Let's write off RGB's seat .. let's plan the next move .. a 200 Megaton Thermo Nuclear Bomb

[Le Roi de Pot]

Last edited Tue Sep 22, 2020, 11:38 PM - Edit history (1)

The way I see it - there is no way for stall this except threaten expansion of court

And Biden should expand it to FUCKING 15 justices.

Get rid of Filibuster.

Give statehood to DC ( and PR if they want it)

Immediate Naturalization of everyone in USA who can vote in 2022 mid terms.


FUCK THE BASTARDS FOR GOOD

[at140]

1. I like your chutzpah !!!

Aim high and you will do better than aiming low.

[Le Roi de Pot]

2. its not chutzpah ...its the most logical thing to do

[at140]

3. First thing first...we have to win the US Senate and WH

Focus on that right now.

[Le Roi de Pot]

4. Oh Yeah .. I am voting early and am phone banking (targeting Phily)

[saidsimplesimon]

29. Thanks for all that you do, Le Roi

I was sidelined recently due to a health issue. All elections are worth fighting for.

[StClone]

53. Expand ALL Fed. Judgeship positions.

[Delmette2.0]

68. They should also consider term limits instead of lifetime appointments.

10 years is enough then they can retire or reapply with a full review and confirmation.

Or, put all federal judges through financial and personal vetting every year. If the comes up clean no problem. Clean is no family connections to current members of Congress, Executive branch or Judicial branch. (Remember Justice Kennedy)

[onenote]

71. Term limits would require a constitutional amendment

So forget about that.

[Tom Traubert]

79. This would take a constitutional amendment.

I agree that term limits would avoid the rush to appoint young ideologues with no experience who can serve for decades. I think judgeships should be limited to a single term of 20 years, which would avoid political pressures and potential conflicts stemming from promises of job opportunities on leaving the bench. But unfortunately, this would require an amendment to Article 3, section one of the Constitution which states that judges can serve for life and be removed only for cause, i.e., “bad behavior”:

The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

But chances of an amendment passing are slim. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/there-are-four-not-two-ways-to-amend-the-constitution/2016/08/18/058afcf2-6420-11e6-b4d8-33e931b5a26d_story.html

[at140]

84. Agree 1000000000000%

There should be NO lifetime positions of enormous power like the SCOTUS.
A 8 year term like the president is plenty. If they want longer term, run for re-nomination after 8 years.

And no one over age 75 should be in the government without getting elected every 2 or 4 years.

[Delmette2.0]

86. Thank you.

Women are still trying to get the equal right amendment passed. I'm pretty sure we could get this passed faster.

[Demsrule86]

5. and increase the numbers of house seats as well.

[FakeNoose]

43. We'll need a Census re-do first

As with everything else, Chump has totally fucked up this one. We can't wait another 10 years for the next one, we have to re-do it.

[Freddie]

6. Enough minority rule!!

And I think we’ll have 6 of 9 justices appointed by presidents who did not win the popular vote. We MUST go nuclear if we get the chance.

[wryter2000]

9. ?

Didn't G. H. W. Bush win the popular vote? He's responsible for Thomas.

[kwolf68]

21. Yes

Yes you are correct.

[wryter2000]

35. Thanks

Five is bad enough. We must do whatever we can to change the trajectory of the Court.

[wryter2000]

7. I wish to God there was something to do about the Senate

In 20 years, 70% of the people will live in 30% of the states. So, 70% of the people will be a permanent minority in the Senate. Imagine being a permanent minority in the Senate. We'd be helpless.

[NCjack]

22. If we could reduce the subsidies that we send to Red States, maybe they would vote

their interests.

[Lonestarblue]

25. Congress needs to pass an amendment to abolish the Electoral College.

It will take years, but I’m thinking of your 20-year timeframe. We need to get to a 2/3rds majority in both the Senate and House to get the amendment passed. If we pick up four more Senate seats this year and more in 2022 where 22 Republican seats are up, we’re close. We’re not that close in the House, but we’ll see where we are after this election.

Once passed by Congress, the proposed amendment goes to the states, where three-quarters of them must ratify for it to pass. That’s where a long-term 50-state strategy comes into play to win governorships and state legislatures. While that process is playing out, the state compact to use the popular vote winner could come to fruition as Democrats add control of enough states. I do not see this as a permanent solution because states that flip back to Republicans can drop out.

