How Do You "Fight The Good Fight"- Page 2

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 10/23/25 at 3:00pm

Sutton Ross said: "It was an incredible day for us here. Congratulations to all who were there in mind, body, or spirit!"
 

This was the first "No Kings" event for my neighbors, a married couple in their 40s.  They texted me halfway through to let me know that they had unexpectedly been overwhelmed by emotions that they couldn't describe, but that had brought them to "happy tears".  

I can totally relate.

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 10/24/25 at 9:00am

"That statement is your declaration regarding the degree of disrespect you hold for both how, and why our Constitution was established. It also conveys your lack of understanding of the long and methodically established system of our Democracy. "

Protests for Civil Rights in the 1960's and against Vietnam War in the 70's were meaningful protests that effected change. Feel free to protest Trump but it will not change the fact that he has 3 years left.

"Both your displays mirror Trump’s, and are the reason why we protest his intents to disrespect the Constitution, destroy our Democratic system, and become a solitary dictator of this country. "

Please inform us all how Trump will become a dictator. He can't even get the government back open. 

[John Adams]

Posted: 10/24/25 at 10:03am

Zeppie2022 said: "Please inform us all how Trump will become a dictator. He can't even get the government back open."

If you're paying attention, you should be able to see that it is not in Trump's best interests to re-open the government.

Every day that our government is shut down facilitates additional opportunities for Trump to further his goal of autocracy, which has included dismissing career civil servants, persecution of political opponents, attacks on the free press, universities and civil society organizations, and manipulating laws to expand presidential authority. 

No Congress = No system of checks and balances to restrict his autocracy. Autocracy = absolute monarchy and all forms of dictatorship.

Pay better attention.

[John Adams]

Posted: 10/24/25 at 10:11am

DEAR MODS:

In the spirit of John McCain's (rest his soul) sense of decency, and certainly NOT that I'm unappreciative, but how is it that the very second I posted the above, there were 6 "thumbs up" assigned to my post? 

Again, it's nice and all, but seems impossible that 6 folks were able to read a post of that length in mere milliseconds...?

Updated On: 10/24/25 at 10:11 AM

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 10/24/25 at 7:30pm

"No Congress = No system of checks and balances to restrict his autocracy. Autocracy = absolute monarchy and all forms of dictatorship.

Pay better attention."

Really. Federal judges have power to check presidential power by declaring executive action unconstitutional. 
Take a civics class.

[John Adams]

Posted: 10/25/25 at 7:55am

Zeppie2022 said: "Really. Federal judges have power to check presidential power by declaring executive action unconstitutional.
Take a civics class."

Really. Federal judges have NO power to check presidential power on their own accord. A case must be filed and brought before them. 

And please open your eyes to how many federal judges are being fired by Trump without cause. It's all over the news these past weeks.

Pay attention.

Updated On: 10/25/25 at 07:55 AM

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 10/25/25 at 8:46am

Yes, the judiciary can, should, and often does act as a check on presidential power.  But litigious-savvy Trump learned from his father, from Roy Cohn, and from his own experiences, that the wheels of justice turn quite slowly.

So Trump blatantly uses executive orders and declarations of false emergencies to make decisions (some of which are likely to be later checked or reversed) far more often and far more egregiously than almost any previous president.  Sadly, the Republican majority in Congress seems all too willing to abdicate their power to stop some of these actions, as well as cede their own authority (i.e., to set tariffs) to the executive branch. 

I took a civics class (actually several) and much of what I learned is not being followed by this administration, the House, or the Senate.  Even a cursory understanding gained only through Schoolhouse Rock videos easily conveys that we are in increasingly turbulent times with an administration hellbent on testing every traditional limit or check on executive branch actions.

This often causes harm that cannot be fully corrected when courts eventually do nullify some of his actions similar in spirit to how the East Wing is now forever demolished even if we later learn that some additional review and oversight might have been required.  Other examples:

• Businesses can't regain monies lost from locals and visitors who stay away because the deployment of National Guard troops have unnecessarily turned some cities into war zones. 
• Citizens falsely arrested in ICE roundups that test the rule of law cannot undo the psychological trauma on them and their families. 
• Individuals on alleged drug boats who are summarily executed without any charges or trial cannot get their lives back if mistakes were made. 
• Small businesses forced to close because of arbitrary tariffs set, changed, and then changed again have no recourse to reclaim the livelihood they spent years building.

