Marcy makes a very nice point here. If Trump asserted that Special Counsel Jack Smith—who was in charge of just two cases against basically one person—was a principal officer who required Senate confirmation, then how could Co-President Musk—who’s remaking the *entire* government—be anything less? - ThreadSky

gtconway.bsky.social • 4 days ago

Marcy makes a very nice point here.

If Trump asserted that Special Counsel Jack Smith—who was in charge of just two cases against basically one person—was a principal officer who required Senate confirmation, then how could Co-President Musk—who’s remaking the *entire* government—be anything less?

Reposted from emptywheel

Why Elon Musk Can't Run DOGE [sic] Anymore

www.emptywheel.net/2025/02/18/w...

Comments

oeishik.bsky.social•4 days ago

DOGE is illegal & Elon has a mountain of conflicts of interest to be a 'senior advisor' in the Oval Office. Is he planning on divesting himself from all his business holdings? https://youtu.be/b_mDTOKvyV8?si=SKdGXIKvMSIgfZop

paulagbl.bsky.social•4 days ago

Did the orange buffoon divest in 1.0? NO. Did he divest in 2.0? NO AGAIN. Why do expect Elonia to do the right thing if the buffoon doesn’t.

harrylanders.bsky.social•4 days ago

Please… there should be no expectation of consistency or intellectual honesty. Every transaction stands independently based on immediate convenience.

opus3.bsky.social•3 days ago

It can’t be both at the same time.

mitakuye.bsky.social•4 days ago

I am still waiting for somebody to launch a class action suit. Class: everybody with a SSN. If you need a representative for the class, I volunteer.

Where are all the lawyers?

We should have corruption chasers at every corner, following DOGE around to be hired by victims.

racingbikes.bsky.social•4 days ago

Where are all the lawyers? Probably taking their CLE's and actually learning nothing.

rovingrover.bsky.social•4 days ago

I can't think of anything more terrifying than an obscenely wealthy man,who is incapable of empathy,in the highest position of power in the USA

jenniegross.bsky.social•4 days ago

Yes. I’d like to see a lawsuit that just argues title 5 and the APA though. Musk isn’t an administrator of an arm of the executive branch because DOGE is not an arm of the executive branch.

jenniegross.bsky.social•4 days ago

And DOGE simply can’t do what it is doing because it lacks that authority. And the President can’t do it on their recommendation because outside of title 5 structures, it’s arbitrary and capricious.

gtconway.bsky.social•4 days ago

I think there have been APA claims asserted. And DOGE is legally part of the EOP.

jenniegross.bsky.social•4 days ago

True, there have been APA claims asserted. But I am still stuck on statutory authority. They set it up to replace USDS, but USDS had a very limited reach. DOGE doesn’t fall under a 5 USC 101 department and Congress didn’t create it by statute (like CFPB).

tacothecat.bsky.social•4 days ago

All of this. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

jenniegross.bsky.social•4 days ago

Hi Taco!

tacothecat.bsky.social•4 days ago

Hi Scout and Scout’s mom. Corgi people are very smart.

beverlymann19.bsky.social•4 days ago

APA:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_Procedure_Act

luv-is-the-best.bsky.social•4 days ago

🔍💻 "The DOJ’s AI-driven justice system is a modern Gordon Gekko nightmare—where data is weaponized, lives are ruined, and truth is collateral damage. Predictive policing🔮, and the pursuit of 'sure things' risks turning justice into a kleptocracy. https://doctorsofcourage.org/u-s-department-of-justices-in-a-gordon-gekko-nightmare/

rrebelo.bsky.social•4 days ago

It no longer matters. Nobody is going to stop them. You are screaming into the wind

dannyfouts.bsky.social•4 days ago

Why are we trying to make sense of anything anymore? When McDonnell denied Obama his SCOTUS pick in ‘16, that was it, son.

It worked.

Anything the GOP wanted to try was going to work after that.

Anything.

bluedotredwithrage.bsky.social•3 days ago

I’d like to see him personally sued and held financially responsible for restitution for all those he has adversely impacted.
We can bankrupt that motherfucker and exile him into absolute destitution. That would be his worst nightmare.

rewdawakening.bsky.social•4 days ago

Everyone’s JESUS and Christ are mythical creatures. You owe nobody ANY OF THIS DELUSION. They have failed themselves. Watch them, record them and teach away their hypocrisy. These people don’t actually exist. Their lies exist and we don’t need to meet them there anymore. They chose Trump. Wake up!

carljungfranz.bsky.social•4 days ago

*

Trump is turning the United States of America

into Putin’s Russia.

*

richmbernstein.bsky.social•4 days ago

Fascinating arguments. Now, do Elon's entanglements. Starlink working at FAA???? Come on.

nooligarchs.bsky.social•4 days ago

Agree. But logic and the rule of law has not hampered the orange skidmark yet.

reneelascala.bsky.social•4 days ago

Who pays DOGE workers?
What federal budget does that come from?
Do they get health benefits?
Under what entity do they get workers’ comp?
Who deducts + co-pays their social security?