Anther shorter-term strategy is to focus on states like Texas and Florida. Texas is getting bluer, and if the governor loses his 2022 race to a Democrat, we would be closer to turning Texas blue. F we have a significant push to revitalize the Democratic Party here and register millions of new voters, we can turn the state legislature blue. If Texas votes blue, it’s hard to see how a Republican can win the EC.

In other words, we have options. We also have the upcoming population of younger voters who want to do something about climate change, the cost of college, and keeping the rights we’ve had such as access to affordable healthcare and abortion. We need to find out what motivates the 25-45 age group and develop the policies that appeal to them. We just need good leadership and multiple strategies to get where we need to be—and probably a lot of money!

[jmowreader]

36. It would probably be easier...

...to amend the Constitution to have a state's EC delegation be equal to the number of House members from that state. So...if you're from a state that has one representative, you get one EV - NOT three.

[wryter2000]

37. Or

Is there any way to give really populous states an extra Senator?

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

77. I don't know what would be involved, and I know it's probably far too impractical,

but I've often wondered if we could have a well planned, massive redistribution of Democrats to address the fact that the votes of people who live in high population areas don't have the impact of those in less populated areas.

People (mostly the rich) who own two or more homes in different areas can choose which one to vote in, as long as they meet certain requirements. If Dems could meet the requirements to vote in places that need more Dem voters, our votes might have the effect they ought to.

Again, I realize that this would need to be carefully organized and would require a massive effort, but hey, think of the women who flew back to Ireland vote to end the ban on abortions there. It's obviously not the same thing, but that mobilization was impressive.

When my partner and I learned the date for the abortion vote was confirmed, we set aside money and booked flights home. Ireland does not have a postal voting system, so Irish citizens living abroad must return to the country to vote. Irish citizens from all over the world have been flying home to make their voices heard this Friday, the day of the referendum vote.

Many of them are posting their journeys on social media with the hashtag #HomeToVote. Scrolling through the hundreds of posts alongside my own plane selfie on Twitter was incredibly heartening — it made me realize that Irish people all over the world wanted the same change as I did. Repeal felt possible.

Not only was it possible, they did it. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/22/northern-ireland-abortion-ban-triumph-grassroots-activism

[jmowreader]

81. It would be easier to alter the composition of the House

A piece of legislation called the Permanent Apportionment Act limits the House to 435 seats. By repealing it, we could change to what I will call the Wyoming Multiple System.

Wyoming is the smallest state of the fifty. Under this system, seats will be issued to each state by dividing its population by the population of Wyoming, then deleting everything after the decimal.

So...let's say Wyoming has 500,000 residents and New Jersey has 8.9 million. Divide 8.9 million by 500 thousand, and you get 17.8. Delete everything after the decimal and NJ gets 17 congressmen. (They currently have 12.)

[Polybius]

87. No

The Constitution makes it clear that each state gets two Senators.

[VA_Jill]

52. I don't think

you'd be able to get that ratified. It takes 3/4 of the states to do that and the rural states are not about to go there.

[progressoid]

66. In 20 years a lot of the population from coastal states will have to move inland.

Maybe some of those blue voters will migrate to red states.

[BComplex]

64. If we add DC and Puerto Rico as states, they each would get 2 senators. n/t

[rwsanders]

78. I mentioned something, but there was someone that I almost had to block that kept jumping on me.

I think it could be done through the courts based on existing amendments that guarantee equal protection.

At large voting for Senators nationwide.
At large voting for house within each state. House of Representatives modified to include 1 rep for every 500,000 people. Or some other reasonable number and get rid of HOR staffers.

[Statistical]

8. Don't threaten. Just do.

[cbdo2007]

10. Good start. How about a constitutional amendment on voting rights

and abortion.

[rwsanders]

12. Don't forget: corporations are not people, and money is not speech.

[cbdo2007]

39. And a public option to everyone of Medicare/Medicaid.

The SC doesn't make laws, they enforce the laws. It is up to the Pres and Congress to make the laws, so we need to buckle down and start making some game ending laws.

[BadgerMom]

11. I wrote a similar text to a friend this morning.

We have to plan ahead. I do think part of an expansion of the Supreme Court should include a Constitutional amendment setting the number of justices. Otherwise in a few cycles we’d have a slew of justices. We’d set up a new pattern.

[rwsanders]

13. What about another route that would be possibly faster and set a better precedent?

IMPEACH Thomas and Kavanaugh for lying and other misdeeds.
The hearings would carry until after the elections and the trial would fall under the new Senate (probably democratic) in January.
Biden gets to fill 2 SC seats and the majority is now liberal.

