Trump Thinks the Constitution 'Makes Us Look Weak'

[babylonsister]

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/trump-thinks-the-constitution-makes-us-look-weak-w472544

Trump Thinks the Constitution 'Makes Us Look Weak'

Trump reacted to rulings against his revised travel ban by making the kind of argument strongman leaders often make
By Bridgette Dunlap
1 day ago


On Wednesday, a federal court in Hawaii granted a temporary restraining order preventing President Trump's executive order restricting travel from six Muslim-majority countries from going to into effect. Though the ruling was completely predictable (a Maryland court issued a similar order a few hours later), Trump responded as he often does after losing in court: by attacking the legitimacy of America's judiciary.

Trump's revised executive order is a half-hearted attempt to do the impossible. The administration tried to rewrite his original travel ban – which threw the nation's airports into chaos, resulted in the detention or removal of hundreds of travelers, inspired mass protests and was ultimately enjoined by multiple courts – to make it pass constitutional muster. But none of the changes the Trump team made can remedy its fundamental constitutional infirmity: It is meant to discriminate against Muslims.

Trump has almost certainly been advised that Muslim Ban 2.0 – which he himself called a "watered-down version" of the original – was unlikely to fare any better in court. But at a rally in Tennessee on Wednesday, Trump claimed the ruling was "done by a judge for political reasons," and read a portion of the statute he claims gives him the authority to do whatever he wants. It says that the president may "impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate" if he finds it is in the national interest.

Trump interprets this to mean that if he "thinks there is a danger out there," he can say, "I'm sorry, folks. Not now. We have our own problems."

There are two big problems with Trump's theory. First of all, a later statute says he may not discriminate on the basis of national origin in granting visas. But more importantly, the Constitution supercedes a statute. Congress has given the executive extremely broad powers in the immigration context, but it couldn't give him the power to decide one religion is dangerous and discriminate against its members in violation of the Constitution, even if it wanted to.

snip//

Trump's pronouncements on the judiciary are increasingly ominous. He told the Tennessee crowd, "People are screaming to break up the Ninth Circuit," referring to the judicial circuit in which multiple district courts have ruled against the ban, and a panel of the court of appeals upheld the injunction against the first version of the order. It's unclear exactly what he meant by that, but it implies doing something to the courts that goes beyond just insulting them.

He also made the troubling pronouncement that the latest ruling against the travel ban "makes us look weak." The ruling only makes us look weak if your idea of a strong nation is one ruled by a strongman. Those Trump has expressed admiration for – including Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Rodrigo Duterte – can rule unburdened by meaningful restraints on their power from courts enforcing the law. And it's increasingly clear that this is the kind of power Trump wants. Time will tell how far he'll go to get it.

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Trump not only hasnt read the constitution, he couldnt, he would not understand most of the

words.

[gopiscrap]

2. what a fucking idiot

[Caliman73]

3. Actually, he makes us look weak.

His actions and words make us look like a scared bully, one that knows they aren't as strong as they say they are. I am not saying the US is not strong. We have the best military. Trump just makes us look weak when he tries to talk tough. It sounds like he is scared.

Strength is being compassionate and taking in refugees despite any risk of terrorists "hiding among them". When we do that we say, "Yes, we know the risks and we can handle them, but this is the morally right thing to do". Provoking other world leaders and other countries, that is weak shit.

[babylonsister]

5. I think a lot of the world, if they

are paying attention, has got to know the majority of us are not happy. The 'muslim bans' for starters; shot down, as they should be.

[pangaia]

4. It is this continuing and increasing threat to the courts that has had me worried for weeks..

The courts seem to be the final defense against finalizing a total dictatorship.

[Doreen]

6. ASSWIPE!!!

[Kimchijeon]

7. "I don't like or understand rules, I just wanna be a dictator"

That's really all it is. Fat Orange Baby is pouting.

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

8. Lincoln's EO precedent

In 1863, Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=69898

I'm seriously wondering if something like that could happen today in event of a terrorist attack (false flag or not) or some other disruption, like a general strike.

[dalton99a]

9. What is this "us" shit?

Dumbest POS ever elected to federal office.

[sarcasmo]

10. Dictator speak.

[Solly Mack]

11. K&R

[Cha]

12. You look weak, trump.. The Constitution is enduring and Strong..

Strong enough to withstand your stupid bullshit.

Aha! ETA..

Link to tweet

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028807813

[smirkymonkey]

13. He is so hell-bent on proving to Putin that he is some he-man tough guy

he is willing to sacrifice that safety and well-being of an entire nation to do so. This moronic whack-job needs to be removed from office before he lights the world on fire.

[Gothmog]

14. The US Constitution and the First Amendment won in the Muslim ban rulings

I support the US Constitution