Thoughts for the Day, April 23, 2025: The answer is yes, we are.
Sharing this article is a must for me
Sometimes I find an article that I cannot resist sharing in my blog. The following article by Jennifer Rubin of The Contrarian is one such article. Here are excerpts from the article, with some modifications as noted.
Are we in a “constitutional crisis”?
You have likely heard that question innumerable times over the past three months, followed by a discussion as to whether our president has…openly violated a court order (make that a Supreme Court order). When a question is so pervasive, it is safe to assume that yes, we are already there.
When does the combo of authoritarian bullying, revenge seeking, stooge-nominating, retaliatory prosecuting, contemptuous litigating, and lawless usurpation of congressional power become a “crisis”? The word is defined by Merriam-Webster as “an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending…especially one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome.” Frankly, we have been in that “crisis” since the first day of the Trump presidency.
When a Republican Congress allows the president to seize the power of the purse and does nothing, when the secretary of defense commits the worst breach of national security protocols in memory (not once but twice-my words), or when Republicans refuse to reclaim the power to lay tariffs—despite a recession-inducing presidential trade war—the question is not if we are in a constitutional crisis, but just how bad it is.
For Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Rumeysa Ozturk, Mahmoud Khalil, Mohsen Mahdawi, and scores of others who are legally present in the United States that have been snatched up, incarcerated (or are facing incarceration) in a foreign gulag, and are deprived of their right to contest their confinement and visa revocation, the “constitutional crisis” is well underway.
When the Supreme Court convenes literally in the middle of the night to stop the government from spiriting away Venezuelans in apparent contradiction of their (the Supreme Court) instruction to give every individual a meaningful opportunity to oppose their deportation, the “constitutional crisis” has arrived.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) knows a constitutional crisis. When asked explicitly whether we were in one on Meet the Press, he affirmed, “Yes, we are.” He had to fly down to El Salvador to see for himself Abrego Garcia’s condition, and upon his return, called out the president and his flacks for abject lies, even revealing the clumsy attempt to stage a scene suggesting he and Kilmar were tossing down margaritas on a tropical holiday.
When such steps are required to confirm whether or not a lawful American resident is alive, we know this is not only the least trustworthy White House in modern history, but one seemingly eager to foment a constitutional crisis. “They wanted to create this appearance that life was just lovely for Kilmar, which of course is a big, fat lie,”….
“The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order.” Conservative Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson of the 4th Circuit wrote. “Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done. This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear.”
When not one, but two federal court judges edge toward finding the government in contempt, all the alarm bells should be going off.
For the thousands of government workers fired, the law firms and universities bullied, the millions of Americans harmed by illegal cuts and firings, the charitable organizations living under the cloud of a possible IRS dragnet, and the former Trump officials and assorted Trump nemeses targeted for persecution, the “constitutional crisis” is here.
When Trump betrays Ukraine, cozies up to the evil aggressor Russia, wrecks the international trading system, stokes inflation, and sends us hurling into a recession, that crisis extends beyond the Constitution.
… Trump has undertaken an autocratic coup, dropping the pretense he is bound by law or obligated to act in the country’s best interest. He thinks he is a dictator (not just for a day, but for all the days since taking office), and he is trying his best to act like one.
Media, politicians, activists, and courts must stop waiting for a checkered flag to start responding. We need every person, every officeholder, and every facet of society to tell Trump: “NO.” …No bullying, No court defiance, No executive overreach, No betrayal of allies, and No gaslighting. Then, voters must defeat any MAGA enablers, henchmen, and cowering politicians who are encouraging or complicit in these unprecedented assaults on our democracy.
And when Democrats and non-MAGA Republicans return to power (my words)… they will need to rebuild government and erect a series of reforms (e.g., Supreme Court term limits or expansion; serious civil and criminal penalties for abrogating others’ constitutional rights or blocking congressionally appropriated funds; bright red lines on private citizens assuming governmental powers; complete divestiture of presidents’ business interests while in office) to secure our democracy.
Only after all that is accomplished can we mark the end of the multiple crises (constitutional, economic, diplomatic, moral) in which we find ourselves.
Until then, let’s stop arguing about when the crisis begins and start marshaling the will to end it. This is my Quote of the Day
Please call your members of Congress today. The U.S. Capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121. Tell the operator where you’re from and the operator will connect you to your representatives and senators. I tested this out today. It is very simple. They will ask for the congress member you want to contact. They will then switch you to that office.