It might also serve as a warning that if the current nominee is another escapee from crazy town, that they will suffer the same fate.

[Lonestarblue]

14. I like this idea, but what has Thomas done other than sleep through arguments?

We know Kavanaugh lied under oath to Congress. Has Thomas done the same? Unless he’s done something recent, he’s been on the Court too long for this to work.

[rwsanders]

15. I don't think that it is too long to revisit the Anita Hill allegations that he lied about or all

the conflicts of interest related to his wife's activities.

[not_the_one]

23. Ginni Thomas is blatantly supportive of far right groups, which should have caused Clarence

to recuse himself from any case that would have shown even the slightest appearance of bias.

She alone is reason enough to impeach him. Then appoint Anita Hill to replace him.

Kavanaugh lied to Congress. Open and shut case.

IF RGB's replacement is rammed through due to a different rule being used than for Gorsuch, Gorsuch should be impeached because the turd was illegitimately elected through proven outside interference by Putin, making Gorsuch illegitimate, AND ALL OTHER appointments by the turd illegitimate.

We should still fight to stall, no matter the means. RGB's name should not be desecrated by a racist bigot replacement.

Regardless, Putin's interference AND every one of these impeachments should be pursued, not matter the outcome of RGB's seat. The republicans must deal with the consequences of their actions. ESPECIALLY after the congress and the senate clarifies BY LAW that IF YOU IGNORE A SUBPOENA YOU GO TO JAIL. PERJURY is an automatic jail sentence. No exceptions.

Then subpoena every last one of their asses.

[Mr.Bill]

26. Removing a judge

requires a two thirds vote from the Senate. Not going to happen.

[cbdo2007]

40. The stalling is more important than the removal. We just need to stall until after Jan 3

[wryter2000]

38. Kavanaugh for sure

He lied during his hearing

[onenote]

72. Where are you getting the votes to convict?

[rwsanders]

75. Democratic senate after January + some republicans wanting to distance themselves from Trump

Or what? Roll over and play dead?
Stacking the SC is a worse option because the next republican president will add more, then where does it end?

[onenote]

83. Fantasy. The Republicans are never turning on conservative SCOTUS judges they voted to confirm.

Next you'll be telling us that Republicans will support rolling back the tax cuts for the rich to "distance themselves" from Trump.

[rwsanders]

88. They never flip-flop?

What is the source of the crew here that always wants to say any plan "just won't work". You all seem to have similar user ID's and I'm just trying to figure out the connection.

No path to normalcy is going to be easy. But the idea is to choose one that is palatable by convincing the other side they have something to gain.

Do you really think stacking the court is preferable? When does it stop when we have 2500 justices? Or just ride this shitstorm for the next 30 years or so? Do you think our climate has that long? The economy? We'd end up living in something that looks a lot like the Max Headroom series.

[nevergiveup]

16. Sounds like a plan

We need to start playing hardball. No way Biden won't do much better than Hillary. The only question is will Trump try to steal it. If he does there will be riots in the streets and a million people will show up at the White House to remove the fucker. The top priority for the moment is to win the Senate. It is imperative.

[yuiyoshida]

17. yup

fuck their feelings...

[LymphocyteLover]

18. TOTALLY AGREE

the worst thing would be if Dems fought this hopeless battle and lose (as is likely) then give up. They fucking need to take it to the next level.

[SKKY]

19. I mean, it's hard to keep taking the high road on stuff like this...

This is like a fight, and the Republicans always fight dirty. We should probably learn something from them.

[Blue Owl]

20. Only an idiot would play nice with these depraved fucksticks anymore

n/t

[kwolf68]

24. Love the ideas

But the problem is the Democrats just are not as united. You have Feinstein out there playing footsie and the Blue Dogs like the boy in West Va will only go so far. Somehow, someway no matter how brazen or unethical the Republicans stay in line and rarely pay for it. I hope this year we see that change (Maine and Colorado look like two sure flips for us).

[Miigwech]

27. EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN AND MOON!

Gloves off. All legal, above board, but hit those fuckers so hard, knock them back into magat never never land.

[matt819]

28. Or

Start impeachment for trump and Barr. That should keep the house and senate tied up.

[Le Roi de Pot]

30. An Impeachment now is like a fart in gale force winds

it will not get you anything

[matt819]

73. Agreed

But since it requires a Senate trial it might tie up the senate and so prevent hearings on a nominee?

