Watching blue-blood outfits like Skadden Arps debase themselves by licking Trump's boots gives me my minimum daily requirement of schadenfreude - and then some.
I may have been a ragged hunter-gatherer of a lawyer by their Olympian standards, but at least I didn't compromise my integrity by doing something like paying protection money in pro-bono hours to a gangster who is running a protection racket from the Oval Office.
Would we have been better off if the democrats had won the election and Kamala was in charge? “Seeking asylum” is in effect open borders since it overwhelms “due process.” Democrats say all migrants, not only gang members, must have due process but there is no way we can give due process to 12 million migrants who came here during Biden’s term. This then is a deadlocked and impossible situation. I voted for Trump 3 times but now agree that he’s a disaster but would the democrats have been any better? Both sides seem intent on destroying the country although I still prefer the republicans since at least they want borders, meritocracy and don’t consider me racist white trash for being white, working class and conservative.
“Trump Takes His Biggest Step Yet Toward Restoring Meritocracy.”
The administration’s executive order eliminating disparate impact theory restores the 1964 Civil Rights Act to its original meaning.
Real Clear Politics. City Journal. Heather MacDonald. Apr 24, 2025
The "due process" shriek by Democrats is disingenuous hypocrisy given not a peep came out of them demanding the same when Obama and Biden deported illegal thugs.
This whole “Seeking asylum” program was weaponized and ruined by the democrats for the sake of political gain. Chicago has 50,000 migrants, mostly Venezuelans, and the mayor has spent over $500M taking care of them plus we now have such a severe budget shortfall that he wants to raise taxes to help cover it. His approval rating as of February was at 6%. I recently saw video of Eric Adams at a republican congressional hearing asked how much NYC has spent on migrants. He said “$6.9 Billion. This is insane.
“Chicago residents call mayor ‘loser, criminal’ as council votes down $300M property tax increase.” (4 min)
Ah Jeffie... you are a political activist in attorney clothing advocating attorneys be activists and not just lawyers. Sorry, but you cannot be a political activist and also be a moral and ethical attorney.
I live in Chicago and last August the DNC was here for 4 days. Not once during that time did any democrat mention the out of control crime and dreadful public schools here. And then they wonder how people like me could have voted for someone like Trump?
Mayor calls for more ‘safe spaces’ after teen mobs overrun Streeterville, already one of the safest spaces in Chicago.
If the Democrats are to survive as a party, they must attract voters from the center left, center and center right. Either the so-called progressives will fall in line and remain Democrats or the party will have to jettison them.
And if America is to survive as a country we have to have sane and functional leaders. Fat chance of that. There’s about as much chance of Trump and the democrats becoming sane as there is of Hamas converting to Judaism. Not going to happen.
Gregory Hinton says he believes there’s only a ten to twenty percent chance that AI will kill us. That’s also what Elon says. I once read a book called “The World of Yesterday: Memories of a European” by Stefan Zweig about pre-WW1 Vienna and pre-WW11 Europe in general. Very interesting to read of how European Civilization was overwhelmed by the irrational side of human nature and plunged into a nightmare. Very distressing to see how our entire Western Civilization is being overwhelmed by the irrational and heading down that same very dark path. It is spooky how similar our situation is. A fascinating book but quite distressing to realize that if we’d had the type of weapons we now have 100 years ago it’s highly unlikely we’d be here now. This is why I believe only AI can save us and why I fear people far more than I fear AI.
“Godfather of AI” has new warning about artificial intelligence: “You should worry.” (8 min)
There is a lot of spam in this comment section today!
Jeff, thanks for the article. I agree with some of the commenters that criticism isn't always applied fairly by everyone in the discourse, but would also agree with your point that my trust in these firms is undermined. I trust lawyers to help in upholding the law through judicial work, so if they send a strong signal that they won't oppose the powers that be, it destroys a lot of their value in my eyes.
I suspect at least some of The Nine were not bullied into submission. If Trump succeeds in amassing dictatorial power, his allies will be richly rewarded. Some firms want a piece of that action.
My impression is that America's major law firms already are ideologically organized in their resistance to the Trump administration and past Republican administrations.
