“Is America still a nation where the rule of law restrains the president — or is Trump establishing a precedent that the president alone decides who lives and who dies?”
I’m tired of this question! It’s been asked multiple times, by multiple people. We know the answer!
Yes, drugs are bad. Drug traffickers are criminals. That is a legal problem, to be dealt with by law enforcement.
But drug addiction is what is driving it. And drug addiction is a sickness. That is a public health issue.
It makes me angry every time someone brings this up. Trump and team is simply ignoring the courts. And what is legal (slavery, segregation) does not always represent what is right.
I, too, am tired of always asking questions about the rule of law, which is usually clear. The question distracts from the issue. However, it appears that the issue of a lawless president is one too many people simply don't want to confront. I'm wondering where the next extra-judicial event will happen here in the US, or in any other country the boss selects.
Just a clarification on Elise’s “sad reality” that we are reeling from drug overdose deaths: deaths in the U.S. were down 27% in 2024, to their lowest levels since 2019. Progress was being made but it will no doubt stall or even reverse, with recent cuts to Medicaid, addiction treatment and mental health programs, etc. U.S. citizens and legal residents bring the vast majority of drugs into the U.S. through legal ports of entry. This latest stunt will make no dent in that. Like Trump dropping his big bomb toys on Iran’s nuclear sites after Israel’s decimation of Iran’s air defenses, this was a very expensive, no-risk stunt to make him look like a strongman. We may never know who or what was actually on that boat but it does seem to be a big step in the direction of extra-judicial executions. I guess they needed some cool video to accompany the Dept of War name change rollout.
"White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said that the strike occurred in international waters and posed no danger to US forces"
This statement is bullshit. Every brazenly provocative move this president and our utterly unqualified Secretary of Defense makes is a danger to US forces. Being led by complete and utter idiots who have no regard for the law is a danger to US forces. This navy wife is pissed.
I can only imagine the abject terror of being a military spouse right now. I am grateful for your husband's service and your incredible sacrifice and service as well.
We are in a horrible situation with this administration. Utterly reckless and unqualified baffoons are in charge. The country elected a clown and now we're living in a circus.
I learned so much from this piece. Thank you for clarifying what’s happening along with historical context and educational content. It seems to me that the cartels will continue to find a way to satisfy the enormous demand for drugs. Until we resolve the root causes of that demand they will remain viable. Blowing up boats is simplistic, that doesn’t surprise me from a loose cannon like Hegseth. Identifying and resolving the root causes of demand is the long game and would implicate many, many Americans. He, Rubio and DTJ have no interest in that. They just wanna rally their base by flexing their “muscles” knowing that the reaction of that base, in large part, will be uninformed.
As others have asked…where does the lawlessness of the autocrat stop? Congress appears to have abdicated their role completely. In Iowa, all of our representatives no longer meet with the general public. Our Senators are even worse. With no checks, Trump becomes more like a mad dictator than world leader. When will this spread so that everyday people get to take the law in their hands?
Do we have a drug problem in the United States? Absolutely we do. But once again, our unintelligent leader has trampled over our laws like the king he thinks he is. We are nothing if we don’t have mercy and a healthy respect for the laws we have. And also once again, I’m reminded of all the immoral people in this country that thought a felon would make a good president 🤬🤬🤬
Is America still a nation where the rule of law restrains the president — or is Trump establishing a precedent that the president alone decides who lives and who dies?
Question is rhetorical but “no” and “yes” The S.CT just allowed discriminatory racial profiling (redundant language for emphasis there in no way to non-discriminately racially profile)
At this point our task can only be take back all of Congress. Impeach AND remove them all and defy the S.Ct if necessary. I know that elections are imperiled but if no 2026 election then that only leaves resistance similar to what happened during the Revolutionary period or secession. And the question for many will be do we stay or seek to live outside the US, if other saner more stable countries will have us. I weep for our children.
