Failed Pols

21/07/2024

Kamala!

01/07/2024

SCOTUS has officially jumped the shark:

* Supreme Court Rules That Presidents Have Absolute Immunity for "Core Constitutional Powers" (2024-07-01)
Quoting dissenting Justice Sotomayor: "With fear for our democracy, I dissent."
https://kottke.org/24/07/supreme-court-rules-that-presidents-have-absolute-immunity-for-core-constitutional-powers

* Justices Rule Trump Has Some Immunity From Prosecution (2024-07-01)
https://www.scotusblog.com/2024/07/justices-rule-trump-has-some-immunity-from-prosecution/

* The Supreme Court Puts Trump Above the Law (2024-07-01)
And gives him permission for a despotic second term.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/supreme-court-donald-trump-immunity-decision/678859/

As I wrote in the context of another poorly-reasoned SCOTUS case in 2010 (https://www.clocktowerlaw.com/3079.html): "As the only unelected branch of government, the judicial branch derives its legitimacy and authority from and in proportion to its ability to do its job well: to explain the law. The Supreme Court MUST explain its decisions or it is not the supreme court anymore."

Today, The US Supreme Court is no longer supreme; it is corrupt. Corrupt like states with gerrymandered districts, corrupt like those "elected" from those districts, corrupt like a convicted felon.

And so my documentation of the debacle of Trump must and shall continue (https://www.failblog.com/).

It is a dark day in America, a day that will live in infamy. Democracy in the USA had a pretty good run, but I'm pretty sure that it's over. R.I.P. U.S.A.

And gives him permission for a despotic second term.

05/06/2024

2003 - Martha Stewart (female) convicted of 4 felony counts, served 5 months in prison.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Stewart

-------------------------

2024 - Donald Trump (male) convicted of 34 felony counts, served BLANK months in prison.

Fill in the BLANK.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosecution_of_Donald_Trump_in_New_York

The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump is an ongoing criminal trial against Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States. Trump faces 34 felony charges of falsifying business records with the intent to commit or conceal other crimes relating to payments made to pornographic....

07/11/2022

* Is It Time To End the USA Experiment? (2022-11-07)
If so, then what new countries should be formed?

Posted on November 7, 2022 by Erik J. Heels* Is It Time To End the USA Experiment? If so, then what new countries should be formed? The first paragraph of the US Declaration of Independence (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript) states: When in the Course of human events, it...

02/11/2022

Vote suppression begins/continues/rears its ugly head:

* US Midterms: Pennsylvania Court Rules To Discount Some Mail-In Ballots (2022-11-02)

In a win for Republicans, Pennsylvania's top court says improperly dated ballots will not be counted.

13/10/2022

Here's your new axis of evil: Russia, Syria, Nicaragua, North Korea, and Belarus.

* United Nations Votes 143-5 To Condemn Russia's 'Attempted Illegal Annexation' Of Ukraine Provinces (2022-10-13)

The ayes have itUnited Nations votes 143-5 to condemn Russia's 'attempted illegal annexation' of Ukraine provincesbyPeter Weber4:41 AMOctober 13, 2022The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to condemn Russia's "attempted illegal annexation" of four provinces in Ukraine and...

25/08/2022

If you have to choose between bailing out bad decisions made by non-human corporations or by actual humans (who, btw, bought into the higher-education-is-the-only-path lie perpetuated by many of those same corporations), then I think that I'd call only the corporate bailouts immoral.

* Student Debt Forgiveness: Relief For Some, 'Immoral' To Others (2022-08-25)

Some graduates say the plan should go further - others say it's immoral for taxpayers to pay for it.

05/05/2022

A reminder of how we got here:

* The Democratic Party Opened The Way For Trump (2020-09-18)
Critics of U.S. President Donald Trump claim he has brought ruin to the United States. For Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel, that charge is too easy. He argues that liberal hubris has also played a significant role in the decay of American society.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/harvard-philosopher-michael-sandel-on-the-trump-phenomenon-a-1c97a86a-0e55-484f-ac39-90ec55ff39f8

You want to do something? Something real? Then stop with the slacktivism and try this:

- Have old liberal Supreme Court justice retire when their party is in office.
- Codify Roe (and other creature of common law, such as Miranda rights).
- Counter media lies with media truth.
- Fix the Senate and the filibuster.
- Enact voting rights laws.
- Fix gerrymandering.
- Have a plan.

