As I often say here, I’m not a political genius, but I think back to when the SCOTUS decided to aid Trump’s 2024 campaign by first making it impossible for him to face the charges coming from his attempted coup of January 6th, 2021 by stalling the ruling until the LAST moment and second by giving the president (and, I’m sure their hope was it would be Trump) “absolute immunity” from prosecution. I wasn’t the only person pointing out the court just gave up their authority in the face of a rogue president. And, in Trump’s case, with the republicans holding a ONE vote majority in the House there’s NO WAY he will get impeached (AGAIN) for his ILLEGAL conduct.

Trump and co-president Musk have been urging IMPEACHMENT of justices who are, in large numbers, putting the skids on the Trump/Musk assault on our republic. They’ve ALSO decided to disregard the rulings of judges while actually claiming they’re not required to honor the judges decisions. It’s gotten so bad that even Chief Justice John Roberts has felt the need to make a public statement, in essence, chastising (his boy) Trump for being “mean” to the judges – as if that just started. I wrote that I was actually wondering what the SCOTUS will do when some of these ILLEGAL moves Trump/Musk are making make it to the Court.

So far, the Court has ruled on one of (many of) Trump/Musk’s overreaches and ruled against him – regarding the District Court judge ordering them to disperse the USAID contracts which had already been completed. As far as I know, they (Trump/Musk) still are not in compliance. What is the Court going to do when Trump/Musk just end the facade and simply flip the middle finger at the Court.

This SCOTUS has it coming, as far as I can tell – except this is all so SERIOUS. It’s been interesting (or should I say FRUSTRATING) watching the SCOTUS dealing with Trump over the pervious couple of years. On some occasions they have proven then can actually act with punctuality and give cases quick hearings and ultimately judgments. If you remember during the 2024 campaign there were cases popping up all across America challenging Trump’s right to actually be on the ballot. I mean the 14th Amendment to the Constitution is quite clear – I’m talking about section 3:

“No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.”

Like I said, it’s very clear. Now, in the case of Trump – he had taken an oath of office when he became president back in 2017 – that is undeniable. (Of course, I guess it depends on who you are as to whether or not he took that oath seriously) He also had allegedly engaged in INSURRECTION – but, undeniably, had given aid or comfort to the enemies therein. Let me be clear – the 1500 (or so) people who attacked the Capitol with the intent of overthrowing a free and fair election qualified as the “enemies thereof.” Trump constantly referred to them as hostages “who were treated so unfairly.” Plus, he repeatedly promised to PARDON them if re-elected. While I claim he instigated their assault on our seat of government – which would make him guilty of the first part of the amendment – he SURELY was GUILTY of the second part.

As I had expected, at the time when Colorado’s Court ruling preventing Trump from being on their ballot was challenged in the Appeals Courts, the SCOTUS took the case “forthwith” and rendered a decision within a few weeks. In Court time, that was extremely FAST. It was no surprise to me when the Court was able to cobble together a ruling which VIOLATED the stated beliefs of several of the Justices (ie “originalists,” etc.) to ensure Trump wouldn’t have to face the consequences of his CRIMINAL conduct at that point in the campaign process. In essence, they didn’t want to have to face a flood of cases from other states nor to make a definitive ruling that, yes, if you have previously taken an oath of office and you become a (or support) INSURRECTIONIST, you can no longer hold ANY office in the United States.

Well, that – plus the FACT both Sam Alito and Clarence Thomas had pro INSURRECTIONISTS flags flying at their homes – place Justice Thomas’ wife COULD have been considered part of the CONSPIRACY to overthrow the election – signaled that the Court was pro Trump. So, when he was indicted for his CRIMINAL conduct regarding the January 6th assault on the Capitol he came up with the “absolute immunity” argument as his defense. Jack Smith, the prosecutor, (likely “smelling a fish”) attempted to bypass the Court of Appeals to get Trump’s appeal in front of the SCOTUS as quickly as possible – as an emergency. Kind of like the Colorado case which just took a few weeks from start to finish.

