A disclaimer is a “statement that one is not responsible for or involved with something, or that one has no knowledge of it.” [FN1] A disclaimer for a work of fiction usually appears at the front of the book, either on the same page as boring publication dates, copy rights and 1/12

call numbers (either Dewey or LC) or on its own page and says something like: “This is a work of fiction; any similarities between characters or events herein & persons living or dead or actual events are purely coincidental.” Disclaimers are creatures of “the rule of law.” 2/12

The definition of that phrase most relevant to what follows in this blog, between now and celebrations of the 250th anniversary of this Nation’s independence is: “The doctrine that every person is subject to the ordinary law within the jurisdiction.” [FN2] This is 3/12

a principle developed since at least as far back as 1215, when King John of England was forced by nobility and leaders of the church to assure protection of church rights, protection for nobility from illegal imprisonment, and access to swift and impartial justice. [FN3] 4/12

Any claim that this administration has made inroads against the rule of law is an understatement. At the 2025 SOTU, the current potus, conferred immunity in 2024 for acts in office, smiled & thanked the author of that opinion. [FN4] “Inroads”? No, Interstate is more apt. 5/12

I think that people should understand the history of the Constitution, before anyone wipes it out. So I’ll describe how that came about, especially since the Nation’s Chief Magistrate toys w/the idea of being a king & muses how people might want a dictator, [FN5] This occurs 6/12

as we trundle along toward the 250th. It sparked memories of the Bicentennial. I hitchhiked east & took part in a march and demonstration in DC on 7/4/76. Personal recollections and first-person narratives can be spiffy & on this blog will be a 2nd thread. Then there are 7/12

the big “what ifs.” I’ve tried to game the possibilities out. Everything’s speculative, but wtf? So relax and read. Just remember, parts of this work are fiction, similarities between characters or events herein & persons living or dead or actual events are coincidental, except for 8/12

those that aren’t. Truth is an absolute defense, “rule of law” is moribund and, if this republic is in its last throes, freedoms of speech & expression are nonviolent means of resistance. The threads begin tomorrow, w/a summary of the WH release & conclude on the 250th anniversary. 9/12

Footnotes:
FN1. Black’s Law Dictionary (10th ed., 2014), p. 562.
FN2. Id., p. 1531. 10/12

FN3. “For much of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, royal control of the English church had been the norm, while paying lip service to the theoretical supremacy of the papacy.” Dr. Andrea Ruddick, ““The English Church Shall Be Free,” Church Society, 8/26/20 accessed 5/22/26. 11/12

FN4. The Roberts 6 has surpassed even the Taney Court for corruption.
FN5. See, Frank Langfitt, “Trump is dismantling democracy at 'unprecedented' speed, global report finds,” npr, 3/20/26, accessed 5/22/26. 12/12