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A response from Congressman Jack Bergman
Immediately after the first breach of sensitive military information by Hegseth, Vance, and others, which included the editor of The Atlantic, I sent an inquiry to Congressman Bergam, a former Lt. General, asking what he and Congress were doing to hold those responsible for the breach accountable for their careless actions. The following is the response I received.
Dear Mr. Biggs:
Thank you for contacting me about the usage of Signal in military communications. It is an honor to serve the people of Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, and I appreciate your thoughts on this important matter.
For several administrations, the mobile app Signal has long been a trusted tool for secure communication within the military and government. Its encryption technology is regarded as a vital safeguard for sensitive information. However, the recent leak involving this platform has raised concerns about the security of our communications infrastructure-this breach underscores the evolving nature of threats and the need for vigilance in protecting national cybersecurity. I assure you that my staff is taking this matter very seriously, and I am working closely with military and intelligence leaders to identify and rectify any vulnerabilities in our communication system. Please know, I will keep your concerns in mind should any legislation pertaining to this matter come before me on the House floor.
Again, thank you for contacting me with your thoughts. I am here to help in any way possible, so please do not hesitate to call if I may ever be of service. You can also visit my website at
http://bergman.house.gov
to learn more about the many services with which my office is happy to assist. I look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Kind regards,
Jack Bergman
Member of Congress
What is absent from his response is any mention of holding anyone responsible for the breach.
I will be sending another letter regarding the second breach which included Hegseth’s wife and brother-in-law. I am looking forward to Congressman Bergman’s response. I will be sure to share it with you.
Per Musk, the protestors are getting paid
From Yahoo Finance: Tesla CEO Elon Musk attempted to point the finger at protestors who have demonstrated en masse in front of vehicle showrooms in the U.S. and Europe, claiming without evidence that they have been activated because they are the recipients of government waste and fraud. Musk told analysts during the company’s first quarter earnings call on Tuesday that the demonstrators would never admit the real reason they’re protesting is because they get paid through government programs that have been victim to DOGE’s cuts, but that was the real rationale underlying their actions.
“The actual reason is because those receiving the waste and fraud wish to continue receiving it; that is the real thing that’s going on here, obviously,” Musk told analysts during an earnings call on Tuesday. “The protests that you’ll see out there, they’re very organized. They’re paid for that.”
Musk previously accused wealthy Democratic political opponents of funding protestors.
Since January 20, 2025, Tesla stock price has dropped 41%. It has dropped because sales are down, and investors do not see the value in Tesla.
Musk’s blaming his problems on the protestors is straight out of the Trump playbook. When things go wrong, blame someone else. Admit no responsibility.
Musk gets my Onion of the Day
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Javy Baez
Javy Baez has had his issues as a Tiger, but none of them have been on the defensive side of the ball. Baez has always been an elite defensive shortstop. This year, the Tigers decided to take advantage of Baez’s tremendous athleticism by having him play third base and centerfield, in addition to shortstop. Prior to this year, Baez had never played an inning of professional baseball in centerfield, but you would never know it by watching him so far this year.
Today Baez made an all-world catch in centerfield that was reminiscent of Willie May’s catch in the Polo Grounds more than 60 years ago. See my Video of the Day
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Quote of the Day: “Until then, let’s stop arguing about when the crisis begins and start marshaling the will to end it.” Jennifer Rubin, from The Contrarian
Orchid of the Day: Tiger Pitcher Reese Olson who helped the Tigers shut out the San Diego Padres 6-0. Coming into the game, the Padres were tied with the best record in the MLB. Olson allowed zero runs over 7and 1/3 innings. He allowed only two hits, while striking out seven and walking only one.
Onion of the Day: Elon Musk-see above story
Lyrics of the Day:
…do you remember when I mowed your lawn? Your mom came out with just a towel on. I could tell she liked me from the way she stared And the way she said, “you missed a spot over there”.
And I know that you think it’s just a fantasy, but since your dad walked out your mom could use a guy like me.
Answer to Lyrics of the Day for April 22, 2025: Hotel California by The Eagles
Question of the Day: How bad do things need to get before Republican congress members decide enough it enough? What will it take? A recession? A stock market crash? A few more leaks by Hegseth? A blatant disregard of SCOTUS rulings? An illegal detainment of a Trump adversary?
Video of the Day: Javy Baez making a Willie May’s type over the shoulder catch today. Notice how easy he made it look.