Or, if you like the tyranny of the minority, do nothing.

Critics of U.S. President Donald Trump claim he has brought ruin to the United States. For Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel, that charge is too easy. He argues that liberal hubris has also played a significant role in the decay of American society.

21/01/2021

On January 20, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., was inaugurated 46th President of the United States. Many Americans now feel cautiously optimistic about our country's path forward. Now is not the time, however, to "take a break;" not if we want to ensure that a Trump era never happens again. This is the final post chronicling the Donald J. Trump years in the White House. Thank you for reading.

Posted on January 21, 2021January 20, 2021 by Heidi TranEditorial: To Prevent Another Donald Trump, We Must Consider How We Got Here On Wednesday, January 20, when Joseph Biden became the 46th president of the United States, Donald J. Trump’s presidency came to an end. If the results of the 2020 p...

19/01/2021

"I don't think 'America First' means what you think it means." Or does it?

Posted on January 19, 2021January 19, 2021 by Heidi TranEditorial: The January 6 Insurrection: Extremists, White Supremacists, But Not Patriots As rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, they claimed to be motivated by “patriotism.” Perhaps these self-proclaimed patriots’ “patriotism....

19/01/2021

* 2016-2021 Trump Headlines Wordcloud (2021-01-19)
A picture is worth a thousand words.
http://www.failblog.com/3043.html

18/01/2021

* Wikipedia's Most Viewed Pages (December 1, 2007 – January 1, 2021)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Multiyear_ranking_of_most_viewed_pages -100_list

Top 11 Wikipedia pages related to (http://www.failblog.com/):

1. United States (220 Million)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States

2. Donald Trump (216 Million)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump

3. Barak Obama (149 Million)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

4. Adolph Hi**er (113 Million)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hi**er

5. List of Presidents of the United States (94 Million)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_United_States

6. China (86 Million)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China

7. Abraham Lincoln (84 Million)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln

8. Russia (80 Million)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia

9. COVID-19 Pandemic (72 Million)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic

10. Joe Biden (65 Million)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden

11. American Civil War (63 Million)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War

END

Wikipedia is the best thing ever... Making it even better? Its public list of stats, shedding light on what the collective world is thinking about.[1]

16/01/2021

GOP: Profiles In Cowardice:

* Benghazi vs. Capitol (2021-01-12)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214901254


http://www.failblog.com/

15/01/2021

Godspeed, John Glenn - I mean Biden's speech-writer:

* Biden’s Inaugural Address In A Time Of Crisis (2021-01-15)
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2021/01/15/bidens-inaugural-address-in-a-time-of-crisis/


http://www.failblog.com

Insights from Lincoln and FDR's speeches and how President-elect Biden can learn from their crises.

15/01/2021

Is Donald Trump "The Incredible Shrinking President"?

Posted on January 15, 2021January 15, 2021 by Heidi TranEditorial: What’s Different about Trump’s Second Impeachment? Did we ever think we’d hear the words, “Second impeachment of the president of the United States”? One impeachment should be more than enough for any president. If Donald T...

15/01/2021

An editorial from Alabama:

* Hey, Big Mules! Quit Financing Crackpots Like Mo Brooks (2021-01-11)
https://www.al.com/news/2021/01/hey-big-mules-quit-financing-crackpots-like-mo-brooks.html


http://www.failblog.com/

Business interests have a role to play, and they're doing it wrong.

13/01/2021

Words Of The Day:

- domestic terrorism

- coup attempt

- insurrection

- mob

- riot

- sedition

- storming the US Capitol

- treason

- white supremacists

Did I forget anything?

* 2021 Efforts To Remove Donald Trump From Office (2021-01-13)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_efforts_to_remove_Donald_Trump_from_office

* 2021 Storming Of The United States Capitol (2021-01-06)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_storming_of_the_United_States_Capitol

Following the storming of the United States Capitol by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021, government officials accused him of incitement of insurrection for allegedly encouraging the events, and called for him to be removed from office. Democratic and Republican member...

12/01/2021

When you make plans for a violent government overthrow, and then try to carry it out, you've just gone beyond your "freedom of speech."

Posted on January 12, 2021January 12, 2021 by Heidi TranEditorial: The First Amendment Doesn’t Include Freedom of Insurrection Americans are quick to cite their First Amendment right to “freedom of speech” when they are condemned for what they have said, no matter how inflammatory or dangerous...

