Overstepping
Few Americans awoke July 1 with anticipation that the structure of our democracy as written in our Constitution would be altered by the Supreme Court. The court gave unlimited power to the president regarding any “core constitutional powers.”
This ruling gives more power to the president and to the court, and decreases the power of Congress to exert checks and balances as set up in the Constitution. The problem of course occurs where the president and the courts are politically aligned as they would be if the presumptive 2024 Republican candidate is voted in. And going forward, Americans would live under presidents with nearly unlimited power. We know from experience that power-hungry presidents need checks and balances to protect citizens’ rights.
The founders anticipated scenarios that they experienced in England under imperial powers, and they formed the structure of our American government to prevent absolute rule by the president.
I suggest voters go to The National Constitution Center, a nonpartisan civic education institution established by Congress, at constitutioncenter.org to learn more.
Susan Lee Feathers, Virginia Beach
Immunity needed
Democrats say we must respect the rule of law when it comes to former President Donald Trump’s trials and verdicts. Just like Trump, Democrats respect the rule of law when it goes their way, but shamefully bash it when it doesn’t.
Take the Supreme Court ruling affirming U.S. presidents have presumptive immunity from prosecution for official acts. Democrats claim the president could hypothetically assassinate a political rival and be immune from prosecution. The president can’t just go around willy-nilly ordering anyone killed. The legal bar for such a grave decision is extremely high.
Previously, the Obama administration approved the extrajudicial killing by targeted drone strike of an American citizen, Anwar al-Awlaki, deemed to be a terrorist living in Yemen. Two other Americans were also killed by drone strikes, including al-Awlaki’s 16-year-old son. Without presidential immunity always presumed for official acts, and now affirmed by the Supreme Court, former President Barack Obama could theoretically be indicted for murder.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor actually wrote in her dissent, “In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law.” Seriously? The majority opinion says, “The president enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the president does is official. The president is not above the law. ”
Joe Naneville, Windsor
Act now
The Supreme Court has decided that our Founding Fathers made a mistake: They didn’t want a republic or democracy; they wanted a king. Who knew? Thanks to the July 1 decision by the we-don’t-need-no-stinking-rules Supreme Court judges (Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas), there will likely be no consequence for former President Donald Trump for the most dangerous of his acts.
Trump’s whining has made it clear that he never wanted fair or equal treatment under the law. He’s wanted special treatment, and now, thanks to the Supreme Court, he will get it.
The good or bad news is that now there will be little to no consequence for any president for any alleged crimes said president might commit, as long as those actions are official acts.
So, I sure hope President Joe Biden will officially act immediately to protect our democracy or republic by arresting Trump. Then he should officially purge our Congress of every MAGA fascist. Start with those who hid in terror on Jan. 6, but who later forgot that Capitol police protected them. Officially arrest the liars in Congress who deny that Biden won the past presidential election (Also can you gag them so they’ll stop saying they are conservative, Republican and or Christian? They’ve mangled the meanings of those words beyond recognition.).
Then, Biden, please follow the Trump playbook: Game the legal system. Delay the trials, string them out for years, decades, centuries. If you, Biden put these traitors in prison as an official act, it will be lawful. Please, do whatever you want. With impunity. You are immune. Yee-haw.
Many thanks to the righteous and wise justices for allowing this decision to descend from on high. It’s a great new idea for this great land. King Solomon, in all his glory, couldn’t have been greater.
Christine Anderson, Virginia Beach
Draw in others
As our world, or at least here in the U.S., spins out of control, we should remember several points. No matter the election’s outcome, we will still wake up the following day, mow the lawn on Saturday and give the kids a ride to soccer practice.
As we spin, let’s remember not to be centrifugal. Don’t throw others away because they disagree with your political point of view. You have the power to become gravitational and draw others to you; by doing this, we can discuss our differences and bridge gaps where we disagree.
Hold the ground you occupy and pull others to you; let them see there is room for all opinions and freedom to agree to disagree.
Justin Pardi, Williamsburg
