The Supreme Court has rendered a very flawed decision on presidential immunity. This nation has always believed that every citizen is subject to the rule of law, and no citizen is above the law - not even the president. That is no longer true.
The Court has ruled that a president has immunity when performing his official duties - even if he breaks the law in performing those duties. And they went further in declaring that any communication the president has with his vice-president or with the Justice Department includes presidential immunity (even if those discussions involve plans to break the law).
This is especially troubling when it comes to communication with the Justice Department.
Donald Trump has repeatedly promised his supporters that if elected for a second term, he would use the Justice Department to exact revenge on his perceived enemies - and there is no reason to believe he wouldn't follow through on that promise.
In his first term, Donald Trump made the mistake of choosing Attorney Generals who had a modicum of belief in the U.S. Constitution. They refused his more nefarious requests.
He won't make that mistake again. You can be sure that any new Trump-appointed Attorney General would be a sycophant - a person who would follow ALL Trump orders (even if they violated the Constitution).
That would let Trump use the Justice Department to punish anyone he didn't like - political opponents, print and broadcast media, individual journalists, or anyone else he didn't like.
Using the law to punish opponents is the most powerful tool of dictators. They use that to increase and sustain their power. Now it is legal for a U.S. president to wield that same kind of power. It's a giant step down the road to an authoritarian presidency.
This makes it even more important to make sure Trump is not elected this November. We must keep him out of the White House - at least until a more reasonable and ethical Supreme Court is a reality, and can overturn this very bad decision.
Ted, I fear we are in deep shit.
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