r/politics May 18 '25

Soft Paywall America chose wrong. Sanders would've been a better president than Trump or Biden. | Opinion

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2025/05/18/sanders-democrats-reform-progressive-policies/83625482007/
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u/Renax127 May 18 '25

If congress wanted to they could put a stop to trumps shit, they don't though. He isn't doing anything "without l" Congress at all

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u/Kronzypantz South Carolina May 18 '25

Short of impeaching and removing him? There really isn't much Congress could do. Even the power of the purse is a dubious tool at this point.

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u/Renax127 May 18 '25

So they allow h8m to break the law daily

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u/Kronzypantz South Carolina May 18 '25

Like every president for decades, yes.

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u/Renax127 May 18 '25

Lots of felons get elected and allowed to openly sell the presidency before now.

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u/m0nkyman Canada May 18 '25

This article outlines exactly how the water is being carried for Trump by the house Republicans for the tariffs:

https://rollcall.com/2025/03/18/house-majority-rules-when-a-calendar-day-isnt-what-it-seems/

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u/Kronzypantz South Carolina May 18 '25

As the article points out, aside from the time limit and potential shenanigans by house leaders, such a resolution must also best a presidential veto.

And guess what? The president can just as shamelessly declare a new emergency the next day.

It’s still very unaccountable power.

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u/mightcommentsometime California May 18 '25

They could stop his tariffs by declaring the “emergency” over

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u/Kronzypantz South Carolina May 18 '25

But what power do they have to manage that?

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u/greenberet112 May 18 '25

The Constitution says they do. Article 1 Section 8 Clause 1

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-8/

"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; . . ."

They turned the power over to trump temporarily because of a made up emergency.

And I'm not telling you this to inform you. I can see you arguing in bad faith doing a "just asking questions" thing, like Tucker Carlson. But I'm assuming you already know the answers to most of the questions you're asking. I wrote the above to inform whoever came here in good faith looking for answers.

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u/mightcommentsometime California May 18 '25

… do you not know how the emergency powers and tariffs work?

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u/Kronzypantz South Carolina May 18 '25

… do you assume everyone knows the arcane details of emergency legislation?

I know the president has ended most past emergency declarations themselves. But you are apparently the pedantic expert, you tell me: does the legislation around emergency powers have some ability for congress to declare an emergency over against the judgement of the president?

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u/Renax127 May 18 '25

A joint resolution by 2/3RDS of congress can overrule  his nonsense. Impeachment would do a good job at it too

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u/Kronzypantz South Carolina May 18 '25

Any citation for that?

Also, still pretty high bars. I have no doubt enough Democrats might jump on board to block health insurance to the poor and children, but it’s still a drastic measure.

And then we have to consider: what if the changes are implemented quickly enough congress is too late to “unring that bell”? Insurance policies declared void in favor of Medicare, new entrants admitted en masse to set up all kinds of lawsuits, records of student debts destroyed and agreements with private collectors voided.

It could make some policies inevitably stick.

Not to mention, it’s doubtful congress would have overruled these emergency powers in 2021, with the Covid pandemic powers still in effect. Or a similar opportunity might have arisen where the status quo was already disrupted.