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Biden set to announce support for major Supreme Court changes (www.washingtonpost.com)

submitted 9 months ago by Theprogressivist@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

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President Biden is finalizing plans to endorse major changes to the Supreme Court in the coming weeks, including proposals for legislation to establish term limits for the justices and an enforceable ethics code, according to two people briefed on the plans.

He is also weighing whether to call for a constitutional amendment to eliminate broad immunity for presidents and other constitutional officeholders, the people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.

The announcement would mark a major shift for Biden, a former chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who has long resisted calls to reform the high court. The potential changes come in response to growing outrage among his supporters about recent ethics scandals surrounding Justice Clarence Thomas and decisions by the new court majority that have changed legal precedent on issues including abortion and federal regulatory powers.

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[-] djsoren19@yiffit.net 247 points 9 months ago

When people bitch and moan about leftists not falling in line behind presidents, it's because we want shit like this to happen. If Biden was polling favorably and had no detractors, I doubt we would see him attempting to tackle something like this.

This is good news though, and marks the first steps on a long journey to establishing a legitimate Supreme Court once more.

[-] KevonLooney@lemm.ee 166 points 9 months ago

Fucking vote.

[-] marine_mustang@sh.itjust.works 18 points 9 months ago

This, 100%. And to pile on, any effort that doesn’t include expanding the size of the Supreme Court to 13 is too little, too late.

It’s like the DNC holding abortion rights over everyone’s heads instead of actually doing something about it for decades.

[-] Pronell@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

Do you think there is any settled law the Supreme Court wouldn't have struck down?

These are not legal opinions that have solid reasoning. Just like people trying to get other religions recognized in public schools.

It will not fly because the people you are arguing with would rather your voice be removed from the public debate, whatever means necessary.

You can't be clever to a fascist and win. Not only that way at least.

[-] Kecessa@sh.itjust.works 12 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

People on the right know what they're capable of so they try to protect themselves from the consequences while also trying to make sure that everyone else can't do those things by reducing everyone's rights.

People on the left can't imagine what people on the right are capable of because they have the same reflection, they know what they themselves are capable of and imagine that others are the same, so they don't take preventive measures before it blows up in their face.

Hence, Biden not taking advantage of the total immunity he's got.

[-] Boddhisatva@lemmy.world 86 points 9 months ago

How is he going to get anything through the Republican house or even the Senate without a Democratic super majority?

[-] teft@lemmy.world 179 points 9 months ago

Proposing the changes could excite the voters enough to give him control of both chambers. Even announcing it might shift the needle for some fence sitters.

[-] tiefling 127 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

That's exactly what we need right now. There are almost no undecided voters left, just unmotivated voters. We need something to energize voters who have been feeling ignored by the DNC, at best.

[-] KoboldCoterie@pawb.social 30 points 9 months ago

Seriously. His passive approach to the upcoming election has thusfar been infuriating. It's like he's assumed that not being Trump will be enough to win it for him, while his support dwindles. We need something to get people excited about voting for him, and wide-sweeping governmental reforms could be just that, at least among folks who're paying attention. The "Well, both sides are corrupt, so what does it matter?" crowd.

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[-] iAmTheTot@sh.itjust.works 16 points 9 months ago

This is the most annoying part about politics.

[-] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 13 points 9 months ago

It'd be nice if he'd announce dealing with Citizens United at the same time.

[-] KevonLooney@lemm.ee 32 points 9 months ago

Stop. This is good.

You are looking at a steak dinner and complaining that there's no ice cream sundae too.

[-] EleventhHour@lemmy.world 21 points 9 months ago

if the got the sundae, they'd complain it didn't come with a blowie, too

[-] KevonLooney@lemm.ee 8 points 9 months ago

But I like blowies!

[-] stringere@sh.itjust.works 4 points 9 months ago

I'm lactose intolerant you insensitive jerk!

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[-] EmpireInDecay@lemmy.ml 8 points 9 months ago

How many times have the DNC lead people to the polls with big promises, then half way, if at all, deliver? Ive been able to vote since Reagan and its been the same thing every election. This is stuff he should have tried to tackle his first or second year. We are 15 seconds to the end of the fourth quarter and hes trying to throw a Hail Mary in the wrong direction

[-] doctordevice@lemmy.ca 5 points 9 months ago

The downvotes on you are infuriating. That's just people sticking their heads in the sand. Democrats always whip out the carrot right before an election. Then let it rot afterwards.

Still waiting on that student loan debt memo, Biden. I'd really like to know why you couldn't even try to do anything on your 2020 promise until right before the 2022 midterms.

[-] dhork@lemmy.world 23 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

It would involve winning the Presidency and both houses of Congress in the next election, and then nuking the Filibuster.