Update 10-26:

"Burnin' Down the House," an excellent Maureen Dowd column that captures the essence of Trump's authoritarian rule (New York Times gift link).

 

Updated On: 10/26/25 at 08:46 AM

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 10/28/25 at 11:44am

"Really. Federal judges have NO power to check presidential power on their own accord. A case must be filed and brought before them. 

And please open your eyes to how many federal judges are being fired by Trump without cause. It's all over the news these past weeks.

Pay attention"

You are becoming a broken record. You think it would be hard to find somebody in NY or California to file a case against Trump, cmon man.  Until there are no more Democratic federal judges in this country left, let us all know - OMG.

Let me wrap this up for you. Constitution will never be changed to allow somebody to run for 3rd full term. Congress can't even get 60 votes to pass "clean" CR, really think they could get the votes to change this amendment. There are checks and balances to limit power of any POTUS, that is the beauty of our government. If members in Congress don't do their jobs properly of checking Trump or any other POTUS that is on them. 

I am out, got a business meeting to attend soon and then heading out of town.

[John Adams]

Posted: 10/28/25 at 1:41pm

Zeppie2022 said: "You are becoming a broken record."
...and you are a brick wall.

Zeppie2022 also said: "Let me wrap this up for you. Constitution will never be changed to allow somebody to run for 3rd full term. Congress can't even get 60 votes to pass "clean" CR, really think they could get the votes to change this amendment."

Apparently, you're not in the loop on this. See: "Why Trump needs to keep the third-term talk going" and "How Trump Could Snatch a Third Term — Despite the 22nd Amendment" I wish you would choose to be better informed.

Zeppie2022 also said: "There are checks and balances to limit power of any POTUS, that is the beauty of our government."

Currently, we do not have a POTUS. Instead, we have a text book definition of a megalomaniac whose intent is to increase his personal wealth and possessions at the expense of our countr6y and the American people. (read about his latest shenanigans: "What we know about Trump’s bid to claim $230 million from his own Justice Department". Specifically note who's expected to foot the bill should the DoJ agree to Trump's settlement terms.)

Zeppie2022 also said: "If members in Congress don't do their jobs properly of checking Trump or any other POTUS that is on them."

...and now you've brought the discussion to it's "full circle" moment, returning it back to my point re: why it is not in Trump's best interests to re-open the government..

Zeppie2022 also said: "I am out, got a business meeting to attend soon and then heading out of town."

In all honesty, and especially if you are flying, I wish you the safest of passage, without incident. I will be looking forward to your next post which will confirm your sound return.

Updated On: 10/28/25 at 01:41 PM

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 11/2/25 at 4:32pm

@John Adams

If Trump decided he wanted to hold onto power past 2028, there are at least four paths he could try:

“He could generate a movement to repeal the 22nd Amendment directly.”

Changing it would be difficult and could be long process. First, it has to be proposed by 2/3 of the House and Senate. Hard to imagine them agreeing on anything by that margin. If that could be done, you would then need ¾ of the states to ratify it. My personal opinion, that is very unlikely and might be long process.

“He could exploit a little-noticed loophole in the amendment that might allow him to run” for vice president and then immediately ascend back to the presidency.”

It is possible he could be candidate for VP, I don’t see anything legally in Constitution that would stop it. Now let’s get back to reality. Trump is already 79 and would be 82 by next election. His physical and mental condition could change in a heartbeat at his age. For all we know, he could become another Biden. Let’s assume the nominee in 2028 will be Vance or Rubio. The last thing they want is old man as their VP with all the drama that comes with Trump. Picking a much younger VP with a campaign slogan of a “New Generation of Leadership” sounds much better. Even the most ardent Trump supporter (pick your own MAGA nickname) IMO will be ready by 2028 to see him leave, it will be Trump fatigue.

“He could run for president again on the bet that a pliant Supreme Court won’t stop him.”

That seems highly unlikely IMO especially with conservative Supreme Court who I doubt would let Trump trample the Constitution.

“Or he could simply refuse to leave — and put a formal end to America’s democratic experiment.”

Once his term ends, he no longer has presidential authority and could be removed by law enforcement like the SS for trespassing. He would no longer be the “Commander in Chief” so the military would follow the orders of the new POTUS not Trump.

P.S. Thank you for your wishes to me for safe travel, I did fly. The flight to Denver was on time and had no issues. I have TSA Pre-check and went through security fairly quickly. When checking my flight on the board, saw there were quite a few flights with delays. My flight home was about 1 ½ hours late due to our plane arriving from LA being late. Security lines looked longer. As always, I am glad for a safe trip and no hassles.