08/01/2021

Though Trump half-heartedly told the MAGAs to “go home,” the real message was clear: “Well done."

Posted on January 8, 2021January 8, 2021 by Heidi TranEditorial: Was Wednesday’s Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Really Surprising? What may be the ultimate failure for a democratic country— an attack on its government by its people, instigated by its leader— Donald Trump saw only as a huge t...

08/01/2021

On 2020-07-26, I finished reading Mary Trump's book while on vacation in Maine. Here's what I wrote in the book:

"Well-written. A good history of the creation and feeding of a monster: Donald Trump."

Mary Trump's book is well worth reading today:

* Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man Hardcover (2020-07-14)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982141468/


http://www.failblog.com/

Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man

07/01/2021

I'm getting ready to wrap up the 4-year Failed Pols project. Here's my latest editorial:

* Erik's Editorial: The Guilty Parties Who Put American Democracy At Risk In The Name Of Donald Trump (2021-01-07)
http://www.failblog.com/3016.html

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Erik J. Heels* Erik’s Editorial: The Guilty Parties Who Put American Democracy At Risk In The Name Of Donald Trump I do not fault stupid people for making the stupid decision to elect Donald Trump in 2016. I do fault smart people for making stupid decisions. These incl...

07/01/2021

* Political Cartoon By Dave Whamond (2020-10-26)
"Don't Get Too Excited - The Base IS Still There," after toppling Trumpism status.
https://politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/244791/

The Trump Base Image #: 244791 Artist: Dave Whamond Published: 10/26/2020 Title: The Trump Base Palette: Color Restrictions: None Attribution: The Trump Base by Dave Whamond, Canada, PoliticalCartoons.com TAGS:ELECTION 2020TRUMPPROSPECT OF LANDSLIDE LOSSDIRE WEEK OF POLLSGOP DISTANCING THEMSELVES FR...

06/01/2021

* Political Cartoon By Joe Datto
"Maybe his second week will go better."
https://condenaststore.com/featured/maybe-his-second-week-will-go-better-joe-dator.html

Maybe his second week will go better by Joe Dator

06/01/2021

Today's Video Du Jour Of The Day:

* Chancellor Palpatine Galactic Empire Speech - How Liberty Dies (2005)
Star Wars Episode 3 Revenge Of The Sith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgxZr6LLS34


http://www.failblog.com/

05/01/2021

On January 6, some, but not all, GOP lawmakers plan to reject the certified results of the 2020 presidential election, going against the will of the electoral college and the American people.

Posted on January 5, 2021January 5, 2021 by Heidi TranEditorial: What Happens on January 6 Will Be a Litmus Test for All Republicans On Wednesday, January 6, a joint session of Congress will meet to formally certify Joe Biden as president-elect. During the joint session, Americans may also see an un...

29/12/2020

What would Clement Moore think of the state of things on this Inauguration Day?

Posted on December 29, 2020December 29, 2020 by Heidi TranEditorial: ‘Twas the Month After Christmas ’Twas the month after Christmas, and the Senate and House Had just passed a relief bill that Trump tried to douse. The people had suffered in the pandemic scare: Sick, fearful, and jobless; Trump...

29/12/2020

California and New York should each split into two (blue) states. All territories (including DC) should become (blue) states. The Dakotas should be combined into one (red) state.

* 2020 Election Map
https://xkcd.com/2399/

More:

*
http://www.failblog.com

25/12/2020

With less than a month left in his presidency, how far can Donald Trump go in his attempts to leave nothing but a wasteland for the incoming administration?

Posted on December 25, 2020December 24, 2020 by Heidi TranEditorial: Donald Trump’s Scorched Earth Policy: Not So Much Enactment As Acting Out With less than a month before he leaves office, Donald Trump has acted out a policy of (non-)governance that amounts to scorched earth on steroids. Whether...

22/12/2020

Even some Trump loyalists are alarmed at the prospect of calling in the military to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Some extremist groups, however, may interpret it as a challenge from their leader.

Posted on December 22, 2020December 22, 2020 by Heidi TranEditorial: Trump Denies Talking Martial Law, But The Gauntlet Has Been Thrown As absurd and unhinged as Donald Trump’s rejection of the 2020 presidential election results has been, the suggestion of using martial law to overturn the results...

19/12/2020

Moderna is the underdog. Go underdog!

* COVID: US Approves Moderna As Second Vaccine (2020-12-18)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55370999

The Food and Drug Administration gives the green light for releasing millions of doses.