95 Comments

A very simple (first grader) thought experiment:

Would SCOTUS have made this ruling if Biden had committed those acts?

The obvious answer - NO - tells you everything you need to know about the abandonment of the scales of justice.

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And yet, the ruling applies to Biden, too. The bigger issue is that the judicial system is over populated with trump sycophants. So, every vote on every ballot at every level matters now more than ever. Get out the vote and vote at every local election, especially primaries.

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deletedJul 1
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Well, he does have between November and January to order out Seal Team Six if needed.

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yes they are counting on Dems wanting to do things right, but they need to stand up and stand up fast!

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They totally are

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Amen to that!! I was thinking that exact same thing!

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Welcome to America under Project 2025 control. My heart may be broken but my spirit and determination to save democracy remains strong! Cry today...resist tomorrow! 💪

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This is exactly what my heart needed tp hear. We can and must save our country. Vote!

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…seriously ?! …everyone have a pathetic excuse for Biden after “debate”, it’s not his fault country and democrats put him through all that …and WHAT EXACTLY they were doing ALL FOUR FUCKING YEARS ?!?! …NEVER EVEN THOUGHT to produce a new young progressive candidate …America smashed its face in a mud and everyone just trying to clean it up instead to help it to GET UP, this is THE LOWEST point of it’s existence, we can’t “just live” in democracy from elections to elections we need to sustain its progress

https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5vg5x/we-cant-save-democracy-just-by-voting

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I can say I am frustrated at the Democrats currebt situation. But because of Diperstain's calls to stop many of our democratic norms verses Biden's last 4 years I would vote foe Biden if he was in a coma. Biden=Democracy

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…two party system is one step to autocracy and no choice at all

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I can see your point bit yhe populous for whatever reason doesn't vote that way. Since I've been voting I've only voted once for an Independent in 2016. They canidates that have ran just get squeezed our but again this election os between a true autocracy and a Democracy. Period

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…no it’s not multi-party coalition, it’s pathetic, everyone who commented on this saying the same thing, party should grow from the grassroots and form credible followers with different ideas and enthusiasm to challenge the system, “independent” is not a party, it’s a buzzword for no democrats no republicans never took seriously, because there’s no such thing in this country as “independent party” period

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I feel sick to my stomach 😔

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Ditto

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Imagine, only 80,000 more votes for HRC in WI, PA and MI in 2016 and we'd still have a democracy, among many other things.

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We Dems shall win the votes abd they can do nothing about it

We just need all eyes in et fait shenanigans

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Thanks A.G.! This was excellent and concise. I hope you’re right regarding the path forward and Jack hauling the rest of these assholes in with Donald since, fuck time.

Blessedly, you usually are.

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Great post. BusyBusyBeee 🤩☘️🍀🌿

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I am mentally and physically sickened.

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So now, Biden has this "limited" immunity. Of course, Biden is a man of character and morals. This decision sucks but who cares about Biden's age now. If abortion isn't enough to rally voters, this decision is once the implications are known. And this is going to be discussed a lot. Since we're a country that puts a lot of people in jail how will they feel when they learn that the President is immune from criminal charges when he's doing any "official" act. Turnout is going to be crucial and includes regaining the House and keeping the Senate. And then, we talk about increasing the number of justices on the Supreme Court.

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I love Thomas' concurrence where he says that the Special Counsel was not properly appointed and therefore is unable to bring an indictment in the first place. Would not be shocked if Cannon uses that. Thomas is absolutely shameless but we all knew that.

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Of course that was directed specifically to her. That's the next case they'll hear. And I'd bet my life they hear that one immediately not months later

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They took their opportunity to split the baby. I wonder how many members of Congress may soon be howling. (And as a small silver lining - we can talk about something other than the debate.)

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AAARRRGGGHHH! Either I slit my wrists or try to die by chocolate! 8-O

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Please choose chocolate. We need your vote and your voice. Now is not the time for despair. It's the time for action

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No slitting wrist here. But I will certainly join you in death by chocolate after we vote

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Chocolate. We need you!

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Jul 1·edited Jul 1

Actually, I'm not so sure this is as bad as it seems. This is for a direct reason AND a general (more significant) reason.

The ruling says that SOME official presidential activities are immune from criminal prosecution and ALL official presidential activities as designated in the Constitution are immune from criminal prosecution.

The direct reason this isn't a bad ruling is that much (if not all) of what Trump did relating his illegal (and seditious? insurrectionist? treasonous?) activities related to the 2020 election and Jan. 6, 2021 do not fall under any official presidential duties. The real tragedy, as we know, is the unjustified delay by the SCOTUS, which served it's political purposes.

BUUUUUT...

the general reason I do NOT think this makes Trump or any President a King, is that it still leaves open criminal prosecution of official acts, EXCEPT in cases where those actions are expressly directed in the Constitution.

Why is this important? Because Congress can not enact any laws that are in violation of the Construction regardless. That means that in order for something to be criminal, it requires a law. And, as I just pointed out, laws must already be in accordance with the Constitution.

For example, Article 2 includes the following: "The Executive Branch conducts diplomacy with other nations and the President has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, which the Senate ratifies." Congress can not create a law that states, "The Executive Branch may not conducts diplomacy with other nations and the President has no power to negotiate and sign treaties" That would require an Amendment to the Constitution. If such a law were passed by Congress and then the President conducted diplomacy with other nations, that act, while a violation of this law, would be immune from prosecution. In other words, there are no criminal consequences for violating a law that is un-Constitutional. The Judiciary has the power to strike down laws that they determine are in violation of the Constitution.

But, as long as the law in question IS constitutional, then this ruling leaves open the possibility of criminal prosecution for those acts.

At least...that's what I THINK this ruling means.

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Agreed. It's not the time to panic. It's time to get out the vote. We need to stop hand wringing over Biden's less than spectacular debate delivery. He's got the policy chops we need, and the decency to do the right thing. No one's firing me today for the cold I contracted over the weekend; it's ridiculous to think that Biden should be put to pasture over a head cold.

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My2Cents: This is one reason the 2025 supporting Judges deemed the Jan. 6th ‘tourists’ never obstructed justice, because they never touched any documents and the like).

Meanwhile, they broke into the Capitol Building and used physical force against the Capitol Police, who just happened to be told to leave the very things to stop the rioters, on the bus. There’s also the case of Nancy Pelosi’s ‘missing’ laptop.

My2Cents: They were there to stop the official transfer of power. That mean’s an official proceeding was disrupted. Just because the coup failed, doesn’t mean it wasn’t obstruction.

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Thanks AG, for all you do.

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I will read your analysis by days end in the meantime I will try to calm this feeling of a gut punch.

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Thank you yet again AG, for your very quick & in depth reporting.

I am sick about this, and the radical SC as a whole, but am trying to channel my anger constructively.

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The rule of law in the US died today.

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As a door nail!

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So will conversations & coordinations with documented domestic terrorists who were conspiring to commit sedition for years on their own now count as “official acts” 🤨

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I doubt it. Documented domestic terrorists are not part of his constitutionally defined advisors (his cabinet). This decision might provide clear access to communications with those who are not in direct line of command or in his cabinet.

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True, I was being sarcastic with a side of being ill, it’s just that I wonder what nonsense they’ll try to pull concerning the interactions with the leaders of the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers & others.

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