Angus King

We hope the courts will take care of it, but that presumes that the administration, that the president will obey the orders of the court. If not, where are we then? So, you know, I keep trying to sort of prick their consciences, but it's, and by the way, the framers assumed that, that this separation of power would be policed by the people in power to protect their own prerogatives and power.

We hope the courts will take care of it, but that presumes that the administration, that the president will obey the orders of the court. If not, where are we then? So, you know, I keep trying to sort of prick their consciences, but it's, and by the way, the framers assumed that, that this separation of power would be policed by the people in power to protect their own prerogatives and power.

We hope the courts will take care of it, but that presumes that the administration, that the president will obey the orders of the court. If not, where are we then? So, you know, I keep trying to sort of prick their consciences, but it's, and by the way, the framers assumed that, that this separation of power would be policed by the people in power to protect their own prerogatives and power.

In other words, there's writing in The Federalist that the Congress would not cave into an autocratic president because they wouldn't want to give up their own authority.

In other words, there's writing in The Federalist that the Congress would not cave into an autocratic president because they wouldn't want to give up their own authority.

In other words, there's writing in The Federalist that the Congress would not cave into an autocratic president because they wouldn't want to give up their own authority.

Self-interest as a check. It was supposed to, that's the way it was supposed to work. But the framers didn't contemplate political parties. They hated the idea of political parties. In the Federalist Papers, Washington's Farewell Address talks about the danger of parties, but sure enough, within about five or 10 years, we had the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. We had Adams and Jefferson.

Self-interest as a check. It was supposed to, that's the way it was supposed to work. But the framers didn't contemplate political parties. They hated the idea of political parties. In the Federalist Papers, Washington's Farewell Address talks about the danger of parties, but sure enough, within about five or 10 years, we had the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. We had Adams and Jefferson.

Self-interest as a check. It was supposed to, that's the way it was supposed to work. But the framers didn't contemplate political parties. They hated the idea of political parties. In the Federalist Papers, Washington's Farewell Address talks about the danger of parties, but sure enough, within about five or 10 years, we had the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. We had Adams and Jefferson.

And so now what we have is party loyalty is trumping, excuse the term, institutional loyalty. Rather than fighting for the prerogatives, these folks are putting their party first, saying, you know, we've got to be loyal to our president. And it doesn't help that this president is notoriously vindictive. The current rumor is they're being told, if you buck us, we will primary you. And this is new.

And so now what we have is party loyalty is trumping, excuse the term, institutional loyalty. Rather than fighting for the prerogatives, these folks are putting their party first, saying, you know, we've got to be loyal to our president. And it doesn't help that this president is notoriously vindictive. The current rumor is they're being told, if you buck us, we will primary you. And this is new.

And so now what we have is party loyalty is trumping, excuse the term, institutional loyalty. Rather than fighting for the prerogatives, these folks are putting their party first, saying, you know, we've got to be loyal to our president. And it doesn't help that this president is notoriously vindictive. The current rumor is they're being told, if you buck us, we will primary you. And this is new.

Musk will pay for it. Wow. It's one thing to face a primary. It's another thing to face a primary with an opponent with unlimited funds.

Musk will pay for it. Wow. It's one thing to face a primary. It's another thing to face a primary with an opponent with unlimited funds.

Musk will pay for it. Wow. It's one thing to face a primary. It's another thing to face a primary with an opponent with unlimited funds.

So it's a sort of double-barreled threat. It's easy for me to say this. I'm not in their position. I'm not, you know, a senator from a red state who could face the primary. So I don't, I'm trying not to be judgmental, but I do think at some point, a line is crossed and people are going to have to step up.

So it's a sort of double-barreled threat. It's easy for me to say this. I'm not in their position. I'm not, you know, a senator from a red state who could face the primary. So I don't, I'm trying not to be judgmental, but I do think at some point, a line is crossed and people are going to have to step up.

So it's a sort of double-barreled threat. It's easy for me to say this. I'm not in their position. I'm not, you know, a senator from a red state who could face the primary. So I don't, I'm trying not to be judgmental, but I do think at some point, a line is crossed and people are going to have to step up.

Lincoln said in a speech to Congress in 1862 that nobody from this Congress or this administration is going to avoid history. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the latest generation. And we can't avoid this question. I mean, this is...

Lincoln said in a speech to Congress in 1862 that nobody from this Congress or this administration is going to avoid history. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the latest generation. And we can't avoid this question. I mean, this is...