[-] adarza@lemmy.ca 22 points 9 months ago

keeping republicans from retaining the house and taking the senate and white house is pretty much mandatory at this point.

[-] Crow_Thief@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago

The thing he already chose not to do. If it cant be done by Biden unilaterally at this point, it cant be done by him at all.

[-] very_well_lost@lemmy.world 19 points 9 months ago

Manchin and Sinema voted against abolishing the filibuster; Biden was in favor of removing he, he just didn't have the votes.

[-] anticolonialist@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

And what were the calls to primary the people that would not vote in favor of it in the midterms? That's how people hold their politicians accountable. But VBNMW people never hold their politicians accountable that's why the politicians keep getting worse because they don't have to work in favor of their votes, because they're going to get them regardless of what they do, no matter how shitty the policy no matter how shitty the rhetoric, the loyalists will stay in line.

[-] EmpireInDecay@lemmy.ml 6 points 9 months ago

Theyve had a shit ton of opportunities to kill the filibuster, but dont want to lose that rotating villain.

[-] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

So it's a completely empty promise.

Democrats will never nuke the filibuster. Ever. It's what lets them pretend their hands are tied when they kill progressive legislation they ran on but never had any intention of ever implementing.

They would rather lose Democracy forever than abandon the relic of Jim Crow they use for its intended purpose.

[-] lung@lemmy.world 10 points 9 months ago

Well, he's immune now so clearly he should just assassinate anyone who is in opposition /s

[-] Cornelius_Wangenheim@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago

There's this little event happening in November that can change things.

[-] mp3@lemmy.ca 6 points 9 months ago

Even if it doesn't pass the house or senate, it shows that he's trying something and isn't just giving up.

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[-] teft@lemmy.world 45 points 9 months ago

This is what i’m talking about. Let’s go, Joe.

[-] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 41 points 9 months ago

He is also weighing whether to call for a constitutional amendment to eliminate broad immunity for presidents

"On the one hand, a president shouldn't be allowed to order Seal Team 6 to kill someone. On the other hand, my neighbor's dog keeps shitting in my yard."

How is this a question?

[-] billiam0202@lemmy.world 33 points 9 months ago

You need 75% of the states to ratify an amendment. Even if Biden wins the election, you think the GOP ruled state legislatures will voluntarily restrict the powers of the next GOP president? The most threatening part of Project 2025 is that it only requires the next Republican President. They'll bet on Biden not using those powers the Supreme Court invented so that the next Republican President will.

[-] samus12345@lemmy.world 14 points 9 months ago

And they'll win that bet. No Democrat has the guts to use those powers to fight fascism.

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[-] jaybone@lemmy.world 24 points 9 months ago

Do republicans ever pass any legislation supported by democrats anymore? What’s the last bill that was passed?

[-] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 29 points 9 months ago

Genocide still enjoys broad bipartisan support.

[-] Fedizen@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

I think CHIPS

[-] barkingspiders@infosec.pub 22 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I'm so fucking glad we've got a president who can at least handle this moment responsibly. Biden may not be everything people want but he's not seizing this moment to forward his own personal agenda. I think he is pretty clearly trying to find a more ethical path forward. I don't think we can say that about all of our past presidents.

[-] anticolonialist@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

He's trying to seize the moment to keep his job, nothing else

[-] JayTreeman@fedia.io 9 points 9 months ago

Supreme Court reform is necessary, but this is not an election issue. This is the type of thing you fix immediately not use as an election issue. I'm afraid it's too little too late Joe

[-] pennomi@lemmy.world 22 points 9 months ago

If any issue is worth a single issue vote, it’s Supreme Court reform. (Arguably the only possible thing besides this is some form of proportional representation or other election reform, but that’s still not on the table at the moment.)

[-] leadore@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago

Here is a guest link for that article: https://wapo.st/4bGC9gI

[-] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 6 points 9 months ago

The way he’s making sweeping promises gives the impression that he’s confident that he’ll never be in a position to carry them out.

[-] soratoyuki@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Three and a half years later.

Edit: genuinely curious why the downvotes? The left has been calling for the since day one, back when Democrats controlled both houses of Congress. But he's making it an issue now, when he doesn't have control of the House, just in time for Trump to possibly win and actually pull it out?

[-] Rapidcreek@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

Red Meat

[-] EmpireInDecay@lemmy.ml 3 points 9 months ago

...for the rabid dogs

[-] Voyajer@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Archive link/no paywall

[-] BigMacHole@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago

Biden LITERALLY CAN DO ANYTHING HE WANTS as long as it's a Presidential Act! I'm GLAD the Democratic Nominee is SUCH a Fearless Leader!

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this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2024

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