What's scary, Mitch, is that we've got Farage using the same playbook over here in the UK - and apparently we have NO practical laws that prevent donations from overseas...
You guys need to celebrate 250 years of America with another quiet (or not so quiet) Revolution in November.
I think that Arizona Free Enterprise Club's Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett (2011) is most illuminating. This case was follow up of Citizens United. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a provision of Arizona's public campaign financing system in a 5-4 decision. Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion. I couldn't understand how Arizona's system impinged on the free speech rights of campaign donors since it merely ensured that an opposing, underfunded candidate's speech could be heard. The system didn't regulate speech or limit donations.
However, Roberts, with convulted reasoning, found that rich donors giving money to a candidate is speech because it facilitates the candidate's speech. If the state does anything to give a voice to an opposing candidate, then that diminishes the speech of the rich donors' candidate, and thus impinges on the First Amendment rights of the rich donors. Robert's justification: "Speech is most effective when it is unopposed."
Roberts and the other five are there in SCOTUS to ensure that the wealthy dominant U.S. politics.
One good news: we can see that the “lefter” side of the Dems is increasing fast ( I refuse to call them socialists because they are not - I call them “ social market supporters “). I feel how I swing further to the left too! I am so fed up with all this. A complete reset of America is necessary.
Across here in the UK and Europe, we're fine with the phrase Democratic Socialists - here in the UK I live in a country that is still (just) a social democracy, and hopefully one that will become more so under Andy Burnham.
He's still got a couple of years with an unassailable majority to make the real difference that Labour were elected to deliver in 2024.
For once again, explaining the corruption going on with this administration all the way to the top!! It's horrible and tragic the way they can get around every damn regulation, now contribution caps. Scary how nefarious they can be to hold onto power and greed. We HAVE to vote them out in the Nov 2026 elections. Then, just maybe we can start cleaning house 🏠. The problem is, how do we get rid of the corrupt SCOTUS with their lifetime appointments????
This is something I will need to sit with, letting my mind take it in and turn it this way and that.
One URGENT request: please can we cease referring to them as the Supreme Court?
Yesterday I read: "the Roberts Court" and from Rick Wilson, "the red Court."
Today? "Court" no longer fits.
A little digging and I think the "Roberts Star Chamber" fits-- a court that originally answered a justice need, which became a tool of political corruption and suppression of dissent.
Yes, according to AI 🙄, it is a deeply pejorative term. FYI: "The phrase 'star chamber' describes any secret, arbitrary, or oppressive legal or administrative proceeding that grossly violates due process. It connotes unfairness, predetermined outcomes, lack of transparency, and the abuse of power."
Perfect.
When the foo shits, wear it, Roberts.
But, I have already conceived a plan.
This necessitates an early start on a now completely comprehensive neighborhood (precinct) door-knocking campaign.
Nothing short of complete incapacity, for the entire period from September 22 to Election Day in November can be an excuse for not voting.
Greg Sargent of The New Republic: Trump & Co constantly & explicitly holds up naked corruption *as a badge of honor* that his supporters are supposed to thrill to...He thinks corruption is the highest form of winning.
What makes this even worse is the court’s ruling in slaughter. If any FEC member should happen to do something insane like have a conscience, Trump will just fire them and replace them with a loyalist. Obscene
What's scary, Mitch, is that we've got Farage using the same playbook over here in the UK - and apparently we have NO practical laws that prevent donations from overseas...
You guys need to celebrate 250 years of America with another quiet (or not so quiet) Revolution in November.
Vive La Résistance 🗽
Vive Socialism Democratique 🦸🏻
https://people.howstuffworks.com/democratic-socialist-countries.htm
I think that Arizona Free Enterprise Club's Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett (2011) is most illuminating. This case was follow up of Citizens United. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a provision of Arizona's public campaign financing system in a 5-4 decision. Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion. I couldn't understand how Arizona's system impinged on the free speech rights of campaign donors since it merely ensured that an opposing, underfunded candidate's speech could be heard. The system didn't regulate speech or limit donations.
However, Roberts, with convulted reasoning, found that rich donors giving money to a candidate is speech because it facilitates the candidate's speech. If the state does anything to give a voice to an opposing candidate, then that diminishes the speech of the rich donors' candidate, and thus impinges on the First Amendment rights of the rich donors. Robert's justification: "Speech is most effective when it is unopposed."
Roberts and the other five are there in SCOTUS to ensure that the wealthy dominant U.S. politics.
One good news: we can see that the “lefter” side of the Dems is increasing fast ( I refuse to call them socialists because they are not - I call them “ social market supporters “). I feel how I swing further to the left too! I am so fed up with all this. A complete reset of America is necessary.
Across here in the UK and Europe, we're fine with the phrase Democratic Socialists - here in the UK I live in a country that is still (just) a social democracy, and hopefully one that will become more so under Andy Burnham.
He's still got a couple of years with an unassailable majority to make the real difference that Labour were elected to deliver in 2024.
Thanks Mitch,
For once again, explaining the corruption going on with this administration all the way to the top!! It's horrible and tragic the way they can get around every damn regulation, now contribution caps. Scary how nefarious they can be to hold onto power and greed. We HAVE to vote them out in the Nov 2026 elections. Then, just maybe we can start cleaning house 🏠. The problem is, how do we get rid of the corrupt SCOTUS with their lifetime appointments????
Hoping you are well!!
Judy
😔💔🐾🌿🌎☀️
This is something I will need to sit with, letting my mind take it in and turn it this way and that.
One URGENT request: please can we cease referring to them as the Supreme Court?
Yesterday I read: "the Roberts Court" and from Rick Wilson, "the red Court."
Today? "Court" no longer fits.
A little digging and I think the "Roberts Star Chamber" fits-- a court that originally answered a justice need, which became a tool of political corruption and suppression of dissent.
Yes, according to AI 🙄, it is a deeply pejorative term. FYI: "The phrase 'star chamber' describes any secret, arbitrary, or oppressive legal or administrative proceeding that grossly violates due process. It connotes unfairness, predetermined outcomes, lack of transparency, and the abuse of power."
Perfect.
When the foo shits, wear it, Roberts.
But, I have already conceived a plan.
This necessitates an early start on a now completely comprehensive neighborhood (precinct) door-knocking campaign.
Nothing short of complete incapacity, for the entire period from September 22 to Election Day in November can be an excuse for not voting.
Poster child of the type of organization described: https://winred.com/
The Democrats must win to save our country and pass legislation against this stuff
Greg Sargent of The New Republic: Trump & Co constantly & explicitly holds up naked corruption *as a badge of honor* that his supporters are supposed to thrill to...He thinks corruption is the highest form of winning.
That 4 radical right, result oriented justices could ignore or deny the plain language of the 1st sentence of the 14th amendment is shameful, but Trump & Co are shameless in their corruption. Their corruption is a badge of honor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmzh4Pk6Ohwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X72pCmc_LW0
What makes this even worse is the court’s ruling in slaughter. If any FEC member should happen to do something insane like have a conscience, Trump will just fire them and replace them with a loyalist. Obscene