Naturally, the Court said no – you have to go through the Court of Appeals first. In this case it was the D.C. Court of Appeals and Trump’s (ABSURD) claim of “absolute immunity” was argued there. The three judge panel of the Court of Appeals, after about five or six weeks, gave what was considered a “bullet proof” ruling MOST legal scholars considered SHOULD be the final say. No, Trump (or any other president) is NOT a King and MUST follow the laws they’ve taken an oath to protect and defend. Many suggested the SCOTUS should NOT even take the case – it wasn’t necessary.

But, true to form, this Court had other intentions. They stalled a couple weeks before announcing they would take the case. THEN they waited until the very LAST day when they were hearing arguments to hear the arguments from both sides in this case. Trump’s lawyer was the guy who claimed Trump could “order Seal Team 6 to assassinate his opponent and not face prosecution unless impeached and convicted in the Senate” (This guy is now our Solicitor General – yikes!) The Court THEN waited until the very LAST day they were giving opinions to announce to the world that American presidents, from that day forward, were immune from prosecution for “official actions.”

I understood Alito and Thomas pulling this charade, but I was hopeful the Chief Justice would recognize how this looked and what the consequences of their dragging this out and then ruling in Trump’s favor appeared. It made it impossible for the trial of the so-called “January 6th” charges to take place prior to the election PLUS it has enabled Trump/Musk to (likely correctly) assume NOTHING they do can be considered “illegal.” In other words, Trump’s claim “I can do whatever I want” has become America’s nightmare!

So, now there are signs Justice Roberts is beginning to see what the Court has unleashed and he’s publicly admonishing Trump for “going after judges.” When I heard him say that I couldn’t help but wonder if he hadn’t been paying attention for the previous, I don’t know, at least 10 years? The way I see it, the “Genie is out of the bottle” and it may not be possible to get it back in – thanks to the SCOTUS. I doubt the Court’s Justices had read Project 2025 – in fact, I don’t personally know a SINGLE person who read it before the election and I’ve stopped asking. But, the reality is what we’re “getting” IS Project 2025 – full stop!

Here’s the reality I believe “we the people” are facing. When those in the executive branch of our government – along with a willing Congress – begin ignoring the rulings of Judges in the District Courts we’re in big trouble. I’ve always said, like it or not, the Justice Department is the backbone of America. (It, of course, includes the FBI) When it has successfully become corrupted (it has) and begins defending the actions of a lawless executive (it is) we can as much as kiss our republic goodby. We are now dangerously close to being “Russia lite.” (And, Trust me, Trump is no match for Putin)

We’ve all watched Trump’s endless attacks on the media he doesn’t like as the “enemy of the people” (right out of the Nazi handbook, by the way) and his attacks on the judges he doesn’t like. But, the reality is any possible push back the democrats had on the Trump/Musk agenda went out the window when Senate democrats caved on the republican “CR” (Continuing Resolution – look it up) as opposed to allowing republicans to “shut down” the government – which they’re doing anyway MAYBE to a lessor degree. The issue is, and I’ve been saying this for years, those of us who’ve been lamenting this republican party (me, since the days of Nixon) have watched democrats for years appear to fail to have any understanding of what they’ve been up against. This move to turning American into a fascist nation has been underway for MANY years. (Some of the “never Trump” republicans – like in the Lincoln Project – were instrumental in getting them to this point – and, don’t get me wrong, I donate monthly to the Lincoln Project)

It’s been a slow move, but here we are. It’s happening right before our eyes – and, I’m guessing people STILL aren’t reading the Project 2025. Trust me, you don’t have to read ALL 902 pages to get the idea of what is happening or to understand WHY it’s all happening and who is really behind it all. Russel Vought, one of the main authors of Project 2025 is now the head of “OMB.” (The Office of Management and Budget) All the money appropriated by Congress goes through OMB – and, I believe, Vought was at the forefront, for example, of blocking the funds appropriated to USAID. He doesn’t believe he HAS TO spend the money Congress appropriates, unless he agrees with it – “so there.” We’ll see if Trump/Musk even appeal some of these decisions they’re ignoring regarding the other agency funds being blocked – and, by the way, with Vought’s blessing – and, we’ll see where the SCOTUS stands if any of them make it their way. And, if Trump/Musk ignore a SCOTUS directive, then they’ll be giving the middle finger directly to our constitution!

