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Al Bellenchia's avatar

“A society becomes totalitarian when its structure becomes flagrantly artificial. That is when its ruling class has lost its function but succeeds in clinging to power by force or fraud.” - George Orwell

Orwell for the win, yet again.

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Richard Turnbull, J.D.'s avatar

“There are many who do not know they are fascists but will find it out when the time comes.” Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls

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Susan Burgess's avatar

“If today the Executive claims the right to deport without due process and in disregard of court orders, what assurance will there be tomorrow that it will not deport American citizens and then disclaim responsibility to bring them home?”

That is so “The Executive” can prevent two things. A more thorough investigation into the possibility of unlawfully captured citizens. And discouraging public dissent using intimidation and the ubiquitous cameras at protest marches that can single out you or me. If the citizens are under responsive, this is why, and it’s what Troub is going for. It’s what he wants. We can’t allow him to succeed in this kind of intimidation.

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Ann Sharon's avatar

Due process for everyone is crucial. This administration is testing the system, poking and prodding to find the weaknesses. They also want their actions to be accepted as ‘normal.’

• An AZ 19 y/o US citizen was held for almost 10 days as his family searched. He was not carrying ID and they ignored his statements that he was a US citizen. Luckily his family found him and produced his documents. A judge released him. Otherwise ….

• In FL a young man, born in the US, was held despite a federal judge’s hold on enforcing FL’s new immigration law. Despite his mother producing his birth certificate and social security card in court & the judge dismissing the charges. The judge was informed he would not be released because the state court no longer had jurisdiction. ICE had put a 48 hour hold on his release and would be picking him up. Maybe officials didn’t like the local blowback for violating the law. He was quietly released with 30 protestors outside the jail.

Other citizens are being routinely detained at the border for shorter periods of time.

This is wrong. None of it is normal.

Even SCOTUS has recognized where were are headed. It is VERY unusual for it to issue a ruling at this point of a case. Extremely unusual to do it in the middle of the night (1 am?) and not wait for the dissent (written by Alito) to be completed.

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Marliss Desens's avatar

Trump is also backed by Republican members of Congress who are either too spineless or too determined to hold onto power by any means that they will not hold him to account as the Constitution requires. That started in January 2021.

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Mary Greenwald's avatar

The Republicans also believe in Trump and his actions. They are the Nixon/Reagan/Bush/Gingrich Republicans who believe in the divine right of a Republican President. They believe in Small government - no Head-Start, no Food and Safety inspectors, no Clean Air and Water, no Environmental restrictions on business, no due process. . . .

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Marliss Desens's avatar

Agreed. Many are true believers in MAGA.

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Paula Dunn's avatar

We the people object to President Trump’s treatment of immigrants.. everyone deserves due process 🇺🇸🗽

President Trump swore to..

“preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” That promise would include the protection and defense of the Fifth Amendment, which states that no one shall be "deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.”

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Helen Stajninger's avatar

Thank you Steven, for your truth and persistence.

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Sharon C Storm's avatar

It’s not just Abrego Garcia, it’s all of those he sent to El Salvador. None of them had their day in court. According to several journalists, at least 75% of them had no criminal record in the U. S. This is a disgrace, they are suffering in a prison that uses torture and fear to control the inmates. This is being done with taxpayer’s money, the sooner he is removed from office, the better it is for the rule of law.

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Leakie's avatar

Deflect and distract. Those are Trump's mantras. While he imposes tariffs and rants on his social media platform, who know with which Russian oligarch one of his minions--Stephen Miller maybe--is meeting on how to chop up Ukraine or how to change the U.S. currency to bitcoin. He really does believe he's a Mafia don. He has to keep Abrego Garcia in prison or the entire house of cards will crumble. Let's hope it does, and soon. BTW, thanks, Moscow Mitch.

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Susan Burgess's avatar

Furthermore it could become the new slavery.

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Homi Hormasji's avatar

The Republicans in Congress are complicit in this destruction of our democracy. They have no shame. Or else they would cross the aisle to bring the horrors that are being perpetrated on this nation and upon the world to an immediate end.

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Marina Oshana's avatar

Doesn’t Pete Hegseth have several sinister tattoos, including one signaling violent Christian ideology? And hasn’t he shown flagrant contempt for our national security in his continued use of Signal chat for sensitive matters? And wouldn’t it be correct to label the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers violent gangs? Just saying….

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Cynthia Turner's avatar

The need to harm others is insulting. In our life we were taught to give with respect. Having money does not excuse someone's complete illegal behavior. Until people disassociate with this class of corrupt people it will continue. Dignity and ethics are characters worth more than money.

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

Millions upon millions of our fellow USians voted for this hateful, ignorant man *three times*. Most of those people were white. They were fine with terrible things happening to people of color and women of all colors. So some of them are having second thoughts now that they realize they're going to be affected too? As the saying goes, "cry me a river." Whether they're all as racist as he is or just ("just"??) abysmally ignorant, they aren't going away. We've got a big problem here, people, and it didn't start with Trump.

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