[BainsBane]

31. Too many people's basic rights depend on RBG's seat

We CANNOT write it off. People of color, LGBTQ Americans, women--all of our lives will be devastated by a RW appointment. It seems to me it's easier for people whose rights don't depend on the court to say "write it off."

Elections are won to appoint Supreme Court justices. The election is NOT more important than this seat.

[Le Roi de Pot]

33. Right now you cannot be emotionally tied to it .. We give it and counteract before there is too

much damage.

Hence the quick expansion of court

[BainsBane]

80. Don't be "emotionally" attached

Because what does equal rights for the majority of Americans compare to your political scheme? I realize it’s difficult to understand when it’s not about you, but the rights of people who aren’t straight white men matter. And you tell us not to get emotional. I have to wonder if you understand what the core principles of the Democratic Party are? We are the party of the disenfranchised, not of those who tell women, people of color, and LGBTQ Americans that their rights aren’t important enough to fight for, to become “emotional” over. I find your post offensive and very revealing.

[Grins]

32. And...kill the electoral college, and...

...clarify and redefine impeachment, and re-do the 25th Amendment as that is as worthless as impeachment, and a national ban on gerrymandering, and then - God grant me this one! - redefine treason as working with or profiting from a hostile foreign government during war - or peace.

[Le Roi de Pot]

34. Some of those things require constitutional ammenments

[Fiendish Thingy]

41. Why fight to regain power if we don't intend to use it? The time for scorched earth Is now

Ruthless, Scorched Earth politics to solve the COVID crisis, give significant aid to the people.

Ruthless, scorched earth politics to restore voting rights and electoral integrity.

Ruthless, scorched earth politics to expand and balance SCOTUS and the rest of the judiciary.

It’s up to the people to hold Biden and congress’s feet to the fire, and make them more anxious about being timid than about acting boldly. Threaten primary challenges to anyone who hesitates.

Support lawmakers who show no mercy to Republicans and who act decisively to resolve these crises and bring relief to the people.

[JGug1]

42. For Good

That sounds fine to me.

[augyboston]

44. Damn Straight!

Last edited Tue Sep 22, 2020, 04:31 PM - Edit history (1)

This is it folks! For any of you who thought there was one modicum of decency in these bastards it is long past time you wake the hell up. They are perverse with their lust for power. Nothing else matters to them and they will crush you like you're a bug without remorse.

When they wear t-shirts telling us they'd rather be Russian; a country that is out to destroy us, than a Democrat - they fucking mean it.

This packing the courts is their last desperate attempt to stop the will of the people. They see the writing on the wall and know without suppressing the vote, gerrymandering and anything else they can cook up they will lose elections. This is their goalie in net. if their cheating and stealing fails then this is their fail safe.

First order of business is to end the filibuster, then add a shit ton of SCOTUS justices and then multiply the Federal District Courts by three and appoint progressive judges to the newly created courts.

We must squeeze them by the balls until they scream in agony and they regret all the stinking shit they've pulled!

[vlyons]

45. Not much will change until we get rid of Citizens United

The billionaires and millionaires can pump as much money as they please to buy politicians. Did you know that Canada doesn't allow corporations to make political contributions? Corporations are not people. Even if we have to fight for a constitutional amendment to get the dark money out.

[sandensea]

57. +1

If only.

And you're right: most other democracies ban - or severely restrict (and of course register) - corporate political spending.

Especially if they do business with the government.

But the GOPee has turned our campaign finance system into something resembling a banana republic or narco-state.

The Narco Rubio model of governance.

[jorgevlorgan]

46. Yup!

The days of debate and compromise are over. The days of reckoning have begun.

[berni_mccoy]

47. Agreed. Maybe even 19 justices to prevent Republicans from doing the same.

Go big or go home.

[jorgevlorgan]

48. I can get on board that

[Le Roi de Pot]

49. yes .. Clobber their collective heads with a pile driver

[Mike 03]

61. Or as they say in the movie "Pacific Rim"

"Go big or go extinct"

I don't know about expanding the court, but it feels good to at least discuss it. It might be a brilliant idea, but I just want to fully consider it and also try to predict unforeseen consequences.

But giving statehood to the District of Columbia is an excellent idea.

[Nasruddin]

50. Interesting, but small yield

I think most of those ideas sound great as partisan themes but in the longer run just generate more bad karma & tit for tat response. I don't think any of that is for good - in any interpretation of that phrase.

