On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that American presidents have “absolute immunity” from prosecution for any “official acts” they take while in office. For President Joe Biden, this should be great news. Suddenly a host of previously unthinkable options have opened up to him: He could dispatch Seal Team 6 to Mar-A-Lago with orders to neutralize the “primary threat to freedom and democracy” in the United States. He could issue an edict that all digital or physical evidence of his debate performance last week be destroyed. Or he could just use this chilling partisan decision, the latest 6-3 ruling in a term that was characterized by a staggering number of them, as an opportunity to finally embrace the movement to reform the Supreme Court.

But Biden is not planning to do any of that. Shortly after the Supreme Court delivered its decision in Trump v. The United States, the Biden campaign held a press call with surrogates, including Harry Dunn, a Capitol police officer who was on duty the day Trump supporters stormed the building on Jan. 6; Reps. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas); and deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks.

Their message was simple: It’s terrifying to contemplate what Donald Trump might do with these powers if he’s reelected.

“We have to do everything in our power to stop him,” Fulks said.

Everything, that is, except take material action to rein in the increasingly lawless and openly right-wing Supreme Court.

  • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    23213·
    3 days ago

    Biden once again bringing a deck of cards to a gunfight because responding effectively and proportionally in a situation that desperatetly calls for it wOuLd bE DiVisiVE.

    THIS position is a justification for calling for him to step down from the candidacy, because refusing to even consider reforming - let alone packing (or, dare I say, the newly-revealed presidentially-legal-if-“official” extralegal and violent unpacking) the Supreme Court is very obviously going to lead to the long term failure of not only the Democratic Party, but democracy in this country in general.

    • Coach@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1086·
      3 days ago

      This. Right. Here.

      It’s fine if Biden doesn’t want to play by the new rules – admirable in fact – but we have to understand that this is the game we’re playing now. Either learn to play the game or take your ball and go home.

      • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
        351·
        3 days ago

        It’s fine if Biden doesn’t want to play by the new rules – admirable in fact

        It’s admirable, but not fine! Biden must play by the new rules; the Supreme Court gave him no choice.

        “Taking the high road” doesn’t just make him lose, it also dooms all the rest of us! It is unethical for him to be that selfish.

    • Blackbeard@lemmy.worldEnglish
      533·
      3 days ago

      I wish I could disagree with you but I just can’t anymore. I fear that we will look back on this as the breaking point.

    • Cornelius_Wangenheim@lemmy.world
      1327·
      3 days ago

      Biden isn’t a fascist and neither are the people he appointed. Even if he gave an illegal order, it wouldn’t be followed because his administration isn’t stocked with incompetent lackies chosen for their loyalty alone.

      • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
        2224·
        3 days ago

        Gaza protests: US officials who have quit over Biden’s support of Israel

        Stacy Gilbert, who served in the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, left in late May. She said she resigned over an administration report to Congress that she said falsely stated Israel was not blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza.

        Alexander Smith, a contractor for USAID, quit in late May, alleging censorship after the U.S. foreign aid agency canceled publication of his presentation on maternal and child mortality among Palestinians. The agency said it had not gone through proper review and approval.

        Looks like everyone that doesn’t get in line with Blue MAGA is getting the boot to me.

        • Beetschnapps@lemmy.world
          1817·
          3 days ago

          So you’ve found examples of folks moving on… while ignoring who they are…. Call things “blue maga” but that’s your label. You are “blue maga”… you make this shit up.

          • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
            2018·
            3 days ago

            Folks being censored by the Biden administration and the entire administration falling in line to intentionally lie, censor and support Genocide you mean?

            People here are really jumping to ignore the Genocide part.

            • Beetschnapps@lemmy.world
              1118·
              3 days ago

              I’m so censored! So genocide! So what do you mean? Supporting genocide is just a by-product of language? Genocide is what we do? Do you understand the word or are you just desperate to repeat it? The Biden administration has FORCED me so much… so who can say?

                • MutilationWave@lemmy.world
                  28·
                  3 days ago

                  I didn’t even realize I was commenting on your thread until I got to the genocide shit. Yeah Biden sucks. Yes Israel is perpetrating genocide.

                  Trump would have Palestinians pushed into the sea by tanks with Zionists jumping off and popping settlements like a real time strategy game. Then everyone would sing hallelujah what a savior as extremist Christians and extremist Jews join hands and wait to receive their Lord and Savior at their new multi-million dollar beachfront mcmansions right over the literal bodies of every Palestinian child in existence.

                  Stop Trump! Vote!