Final Thought: Surprise, surprise – Bernie Sanders is again showing up as the one true democrat in the Senate (OK, there might be a few of them) and he started holding Town Halls in “red” districts where the republican member of Congress was refusing to do so – with massive audiences. Sanders is the democrat the Project 2025 fear the most. When I saw his first couple of Town Halls I wrote here about what a brilliant strategy I thought it was. Give the people in these republican districts a chance to voice their anger and frustration at what is “happening” all across our country – with much more serious possibilities via Musk and “doge” (I call them the Dogeshits) that people are becoming aware of. (Like the cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, for example)

As the non-creative retired teacher I am, I looked at what Sanders was doing and thought to myself, “What a genius?” So,, I suggested, other democrats SHOULD be doing the same thing. They should spread out all across the so-called “red states” holding town halls where republicans are refusing – although some are holding “tele town halls” with filtered audiences. Kind of like when Trump did his “working at McDonald’s stunt” with the people vetted before they were able to go through the “drive through.” Back to Sanders – I’m happy to report that democrats are doing exactly that – going to republican districts and holding the Town Halls where the republicans won’t. My hope is they’ll give the same PROGRESSIVE message Senator Sanders has been pushing for as long as I’ve been one of his supporters.

I liked what Joe Biden was attempting to do, but he was limited by what amounted to a 50/50 Senate which, when you consider what Kyrsten Sinema decided to do (Cozy up to Wall Street Billionaires and republicans) and that often times the success of Biden’s agenda depended on Joe Manchin – what Biden got accomplished was historic – although far from where Senator Sanders’ ideal. (Sanders supported Biden almost in every instance) Biden had to issues – first he got old (I know how that feels) and, secondly, he’s good at governing but BAD at messaging. When I listen to people trying to figure out how we got here – the democrats bailed on Biden – lost track that the issue in the 2024 election was defeating Trump and his fascist brethren ONCE and for all! And, of course democrats ended up nominating a “woman of color” as their candidate.

I have to say, I was enthused by Kamala Harris’ campaign – and, I wanted her to win BADLY. But, the reality is, there were even WOMEN who voted for Trump because they didn’t want a WOMAN as our president – despite the FACT VP Harris was eminently MORE qualified than Trump. (Maybe that’s why he hates “DEI” so much) The other reality was (f)Elon Musk was willing to donate nearly $300 MILLION in order to get Trump elected (paid for some hideous and disingenuous anti-Trans ads with some of his money) and allow the spread of right wing conspiracy garbage on his Xwitter platform. To me, the reason democrats lost is more “simple” than pundits (one of my favorites is John Stewart) seem to understand.

As the saying goes “It was the economy stupid” – was incorrect but, to me, it was “we the people” BELIEVING stupid arguments about the economy ALONG with the reality democrats operate (and have operated) via FEAR all the way back to Nixon. As much as I wanted Ms. Harris to win the election, as soon as I saw the democrats panic because, apparently, the bad debate performance made them aware Biden was really old. However, had their focus been on BEATING Trump on November 5th, 2024 I still believe Biden would have won – and, when he finally realized how old he is, he could have resigned making Ms. Harris the 47th president. OK, that didn’t happen, so now I’m pleased democrats are following Senator Sanders lead. Maybe that will drill some sense and courage into them – because, in reality, they’re all we got!