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<\/a>Happy Fourth of July, friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On this day, we celebrate that massive moment in 1776 when the Continental Congress voted to break free of Britain, and the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence. Those fireworks and cookouts are all about celebrating America\u2019s heroic rejection of monarchic rule<\/a>, and the tyranny that came with it: We don\u2019t do kings around here! Cue the fireworks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, 248 years was a pretty good run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to Monday\u2019s ruling by the conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court<\/a> \u2014 mini-monarchs themselves<\/a>, unelected, and answerable to no one \u2014 the president of the United States is now above the law, just like an 18th century king. The conservatives decided that former president Donald Trump has near-absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for almost anything he might do in office \u2014 so long as he makes sure to say that what would otherwise be crimes were official acts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their decision not only kicks the legs out from under the current cases against Trump<\/a>, but it ensures that, should he be reelected, he can behave as despotically as he wishes without worrying about being criminally prosecuted. He could openly offer pardons or government contracts<\/a> in exchange for bribes or favors, and protect those who commit crimes as they carry out his illegal orders. He could demand that the Department of Justice investigate and bring sham charges against his enemies<\/a>, even if he admits he is doing so as retribution or for political gain. And yes, as Justice Sonia Sotomayor said in her searing dissent<\/a>, he could order the military to assassinate an opponent, and no court could touch him for it.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n US allies see a worrisome turn in presidential immunity ruling<\/a>In a volatile term, a fractured Supreme Court remade America<\/a>Judge delays Trump\u2019s hush-money sentencing until at least September after high court immunity ruling<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Stick a fork in the republic. Long live the king!<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s clearer than ever that these justices dodged and lied through their teeth in their confirmation hearings, banging on about Roe v. Wade being settled law<\/a>, respect for precedent, and no one being above the law<\/a>. Well, now Roe is gone, stare decisis<\/em> is stare<\/em> deceased, and the extremist jurists who pose as originalists, supposedly bound solely by the intentions of the framers, have blown through all their oracles stood for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, I\u2019m no expert, but I\u2019ve seen \u201cHamilton,\u201d and I am pretty sure King George III is not the hero of that show. When the frothing monarch sings \u201cYou\u2019ll be back,\u201d<\/a> to the rebels trying to shake off his tyranny, he\u2019s supposed to look pathetic, not prophetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, a bunch of actual historians have pointed out that the very founders these judges worship are on the record about how they would have hated what is happening right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, Thomas Paine, hype-man of the American Revolution, wrote a wildly popular pamphlet in 1776 called \u201cCommon Sense\u201d<\/a> that built public support for independence. In it, Paine decried the king, who \u201chath shewn himself such an inveterate enemy to liberty, and discovered such a thirst for arbitrary power.\u201d He was also pretty clear about the effect the new nation should be going for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut where says some is the King of America?\u201d Paine wrote. \u201cIn America THE LAW IS KING. For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought<\/em> to be King; and there ought to be no other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And here is Alexander Hamilton, in 1788,<\/a> saying very clearly that, unlike the king of Great Britain, no one, including a president, should be above the law in this country:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe President of the United States would be liable to be impeached, tried, and, upon conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanors, removed from office; and would afterwards be liable to prosecution and punishment in the ordinary course of law,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Declaration of Independence itself says<\/a>, \u201ca Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anybody who thinks a President Trump won\u2019t exploit the bejesus out of this new unchecked power is lying or living under a rock. Just last Sunday, he escalated his promises to target his political opponents<\/a>, supporting calls for military tribunals and the imprisonment of the president and vice president, Senators Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer, his own former VP Mike Pence and former Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a cataclysm that should have people marching in the streets. But by all means, let\u2019s keep spending every minute talking about Biden\u2019s age instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Happy Independence Day! Pass the ketchup.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRelated<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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