Aren’t THEY all on probation? Since it’s ~1 month since they started work.

sistasue.bsky.social•4 days ago

Too late. Chutkan ruled States AGs have not proved their case.

oldschoolpatriot.bsky.social•4 days ago

I mean he CAN'T really run it, but that's another story.

nevergonnakneel.bsky.social•4 days ago

Too logical

pauldu.bsky.social•4 days ago

The legal contortions that are on court records from the infinite number of previous Trump lawsuits should show enough contradictions to throw out any of his future arguments

sowalsky.bsky.social•4 days ago

Because double standards? Because arbitrary, chaotic lawlessness? Because the courts are as important as Congress?

sowalsky.bsky.social•4 days ago

*impotent

arsetechnica.bsky.social•4 days ago

The only place for musk is Gitmo or extrordinary rendition to an unnamed location abroad - anyone else did this to the US in the last 75 years they would be getting a nuclear tan by now

mok000.bsky.social•4 days ago

I thought about that too.

mariootsa.bsky.social•4 days ago

Oh no he certainly will be in trouble with the law now

elusiveapricity.bsky.social•4 days ago

It's pretty obvious even for non-lawyers, like Marcy Wheeler.

It will make no difference because Trump and buddies are above the law, even Garland knew it.

xine42.bsky.social•4 days ago

The logical fallacy here is the assumption that Trump thinks any of the laws that he thinks should apply to other people should apply to him.

ehowell.bsky.social•4 days ago

Interesting legal points aside, reading that linked piece with the words of the USAID worker's ordeal made me cry ... and ashamed to be an American even though I did not vote for this and worked my ass off to try to stop it. What a horrifying embarrassment this criminal administration is.

gtconway.bsky.social•4 days ago

Couldn’t agree more.

mango-flava.bsky.social•4 days ago

Once we evict the Trumplicans, we need some new guardrails.

msmary13.bsky.social•4 days ago

First we all have to admit the fat South African elephant in the room. The mango moron SOLD our government to musk to stay out of jail. That is why he is never alone. The doggy handlers are keeping him on task. Just like Eric Adams

bettybythebeech.bsky.social•4 days ago

Sandwich short for a picnic.🥪🥪🥪

jonsky.bsky.social•4 days ago

Ok, but what I want to hear is the sound of Elons arrest warrant and the squeaks of the MAGA rats when the pest control cleans out the White House. Is that coming soon?

corqsnuf.bsky.social•4 days ago

You don’t understand. Laws don’t apply to King Trumpy.

jaksays.bsky.social•4 days ago

You and Marcy are failing to account for "one rule for thee, and another for me"

onlytruthcansolve.bsky.social•3 days ago

EMBRACING TERRORISM

jasemcg.bsky.social•4 days ago

I think Cannon explained that this was a special carve out for Trump and shouldn't be applied to other cases.

sharonlindsey.bsky.social•4 days ago

djanssen.bsky.social•4 days ago

Using logic to argue this point seems ineffective

kcc1018.bsky.social•4 days ago

I am not aware of any Special Counsel that ever needed Senate confirmation!!

massdisillusion.bsky.social•4 days ago

Musk isn't part of DOGE...

FUCK REPUBLICANS

ichaukan.bsky.social•4 days ago

And nobody elected the apartheid baby moron or any of his Shitler Youth DOGEnerates.

gman19701974.bsky.social•4 days ago

👏👏👏👏

hopesprayers.bsky.social•4 days ago

Problem is we need someone to enforce the law. We don't have that.

attikusfinch.bsky.social•4 days ago

It’s so cute you and Marcy think law matters anymore

While we sit in awe of the destruction tech bros have taken over + are quickly moving us into a new world run by a CEO dictator and they start making little countries of their own…

https://youtu.be/5RpPTRcz1no?...

bdemayo.bsky.social•4 days ago

Just finished reading that article myself. Highly recommend others do as well.

resistantcat.bsky.social•4 days ago

That’s logical however it doesn’t work in times like these.

bershod.bsky.social•4 days ago

Oh but George you’re using common sense, that’s not something that Trump doesn’t care about

archroadkill.bsky.social•4 days ago

The weasels in the Senate would confirm Bugs Bunny so I don't think this will help

jwbfat16.bsky.social•3 days ago

Please, Bugs had it right in '49
https://tenor.com/view/bugsbunny-florida-saw-cut-island-gif-5578844

pepe-mccormack.bsky.social•4 days ago

Are you implying that consistency is a Trumb trait?

in-zeus-i-trust.bsky.social•4 days ago

For decades, Russia and China have been trying to hack the U.S. government to steal secrets, to get people's Social Security, medical and personal data, the financial institutions, etc. No more. They got their agents doing it for them, and they already got all the infos they wanted in just 2 weeks.

greyfox7.bsky.social•4 days ago

Absolutely what i have been saying, why is this so hard for people to see?

sarcasticallycalm.bsky.social•4 days ago

I wondering.... when will they start using this info they have to steal from us individually or are they planning to sell us off for favors.

