. Serfs and Peasants.

Some of us here on DU have been screaming our heads off, from the rooftops, ever since HW committed TREASON to install puppet Reagan in the White House..............we have met nothing but ridicule and resistance from our own party for the last 45+ years......

As far as the courts being our last chance for salvation, ............ they have passed the point of no return. ..........

The Republican party has become a fascist autocracy. Composed of the Uber Rich Oligarchs and Corporations....
I fear an upcoming nightmare in the VERY near future, where we will witness the worst tragedy this country has ever seen since the founding of our democracy.........

[JustAnotherGen]

30. I took the maggot seriously

I also think that Trump was only stating reality when he told his Trumphumpers at rallies: Vote for me this time, and you will never need to vote again.

And I'm pro NJ going our own way.

[Bluetus]

13. Every word of this post is true

I don't want to hear a single Democrat anywhere put any of these phrases across their lips:

"Reach across the aisle"
"Bipartisan legislation"
"Find common ground"

You don't find common ground with a serial killer.

We may lose our democracy. At this point that looks very bleak. If we are going to lose, the very least we can do is not be silent bystanders, or worse, enablers. We should be using every minute ringing alarm bells and showing the public what is going on. I don't have much confidence that the public will rise up to stop this. The history of fascism shows many cases where the tyrants were able to destroy democratic systems and remain in power for many years, sometimes decades. And in 100% of the cases, they used the exact playbook we are not witnessing first hand:
* Attack the media
* Imprison political opponents
* Destroy the judiciary
* Neuter the legislature
* Put oligarchs in charge of everything

Given the flaccid acquaintance from the Democratic Party and the major media, this is probably where we are headed.

But we must demand that it at least be treated as the real crisis that it is, and not some "Oh, that's just Trump being Trump. Be patient." thing.

[Cheezoholic]

16. I'm ready for full on rebellion in defense of the Constitution but I get lambasted on here when I say it lol n/t

[Bluetus]

24. It is not just here

Last edited Thu Feb 13, 2025, 06:58 PM - Edit history (1)

For 50 years, Democrats have taken the attitude of, "Oh those Conservatives are just talking trash. They won't really do ABC."

Whereupon they do exactly ABC, and the Democrats generally respond with, "Yeah, I guess we misjudged them. But you can be sure they wouldn't be so brazen as to do DEF." And of course, they go right ahead to do DEF.

Folks, we are now at XYZ, and sure enough, > 95% of the Beltway Democrats and major media were still staying, "They won't really do XYZ." But that is exactly what they are doing. Hell, this time they disrespected us so much that they published a 1000-page book detailing every single thing they were going to do to us. And now their program is halfway done in 3 weeks. They must be having quite a laugh. This is a big time flex at us. And you know, I have some admiration for them NOT taking us seriously. It is our fault, not theirs.

So I share your frustration. How many people have been banned from progressive sites over the years for begging the rest of the folks here to please take it seriously?

[TheRickles]

17. I especially liked the mention of the Brooks Brothers Riot.

The Dems should have forced a police encounter when they tried to enter the Treasury. It would've been headlines everywhere if they were cuffed and led off for trying to enter a Federal building. Or if the police had escorted them into the building. Win/win.

[barbtries]

18. the Courts will have to put them in contempt and jail them.

According to Marc Elias's newsletter this morning, if it turns out the Marshalls will not respond, the Court can then get their own enforcers to do the jailing.

my hope is that the Marshalls will do their job and fulfill the oath they took and not their criminal bosses. Same with the military. but, it's a fading hope.

[boston bean]

22. And Trump pardons? What then? Did he have an answer for that?

[barbtries]

23. i don't think

that the lawyers will be walking into court with a pardon serving as a get out of jail free card.

the answer is no, he did not address that question.

[Bluetus]

25. The courts have no enforcement arm

Is there ever a point that you will consider this a real problem?

[JCMach1]

26. Only direct action will have an effect at this point

Everything else is smoke screen and stalling tactics which are ineffective because the other side is NOT playing by any rule of order or law.

[DSandra]

27. Sorry, if they don't act to organize FAST and with good leaders, it's almost certain that the party will be slaughtered

And the best that they can hope for is to be a figurehead, but it's entirely likely that many Democratic Party officials will be rounded up and sent to gitmo, and that will essentially freeze the party, if Trump and Elon don't want to destroy the party completely. Trump will make up some BS about Dems doing massive fraud and use that as the excuse.

[JustAnotherGen]

29. Mump

Is trying to exhaust us.

[boston bean]

31. Yes!!! MUMP!