For example, recent analyses reveal a significant shift towards Democratic support. Between 2017 and 2020, lawyers and staff at top law firms contributed approximately $64 million to Democrats, compared to about $11 million to Republicans.
Other examples include Paul Clement, a former U.S. Solicitor General under President George W. Bush, has twice left prominent law firms due to conflicts over conservative legal representation. Christopher Kise resigned from Foley & Lardner to represent former President Donald Trump following the FBI's search of Mar-a-Lago. The firm reportedly distanced itself from Kise's decision, removing his profile from its website. These cases reflect a broader trend within major law firms, where attorneys representing conservative clients or causes may face internal pressures or be compelled to depart.
“It is because it can be loved by us, it is because it is beautiful, that the universe is a country. It is our only country here below. Let us love the country of here below. It is real; it offers resistance to love. It is this country that God has given us to love. He has willed that it should be difficult yet possible to love it. Simone Weil. French Christian mystic. (1909-1943)
Watching blue-blood outfits like Skadden Arps debase themselves by licking Trump's boots gives me my minimum daily requirement of schadenfreude - and then some.
I may have been a ragged hunter-gatherer of a lawyer by their Olympian standards, but at least I didn't compromise my integrity by doing something like paying protection money in pro-bono hours to a gangster who is running a protection racket from the Oval Office.
Were you happy with Joe’s open borders and with meritocracy being replaced with equity?
Would we have been better off if the democrats had won the election and Kamala was in charge? “Seeking asylum” is in effect open borders since it overwhelms “due process.” Democrats say all migrants, not only gang members, must have due process but there is no way we can give due process to 12 million migrants who came here during Biden’s term. This then is a deadlocked and impossible situation. I voted for Trump 3 times but now agree that he’s a disaster but would the democrats have been any better? Both sides seem intent on destroying the country although I still prefer the republicans since at least they want borders, meritocracy and don’t consider me racist white trash for being white, working class and conservative.
“Trump Takes His Biggest Step Yet Toward Restoring Meritocracy.”
The administration’s executive order eliminating disparate impact theory restores the 1964 Civil Rights Act to its original meaning.
Real Clear Politics. City Journal. Heather MacDonald. Apr 24, 2025
https://www.city-journal.org/article/trump-restoring-meritocracy-executive-order-disparate-impact-theory-civil-rights
The "due process" shriek by Democrats is disingenuous hypocrisy given not a peep came out of them demanding the same when Obama and Biden deported illegal thugs.
That was because Obama and Biden observed due process.
He gave them due process by deporting them, not by screwing around in the courts to avoid deporting them.
This whole “Seeking asylum” program was weaponized and ruined by the democrats for the sake of political gain. Chicago has 50,000 migrants, mostly Venezuelans, and the mayor has spent over $500M taking care of them plus we now have such a severe budget shortfall that he wants to raise taxes to help cover it. His approval rating as of February was at 6%. I recently saw video of Eric Adams at a republican congressional hearing asked how much NYC has spent on migrants. He said “$6.9 Billion. This is insane.
“Chicago residents call mayor ‘loser, criminal’ as council votes down $300M property tax increase.” (4 min)
America’s Talking Network. Nov 14, 2024
https://youtu.be/Bb3QDK1SK8M?si=U8PL24caB0XSCteX
Ah Jeffie... you are a political activist in attorney clothing advocating attorneys be activists and not just lawyers. Sorry, but you cannot be a political activist and also be a moral and ethical attorney.
Well said. That sums up this guy in a nutshell.
I live in Chicago and last August the DNC was here for 4 days. Not once during that time did any democrat mention the out of control crime and dreadful public schools here. And then they wonder how people like me could have voted for someone like Trump?
Mayor calls for more ‘safe spaces’ after teen mobs overrun Streeterville, already one of the safest spaces in Chicago.
CWBChicago. Mar 30, 2025
https://cwbchicago.com/2025/03/mayor-calls-for-more-safe-spaces-after-mobs-of-teens-overrun-streeterville-already-one-of-the-safest-spaces-in-chicago.html
“Maybe We Should Stop Calling Them Schools.”
