Vance and Musk question authority of the courts as Trump's agenda faces legal pushback

Over the past 24 hours, officials ranging from billionaire Elon Musk to Vice President JD Vance have not only criticized a federal judge's decision early Saturday that blocks Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Treasury Department records, but have also attacked the legitimacy of judicial oversight, a fundamental pillar of American democracy, which is based on the separation of powers.

Oh please! Courts stop Elon from running roughshod over laws and agencies so he has a tantrum about it.

No, Elon, you and your team of teenage incels have no right to that data.

Well, yes, they believe there should be nothing to impede King Trump.

If one person was able to do anything they wanted to lead a country, without having any checks and balances, then it would be called a dictatorship or autocracy. Sorry Republicans, but we live in a democracy, where there is no absolute power and where there are proper protections in place so that constitutional rights are protected.

“A corrupt judge protecting corruption. He needs to be impeached NOW!” said Musk, who has been tasked by President Donald Trump with rooting out waste across the federal government.

You could substitute the word 'judge' with 'president' and it would equally work.

Vance and Musk question authority of the courts

Right out of the fascists' playbook. Not surprising for one second.

It’s. Slowdown tactic, there are legal ways around the court and what Trump can do to pass his agenda, and once the SC rules in his favor, he will be able to complete his goals.

Still not sinking in: decent people trust in Musk.

Still not sinking in: decent people trust in Musk.

Thank God for that man.

Still not sinking in: decent people trust in Musk.

It depends on what you define as "decent". If you're talking about Trump's definition of "decency", such as someone having a vision, but who will have no qualms about using violence to get what they want, and not care about violating or taking away anyone's rights, then maybe that would be correct.

To be fair, I think Trump has some good goals in mind. However, the seemingly easiest path to it, is not always the best way. He has to realize that if you go that way and make people suffer as a result of it, you're going to get push back from it. You don't just rip up a constitution that is the foundation of a government, just so that you can achieve your means.

There might be one incidental benefit from all this. The US court system might be forced to work at the same speed as the rest of us, rather than geological time.

The US is in this mess in part because they couldn't get a verdict on any of the charges against Trump in the YEARS he was out of office.

No judiciary should be allowed to take that long over any case. Legal issues affect peoples' lives, and they have a right to have them processed in a reasonable timeframe.

So perhaps this might get the paid-by-the-hour legal system off its lazy backside and force it to deliver judgements faster, without bankrupting all concerned and wasting years of their lives.

I wonder what the [Republican] Supreme Court think about Republican politicians placing themselves above the law. Maybe a journalist could ask them.

bass4funkToday 07:13 am JST

It’s. Slowdown tactic, there are legal ways around the court and what Trump can do to pass his agenda, and once the SC rules in his favor, he will be able to complete his goals.

And what pray tell are the legal ways around courts? You've attracted the attention of the entire federal judiciary and further action can be taken with a single filing. Even the SC doesn't want to be saddled with Trump's lawlessness.

JJEToday 07:15 am JST

Still not sinking in: decent people trust in Musk.

Yes, the "decent" people in the Kremlin who want the US to fail.

bass4funk

It’s. Slowdown tactic, there are legal ways around the court and what Trump can do to pass his agenda,

Yeah. The legal ways are to get Congress to pass laws to make change.

The problem is both Musk and Trump don't do teamwork very well and to get Congress to do things takes time and politics.

and once the SC rules in his favor, he will be able to complete his goals.

The SC won't touch this.

JJE

Still not sinking in: decent people trust in Musk.

Yeah, right.

Did they trust him to turn around Twitter? What a mess that was.

Do they trust him to launch rockets that don't blow up all the time?

Do they trust him to grow market share of Tesla, now that it has so many rivals? Tesla market share is plummeting.

And what pray tell are the legal ways around courts? You've attracted the attention of the entire federal judiciary and further action can be taken with a single filing. Even the SC doesn't want to be saddled with Trump's lawlessness.

Easy. If Trump can’t get access to the records, Musk could come up with a sizable number estimate that he thinks should be cut, Trump can issue an order to immediately cut out that particular amount and cut it. He could constitutionally do that, and if there are any discrepancies and the Dems cry foul on that, then they would have to allow Musk to see the paperwork in order to correct the problem. So yes, there are ways around the block.

