From tariffs to environmental rollbacks, the Supreme Court’s ruling forces Trump’s agenda out of emergency mode and into the slow, politically expensive machinery of democracy.
We can only hope the SCOTUS members have seen the light and are ready, willing, and able to proceed to do the work they were appointed to do and not allow the whim's of an insane man and his followers to be their North Star.
In more normal times, the tariff decision handed down by the Supremes seemed an easy one. The language of the Constitution seems crystal clear (see below) which is why no other president in history has claimed this unilateral authority to impose tariffs. We know Felon 47 is an incurious person, is not a reader, knows little of this country’s history, maybe has never even read the Constitution he has sworn to uphold, knows little of the laws that govern this country…so how did he figure out that Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 allows tariffs if imports threaten national security? And then impose this tariff nightmare?
He has some very smart acolytes who know and scour the law and plot how to use this emotional bully for their own ends by fawning and appealing to his ego, vanity and his ignorance and thirst for money. These are the Project 25 guys. These are the Federalist Society and their billionaire supporters who have been plotting for decades. And in Felon 47 they found their malleable front man to manipulate. The wannabee “You’re fired” tough guy who delights in self-aggrandizement, gilt, and wealth. So, to them, how to create the appearance (excuse) that there is a national security issue so that they could get Felon 47 to invoke Section 232?
Make one up.
The US has had trade deficits forever since some countries supply the US with things they do better or we cannot grow (think bananas and coffee, or computer chips from Taiwan, lots of clothing, TV sets no longer manufactured in the US, iPhones, etc.). Another thing about trade deficits…only products, not services, are counted. The US has an enormous trade surplus in services, including software, financial consulting and banking, entertainment, movies and TV content. Somehow, that never gets mentioned.
So now as a country here we are, the unraveling of their flawed plan, finally with the help of the Supremes. There were several choices to choose from going forward. First; do what the Supremes stated: Now go to Congress and get the legal authority necessary to impose the Felon’s tariffs. Oh my, Oh no! The Congress will never go along with that, especially now with an election looming soon! These tariffs are inflationary, and rising prices are anathema to getting re-elected. That ship has sailed. Second; just end the tariffs. Make the claim (lie) that the tariffs were wonderful and all the new money the US was getting from foreign countries (not) were MAGA…but those dang Supremes stopped me from making America stronger. Which would result in inflation abating and prices easing once the tariffs were gone. A political win he could take credit for as the economy improves. Nah, no way. Felon 47 would see that as admitting he was wrong in the first place by imposing tariffs that were deemed illegal. Ah, the third choice: Impose new tariffs using another bogus authority. Of course, let’s do that! “I’ll show ‘em!” But this new bogus tariff of a fixed 10% for 150 days before having to then justify it before Congress (right in the middle of the 2026 election) has stripped him of all his leverage against foreign countries and corporations since the new tariffs are fixed and time limited. Everyone now can just wait it out. No lobbyists and foreign leaders having to come and kiss his derriere or give him bribes. To the Felon, the worst of all tariff worlds…but it’s better for his ego than admitting he needs the permission of others (Congress, the Supremes) to unilaterally do whatever he wants. LONG LIVE THE KING!
I found Justice Kavanaugh’s dissent curious. Kavanaugh cautioned that “the majority had unleashed a potential ‘economic mess’ without offering any guidance on how to handle the fallout—especially the massive refund claims expected from importers.” That’s not his job to opine what will happen and use it as an excuse for his legal dissent. Worrying about the political fallout of the Court’s decision is better left to the politicians who created this illegal mess in the first place. The Supremes have basically one job (other than running the Federal court system): Interpret the law. That’s it. What does the law say? We can argue that recently they have strayed from that mandate (using the Shadow Docket to support the Felon, granting the President, especially this one, immunity), but their job with their lifetime tenure, is simply to interpret the law.
The saga continues. What new craziness will follow? And in the words of a sage philosopher, “We’ll see.”
