This week, Republican governors across the country escalated their conflict with the Biden administration over the southern border by invoking the same legal theory that slave states wielded to justify secession before the Civil War.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, joined by 25 other GOP governors, now argues that the Biden administration has violated the federal government’s “compact” with the states—an abdication that justifies state usurpation of federal authority at the border.
This language embraces the Confederacy’s conception of the Constitution as a mere compact that states may exit when they feel it has been broken. It’s dangerous rhetoric that transcends partisan grandstanding. And as before, it’s being used to legitimize both nullification and dehumanization.
If these GOP governors actually gave a shit about fixing the border, they would be pushing the GOP congress to unblock the border bill. But they want the crisis to fester so they can campaign on it.
Opportunist scum.
At this point Biden should stretch executive privilege and figure out how to check off as many boxes on the bill that he can. He’s already subverted Congress getting aid to Israel.
What’s the worst that can happen? They impeach him? They already are determined to at least give that show. I would love to see ComerPyle try to explain how they are impeaching him over increased border security.
Maybe Texas sues him. Okay Abbot, let’s see how you justify suing the administration for providing more border agents, more tech, more personnel and resources.
One could argue that the MAGAts in Congress have breached the covenant of 3 coequal branches of government. I would never say that any one branch should act unilaterally, or do so without potential consequence, but this is mad. They are not doing their job, they aren’t debating, and are actively throwing a tantrum like a child.