I saw a Tweet (I refuse to call them Xs or whatever) that said "So if you are out on a boat Trump can just blow you up and kill you and everyone on board by saying you had drugs without presenting any proof? That's how this works now?" This made me think about how Trump dreams about political retribution against political rivals and people he just dislikes like Rosie O'Donnell. From this article: "On Friday, seated in the Oval Office, the president remarked, “When I see boats coming in like loaded up the other day with all sorts of drugs, probably fentanyl mostly but all sorts of drugs, we’re gonna take them out. And if people want to have fun going on the high seas or the low seas, they’re gonna be in trouble… I think anybody that saw that is going to say I’ll take a pass.” Does this mean that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez better not get on a boat anytime soon? Or Zohran Mamdani? Or if there is an 18 wheeler on a highway that is suspected to be carrying drugs Trump can just blow it up? I understand that these are reaches, but with the extra judicial reaches we are seeing by the Trump administration are they reaches?!?!
Also, what on earth are the "low seas"? Lakes? So that means Trump will be blowing up boats on lakes? Cool cool cool cool.
I believe with CA redistricting to combat the stunt TX has pulled, we have a slim shot at taking back the House. The Senate seems highly unlikely, given the amount of support the MAGA base seems to be signaling to Congress, but I will hold out hope and work to support dumping these GOP senators out on their butts.
Right now it feels like Trump gets to cry “war” anytime he wants to, and an entire political party and 2/3 of the Supreme Court are willing to go along. (From a Californian who isn’t happy about today’s SCOTUS decision that it’s okay for ICE to grab people off the streets because they look like/sound like/or happen to hang out in a place that someone illegally in our country might.) It’s all a part of the same issue. He pushes the constitution aside and NO ONE (with any power) stops him. I am so very sad for our country.
The question is will POTUS and congress reign in this administration? I think the answer is no. I don’t believe POTUS will even step in when the administration does its best to steal the 2026 election.
I have so many thoughts on this. I wish I was more confident that the intel on the contents of the boat was accurate. What happened to due process? DT wants to appear strong & powerful & will do anything to accomplish that. And most importantly, where are the checks and balances?!?
We’re inching closer to the infamous “5th Avenue” claim. Even more proof that when someone shows you who they are, you should believe them.
“Is America still a nation where the rule of law restrains the president — or is Trump establishing a precedent that the president alone decides who lives and who dies?”
I’m tired of this question! It’s been asked multiple times, by multiple people. We know the answer!
Yes, drugs are bad. Drug traffickers are criminals. That is a legal problem, to be dealt with by law enforcement.
But drug addiction is what is driving it. And drug addiction is a sickness. That is a public health issue.
Wage treatment, not war!
It makes me angry every time someone brings this up. Trump and team is simply ignoring the courts. And what is legal (slavery, segregation) does not always represent what is right.
I, too, am tired of always asking questions about the rule of law, which is usually clear. The question distracts from the issue. However, it appears that the issue of a lawless president is one too many people simply don't want to confront. I'm wondering where the next extra-judicial event will happen here in the US, or in any other country the boss selects.
Nancy, and I’m tired of people acting surprised every time it happens, and that it is happening to them!
People, it is coming to a town near you!
Just a clarification on Elise’s “sad reality” that we are reeling from drug overdose deaths: deaths in the U.S. were down 27% in 2024, to their lowest levels since 2019. Progress was being made but it will no doubt stall or even reverse, with recent cuts to Medicaid, addiction treatment and mental health programs, etc. U.S. citizens and legal residents bring the vast majority of drugs into the U.S. through legal ports of entry. This latest stunt will make no dent in that. Like Trump dropping his big bomb toys on Iran’s nuclear sites after Israel’s decimation of Iran’s air defenses, this was a very expensive, no-risk stunt to make him look like a strongman. We may never know who or what was actually on that boat but it does seem to be a big step in the direction of extra-judicial executions. I guess they needed some cool video to accompany the Dept of War name change rollout.
Stunts not solutions...that is all he knows how to do.
I’d like to see actual evidence that this boat was engaged in drug trafficking, beyond what Rubio or Hegseth say. Their word is not evidence.
"White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said that the strike occurred in international waters and posed no danger to US forces"
This statement is bullshit. Every brazenly provocative move this president and our utterly unqualified Secretary of Defense makes is a danger to US forces. Being led by complete and utter idiots who have no regard for the law is a danger to US forces. This navy wife is pissed.
I can only imagine the abject terror of being a military spouse right now. I am grateful for your husband's service and your incredible sacrifice and service as well.
We are in a horrible situation with this administration. Utterly reckless and unqualified baffoons are in charge. The country elected a clown and now we're living in a circus.
