,
8 tweets,
2 min read
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Listen. Trump knows this “National Emergency” could be struck down in the courts, but it’s a win-win for him either way. For us, though, even if it’s taken down, this represents a MASSIVE problem going forward. 1/
For Trump, whether this works or not, it defines his 2020 Campaign. If he wins, he got the wall, even if it’s never built for lawsuits. If he loses, he gets the narrative of Us v. Them and can be the consummate outsider. There’s no losing here for him. 2/
But this sends a terrible message. To the world. To vulnerable communities. For politicians to come. It sets a precedent for future presidents to wield unbelievable power that dares the system to stop them. 3/
Republicans in Congress should step in out of the system of checks and balances, but their silence pushes power to the executive and further endangers everyone. It’s chilling what can happen. 4/
Presidents overreaching their limits of power have led to genocide, unjust wars, death and destruction on unbelievable scales. They push and push until their limitations break. And they do, constantly. 5/
The system isn’t equipped to take these things on without adequate checks and balances and they’re not designed to fight constant battles. Presidents win. They stretch out and gain power. 6/
This is a precedent. Presidents of the future, of unable to succeed legislatively, will declare emergencies. It doesn’t matter if Trump wins or loses. And this political maneuver is going to lead to some unfathomably bad and nightmarish things. 7/
This is an unbelievably problematic and horrid development. There’s no crisis, no emergency, and there’s never going to be a wall. But this play is going to haunt us for a long time to come. 8/8