The only people who trust Musk and the people who wear red hats are have drank the Kool-Aid! The rest of the population know and now fear him as he is a real danger to US democracy!

Ah, whataboutisms. Unfortunately, what these judges are doing is very legal, unless the Constitution is illegal...

But, Manchildren gonna whine.

"If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal. If a judge tried to command the attorney general in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that’s also illegal. Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power,”

bass4funk

Easy. If Trump can’t get access to the records, Musk could come up with a sizable number estimate that he thinks should be cut, Trump can issue an order to immediately cut out that particular amount and cut it.

He doesn't have the authority. Congress controls the budget. The GOP have a majority in the house and senate, so that's where he should start.

He could constitutionally do that,

No, he couldn't.

and if there are any discrepancies and the Dems cry foul on that, then they would have to allow Musk to see the paperwork in order to correct the problem.

Not going to happen.

So yes, there are ways around the block.

Yup. Congress.

The SC will uphold the constitution. The President swears an oath to do the same but in this case the president is a self serving power hungry liar surrounded by self serving power hungry liars.

Democrats are running in circles as their fraud waste and abuse continues to be exposed.

I put my trust in Musk to continue to drain the swamp.

 Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power,” Vance wrote 

Vance doesn't believe in judicial oversight or separation of powers. I think our MAGA friends agree with him.

there are legal ways around the court

Can you tell us what restraints on presidential power you believe in? You seem OK with relieving Congress of its constitutional power of the purse, and you also seem OK with the executive branch just ignoring court orders.

In other words, Trump gets to be absolute dictator. Right?

(And before you go screaming about "the left", I wouldn't want ANY president, even if I voted for them, to have the kind of power Trump is assuming.)

Still not sinking in: decent people trust in Musk.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5129353-gop-support-for-musk-influence-with-trump-falls-dramatically-poll/

Overall, 13 percent of surveyed Americans want Musk to have “a lot” of influence on the Trump administration, while 25 percent say they want “a little” influence and 46 percent say they want “none at all.”

In November, 34 percent of surveyed Americans wanted Musk to have “a lot” of influence, 22 percent wanted him to have “a little” influence, and 30 percent said “none at all.”

It not illegal for a judge to.oversee the action of a prosecutor,Judge sanctions prosecutor all the times

He doesn't have the authority. Congress controls the budget. The GOP have a majority in the house and senate, so that's where he should start.

As an advisor and under the President who appointed him, he absolutely has the right to oversee and make the appropriate recommendations to pass along to the president to make changes , 

No, he couldn't.

He can and is

Not going to happen.

Because you say so? It’s not your money .

Yup. Congress.

And EO

File a lawsuit Friday night, get an ambiguous and politically motivated block on Saturday morning by a judge appointed by your team.

Seems quite sketch.

All part of the plan: a populace with no education, no prospects, and no legal recourse, but just smart enough to swallow propaganda.

However, I will leave the final word to Bass and Blacklabel, two esteemed legal minds who clearly know everything there is to know about the US legal system.

bass4funk

He doesn't have the authority. Congress controls the budget. The GOP have a majority in the house and senate, so that's where he should start.

As an advisor and under the President who appointed him, he absolutely has the right to oversee and make the appropriate recommendations to pass along to the president to make changes , 

Trump doesn't have the authority to make the changes. That's on Congress.

No, he couldn't.

He can and is

Looks like he is being stopped.

Yup. Congress.

And EO

EO's can't be for budgetary reasons, that's on the Congress.

From the radical far left Wall Street Journal, written before the election:

J.D. Vance is unfit to be vice president of the United States for many reasons, chiefly because he has shown a disregard for the constitutional balance of powers and the rule of law.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/j-d-vances-disregard-for-the-rule-of-law-court-rulings-balance-of-powers-bda0d4df

The dismantling of American democracy is deliberate and open. JD, Musk, Thiel, Andreesen, and other tech bros have been greatly influenced by the "thinking" of Curtis Yarvin, who proposes ditching democracy for a kind of tech bro monarchy, where the "smart" people (the tech bros of course) just take over.

