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Mike Godwin's avatar

Yeah, I'm the same guy who was editor of the Texan in 1988-89. Delayed my graduation from law school, but it was worth it. The reason I keep bringing up "aid and comfort" is that lots of discussion of the applicability of Section 3 don't address it--they think you have to reach the issue of whether Trump was actively an insurrectionist in order to resolve whether he's disqualified. My view is that you only have to reach the issue of "aid and comfort" to get to disqualification. Who was your friend?

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Shazbot Vexed's avatar

You are correct that aid and comfort would be an independent ground for applying Section 3.

My friend was Karen Adams. Haven't talked to her in 35 years, but she was cool af.

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Mike Godwin's avatar

Karen's on Facebook, and no doubt would love hearing from you. If you need another way to contact her, let me know.

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Mike Godwin's avatar

BTW, you may be interested in the article I wrote about Section 3 less than a week after January 6. It's at this link, and was part of a larger colloquy there. https://www.cato-unbound.org/2021/01/12/mike-godwin/fourteenth-amendments-section-3-defense-american-democracy/

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Shazbot Vexed's avatar

Excellent read. Thanks for sharing. "even the best-designed governmental system is subject to being gamed and subverted by actors who exploit its incompleteness or inconsistency." That right there is the heart of the matter.

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Mike Godwin's avatar

You'll laugh, but I had totally forgotten having written that piece until late last year--then got back to it as public interest in Section 3 began to rise up again.

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