Opinion: Trump turns the presidency into a dictatorship

[Maximus1]

That is the only thing you can count on with Trump

 

[VonDerTann]

I’m just pointing out a few things he could do and hasn’t. The fact that it was done by one of our greatest presidents - who certainly wasn’t a dictator - is lost on no one.

By your logic, people would be entitled to call you a million nasty things, because doggonit, “you haven’t had to be those things yet, but you may some day!”

 

[JonNC]

Student, this article goes to the power of the federal government as a whole, not the power of the presidency. In fact, to the extent it talks about congressional enactments, it seems to be describing increased powers of the legislature.

Why do you think federal power and executive power are mutually exclusive?
We have a federal department of education as part of the executive branch. This statutory and regulatory interference is extra constitutional and is relatively new.

 

[Maximus1]

You must have missed the firings were motivated by vengeance.
He even fired a war hero’s brother, just because he was his brother. Your take on " Christian " is terribly misplaced

 

[VonDerTann]

My point was/is merely that expanding powers of the federal government do not necessarily equate with expanding powers of the presidency. Student’s article, while interesting, seemed to focus on the former, not necessarily the latter. Could they be synonymous? I’m certainly open. That’s why I asked for examples.

 

[StudentMI]

Fair point. I did post a second one but I understand that strictly speaking the two are not synonymous.

 

[JonNC]

My point was/is merely that expanding powers of the federal government do not necessarily equate with expanding powers of the presidency.

Of course it does. If federal power is increased, that power is exercised by the executive. It administers the general government.

 

[JonNC]

You must have missed the firings were motivated by vengeance.

When did he say this? Do you have the quote?

 

[VonDerTann]

No, you don’t really know what motivated them, because you can’t read someone’s heart.

As I keep posting, I may fire my at-will employee for no reason at all, or a reason I subjectively think is a good one (maybe “they’re insufficiently loyal!”?) provided it doesn’t violate public policy.

A lawyer can fire his/her associate on the same terms. That said associate “took an oath to defend the constitution” is 100% irrelevant.

The fact remains: Trump had the right to fire the IGs for no reason if he wanted to, and his doing so does not make him a dictator.

 

[VonDerTann]

I respectfully disagree. For example, we’ve seen vast increases in judicial power of late, with unelected trial level federal judges in single-state or part-of-state districts enjoining nationwide acts by the Trump administration. When one does it, another can cite the first as “persuasive authority.” An increase in one branch’s power need not increase another branch’s. To the contrary, an increase in one branch’s power may curtail another branch’s power.

 

[Dr_Meinheimer]

Must you claim every other post and refuse to answer what responses you are given? You have been given examples of the previous President doing the same thing, and yet you continue to mash the keyboard like its the intro to “Grim Grinning Ghosts” on the organ from “The Haunted Mansion.” At least if you are to going to clutter a topic, make it relevant to the points being made.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

For example, we’ve seen vast increases in judicial power of late, with unelected trial level federal judges in single-state or part-of-state districts enjoining nationwide acts by the Trump administration. When one does it, another can cite the first as “persuasive authority.” An increase in one branch’s power need not increase another branch’s. To the contrary, an increase in one branch’s power may curtail another branch’s power.

In keeping the the strategy for defending Trump’s actions, I will just point out that these actions by federal judges have been entirely according to the letter of the law. Just like Trump.

 

[VonDerTann]

But they keep getting reversed on appeal. The Supremes even castigated the practice recently.

 

[JonNC]

I respectfully disagree. For example, we’ve seen vast increases in judicial power of late, with unelected trial level federal judges in single-state or part-of-state districts enjoining nationwide acts by the Trump administration

I agree. Justice Thomas has been vocal about this.

When one does it, another can cite the first as “persuasive authority.” An increase in one branch’s power need not increase another branch’s. To the contrary, an increase in one branch’s power may curtail another branch’s power.

While true, it doesn’t contradict my statement about executive powers

 

[VonDerTann]

Maybe. You’ve given me something to think about.

 

[JonNC]

In keeping the the strategy for defending Trump’s actions, I will just point out that these actions by federal judges have been entirely according to the letter of the law. Just like Trump.

Of course, and “court shopping” is clearly a strategy that conservatives should employ the next time a progressive Democrat is president.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

LeafByNiggle:

In keeping the the strategy for defending Trump’s actions, I will just point out that these actions by federal judges have been entirely according to the letter of the law. Just like Trump.

Of course, and “court shopping” is clearly a strategy that conservatives should employ the next time a progressive Democrat is president.

I am quite certain they would anyway.

 

[JonNC]

JonNC:

LeafByNiggle:

In keeping the the strategy for defending Trump’s actions, I will just point out that these actions by federal judges have been entirely according to the letter of the law. Just like Trump.

Of course, and “court shopping” is clearly a strategy that conservatives should employ the next time a progressive Democrat is president.

I am quite certain they would anyway.

They haven’t done it extensively in the past. They need to take the same scorched earth approach that progressives have.

 

[Maximus1]

I have the mental capacity.

 

[Annie]

That’s also what every dictator does.

And Hitler was a vegetarian: does that make vegans more awful than Hitler?

“ do whatever it takes to seize his moment ”,

Who precisely are you quoting here? Because it looks like a reference to the movie Coco?

Based on his past history he will “ do whatever it takes to seize his moment ”

Is that like Dems not letting crises go to waste?

False equivalency.

You still have not explained why this is a false equivalency.