Yarvin, an ex-computer programmer-turned-blogger, has argued that American democracy is irrevocably broken and ought to be replaced with a monarchy styled after a Silicon Valley tech start-up. According to Yarvin, the time has come to jettison existing democratic institutions and concentrate political power in a single “chief executive” or “dictator.” These ideas — which Yarvin calls “neo-reaction” or “the Dark Enlightenment” — were once confined to the fringes of the internet, but now, with Trump’s reelection, they are finding a newly powerful audience in Washington.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/01/30/curtis-yarvins-ideas-00201552

bass and Black, you OK with this Dark Enlightenment? I suspect you are.

Trump doesn't have the authority to make the changes. That's on Congress.

No, he couldn't.

But he is

Looks like he is being stopped.

And they’ll get around it. Either way once it gets to the Supreme Court they will rule in Trump saver, and the reason why they will do that, it’s because that money belongs to the taxpayer., So we have the absolute right to transparency.

Yup. Congress.

Yes, later, which has nothing to do with Trump pushing for an executive order

EO's can't be for budgetary reasons, that's on the Congress.

Wrong, he absolutely can issue executive order for the time being until Congress gets involved to pass legislation on the issue, but then again you’re the person that said without a shadow of a doubt that Trump won’t be elected, so I think when you talk, we’ll take it with the grain of salt as usual.

once it gets to the Supreme Court they will rule in Trump saver,

And if they rule against Trump, he will just defy their ruling. As JD proposes.

Still waiting for our MAGA friends to outline what restraints on presidential power they support. Any? Or does it depend on who is president?

bass4funk

Trump doesn't have the authority to make the changes. That's on Congress.

No, he couldn't.

But he is

Not for long

Looks like he is being stopped.

And they’ll get around it. Either way once it gets to the Supreme Court they will rule in Trump saver,

SCOTUS won't take it.

and the reason why they will do that, it’s because that money belongs to the taxpayer., So we have the absolute right to transparency.

There's a difference between transparency and leaking Social Security numbers. One of Elon's incels has been known for leaking data

Yup. Congress.

Yes, later, which has nothing to do with Trump pushing for an executive order

EO's can't be for budgetary reasons, that's on the Congress.

Wrong, he absolutely can issue executive order for the time being until Congress gets involved to pass legislation on the issue,

That's not how it works.

but then again you’re the person that said without a shadow of a doubt that Trump won’t be elected, so I think when you talk, we’ll take it with the grain of salt as usual.

Nope. I said it was a toss up.

King Donald the Dimwit and his Court Jester the Couch Creep...doing their best to destroy our democracy...

And if they rule against Trump, he will just defy their ruling. As JD proposes.

and as Biden did for student debt when the Supreme Court told him it was unconstitutional.

thanks for the precedent.

Judges can be impeached can’t they?

Blacklabel

Judges can be impeached can’t they?

Sure. But not for doing what you don't like.

Not for long

Looks like he is being stopped.

For the time being

SCOTUS won't take it.

If Trump exhaust all appeal process, yes, they will

There's a difference between transparency and leaking Social Security numbers. One of Elon's incels has been known for leaking data

Yup. Congress.

As I said, Trump can always get around that, and even with Congress, they would approve of it, this is the greatness of having a Republican Congress.

EO's can't be for budgetary reasons, that's on the Congress.

Wrong, he absolutely can issue executive order for the time being until Congress gets involved to pass legislation on the issue,

That's not how it works. 

The Democrats plan didn’t work as well

but then again you’re the person that said without a shadow of a doubt that Trump won’t be elected, so I think when you talk, we’ll take it with the grain of salt

Nope. I said it was a toss up.

No, he specifically said he wasn’t going to win, and no one would vote for him. We should get used to Kamala Harris, becoming president, as I said, we take your words with a grain of salt.

bass4funkToday 07:45 am JST

And what pray tell are the legal ways around courts? You've attracted the attention of the entire federal judiciary and further action can be taken with a single filing. Even the SC doesn't want to be saddled with Trump's lawlessness.

Easy. If Trump can’t get access to the records, Musk could come up with a sizable number estimate that he thinks should be cut, Trump can issue an order to immediately cut out that particular amount and cut it. He could constitutionally do that, and if there are any discrepancies and the Dems cry foul on that, then they would have to allow Musk to see the paperwork in order to correct the problem. So yes, there are ways around the block.

The Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse and not King Trump. So sorry.

bass4funk

SCOTUS won't take it.

If Trump exhaust all appeal process, yes, they will

They won't take it up - they will leave it to the lower courts.

Yup. Congress.

As I said, Trump can always get around that, and even with Congress, they would approve of it, this is the greatness of having a Republican Congress.

He has to start with that. That's the first thing he needs to do.

EO's can't be for budgetary reasons, that's on the Congress.

Wrong, he absolutely can issue executive order for the time being until Congress gets involved to pass legislation on the issue,

He has to start with that. That's the first thing he needs to do.

Nope. I said it was a toss up.

No, he specifically said he wasn’t going to win, and no one would vote for him. We should get used to Kamala Harris, becoming president, as I said, we take your words with a grain of salt.

Untrue.

by the way, who is also in the majority in Congress?

Extreme right-wing Trump and Musk are dismantling the US piece by piece. What will it become?

"A corrupt judge protecting corruption. He needs to be impeached NOW."

Exactly!! I just imagine if these loony unhinged Dems got their way in 2024 lawfare could be legalized with open borders, and free vasectomy and abortions.

by the way, who is also in the majority in Congress?

Therefore, they can just give up their constitutional power of the purse to King Donald and Prince Elon?

Doesn’t sound very patriotic to me.

Still not sinking in: decent people trust in Musk.

Your spelling is incorrect. Let me fix it: "criminal people trust in Musk."

You're welcome.

For the time being

Was that your reply, after a judge sentenced you to prison?

“I don’t like the precedent it sets when you defy a judicial ruling, but I’m just wondering what other options are these judges leaving us,” the person had written, in part."

Here is the deal, at times doing the right thing means avoiding arguing with the loony left and straight up doing what is needed to be done.

BlacklabelToday 10:29 am JST

by the way, who is also in the majority in Congress?

Not a filibuster proof majority and there has never been a directed spending cut in recent memory.

Here is the deal, at times doing the right thing means avoiding arguing with the loony left and straight up doing what is needed to be done.

Translation: "Fascism is a good thing".

CephusToday 10:57 am JST

I just imagine if these loony unhinged Dems got their way in 2024 lawfare could be legalized with open borders, and free vasectomy and abortions.

It would be exactly like, wait for it, 2021-24.

"It would be exactly like, wait for it, 2021-24."

You mean a lawless Nation, governed by lawfare, fear and intimidation and smash and grab from top down as the main occupation? Joe was a total failure but I will give you this, without his great wife Jill aiding him it could have been worse.

Translation: "Fascism is a good thing".

They won’t call it by that name, but it’s clear what they want.

Now that Trump, Elon, JD, Vought, Bondi and a properly supine GOP Congress have normalized this illegal (and they’re basically admitting it) executive power grab, all our MAGA friends are all on board.

Cynical, nihilistic, and mean spirited.

lawfare, fear and intimidation and smash and grab from top down

Love the projection

“Democratic senator says his party is ready to shut down government over Trump’s actions”

Wait, aren’t government shutdowns….bad?

The Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse and not King Trump. So sorry.

Yes, until then the President has the EO.

SCOTUS won't take it.

I disagree and even if they don’t, he will take action some way, again, it’s our money, not the governments

And then the President will find a way around it as he’s always done. Remember, Trump will never be President. Lol

As I said, Trump can always get around that, and even with Congress, they would approve of it, this is the greatness of having a Republican Congress.

He has to start with that. That's the first thing he needs to do.

EO's can't be for budgetary reasons, that's on the Congress.

He has to start with that. That's the first thing he needs to do.

He won’t wait

Nope. I said it was a toss up.

That is not what you said.

Untrue.

You got caught again.

They won’t call it by that name, but it’s clear what they want. 

Transparency

Now that Trump, Elon, JD, Vought, Bondi and a properly supine GOP Congress have normalized this illegal

The left should be quiet when they talk about illegal acts, that argument would get shredded fast than Parmesan cheese

(and they’re basically admitting it) executive power grab, all our MAGA friends are all on board. 

Undoing all the damage the disastrous alternative toxic policies of the last administration, yes. It’s a good thing

Cynical, nihilistic, and mean spirited

Biden was worse