Trumpy Wumpy doesn’t like being told no.
The Justice Department has written its first appeal to the Supreme Court. The courts are saying no, you can’t fire someone before their term is up. So they are taking it all the way to the top. Even with a supermajority for tRump there, I’m not sure SCOTUS is going to be happy with having to review this case.
tRump fired Hampton Dellinger, the lead of the Office of Special Counsel, which he can’t do. Congress has protections in place that state the administration must show cause before dismissing from the post before the 5-year term has ended. Trumpy Wumpy thinks that doesn’t apply to him. It does. So far “lower” courts have told him “You can’t do that” and he is not happy about it. Hampton is in a watchdog agency for government ethics. I wonder why the Mango Mandarin doesn’t like being told he can’t do that. Hmmmmm.
Maybe it’s because tRump doesn’t want any guardrails on what he’s doing. Maybe he just wants to fire the guy for reasons we don’t know but are likely very petty. Maybe he’s actually thinking about what Hampton’s agency does and wants to get control of the agency. Unfortunately, who knows what’s going in tRump’s head. It’s usually me, me, me.
With any luck, the Supreme Court will say this is ridiculous, or even better, nothing at all, and will kick it back down to the “lower” courts to handle. I’m not a lawyer so I don’t know what options he has left. A Federal Court, maybe? I’m just guessing here but I would think there is one more level that could hear the case. And hopefully, that court will say no you can’t do that and the Confused Carrot will just have to deal with it.
He’s probably going to make Hampton’s life hell for the next couple of years. Considering it’s a government ethics watchdog, tRump doesn’t want anyone looking over his shoulder so he can do as he pleases, or he is trying to do as he pleases, and he likely won’t have a choice. Of course, a watchdog doesn’t seem to have made any difference to him and his Executive Orders. He just brings more and more of them into existence. I think he may be signing new ones every day, and here we are only weeks into his presidency. How much is left?
I can’t see how he has much of anything left to change with his EOs. More stupid petty changes? He certainly doesn’t want to do things the normal way through laws. He likely figures that EOs are faster and don’t require anyone else to look at them. Overall, I believe this is correct. But there have already been some showing up that are against the law and probably against the Constitution. I’ve lost track of everything he’s doing and the media can’t keep up either. Plus, how many has he signed that do NOT get media attention so we don’t know what they are. That’s concerning. It would be really nice to have a list and I doubt we’ll ever get it.
So there are likely changes he’s making that are not for the better of the country but are better for him, and Elon (hello multiple government contracts) and the billionaires (hello making tax cuts permanent) in his “cabinet”. The changes are for the money. The changes are for loosening government restraints. The changes are not for the better of the people of the United States. This means we suffer while the rich get richer. I’m so thrilled (NOT) with that last. What choice do we have? I don’t know.
EDIT: I just read an updated article about this and there is a chance that the Supreme Court might actually do something with this, instead of kicking it back down to lower courts. Oh, bloody hell.
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At least, as far as I know, there are many lawsuits making their way through the court system against him. What effect they will have, remains to be seen. That’s the only consolation I see.
Agreed, as far as I know also. These are going to be winding their way through the courts for quite some time. If he gets told no on this one, others will be told no, too. I would think that they would keep the lawsuits going just because they already know they’ll be told the same thing. Might as well make it official. I am really hoping he does get told no. These organizations are specifically set up to be outside politics. Crossing my fingers here.
And then what?
Vance has already stated ‘ Let them enforce it’.
Who enforces court rulings? The US Marshall Service.
Who controls the US Marshall Service? The Attorney General.
This little constitutional crisis only got started four years ago, it’s a long way from being over yet.
I think you meant four WEEKS AGO, not years.
It could be both – the end of his first term when he pulled that insurrection, and 4 weeks ago when he started his second term.
A long, LONG way to go. A time that is hurtful to look at. A time when I wonder if we’re going to have a democracy or a dictatorship at the end of his term, which also might not happen (i.e. him staying in office). Admittedly the chances are small, at least right now, but they are still there. And we can’t move anywhere right now, for many reasons, one of which is elderly family members.