Congress: a day is not a day

[okay]

House resolution 211 passed, declaring

Each day for the remainder of the first session of the 119th Congress shall not constitute a calendar day for purposes of section 202 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622) with respect to a joint resolution terminating a national emergency declared by the President on February 1, 2025.

Why? Because Democrats introduced a resolution to terminate the emergency and by law Congress must vote on it within 15 days.

So Republicans redefined what a day is so they can completely give up their role as a check on Trump’s use of emergency powers. They apparently are willing to do almost anything to avoid being on the record as voting for emergency powers which includes all of the tariffs.

Am I the only one who is very uncomfortable with this?

It is so ridiculous that it would be funny if it wasn’t so dangerous.

Links:

https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/hres211/BILLS-119hres211eh.pdf

Roll Call 67 Roll Call 67, Bill Number: H. Res. 211, 119th Congress, 1st Session

VOTE QUESTION: On Agreeing to the Resolution, DESCRIPTION: Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 25); providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1156); providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1968); and for other purposes., VOTE TYPE: Recorded Vote, STATUS: Passed

clerk.house.gov

Dems Introduce Resolutions Ending Trump’s Tariff Authority on Mexico & Canada

Washington, DC – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today introduced Resolutions to terminate President Trump’s unlawful use of “emergency” authorities to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

democrats-waysandmeans.house.gov

 

[Fantine]

If the "emergency" is fentanyl, one pound of fentanyl came through Canada in the past year. There are far greater emergencies.

 

[Vambram]

If the "emergency" is fentanyl, one pound of fentanyl came through Canada in the past year. There are far greater emergencies.

Fentanyl is killing hundreds of thousands of Americans.

 

[Pommer]

Fentanyl is killing hundreds of thousands of Americans.

A useless fact-adjacent point.

 

[Vambram]

A useless fact-adjacent point.

I disagree.

 

[Pommer]

I disagree.

Do you now? How so?

 

[That Guy 11200]

Fentanyl is killing hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Why are so many Americans buying illegal drugs?

 

[Pommer]

Why are so many Americans buying illegal drugs?

The way some posters tell it, the cartels are coming over the border to forcibly feed fentanyl to our citizens, against their will.
But prohibition is definitely going to work this time, because reasons galore, if only we could get our neighbors from inundating us with this poison!, (which is a Schedule II i.e. “legal”, narcotic).

 

[Nithavela]

Democracies die when emergency powers are extended indefinetely. That has been true since antiquity.

 

[FireDragon76]

Democracies die when emergency powers are extended indefinetely. That has been true since antiquity.

And usually, the crisis is manufactured or illusory in some way.

I am guessing MAGA didn't watch The Revenge of the Sith.

 

[Nithavela]

And usually, the crisis is manufactured or illusory in some way.

I am guessing MAGA didn't watch The Revenge of the Sith.

I guess they took notes.

 

[Always in His Presence]

And usually, the crisis is manufactured or illusory in some way.

I am guessing MAGA didn't watch The Revenge of the Sith.

The crisis is imaginary and it's being based of a Star wars film? Hmmm......

 

[FireDragon76]

The crisis is imaginary and it's being based of a Star wars film? Hmmm......

Star Wars isn't merely fantastical, that would go against the roots of the franchise in Joseph Campbell's understanding of the purpose and functions of myth. And I use myth in the actual academic sense of the term, which makes no prejudiced judgements about the veracity of mythical storytelling. One of the modern myths is the story of fascism in defining evil for modern human beings. I'm guessing the rise of the Sith subplot in Star Wars is based off the actual historical rise of German and Italian fascism, which used a series of manufactured crises to seize power and overturn democracy.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Star Wars isn't merely fantastical, that would go against the roots of the franchise in Joseph Campbell's understanding of the purpose and functions of myth. And I use myth in the actual academic sense of the term, which makes no prejudiced judgements about the veracity of mythical storytelling. One of the modern myths is the story of fascism in defining evil for modern human beings. I'm guessing the rise of the Sith subplot in Star Wars is based off the actual historical rise of German and Italian fascism, which used a series of manufactured crises to seize power and overturn democracy.

Where does kissing a Wookie come in?

I live in the real world

 

[Goonie]

If the "emergency" is fentanyl, one pound of fentanyl came through Canada in the past year. There are far greater emergencies.

It appears Donald is about to declare fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction as a prelude I can only assume to military action against Mexico and Canada.

 

[Fantine]

Fentanyl is killing hundreds of thousands of Americans.

But one pound of fentanyl per year coming from Canada does not justify 25% tariffs. The border security is about 99% foolproof already.

 

[FireDragon76]

Fentanyl is killing hundreds of thousands of Americans.

I've known people affected by fentanyl deaths. We've had one person affected by a fentanyl death of a close family member in our church, and our pastor has also dealt with many tragic cases as a chaplain. Yet I don't understand how that's Canada's fault. Drug addiction is a complex problem that rarely is ammenable to simple solutions, and most of the fentanyl in the US doesn't come from Canada anyways.

 

[Nithavela]

It appears Donald is about to declare fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction as a prelude I can only assume to military action against Mexico and Canada.

It's called a "special military operation".

 

[Vambram]

I've known people affected by fentanyl deaths. We've had one person affected by a fentanyl death of a close family member in our church, and our pastor has also dealt with many tragic cases as a chaplain. Yet I don't understand how that's Canada's fault. Drug addiction is a complex problem that rarely is ammenable to simple solutions, and most of the fentanyl in the US doesn't come from Canada anyways.

If the supply of illegal fentanyl can be stopped, from all of the different sources and borders it crosses, then that would go a long way in defeating the tragedies of the fentanyl crisis.

 

[FireDragon76]

If the supply of illegal fentanyl can be stopped, from all of the different sources and borders it crosses, then that would go a long way in defeating the tragedies of the fentanyl crisis.

Three things to consider:

1. The border around the US is huge, and most of the drugs aren't coming through Canada, or even necessarily non-citizens from Mexico crossing the border along the US. A small quantity of Fentanyl can make many drug doses. This quantity of drugs could be transported by boat, planes, or narcosubs much more easily and discretely.

2. The effects of border enforcement and interdiction are limited if the emphasis is only on punishing traffickers, because that just increases the individual payout for trafficking by reducing competition.

3. The US has demand for drugs, both illegal and legal, far higher than most other developed nations. Few stop to ask "Why" in mainstream media. The famous Rat Park experiment in the early 1980's suggests a possible answer: healthy, well-socialized rats placed in stimulating environments aren't that interested in drug use, even when given a free and unlimited supply. That suggests that addressing demand through better lived environment, social support, and mental health treatment, rather than just focusing on supply and trafficking, is a more fruitful approach.

Rat Park - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org