Posted on 12/19/2023 9:23:20 PM PST by SeekAndFind
As the dust settles from Tuesday's stunning Colorado Supreme Court decision that bars former President Donald Trump's name from appearing on the state ballot in the upcoming GOP presidential primary because he "engaged in insurrection," reaction is pouring in from all quarters.
Hot Takes: GOP Politicos Unload After Colorado Supreme Court Primary Ballot Ruling on Donald Trump
Trump Team Blasts Political and 'Deeply Undemocratic' Colorado Decision Taking Away Rights of Voters
One of the more forceful responses was from biotech entrepreneur and presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who blasted the decision and said he would not appear on the ballot unless Trump were allowed to compete. He also demanded that rivals Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, and Nikki Haley also make the same move:
This is what an *actual* attack on democracy looks like: in an un-American, unconstitutional, and *unprecedented* decision, a cabal of Democrat judges are barring Trump from the ballot in Colorado. Having tried every trick in the book to eliminate President Trump from running in…— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) December 19, 2023
He said that if his competitors didn't make the pledge, they would be "tacitly approving the illegal maneuver" (bolding mine):
Having tried every trick in the book to eliminate President Trump from running in this election, the bipartisan Establishment is now deploying a new tactic to bar him from ever holding office again: the 14th Amendment. I pledge to *withdraw* from the Colorado GOP primary unless Trump is also allowed to be on the state’s ballot, and I demand that Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, and Nikki Haley to do the same immediately - or else they are tacitly endorsing this illegal maneuver which will have disastrous consequences for our country.
His tweet is long, but he argues that the 14th Amendment should not apply here because "it was passed to prohibit former Confederate military and political leaders from holding high federal or state office." He argued that it was ludicrous to use this measure against Trump because it was intended to prevent people from becoming president who "had clearly taken part in a rebellion against the United States: the Civil War."
Trump doesn't rise anywhere close to that status, in Ramaswamy's view.
He also makes a legal argument that Section 3 of the Amendment should not apply to the former president:
And there’s another legal problem: Trump is not a former “officer of the United States,” as that term is used in the Constitution, meaning Section 3 does not apply. As the Supreme Court explained in Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (2010), an “officer of the United States” is someone appointed by the President to aid him in his duties under Article II, Section 2. The term does not apply to elected officials, and certainly not to the President himself.
But his closing statement was his most powerful:
The Framers of the 14th Amendment would be appalled to see this narrow provision—intended to bar former U.S. officials who switched to the Confederacy from seeking public office—being weaponized by a sitting President and his political allies to prevent a former President from seeking reelection. Our country is becoming unrecognizable to our Founding Fathers.
True words.
Ramaswamy is an extreme long-shot to win the GOP nomination, at least according to the polls, but this is the second time he's been on the money recently:
Vivek Ramaswamy Hits It Out of the Park With His Criticism of DEI at CNN Town Hall
It will be interesting to see if the other GOP contenders take him up on his challenge.
Who cares what this Soros plant does .
The guy paid Wikipedia to scrubbed his history .
The guy donated to Dems on Act Blue .
The guy is a WEF And TPP Lover .
He is a Demonrat .
Well, you do for one.
I mean two. LOL
Vivek is great. You are a CA pecksniffian loser.
Ramaswampy is Deep State.
Just withdraw. Don’t DEMAND anything from other candidates. They can make their own decisions.
Thanks for the links.
trump would be stupid to bring anyone on as vice president who was not in agreement on core principles.
At this point I don’t put assassination past those aligned against trump.
I believe that any vice president that does not mirror trump on policy is a danger to trump even if they would never participate in an assassination plot.
Says the name calling childish fanatic who cant handle the truth about this Demonrat Trojan horse .
He targeted low iq voters .
This Indian anchor baby was someone you ranted about for years her .
Actually, the Colorado Supremes stayed their ruling in the ruling itself.
On PAGE 9 it says the ruling is stayed if Trump appeals to the SCOTUS. And, it remains stayed until the SCOTUS rules.
Tired of this obvious Indian anchor baby Dem plant keeps playing his tired games sucking the low iq crowd here .
who cares if you might be a Soros plant or a never Trumper. suggest everyone who sees anyone post accusation like
Who cares what this Soros plant does .
The guy paid Wikipedia to scrub his history.
The guy donated to Dems on Act Blue.
The guy is a WEF And TPP Lover.
He is a Democrat.
look through posting history to get a read on why they are on free republic posting. when you see accusations Like the ones posted they might be nefarious in motivation.
ncalbur you seem to be here to try and advocate against Trump and anyone that would come after trump that would continue his policies long term.
They may as well, they have no chance and this would make a statement to the rest of the primaries.
Notably, he’s a Soros/Kushner plant, for those still in denial about Trump’s handler.
Vivek would also be an incredible Press Secretary. It’s somewhat beneath his stature, but Trump will need an absolute fearless professional in that position.
That gave me a thought...what if all Republicans removed themselves from Colo. ballots, leaving only Democrats. Might be a great learning experience for both sides.
"But for our resolution of the Electors’ challenge under the Election Code,the Secretary would be required to include President Trump’s name on the 2024 presidential primary ballot.
Therefore, to maintain the status quo pending any review by the U.S. Supreme Court, we stay our ruling until January 4, 2024 (the day before the Secretary’s deadline to certify the content of the presidential primary ballot). If review is sought in the Supreme Court before the stay expires on January 4, 2024, then the stay shall remain in place, and the Secretary will continue to be required to include President Trump’s name on the 2024 presidential primary ballot, until the receipt of any order or mandate from the Supreme Court."
Good way for Republicans to begin to dismantle their circular firing squad.
We know Christie the Hut has no honor but what say you DeSantis? Nikki?
Check
That sounds great but it is simply untrue.
Traditionally the VP has been used to balance the ticket, usually geographically. If the Republicans are running someone from the North East, then they need someone, probably a popular governor, from the South.
Sometimes it is used to balance by race or gender. Running black guy? Make sure you pick an old White guy so some voters aren't scared off. Running an old white guy? Pick someone black or a woman.
I love Vivek but he doesn't help the ticket in any way. If he was black, I could see it but he just won't help win anything. For the most part, people who like Vivek like already like Trump so there is no point to him being on the ticket
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