Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump is not taking the Democratic secretary of state of Maine’s decision to bar him from the ballot lying down! Nope, he’s fighting back like a champ, appealing this ruling and also looking to the U.S. Supreme Court to settle the matter once and for all.
Trump appeals ruling barring him from Maine ballot under the Constitution’s insurrection clausehttps://t.co/0JcILIQBRh pic.twitter.com/20m96PV6VB
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 3, 2024
Let’s set the stage for this battle, shall we? The secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, made history by using a rarely used section of the 14th Amendment to block Trump from running for president. This provision says that anyone who “engaged in insurrection” can’t hold office. Sounds serious, right? Well, Trump wasn’t having any of it. He’s not one to back down from a fight, especially when it comes to his shot at returning to the presidency. So, off he goes to the Maine Superior Court with his appeal in hand, ready to duke it out.
But wait, there’s more! It turns out Trump is also taking his case to the U.S. Supreme Court after a similar ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court left him out in the cold. The Colorado ruling marked the first time in history that this little-known provision of the 14th Amendment was used to bar a presidential contender from the ballot. What a wild turn of events!
Now, Trump’s critics have been relentless, throwing lawsuit after lawsuit at him in multiple states, trying to disqualify him from the ballot. But up until now, none of them have succeeded. That is until a slim majority of Colorado’s seven justices, all appointed by Democratic governors, ruled against Trump. Talk about a tough crowd! But hey, Trump isn’t worried. He’s got a plan to turn the tide in his favor.
Trump’s supporters are crying foul, warning that this could set a dangerous precedent. They’re arguing that this could open the floodgates for partisan election officials to start disqualifying candidates they don’t like. And let’s be real, nobody wants that kind of drama in our elections.
But hold your horses, because there’s a twist! The secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, insists that her ruling wasn’t about her personal views on Trump. No sir, she claims it was all about applying the law fairly. She even admits that the Supreme Court will probably have the final say, but she’s standing by her decision.
And what about this whole Section 3 business? It’s like something out of a history textbook! This provision hasn’t seen the light of day since the aftermath of the Civil War, when it was used to keep former Confederates from returning to power. Fast forward to 2022, and it’s suddenly making a comeback after the events of January 6, 2021. Who would’ve thought?
Now, Trump and his crew aren’t taking this lying down. They’re calling these cases “anti-democratic” and pointing fingers at liberal groups with ties to President Joe Biden. They’re not mincing words, accusing these groups of trying to bend the legal system to serve their own agenda. But Biden’s administration is quick to clarify that the president isn’t involved in these legal battles.
On the flip side, those who support using Section 3 against Trump are standing their ground. They argue that the January 6 attack was a game-changer and that there won’t be many cases as clear-cut as this one. So, they’re making the case that if Trump gets a free pass, it’s just another example of the legal system letting him off the hook for his extreme behavior.
And there you have it, folks! The showdown between Trump and the powers that be is just getting started, and it’s bound to be a bumpy ride. So, grab your popcorn and buckle up because this political rollercoaster isn’t slowing down anytime soon!
