* For those hoping that Roe v. Wade won’t be the key criteria when it comes to Donald Trump’s (July 9) Supreme Court nominee, keep hoping–but stay grounded. There are subplots to play out.
This is–as is everything–about Trump’s legacy. It’s a lot more than following the recommendations of The Federalist Society. Midterms are coming and this pseudo-Republican president’s popularity with GOP politicians and voters keeps going up. Expect him to double down on Steve Bannon’s scapegoat-and-demonization playbook.
That notably means pandering to the base in opposing the Democrats on their “open borders” immigration policy that is “invader” friendly and keeping the campaign promise that prioritized the repeal of Roe v. Wade. That pledge was underscored with the selection of Indiana’s Mike Pence as Trump’s running mate. Pence did his deplorable part and delivered the outrageously hypocritical, evangelical vote. It was arguably determinative in a couple of key states. Now it’s payback time.
One consolation, of sorts, in this worst-case, Roe v. Wade scenario: If the Supreme Court ultimately overturns such seemingly settled law, the Administration could play up the “state’s rights” angle. But, no, that’s not consoling enough.
* Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is now the, uh, “swing” vote on the Supreme Court.
* Looks like Trump’s chief-of-staff, Gen. John Kelly, is on his way out. Apparently he’s become redundant with a president who is, in effect, his own chief of staff. It also means that Trump never got over Kelly’s “idiot” reference that seemed to confirm Rex Tillerson’s “moron” characterization. And it also means that not even a four-star general could rein Trump in.
*When it comes to civil discourse in this country, there’s a lot to shout about. Unfortunately. So much for civility requiring mutual respect.
Anyone else miss old-fashioned, self-serving, disingenuous, political-agenda spin? That’s politics in an untidy, sometimes tumultuous democracy. But not narcissistic, cruel, pathological lying from the top and the invective of fear and divisiveness from the dupes, brigands and party careerists below. That can’t be politics as usual. That can’t be us. But it is right now.
* You know you’re in brutally controversial times when a relevant frame of reference for an immigration ruling is Korematsu v. United States. Never good to see Japanese-American internment camps back in the news cycle.
* All families should be kept together with rare exceptions–maybe the Mansons and the Trumps.
* Legally, that Virginia restaurant was within its rights not to want to serve Sarah Huckabee Sanders. It wasn’t an ugly confrontation, and the owner did it out of deference to gay employees who were uncomfortable. Sanders then ranted on her government Twitter account, and then Trump weighed in as only he can. He said The Red Hen “should focus more on cleaning its filthy canopies, doors and windows… .” Imagine, Huckabee Sanders even opting for a meal in a filthy restaurant.
* In some nefarious, parallel-universe way, doesn’t the upcoming Trump-Vladimir Putin summit feel like a collusion update?