Wow!!!
Who’da Thunk It?
It is sobering to absorb the fact that We the People ceded so much power to a single individual.
54 days into his second administration, Donald John Trump can declare a “national emergency” at will and for personal reasons. As to his personal reasons--they tie directly to enhancing his political power and enriching his net worth.
The only way to contest his opinion on a timely basis is to file a pleading with a court of appropriate jurisdiction for crisis control of whatever “defensive” action the Mad King may find immediately appropriate.
Free as a Bird
Tariffs are a form of war. They are economic in nature. They are intended to protect domestic production and product. Our Mad King has put in place and/or threatened tariffs with trading partners around the globe. The continuing resolution passed on 14 Mar 25 contained language which surrendered congressional (Article One) oversight of this type of executive (Article Two) action until 03 Jan 2027. This is an unprecedented and very dangerous transfer of power in no way intended in the plain language of the constitution.
Our Warrior King
One day later, on 15 Mar 25, our titular Commander in Chief declared war against an invading enemy. Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 (AEA) as legal authority for exercising an executive power which has no oversight. He ordered deportation of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Threat Analysis
According to ABC News, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found that the deportations would cause irreparable harm. "Not only are they going to be deported, but it's not..to friendly countryside but to prison.” On that basis, he issued a verbal TRO. He barred the Trump administration from deporting "all non-citizens who are subject to the AEA proclamation" for at least 14 days. He set Friday, 21 Mar 25, as the date for a hearing of arguments on the matter. His order stated:
"Flights are actively departing and plan to depart. I do not believe that I am able to wait any longer…You shall inform your clients of this immediately (that) any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned to the United States…However that's accomplished, turning around the plane, or not embarking anyone on the plane…this is something that you need to make sure is complied with immediately."
The administration ordered two planes containing hundreds of prisoners to take flight during the hearing. The intention was to get the aircraft over international waters prior to any ruling from Judge Boasberg. The aircraft were not returned to any point in the United States. El Salvador received the cargo.
The administration took two immediate steps regarding the ruling.
1. Propaganda—Spokespersons for the administration claimed that:
· The TRO did not apply; and,
· Planes needed to land because of "operational" and "national security" reasons.
2. Legal--The White House asked the D.C. federal circuit court to stay Judge Boasberg’s TRO.
Back in the Saddle Again
This is the second “test” of range of presidential power that the Department of Trump’s Justice (DOTJ) is driving, full speed and in an abuse of custom and law, straight into the beckoning arms of John Roberts’ Quisling Court.
What could possibly go right?
“Cocked Pistol”
Our national defense readiness condition (DEFCON) is structured on five levels of threat alert and response. DEFCON 1 is the highest level of attention, concern, and reaction. Forces with a DEFCON level of 1 are kept ready for immediate action. DEFCON 1 is reserved for the absolute most dangerous, severe situations, including imminent or ongoing nuclear war involving the US or one of its allies. DEFCON 1 is called our “Cocked Pistol.”
Leading Substack voices are pulling the trigger on the cocked pistol. They view actions by the Article One (congressional) branch on Friday and the Article Two (executive) branch on Saturday and Sunday as more than “one step over the line, sweet Jesus.” They view the situation as dangerous and severe. These voices call for public protest by those of We the People unhappy with the results and consequences of Election 2024.
Be Strategic
We the People shot ourselves in the foot when Trump won enough votes for an encore act in the Oval Office.
A significant number of us are angry and scared enough to reload.
This 82-year-old Texas lady would urge careful aim when going DEFCON 1 against the three branches of government now firmly in the control of conservative partisans.
Anthem
Understand and be ready to take responsibility for your actions. Or a decision to try to “sit this one out.”
We the People can run but we cannot hide from the implementation of the callous, cruel, and corrupt Project 2025 playbook. Or, we can resist. We can “just say ‘no’.”
The Power of One is indivisible and historically potent.
When enough committed individuals rise in unison and protest, tyrants fail and fall.
Acknowledge the chaos as in force and declare it unacceptable.
Let each of We the People unhappy with the results and consequences of Election 2024 every day in every legal way use our persons and our purses to deny, delay, disable, disassemble, and destroy implementation of the Project 2025 playbook.
1. Of our elected representatives--Demand identification of persons of good character and relevant experience to sit a Shadow Cabinet. Require them to daily protest illegalities, injustices and inequities proposed or enacted within their sphere of expertise.
2. Of ourselves—Keep a calm weather eye out for a true and actionable voice of resistance. Such a force routinely and spontaneously arises from citizens forced into acts of civil disobedience. When he or she or they surface, support their call for a return to law and order.
Persist.
Prevail.
That government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth on our watch.
Indeed, Susan. No matter the political party, and especially the majority (did not vote at all is the majority and number one ahead of GOP and Dems) all are in the path of the storm whether or not they like it. Such an overload of emotions from scared, angry, aware, proactive, and protective--that's what tests us. As soon as We The People do the math and see that 330 million citizens outnumber the 600 elected and appointed federal folks inside the Capitol Beltway and we move together, in one direction, on a path to collective action to take our country back--that's when this overload of crazy stops.