Could some tax attorney find the reason I can withhold tax payments? The bank is not really secure.

in-zeus-i-trust.bsky.social•4 days ago

You're right, your money is not secured in the banks.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fdic-fires-new-employees-part-broader-government-layoffs-2025-02-18/

racingbikes.bsky.social•4 days ago

That would be so delicious, I can hardly stand it!!

level90.bsky.social•4 days ago

There is zero consistently in Trumpian logic. Basically, it all comes down to "rules for thee but not for me".

gretafied.bsky.social•4 days ago

Imagine being the financially richest man on earth who "celebrates" the death of starving children because of HIS decision. What the fuck is this? When do we revolt bigtime?

mar75aley.bsky.social•4 days ago

Hey you are talking and making sense that is something Trump does not understand at all he lives with his dementia in oblivion

radgrapes.bsky.social•4 days ago

Touche

toyoga.bsky.social•4 days ago

Considering that Marcy Wheeler has spent the last 4 years vociferously defending Merick Garland, going so far as to ridicule the very idea that he was anything less than perfect, I would not listen to her opinion on anything.

dysheki.bsky.social•4 days ago

That assumes intellectual honesty, which this administration has none of (I mean, they don't even have just plain old honesty let alone intellectual honesty).

wendella.bsky.social•4 days ago

Article subzero says "What applies to Democrats does not apply to Republicans." Thomas & Alito discovered that clause.

roguefactor.bsky.social•4 days ago

it appears nobody on the hill cares enough to give a shit enough to stand in the way, rebuke unlawful demands, hire Security for their protection while they work, arm themselves. we are seeing a literal coup d'etat. it's a hostile takeover already, dispense with any remaining pleasantries. FFS.

jwbfat16.bsky.social•3 days ago

Legal niceties will mean absolutely nothing to Roberts & SC(R)OTUS who cited an 18th century witch trial jurist in the Dobbs decision.

reenie11.bsky.social•4 days ago

DOGE isn’t legal to it is a non entity and you can’t run something that doesn’t exist. Why isn’t he and his group being physically removed and charged with trespassing at the very east until F45/47 complies with rules for creating department such as DOGE

calyork52.bsky.social•3 days ago

Un-elected, unconfirmed by the Senate

littlellama.bsky.social•4 days ago

Imagine being proud of halting work on a promising AIDS vaccine, withholding food from starving children and making people lose respect for America across the globe.
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/trumps-aid-cuts-stop-south-african-hiv-vaccine-trials-their-tracks-2025-02-18/

mariatuttocuore.bsky.social•4 days ago

It might be too late. He is hacking the government from inside before any law can stop him

cassandrahoped.bsky.social•3 days ago

How are there not a few Senate GOPs to join the Dems in insisting on Senate confirmation? How are "conservatives" putting pressure on key GOPs to save the Republic?

jwbfat16.bsky.social•3 days ago

Please, do not confuse the Congressional GOP cauci with chordates. It's demeaning to 1/3 of the animal kindom.

azureriver.bsky.social•4 days ago

Not even remaking. They’re wrecking and pillaging.

cravenmorehead.bsky.social•4 days ago

sky-pilot-108.bsky.social•3 days ago

but DJT said EM wasn`t in charge of the DOGE. So exactly who is ?

whutintarhooties.bsky.social•3 days ago

All of them.

Deny, distract and destroy.

mblehrhoff.bsky.social•4 days ago

Consistency is not exactly a Republican hallmark. It's heads we win, tails you lose. For conservatives, this goes all the way back to spewing "states' rights" pre-Civil War, and then demanding a federal Fugitive Slave Act to constrain unwilling northern states.

boonedocksbuilder.bsky.social•4 days ago

But he still is!

mmmvegas.bsky.social•4 days ago

Trump wants it both ways. His way and his way.

sarcasticallycalm.bsky.social•4 days ago

because he said so and Rs hold congress.... i like you george but you keep expecting "america" to appear.... it was never really there honestly

debbie-nh.bsky.social•4 days ago

he of course would get senate confirmation so isn’t it a futile argument?

progalaskan.bsky.social•5 hours ago

If anyone or anything deserves to be run through a wood-chipper, it's that loathsome motherfucker Elon Musk.

scottywho.bsky.social•4 days ago

If he cannot run the doge, then the hacker incels HE HIRED must disclose all of their actions, under oath to a grand jury and then be dismissed.

jwbfat16.bsky.social•3 days ago

Under what Judiciary? Bondi? Patel?
Law and order mean nothing anymore.
We're back to feudalism/serfdom & pre-Magna Carta.

demare.bsky.social•4 days ago

It's rules for thee, but not for me, George!

circularpowernyc.bsky.social•4 days ago

This is all pointless bc Repukes have no morals, make shit up and get away with constant lies

sloycia.bsky.social•4 days ago

Are there laws?

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