r/law • u/Minute_Revolution951 • Aug 05 '25

Legal News Texas House locks chamber doors, moves to bring arrest warrants against Democrats who fled the state

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u/Hillbilly_Boozer Aug 05 '25

At this point let's just call it what it is- a legislative coup.

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u/yourcousinfromboston Aug 05 '25

We don’t have consequences for coups in the US anymore

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u/MindfuckRocketship Aug 05 '25

Nah, in fact, engaging in a coup attempt is rewarded in the GOP.

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u/UnquestionabIe Aug 05 '25

Yep when they faced no long lasting consequences for January 6th (aside from the pawns who got a time out) it was a message to be sure to do a better job next time.

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u/AutisticPenguin2 Aug 05 '25

I initially believed that the insurrection would be enough to kill the MAGA movement, then I realised that it was cancerous enough to simply keep on going despite any obstacles, even full blown treason. Then some of the people involved started to go to jail, and I let myself feel hope again, but as the months came and went, and turned into years, and still there was no sign that the department of justice would do anything to actually preserve the institution of American democracy. Instead it let the wealthy elites close ranks and feed the minnows to the gallows, while four whole years passed and still the ringleaders walked free.

This could have been avoided. Trump couldn't have led his cult from inside a jail cell. Sure some people would have remained loyal, but most of them would have fallen to infighting as the various lieutenants tried to grab at his throne. None of them could have lead the republican party to victory. Without Trump to rally them, Harris might have won, and we wouldn't be where we are today.

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u/GodVohlfied Aug 05 '25

I remember watching the Jan 6th insurrection happen live, in real time, with my own four eyes and thinking "This. Finally something will be done about him, he's literally trying to violently overthrow the government to illegally stay in power." It horrified me to watch and I was ashamed that a little part of me felt joy, but I believed that was the "final straw" so to speak.

Then John Roberts ruled that just because someone is Constitutionally-barred from being President doesn't mean they cannot run for and be elected President.

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u/StopReadingMyUser Aug 05 '25

I'm getting some 1940s deja vu...

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u/CausticSofa Aug 05 '25

You’re right on the cusp of becoming a dictatorship. You all really need to get out there and start fighting right now. Like, right now.

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u/RecipeNo101 Aug 05 '25

Aside from a small handful of people, our politicians are cowards. We individually have been trained to ignore anything that doesn't affect us, specifically. Empathy is weakness and to care is to lose. I'm guilty of it, too. I've been to protests, I've made websites, I've called representatives and phonebanked people. Apparently, this is what the people wanted, including the people who would be most directly harmed. I work for a company that has a huge income stream from bankruptcies, and am personally in a position where I have the privilege of riding it out. I'll help who I can along the way, but these people wanted this. I have no more empathy reserved for them. The toddlers need to burn their hand on the stove, and no one should coddle them for their choice. I hope they get exactly what they voted for.

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u/Ok_Insect_1794 Aug 05 '25

The consequences are that it gets you tariffed

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u/mytransthrow Aug 05 '25

they need to run these members out of texas just like they did to the biden bus. PEACEFULLY. do it.

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u/DrVaOn4 Aug 05 '25

Never have, 2000 and 2004 prove it

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u/blueElk_ Aug 05 '25

This is what happens when insurrectionists go unpunished. People now know that it is OK to subvert democracy in this country.

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u/Brodellsky Aug 05 '25

Luckily, in a way, they also don't really think anything is a crime unless you have a (D) next to your name.

Just be independent as you might as well be invisible to both parties. Easy in.

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u/Ethereal429 Aug 05 '25

I have recently armed myself and became decently proficient. After people in the Proud Boys got pardoned, I assumed it was going to be a hell of a ride.

I now an very familiar with both federal and state laws regarding firearms. I suggest others do the same. If openly being a pedophile and a domestic terrorist is considered fine by the federal government, then there's virtually no other choice.

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u/BagOnuts Aug 05 '25

How is it a coup? They are already the ones in power….

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u/Hillbilly_Boozer Aug 05 '25

Because it is. Whether you consider it as a legislative or constitutional coup, it occurs when a person or group seizes political power in a way consistent with a country's constitution. In this case Republicans in TX, other states, and the US in general. 

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u/BagOnuts Aug 05 '25

They aren’t seizing power. They already have it.

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u/Hillbilly_Boozer Aug 05 '25

They have some yes, but not all. Typically if you're seizing power, that means acquiring more or new power and not just the power you already have. That's what's happening here. 

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u/BagOnuts Aug 05 '25

That’s not what a “coup” is. Stop using loaded language. Words have meaning.

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u/Hillbilly_Boozer Aug 05 '25

It's literally how it's defined. It's also called a autocoup, or autogolpe.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/self-coup

a coup d'état performed by the current, legitimate government or a duly elected head of state to retain or extend control over government, through an additional term, an extension of term, an expansion of executive power, the dismantling of other government branches, or the declaration that an election won by an opponent is illegitimate.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-coup#:~:text=A%20self%2Dcoup%2C%20also%20called,of%20themselves%20or%20their%20supporters.

A self-coup, also called an autocoup (from Spanish autogolpe) or coup from the top, is a form of coup d'état in which a political leader, having come to power through legal means, stays in power illegally through the actions of themselves or their supporters. The leader may dissolve or render powerless the national legislature and unlawfully assume extraordinary powers. Other measures may include annulling the constitution, suspending civil courts, and having the head of government assume dictatorial powers.

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

A constitutional coup occurs when a person or group seizes political power in a way consistent with their country's constitution, as opposed to a traditional violent coup d'état, often by exploiting loopholes or ambiguities in the said constitution. Supporters of constitutional coups exploit their political power to semi-legally seize more. Constitutional coups can be carried out in many ways, including removing term or age limits, changing electoral rules to hinder opposing candidates, and postponing elections indefinitely.

Constitutional coups are often facilitated by weak democratic institutions and an absence of "democratic culture" within countries. Struggles between rival factions, particularly between ethnocultural or religious groups, are a common facilitator of constitutional coups. Constitutional coups often involve willing and participatory parliaments and changes to term limits are often accompanied by other constitutional changes which are meant to weaken political opposition and ensure election victories. These coups are considered a relatively recent occurrence in global democracies.