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.

  • meathorse@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    At this point, what benefit is there of doing nothing and “following the rules”?

    If Biden wins, then what? It doesn’t fix any of the BS the supreme Court has created it just buys a couple more years until Trump tries again or the next Rep maga agent comes along. Looking at the state of the Republican party, this would be almost any of them at this point then the US is in the exact same position.

    They can’t hold off the Republicans forever.

    Of course if he does reset the court, jails or executes Trump then that plays directly into the hands of the crazies too “SEE! We told you he’s trying to take over democracy!!”

    • Hacksaw@lemmy.ca
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      5 months ago

      They’re literally saying that now.

      We’re afraid of the threat that they’ll keep doing what they’re doing right now. Why? They’re already doing it. We’re idiots for letting it affect our decisions.

    • MutilationWave@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      I hear you for sure but if Biden wins we get four years to figure this shit out and get a younger candidate on the Dem ballot. Maybe more progressive maybe not but not fall of Rome shit like we will get with Trump. I truly think that if Trump loses this election he’s through. He might die during his term even if he wins it. But if he loses, and especially if he later dies or goes to prison, MAGA will implode.

      I don’t know what the fallout will look like if we ever see the dawn of that shining opportunity, but this will be the time to push left hard.