We should look at the judiciary system and reform it. The supreme court is an awful idea & the concept of judicial review has turned it into an unelected legislature (the party system has turned it into a party-based legislature, & this problem is not new). Seems to have become true for the whole federal judiciary, maybe not so much in the past, but grossly now.

We don't need a judiciary spoils system. We for sure do not need an unelected legislature (with some other undesirable features). We can make a bipartisan case for changing this. We might have to do something awful to the system to make the point that both sides can play, but what we should really work for is a new system for selecting fed judges at all levels.

(By something awful - why stop at adding 2 justices? Add 500 or so. If you're going to exercise power, exercise it, don't just talk. Or stop paying them. Sure, they can serve, but we don't have to support them. Clear out the supreme court building and put a museum in there, & make them go to work in an office complex in Bethesda. Or Omaha. Something awful.)

[ancianita]

51. Beating them out for a whole generation. THIS should f'n do it!

All we gotta do is WIN FIRST.

[CaptainTruth]

54. Eliminate the damn electoral college.

Popular vote determines winner.

[backscatter712]

55. Oh, we absolutely should be retaliating against the GOP for this.

Democrats need to learn to be more vicious.

[Yavin4]

56. May I add one more item to your list.

Kick Lindsey Graham in the balls.

[TeamPooka]

58. We lost the seat the moment RBG died

[JaneQPublic]

59. FANTASTIC answer to this from Eli Mystal on "The Beat" yesterday.

He's for 10 more justices for starters and would be fine with a total of 50 or even 100 SCOTUS justices. After all, why should the 9th circuit court of appeals have more judges than SCOTUS has justices?

https://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari/watch/elie-mystal-scotus-can-t-be-dictated-by-mcconnell-s-whims-92267589524

[Yavin4]

67. That was a fantastic segment. Everyone should watch it.

I'm fine with 1,000 justices.

[JaneQPublic]

70. Elie cuts through the crap and makes the points others overlook.

Yeah, 1,000 would be good. They might need to build an addition onto The Supreme Court building, though.

[samsingh]

60. each of those is possible and should be done.

[Magoo48]

62. Count me in.

[AllaN01Bear]

63. also bring back fairness doctrine and statehood for u.s. virgen islands

[usaf-vet]

65. Count me in....... IF! We at least TRY to stop stealing RBG seat.

When Biden wins then he has to do THESE. (Stolen from above)


The way I see it - there is no way for stall this except threaten the expansion of court

And Biden should expand it to FUCKING 15 justices.

Get rid of Filibuster.

Give statehood to DC ( and PR if they want it)

Immediate Naturalization of everyone in the USA who can vote in 2022 midterms.


FUCK THE BASTARDS FOR GOOD!!!!!!!!

[Politicub]

69. This is our only option. Americans are at risk.

An originalist court will strip agency from all women. They will annul marriages (including my own) of same-sex spouses. They will take away healthcare from millions who are protected by the ACA, and chip away at social security and Medicare. They will excuse religious people and institutions from laws that should protect every American.

Any why shouldn't they? Conservatives have ALWAYS wanted to do these things, but have been hanging by thin threads of electability in their districts. And now, they will have a group of six people, accountable to no one and who have not been selected by the majority, who will have the power to marginalize groups of people and undo every environmental regulation.

I may sound hyperbolic, but all is at stake once the court is the handmaiden of bigots who cover themselves in the flag and wallow in apple pie.

You're right, OP. We will need to do everything you suggest and more in order to fix what is broken and put in a system so that originalism and someone like Trump can never take root again.

[fescuerescue]

74. And then when Bidens Republican successors expands it to 21

And his successor expands it to 35.

We can look back and blame Trump.

[Le Roi de Pot]

76. We will cross that bridge when we get there -- and will expand citizenship and voting rights to make

sure that we never do

[Amishman]

82. Good luck getting the votes

We can only go as far as the 50th senator will take us.

That's probably Manchin or Tester.

Really need to temper the expectations. We won't be able to pass every progressive reform we want.

The right way forward is incremental change, and it's just about the only reasonable expectation given the political landscape.

[Le Roi de Pot]

90. Sad .. Republicans nearly vote Lock step.

They are like a disciplined mercenaries. Sometimes I wish were were ruthless like them

[cwydro]

85. RBG.

NOT RGB.

[Le Roi de Pot]

89. Fixed .. Thanks

And Fuck Republicans !!