I learned so much from this piece. Thank you for clarifying what’s happening along with historical context and educational content. It seems to me that the cartels will continue to find a way to satisfy the enormous demand for drugs. Until we resolve the root causes of that demand they will remain viable. Blowing up boats is simplistic, that doesn’t surprise me from a loose cannon like Hegseth. Identifying and resolving the root causes of demand is the long game and would implicate many, many Americans. He, Rubio and DTJ have no interest in that. They just wanna rally their base by flexing their “muscles” knowing that the reaction of that base, in large part, will be uninformed.
He wants to order hits on American soil. This is just the beginning.
As others have asked…where does the lawlessness of the autocrat stop? Congress appears to have abdicated their role completely. In Iowa, all of our representatives no longer meet with the general public. Our Senators are even worse. With no checks, Trump becomes more like a mad dictator than world leader. When will this spread so that everyday people get to take the law in their hands?
Do we have a drug problem in the United States? Absolutely we do. But once again, our unintelligent leader has trampled over our laws like the king he thinks he is. We are nothing if we don’t have mercy and a healthy respect for the laws we have. And also once again, I’m reminded of all the immoral people in this country that thought a felon would make a good president 🤬🤬🤬
I miss the good old days when 'due process' was a thing that governments and law enforcement observed and courts upheld.
Make Due Process Great Again!
Is America still a nation where the rule of law restrains the president — or is Trump establishing a precedent that the president alone decides who lives and who dies?
Question is rhetorical but “no” and “yes” The S.CT just allowed discriminatory racial profiling (redundant language for emphasis there in no way to non-discriminately racially profile)
At this point our task can only be take back all of Congress. Impeach AND remove them all and defy the S.Ct if necessary. I know that elections are imperiled but if no 2026 election then that only leaves resistance similar to what happened during the Revolutionary period or secession. And the question for many will be do we stay or seek to live outside the US, if other saner more stable countries will have us. I weep for our children.
I saw a Tweet (I refuse to call them Xs or whatever) that said "So if you are out on a boat Trump can just blow you up and kill you and everyone on board by saying you had drugs without presenting any proof? That's how this works now?" This made me think about how Trump dreams about political retribution against political rivals and people he just dislikes like Rosie O'Donnell. From this article: "On Friday, seated in the Oval Office, the president remarked, “When I see boats coming in like loaded up the other day with all sorts of drugs, probably fentanyl mostly but all sorts of drugs, we’re gonna take them out. And if people want to have fun going on the high seas or the low seas, they’re gonna be in trouble… I think anybody that saw that is going to say I’ll take a pass.” Does this mean that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez better not get on a boat anytime soon? Or Zohran Mamdani? Or if there is an 18 wheeler on a highway that is suspected to be carrying drugs Trump can just blow it up? I understand that these are reaches, but with the extra judicial reaches we are seeing by the Trump administration are they reaches?!?!
Also, what on earth are the "low seas"? Lakes? So that means Trump will be blowing up boats on lakes? Cool cool cool cool.
The word “probably” tells me everything😢
EXACTLY!!!! “Probably”?!?! Shouldn’t you be damn sure????
Midterms are vital.
I believe with CA redistricting to combat the stunt TX has pulled, we have a slim shot at taking back the House. The Senate seems highly unlikely, given the amount of support the MAGA base seems to be signaling to Congress, but I will hold out hope and work to support dumping these GOP senators out on their butts.
Right now it feels like Trump gets to cry “war” anytime he wants to, and an entire political party and 2/3 of the Supreme Court are willing to go along. (From a Californian who isn’t happy about today’s SCOTUS decision that it’s okay for ICE to grab people off the streets because they look like/sound like/or happen to hang out in a place that someone illegally in our country might.) It’s all a part of the same issue. He pushes the constitution aside and NO ONE (with any power) stops him. I am so very sad for our country.
The question is will POTUS and congress reign in this administration? I think the answer is no. I don’t believe POTUS will even step in when the administration does its best to steal the 2026 election.
SCOTUS?
I have so many thoughts on this. I wish I was more confident that the intel on the contents of the boat was accurate. What happened to due process? DT wants to appear strong & powerful & will do anything to accomplish that. And most importantly, where are the checks and balances?!?