All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Section 8
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
We can only hope the SCOTUS members have seen the light and are ready, willing, and able to proceed to do the work they were appointed to do and not allow the whim's of an insane man and his followers to be their North Star.
My new favorite adage;
"(insert noun) doesn't just fall from a magical shmoo tree in Geneva!"
Thank you Mary Geddry.
They flood the zone with horrors. You provide insight and comic relief.
In more normal times, the tariff decision handed down by the Supremes seemed an easy one. The language of the Constitution seems crystal clear (see below) which is why no other president in history has claimed this unilateral authority to impose tariffs. We know Felon 47 is an incurious person, is not a reader, knows little of this country’s history, maybe has never even read the Constitution he has sworn to uphold, knows little of the laws that govern this country…so how did he figure out that Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 allows tariffs if imports threaten national security? And then impose this tariff nightmare?
He has some very smart acolytes who know and scour the law and plot how to use this emotional bully for their own ends by fawning and appealing to his ego, vanity and his ignorance and thirst for money. These are the Project 25 guys. These are the Federalist Society and their billionaire supporters who have been plotting for decades. And in Felon 47 they found their malleable front man to manipulate. The wannabee “You’re fired” tough guy who delights in self-aggrandizement, gilt, and wealth. So, to them, how to create the appearance (excuse) that there is a national security issue so that they could get Felon 47 to invoke Section 232?
Make one up.
The US has had trade deficits forever since some countries supply the US with things they do better or we cannot grow (think bananas and coffee, or computer chips from Taiwan, lots of clothing, TV sets no longer manufactured in the US, iPhones, etc.). Another thing about trade deficits…only products, not services, are counted. The US has an enormous trade surplus in services, including software, financial consulting and banking, entertainment, movies and TV content. Somehow, that never gets mentioned.
So now as a country here we are, the unraveling of their flawed plan, finally with the help of the Supremes. There were several choices to choose from going forward. First; do what the Supremes stated: Now go to Congress and get the legal authority necessary to impose the Felon’s tariffs. Oh my, Oh no! The Congress will never go along with that, especially now with an election looming soon! These tariffs are inflationary, and rising prices are anathema to getting re-elected. That ship has sailed. Second; just end the tariffs. Make the claim (lie) that the tariffs were wonderful and all the new money the US was getting from foreign countries (not) were MAGA…but those dang Supremes stopped me from making America stronger. Which would result in inflation abating and prices easing once the tariffs were gone. A political win he could take credit for as the economy improves. Nah, no way. Felon 47 would see that as admitting he was wrong in the first place by imposing tariffs that were deemed illegal. Ah, the third choice: Impose new tariffs using another bogus authority. Of course, let’s do that! “I’ll show ‘em!” But this new bogus tariff of a fixed 10% for 150 days before having to then justify it before Congress (right in the middle of the 2026 election) has stripped him of all his leverage against foreign countries and corporations since the new tariffs are fixed and time limited. Everyone now can just wait it out. No lobbyists and foreign leaders having to come and kiss his derriere or give him bribes. To the Felon, the worst of all tariff worlds…but it’s better for his ego than admitting he needs the permission of others (Congress, the Supremes) to unilaterally do whatever he wants. LONG LIVE THE KING!
I found Justice Kavanaugh’s dissent curious. Kavanaugh cautioned that “the majority had unleashed a potential ‘economic mess’ without offering any guidance on how to handle the fallout—especially the massive refund claims expected from importers.” That’s not his job to opine what will happen and use it as an excuse for his legal dissent. Worrying about the political fallout of the Court’s decision is better left to the politicians who created this illegal mess in the first place. The Supremes have basically one job (other than running the Federal court system): Interpret the law. That’s it. What does the law say? We can argue that recently they have strayed from that mandate (using the Shadow Docket to support the Felon, granting the President, especially this one, immunity), but their job with their lifetime tenure, is simply to interpret the law.
The saga continues. What new craziness will follow? And in the words of a sage philosopher, “We’ll see.”
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
ARTICLE I (Powers of the Congress)
Section 7
All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Section 8
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;