President Trump is not-so-subtly threatening the entire American court system

[mahatmakanejeeves]

President Trump is not-so-subtly threatening the entire American court system

By Aaron Blake February 8 at 10:46 AM

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is now weighing what to do with President Trump's travel ban. And Trump did his best Wednesday to put his finger on the scales of justice. ... Continuing a highly unusual days-long effort by a president, Trump issued a stark warning to the three-judge panel and, really, the entire court system: Run afoul of me, and you may just pay a price.

In a speech in front of law enforcement in Washington, Trump suggested to the three-judge panel that they would marginalize themselves politically if they decide the wrong way. Trump has said similar things about the judge who previously halted his travel ban — albeit after the decision had come down. ... The comments were oblique, but Trump's point was crystal clear.

“If these judges wanted to help the court in terms of respect for the court, they’d do what they should be doing,” Trump said, in a comment thick with subtext. “It’s so sad.” ... He added: “I don’t ever want to call a court biased, so I won’t call it biased. But courts seem to be so political, and it would be so great for our justice system if they would read [the law] and do what’s right.”

If that isn't a threat to marshal support against the American court system and fight it politically, I'm not sure what is. Trump is basically saying: That's a nice reputation you've got there. It'd be a shame if something happened to it.
....

Aaron Blake is senior political reporter for The Fix. Follow @aaronblake

[elleng]

1. 'marginalize themselves politically'

wtf does THAT mean???

[bettyellen]

3. Not have their wives and children given plumb lobbying jobs

[randome]

4. Especially when he then complained that they're too political.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Donald Trump's scorecard:
Muslim ban = failed. Yemen raid = failed. Approval ratings = failed.
Mexican wall = failed. Economic utopia = failed. Grade point average = 0.[/center][/font][hr]

[CincyDem]

2. As someone said earlier...

"...nice little judiciary ya got there. Shame for sum'in ugly to happen to it....real shame".

[angrychair]

5. His statement is political

I don’t ever want to call a court biased, so I won’t call it biased. But courts seem to be so political, and it would be so great for our justice system if they would read and do what’s right

The very request, from a political figure, would make any final ruling in his favor, political.

He is overly attempting to manipulate the outcome.

[kentuck]

6. It could be perceived as a threat by some judges, in my opinion.

As if justice is an item to be negotiated.