Hints for those commenting on invocation of Canada's emergency legislation:
1) This law was passed relatively recently, 1988. It is explicitly subordinate to Canada's charter of rights. It replaced the much more draconian emergency laws that were invoked in 1914, 1939, and 1970
2) The legislation allows for a *range* of actions by authorities, proportionate to the civil disturbance. Proportionately is the thing that the courts will probably examine most closely when they review any actions taken.
3) It's not "fascist" for an elected government to invoke duly enacted emergency laws, reviewable by courts, to deal with disturbances. What is a lot more fascist-y, on the other hand, are extremist groups who blockade commerce in hopes of coercing the state to yield to demands
It's a very good bet than *an* impeachment is coming if GOP wins the House. But whom? In 2021, some legal experts areud that a former president can be impeached. At the time, most GOPers rejected this theory. If they win the House, they may rediscover it - lawfareblog.com/can-former-pre…
- and go after former President Obama on some theory based on some of the allegations rolled out by John Durham. An Obama impeachment would be much more exciting to GOP small-donor base - and much more lucrative to the large industry that fundraises from that base.
It's not a new thing to use Supreme Court appointments to score social "firsts" ... a thread. 1/x
In 1887, President Grover Cleveland decided the time had come to appoint the first Deep Southerner to the Supreme Court since the civil war. (President Hayes had appointed Kentuckyian John Marshall Harlan in 1877, but Harlan had fought for the Union.) 2/x
Cleveland had squeaked into office in 1884 by the tiniest of margins. Facing a tough re-elect in 1888 (which he would lose), Cleveland wanted to excite the white conservative Southern base of his Democratic party. The nomination was a chance to try. 3/x
Instead of threatening Ukraine, Putin could be committing resources to bring indoor plumbing to the 20% of Russians who still lack it. themoscowtimes.com/2019/04/02/ind…
"Out of 37 upper-middle and high-income countries studied, the highest drop in life expectancy was observed in Russia," reports a medical journal. Instead of threatening Ukraine, Putin could be committing resources to Russian public health. rferl.org/a/russia-covid…
Partial and temporary social benefits paid to mothers seem to have had some success raising Russia's low birth rate. Instead of threatening Ukraine, Putin could commit resources to enlarge those benefits and make them permanent bbc.com/news/world-eur…
One sure way for Russia to dissuade its immediate neighbors from joining NATO would be for Russia to cease threatening, attacking, and occupying its immediate neighbors.
As is, Russia is like an abuser threatening that he will keep abusing until his victims promise never to seek a court order to stop the abuse.
"I only hit you because you keep complaining about me hitting you."