I will share personal note with everyone. I stayed an extra day after business was finished to visit with sister of a lifelong friend. She is a civil rights (workplace) attorney and quite a good one. Bunch of years ago, her brother committed suicide which was quite shocking. The last time I saw my friend was about two years prior and he seemed quite happy and content with life. Obviously, things change and nobody really knows what was going on with him internally. His sister and I have remained in touch and have seen each other over the years.

*** There is no way in hell 12 people liked something I posted (lmao) so I guess they have not corrected the "bot" thing.

 

Updated On: 11/2/25 at 04:32 PM

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 11/2/25 at 9:02pm

Washington Post

"Supreme Court has empowered Donald Trump. How much further will it go?

The justices will hear arguments Wednesday on the legality of most of the president’s tariffs — the first in a series of tests of sweeping claims of authority."

https://archive.li/tJAVG

New York Times (gift link)

"How the Supreme Court Paved the Way for Revenge Prosecutions"

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/opinion/comey-james-trump-immunity.html?unlocked_article_code=1.yU8.FQCn.rbvjqVKUdnw8&smid=url-share

Updated On: 11/3/25 at 09:02 PM

[John Adams]

Posted: 11/3/25 at 6:51am

Zeppie2022 said: "I will share personal note with everyone. [etc.]"

First and foremost, I'm happy and relieved that you've experienced safe travel. Re: the additional info you shared, my empathy is with you as I've also experienced the trauma of suicide (2 brothers, and my best friend from grade school - high school). My heart is with you.

Re: the politics, I attended a Town Hall w/my state representative last Wednesday that created some frustrations within me for various reasons. One point I was unable to effectively put across is that Trump is a textbook megalomaniac.

I choose the adjective "textbook" as an indicator of fact, not merely rhetoric, or for emotional emphasis. Anyone can do a search to verify the definition for themselves, but here's the one I'm offering for the purpose of this post:

"Megalomania is a mental condition characterized by an obsession with power and an inflated sense of self-importance, often involving delusional beliefs about one's abilities or status. It is sometimes associated with narcissistic personality disorder."

Other historical figures identified as megalomaniacs include:

Enver Hoxha (1908-85)
Empress Dowager Cixi (1835–1908)
Baron Roman von Ungern-Sternberg (1886–1921)
The Kim Dynasty (1948-)
Mao Zedong (1893–1976)
Joseph Stalin (1878–1953)
Saparmurat Niyazov, a.k.a. Türkmenbaşy (1940–2006)
Adolf Hitler (1889–1945)
Genghis Khan (c1162–1227)
Alexander the Great (356–323 BCE) 

Why do I feel it's important to identify Trump as a megalomaniac? Because I believe that Trump lives with a mental condition (per the definition) that restricts him from behaving within the boundaries, or exhibiting the kinds of behaviors expected of a POTUS.

Although I agree with your arguments re: a possibility of Trump remaining in office after his lawful tenure has expired, Trump is a megalomaniac. He has proven over and over again that (in his mind) his personal wants take precedence over the established guidelines/boundaries/needs of The Constitution, the American people, or the laws of this country. "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." - Maya Angelou

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 11/3/25 at 4:21pm

" I've also experienced the trauma of suicide (2 brothers, and my best friend from grade school - high school"

Very sorry for your loss and I can't imagine the heartbreak of losing two brothers in that manner. Prayers are with you.

"Why do I feel it's important to identify Trump as a megalomaniac? Because I believe that Trump lives with a mental condition (per the definition) that restricts him from behaving within the boundaries, or exhibiting the kinds of behaviors expected of a POTUS."

For years before he entered politics, I always thought Trump just had a huge ego. Now, I agree with you 100% he is a megalomaniac. I invite you to search youtube for interviews Trump did in his 30's with Oprah and Phil Donahue. Even then he was talking about China taking advantage of the US in trade. His comments on current politicians were funny in retrospect. Oprah asked him if he would run for POTUS and he said he did not think so (Oprah joked about the pay cut). BTW - the studio audience really liked him IMO. From those interviews from many years ago, it is a shame how much he changed personally.

Updated On: 11/3/25 at 04:21 PM

[Seb28]

Posted: 11/4/25 at 8:42am

How do you fight the good fight?

By voting against Mamdani.