If like so many Americans this Saturday is a very, very cold one so for you especially I’ve got something to warm your heart. Two of your most UN-favorite people, Jim “He groaped me coach!” Jordan and Ted “The human hemorrhoid” Cruz are sweating bullets waiting to see what SCOTUS will decide about Trump and Jan. 6. The issue at hand is the 14th Amendment which bars anyone who’s engaged in insurrection from holding public office. “Engaged in insurrection.” What that means and who gets to decide whether such conduct occurred is the heart of the matter and Donald Trump isn’t the only one on the hot seat. So are Jordan and Cruz.
There’s an article in Raw Story outlining why this “Disgusting Duo” (among others it doesn’t talk about) have reason to worry. Both as the Jan. 6 Committee showed were in this mess up to their eyeballs. The article notes that Special Counsel has tied Trump up in knots trying to defend himself, and led MSNBC’s Hayes Brown to pen an essay on how Trump’s troubles could spill over onto others. It’s got enough GOPers concerned that a couple hundred of them have filed an amicus brief with SOCTUS regarding the case. (Naturally it’s written to shield Trump, but also by extension some of them too)
Brown says that the brief is better written than many (most?) Trump filings which since I’m in a mean mode will flat-out say shouldn’t surprise anyone. Some of those folks on the Hill are actual lawyers themselves and they have real, competent lawyers working on their staffs and committees. Not the mostly second (often third) rate talent Trump has on retainer. Brown is nicer on that point than I am. However he quite pointedly criticizes their brief as being extremely self-serving.
“That’s especially true for those members who, under the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling, could also credibly be described as having ‘engaged in insurrection’ — and thus theoretically be disqualified from holding office.”
So yes, Jordan and Cruz (and others) have good reason to worry about what SCOTUS will decide and when they will issue a ruling. The six Federalist Society groomed Fascists on the Court are no doubt beside themselves these days. They are there to strip away rights from women and non-white people, and ALL regular folks via dismantling regulations, labor and voting rights. They don’t want any part of this case but they had no choice but to take it or what little credibility they have left (yes, they’ve squandered most of it but some is left) and now GOPers on the Hill have upped the stakes. In fact, as Brown sees it some, especially the two I’ve cited have effectively tipped their hand, both admitting guilt and asking for SCOTUS to give them a pass while giving Trump one too:
“The self-interested lawmakers give up the game with this line from the brief: ‘Although not directly relevant to President Trump, the Colorado Supreme Court would give itself the power to judge the qualifications of those who would be elected to the House or Senate.’ That would be especially troubling for Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs of Arizona,” Brown writes. “The three of them were knee-deep in plotting to overturn the election, and, in a more just world, they would have faced expulsion for violating Section 3. It’s their inclusion as signatories on the amicus brief that makes this filing particularly odious.”
Odious is a pretty polite was of putting it. Given my (in my personal life) use of “colorful” language I could come up with quite the string of eyeball blistering adjectives about how badly this STINKS. The Insurrection Clause is quite clear and straightforward. Back in the post Civil War years when it was written and actually utilized details like “being convicted in court” weren’t included. It seemed obvious to everyone what engaging in or supporting/giving “aid and comfort” to insurrection was. Sort of like Justice Stewart’s quote about porn – “You know it when you see it.” That’s why the Clause didn’t get cluttered up with details like having to be convicted of formal charges (which would have to be defined in laws/statutes) in court and such.
That however is probably the “off ramp” SCOTUS will create out of thin air. That a court conviction is required, or perhaps they’d even allow some form of Congressional action but just defining THAT would get really messy and really quick. Getting off topic I think this case is why SCOTUS won’t even take up Trump’s immunity appeal. Assuming of course the “mighty” DC Circuit ever gets off their asses and issues a ruling. This ballot access case is a bigger and more controversial mess. Plus, as I said they’ve got other huge cases not getting the attention they should be getting but will if/when SCOTUS makes more outrageous rulings stripping away Constitutional protections for regular folks.
In a way, SCOTUS could turn this into a “twofer.” Rule against Trump and in a way that would fulfill the worst fears of Jordan, Cruz and others. Allow for a major house-cleaning in the GOP. Unless Thomas and Alito resign (not a snowball’s chance in hell) or die Roberts has a solid working majority to do what The Federalist Society groomed him (and the others) to do. And that’s the “twofer” – regaining credibility by decimating Trump/MAGA from elected office, and under the veneer of that new “credibility” lay waste to all manner of things just as they’ve done to abortion rights, and before that campaign finance and voting rights.
In the meantime however I agree with Brown that some of these asshats who signed that amicus brief have tipped their hands. They might as well have signed a confession saying “I did it, and now I’m begging for mercy from the court.” But they ARE, despite the cold sweating bullets these days. Personally I will sleep better knowing they are sleeping worse.
LOCK THEM UP! LOCK THEM UP! LOCK THEM UP!
“particularly odious.”
In a different way to Mr Trump but just as noxious to the body politic.
Sums up nicely all the antics of Gym Jordan, Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs.
There’s quite a long list of ‘pube traitors in the house and senate. They all need to be up against the wall. Let’s start with daines and rosendale. Let gym bag and cancun watch so they know what they’ll be receiving in short order: watching these two in particular shit themselves would be most gratifying to see.
I am so bloody sick of these criminal fucks I want to punch holes in my walls on a daily basis. Then I sit down and think about it and I want to punch holes in their mother-f*cking faces instead. I was never this angry until that mango moron entered the w.h. and befouled it with his presence.
Rage is an appropriate response!
Sadly for Cancun Cruz and jacket-off Jim, Trumps lawyers are hanging their case on the fact that the office of President wasn’t explicitly mentioned. Their jobs were spelled out in the 14th amendment. So all that is needed to bounce their sorry asses is tying them to Jan 6, which can be found in Congressional records. Hopefully when CREW gets done with TFG and steps over his rotting carcass, they can turn their sites on giving Congress the enema it so desperately needs.