Real Clear Education. Mar 26, 2025
https://www.realcleareducation.com/articles/2025/03/26/maybe_we_should_stop_calling_them_schools_1100065.html
If the Democrats are to survive as a party, they must attract voters from the center left, center and center right. Either the so-called progressives will fall in line and remain Democrats or the party will have to jettison them.
“If the Democrats are to survive as a party,”
And if America is to survive as a country we have to have sane and functional leaders. Fat chance of that. There’s about as much chance of Trump and the democrats becoming sane as there is of Hamas converting to Judaism. Not going to happen.
Gregory Hinton says he believes there’s only a ten to twenty percent chance that AI will kill us. That’s also what Elon says. I once read a book called “The World of Yesterday: Memories of a European” by Stefan Zweig about pre-WW1 Vienna and pre-WW11 Europe in general. Very interesting to read of how European Civilization was overwhelmed by the irrational side of human nature and plunged into a nightmare. Very distressing to see how our entire Western Civilization is being overwhelmed by the irrational and heading down that same very dark path. It is spooky how similar our situation is. A fascinating book but quite distressing to realize that if we’d had the type of weapons we now have 100 years ago it’s highly unlikely we’d be here now. This is why I believe only AI can save us and why I fear people far more than I fear AI.
“Godfather of AI” has new warning about artificial intelligence: “You should worry.” (8 min)
CBS News. Apr 26, 2025
https://youtu.be/sgSj9mBr0w4?si=8LH_NiVmCgIy1-gY
“Elon Musk Thinks This Is The Only Way To Move Forward With AI Because It’s Coming No Matter What.” (1 min)
Shorts. Oct 10, 2024
https://youtube.com/shorts/lCf7Iy5BU84?si=1y0voSG2YvpzAThe
There is a lot of spam in this comment section today!
Jeff, thanks for the article. I agree with some of the commenters that criticism isn't always applied fairly by everyone in the discourse, but would also agree with your point that my trust in these firms is undermined. I trust lawyers to help in upholding the law through judicial work, so if they send a strong signal that they won't oppose the powers that be, it destroys a lot of their value in my eyes.
I suspect at least some of The Nine were not bullied into submission. If Trump succeeds in amassing dictatorial power, his allies will be richly rewarded. Some firms want a piece of that action.
"Any assertions ... does not hold up"
Stealth edit, please.
My impression is that America's major law firms already are ideologically organized in their resistance to the Trump administration and past Republican administrations.
For example, recent analyses reveal a significant shift towards Democratic support. Between 2017 and 2020, lawyers and staff at top law firms contributed approximately $64 million to Democrats, compared to about $11 million to Republicans.
Other examples include Paul Clement, a former U.S. Solicitor General under President George W. Bush, has twice left prominent law firms due to conflicts over conservative legal representation. Christopher Kise resigned from Foley & Lardner to represent former President Donald Trump following the FBI's search of Mar-a-Lago. The firm reportedly distanced itself from Kise's decision, removing his profile from its website. These cases reflect a broader trend within major law firms, where attorneys representing conservative clients or causes may face internal pressures or be compelled to depart.
“Why Beautiful Things Make Us Happy.” (8 min)
Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell. Oct 23, 2018
https://youtu.be/-O5kNPlUV7w?si=B3AM8Zbrv0pCwGd7
GoPro Awards: “Escape” (7 min)
GoPro. Dec 28, 2024
https://youtu.be/KK85bybTEKA?si=Q88WeqqDXP6f5m1r
“It is because it can be loved by us, it is because it is beautiful, that the universe is a country. It is our only country here below. Let us love the country of here below. It is real; it offers resistance to love. It is this country that God has given us to love. He has willed that it should be difficult yet possible to love it. Simone Weil. French Christian mystic. (1909-1943)
America is disintegrating and our whole world is in a tailspin. Only AI can save our sinking ship. The best of times. The worst of times.
“It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently."
— Dostoevsky
AI Models Are Self-Aware. (1 min)
BuzzRobot. Shorts. Apr 18, 2025
https://youtube.com/shorts/2WeEq-DBBPk?si=jmk3502z8LoKyh6V
“All My Predictions Have come True, So Far.” (27 min)
This Is World. Ray Kurzweil. Mar 28, 2025
https://youtu.be/gGEu_5KbVe8?si=4Bvk89Fj8wkRS7Dz