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FORMER US PRESIDENT Donald Trump filed an appeal on Tuesday against a ruling by the top election official in Maine that would keep him off the presidential primary ballot in the northeastern state.
Maine last week joined Colorado in barring Trump from appearing on the primary ballot because of his role in the January 6, 2021 assault on the US Capitol by his supporters.
Trump’s lawyers urged the Maine Superior Court to throw out the ruling by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, calling her a “biased decision-maker” who “acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner.”
The Colorado Supreme Court ruled last month that Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is ineligible to appear on the presidential primary ballot in the western state because of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.
Section Three of the 14th Amendment bars anyone from holding public office if they engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” after once pledging to support and defend the Constitution.
The amendment, ratified in 1868 after the Civil War, was aimed at preventing supporters of the slave-holding Confederacy from being elected to Congress or from holding federal positions.
The Republican Party in Colorado has appealed the Colorado Supreme Court ruling to the US Supreme Court, and the Maine case is also expected to eventually make its way to the nation’s highest court.
In her decision, Bellows said the January 6 attack “occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President.”
“The US Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government and [Maine law] requires me to act in response,” she said.
Similar 14th Amendment challenges to Trump’s eligibility have also been filed in other states. Courts in Minnesota and Michigan recently ruled that Trump should stay on the ballot in those states.
The twice-impeached former president is scheduled to go on trial in Washington in March for conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden.
He also faces racketeering charges in Georgia for allegedly conspiring to upend the election results in the southern state.
Maine and Colorado hold their presidential nominating contests on March 5, also known as “Super Tuesday”, when voters in more than a dozen states, including California and Texas, go to the polls.
© Agence France-Presse
How much has the cost of living increased in Ireland since 2006? Does anyone know? Would be interesting to see this in the context of job losses & wage cuts. Our labour force is taking the brunt of the last six budgets to ‘improve competitiveness’ which is code for ‘make them poorer’. This is sadly not a conspiracy theory, it’s simply austerity.
Rubbish.
Higher prices mean people will demand less not more.
If you wanna increase “consumer spending” why not lower the cost?
I’m tired of this type of demagoguery.
Since 2006:
2006: 3.9%
2007: 4.9%
2008: 4.1%
2009: -4.5%
2010: -1.6%
2011: 2.6%
Thanks Gavan, I appreciate that. This trend allied with pay cuts & increased taxes explains in stark numbers why so many are struggling to make ends meet. Something has gotta give.
Almost 12% since 2006 and recall that should be compounded, so it’s actually more.
And these are fudged govt numbers, no doubt.
“All fiat currencies return to their intrinsic value — zero” – Voltaire
If debt remains the same in relaton to the rate of inflation then in effect it shrinks the debt. Considering the countrys massive level if indebtness inflation may allow us to outgrow our debts. Low levels of inflation actually plays in to the hands of the likes of Germany by keeping their cost base artificially low making it more competitiive in markets like China Etc.
But Keith, at the cost of who? The poor and the old?
The cost of those about to retire as they see the value of their funds decline in relation to living costs and those with savings.
@Michael: Compounded, the interest rate between 1/1/2006 and 31/12/2011 is 9.39%.
That is to say, the average product that cost €100 at the start of 2006 cost €109.39 at the end of 2011.
And this year brings it to…111.80?
That means purchasing power (and savings) has been reduced by a little more than 10% in 6 years.
10% increase in the price of food, fuel and commodities? What planet are they on???
“You can fool some people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time”
This system has to stop.
Best image caption ever Gavin!!
Why do we continue to squeeze the poor and middle class with inflation? 2.2% is high. What is wrong with deflation? Give the people on fixed incomes a chance? Lower prices of basic commodities? Relieve the pressure on gold?
Thus love of inflation makes me sick. Stop the money printing to afford these entitlements. Balance the budget.
Bring back sanity? Not Keynesian NONSENSE.
We already have one of the most expensive electricity and gas prices range from 30-45% higher than Europe.internet Broadband is amongst the most expensive monthly and slowest broadband to most European countries.ready to go top ups also the most expensive with the least amount of minutes.car prices 30% higher than other EURO countries.all of these major factors added to higher transport cost of public and private usage and we could really see how much we’re being screwed by a government and Europe.
Those who own the printing presses use inflation to keep the citizens enslaved in debt, too busy to ask questions like who owns the Federal Reserve bank in America.
have your say