Democrats - and Gorsuch - must counter Trump's attacks on the judiciary - Jennifer Rubin

[DonViejo]

By Jennifer Rubin February 8 at 1:15 PM

Jennifer Rubin writes the Right Turn blog for The Post, offering reported opinion from a conservative perspective.

For a year or so Donald Trump has left little doubt of his authoritarian impulses. He has attacked the independent press, defamed Judge Gonzalo Curiel, consistently praised dictators, tried to discredit our electoral system and, when it suited him, threatened to lock up his political opponent. He has made a mockery of Republicans’ claim to be the party of constitutional rectitude. And now he has abandoned any pretense that he understands or respects our constitutional system.

The Post reports:

President Trump denounced arguments against his immigration order as “disgraceful” on Wednesday, a day after three federal appellate judges lobbed critical inquiries at those challenging and defending the plan, and suggested a ruling against his administration would be based on politics and not a fair reading of the law.

In a speech to law enforcement officials in Washington, Trump argued his executive action is clearly legal and read aloud the relevant part of the law, which he called “so simple and so beautifully written and so perfectly written.”

“I watched last night, in amazement, and I heard things that I couldn’t believe, things that really had nothing to do with what I just read,” he said. “And I don’t ever want to call a court biased, so I won’t call it biased. And we haven’t had a decision yet. But courts seem to be so political and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do what’s right.”

He clearly threatened to blame the judiciary for any future attacks if he didn’t get the ruling he wants. He tweeted, “If the U.S. does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled. Politics!” This comes after he singled out the trial court judge for the initial ruling. (He tweeted, “Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad!” He claimed, “The judge opens up our country to potential terrorists and others that do not have our best interests at heart. Bad people are very happy!”

When President Obama mildly urged the Supreme Court to uphold Obamacare, conservatives had a meltdown, accusing him of disrespecting the judiciary. Aside from a few mild rebukes of the president’s initial comments about District Court Judge James Robart they — no surprise — have been mute.

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Congress must break up Trump-Putin lovefest

By Jennifer Rubin February 8 at 12:30 PM

On Tuesday, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) took to the floor to bitterly denounce another Russian human rights abomination, and to rebuke President Trump for suggesting some moral equivalence exists between the United States and Russia. The immediate topic was Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian activist who has been hospitalized for poisoning — for a second time. McCain declared:

Last week I was heartbroken to learn that my dear friend Vladimir Kara-Murza, had been hospitalized in Moscow. Those of us who know the work of this brave Russian patriot could not afford to hope or assume that he was suffering some ordinary illness. Just two years ago, under mysterious circumstances, Vladimir grew very ill and fell into a coma. Many suspected he was poisoned to intimidate him—or worse. That is why last week’s news signaled another shadowy strike against a brilliant voice who has defied the tyranny of Putin’s Russia.

McCain recalled his efforts to promote civil liberties. ““In the United States, Vladimir was one of the most passionate and effective advocates for passage of the Magnitsky Act, legislation that gives the federal government powers to punish human rights violators in Russia,” he said. “Most recently, he has eloquently and persuasively campaigned to expand the Act to impose sanctions on those Russian journalists, who are so cowed and corrupted by the Kremlin, they have become indispensable to propagating the lies and atmosphere of hate, fear and violence the Putin regime relies on to maintain power.”

McCain as usual pulled no punches in denouncing an attempt to blur the distinction between Russian authoritarianism and American democracy. After going through a long list of other murdered human rights activists and journalists, McCain blasted Trump without mentioning his name. “In short, Vladimir knew that Putin is a killer, and that he might very well be the next target. Vladimir knew there was no moral equivalence between the United States and Putin’s Russia. And anyone who would make such a suggestion maligns the character of our great nation and does a disservice to all those whose blood is on Putin’s hands.”

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The deals centrist Democrats should offer Trump

By Jennifer Rubin February 8 at 11:30 AM

Politico reports:

A group of moderate Democratic senators will visit President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, according to congressional aides.

Democratic Sens. Jon Tester of Montana, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Manchin of West Virginia will meet with Trump, aides said. Some GOP senators and Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana were also invited to the meeting, which was first reported by USA Today.

Those four Democrats and Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, who are all up for reelection in 2018 in states that Trump won handily, will be key to the progress of Trump’s agenda and to getting his Supreme Court nominee confirmed.

Trump may have figured out that without help from eight Democrats his chances of remaking Obamacare, getting his infrastructure bill passed, redoing trade deals and securing easy confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch will fizzle. Democrats, in turn, may have figured out just how little regard Trump has for his own party and how little Trump cares about the substance of legislation so long as he can claim a “win.” Therein lies the possibility of some unusual dealmaking.

Democrats would be smart to convey to Trump some truthful but damning insight: The Republicans will find it nearly impossible to repeal and replace Obamacare. They’ve painted themselves into a box with excessive promises. Right-wing members are intent on provisions that will inevitably make the replacement plan less generous than Obamacare, and many (if not most) Republicans in the Senate will never support a plan that allows tax credits for abortion (thereby nixing any Democratic support). To be clear: Republicans cannot decide among themselves what to pass and therefore Trump’s central campaign promise likely won’t happen — unless Democrats lend a hand.

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