Clarence Thomas

[wmw999 2,334]

Was just listening to a story about this. A $15 payment as a contribution is one thing (and apparently common in DC), but without amounts, who knows? Could also be $1000 each for the high end wine  

Wendy P. 

[SkyDekker 1,319]

4 minutes ago, wmw999 said:

Was just listening to a story about this. A $15 payment as a contribution is one thing (and apparently common in DC), but without amounts, who knows? Could also be $1000 each for the high end wine  

Wendy P. 

No judge or clerk for a judge should be accepting money from lawyers. If they cannot see the perception problem with that, they probably aren't smart enough to be a SCoTUS Justice.

[JoeWeber 2,613]

1 hour ago, SkyDekker said:

No judge or clerk for a judge should be accepting money from lawyers. If they cannot see the perception problem with that, they probably aren't smart enough to be a SCoTUS Justice.

Maybe next time we can draft a Constitution with checks and balances.

[SkyDekker 1,319]

2 minutes ago, JoeWeber said:

Maybe next time we can draft a Constitution with checks and balances.

Your constitution has the same problem communism has. The idea is alright, but greed/lust for power will eventually ruin it all.

[JoeWeber 2,613]

1 minute ago, SkyDekker said:

Your constitution has the same problem communism has. The idea is alright, but greed/lust for power will eventually ruin it all.

You also learn that in DZO school.

[ryoder 1,572]

2 hours ago, JoeWeber said:

Maybe next time we can draft a Constitution with checks and balances.

Thomas likes checks, but he prefers Venmo.

[Phil1111 1,099]

17 minutes ago, ryoder said:

Thomas likes checks, but he prefers Venmo.

Didn't Thomas rule digital or cash only vacations, homes, etc. are too traceable

[Phil1111 1,099]

America and its SC. Anything goes once you're on the bench.

"No other major Western democracy—nor the majority of U.S. states—allows its most powerful judges to serve so deep into the twilight of their lives. Had Ginsburg, who died from complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer, been serving on the top court of Canada, Britain, or Australia, for example, a mandatory retirement age would have forced her off the bench more than a decade ago."

Be it the USSC, immigration, debt reforms, entitlements, etc. the US shows it needs improvement, needs action.

[SkyDekker 1,319]

Pair this with Kavanaugh's mystery money and it becomes pretty clear the Supreme Court is most certainly for sale.

[Faicon9493 133]

"Someday, I will call upon you to do a service for me" - Vito Corleone

[billvon 2,772]

12 minutes ago, Faicon9493 said:

"Someday, I will call upon you to do a service for me" - Vito Corleone

"But until that day, accept this justice as gift on my daughter's wedding day.  Maybe even two justices."

[jakee 1,379]

2 hours ago, SkyDekker said:

Pair this with Kavanaugh's mystery money and it becomes pretty clear the Supreme Court is most certainly for sale.

I just want to check that I’m understanding the full situation: the Supreme Court is responsible for writing its own ethics code? The Supreme Court is responsible for ensuring that it is following its own ethics code? The Supreme Court gets to decide if it is even legal for any other office to investigate whether any members of the Supreme Court have committed criminal ethical violations?

Edited August 10, 2023 by jakee

[lippy 882]

15 minutes ago, jakee said:

I just want to check that I’m understanding the full situation: the Supreme Court is responsible for writing its own ethics code? The Supreme Court is responsible for ensuring that it is following its own ethics code? The Supreme Court gets to decide if it is even legal for any other office to investigate whether any members of the Supreme Court have committed criminal ethical violations?

In response to being questioned on if he was drunk on power, Kavanaugh responded with the following statement:

 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=GdTTjY8soVc&feature=sharea

Edited August 10, 2023 by lippy

[ryoder 1,572]

3 hours ago, Phil1111 said:

 

The next time we hear a billionaire exclaim:

"I can't be racist; I have a black friend!"

Well, we know exactly who he is referring to.

[SkyDekker 1,319]

35 minutes ago, jakee said:

I just want to check that I’m understanding the full situation: the Supreme Court is responsible for writing its own ethics code? The Supreme Court is responsible for ensuring that it is following its own ethics code? The Supreme Court gets to decide if it is even legal for any other office to investigate whether any members of the Supreme Court have committed criminal ethical violations?

Close, but not entirely true. Congress can impeach.

[kallend 1,853]

39 minutes ago, SkyDekker said:

Close, but not entirely true. Congress can impeach.

Like that is going to happen.  

In 1804 Samuel Chase was impeached by the House of Representatives on grounds of letting his partisan leanings affect his court decisions, but was acquitted the following year by the Senate and remained in office. He is the only United States Supreme Court Justice to have ever been impeached.

[SkyDekker 1,319]

9 minutes ago, kallend said:

Like that is going to happen.  

In 1804 Samuel Chase was impeached by the House of Representatives on grounds of letting his partisan leanings affect his court decisions, but was acquitted the following year by the Senate and remained in office. He is the only United States Supreme Court Justice to have ever been impeached.

Didn't say it would, specially in this hyper=partisan era. But they could, that is really the only "control".

[ryoder 1,572]

Another day; Another revelation:

ProPublica: Clarence Thomas Secretly Participated in Koch Network Donor Events

[kallend 1,853]

1 hour ago, ryoder said:

Another day; Another revelation:

ProPublica: Clarence Thomas Secretly Participated in Koch Network Donor Events

This is becoming a "dog bites man" news item.

[SkyDekker 1,319]

9 minutes ago, kallend said:

This is becoming a "dog bites man" news item.

And nothing happens. Supreme Court is quite possibly compromised and nothing but shrugs really...

[ryoder 1,572]

Whoa! Thomas actually recused himself???

Clarence Thomas recuses himself as Supreme Court rejects ex-Trump lawyer John Eastman's appeal

[JerryBaumchen 1,304]

3 minutes ago, ryoder said:

Whoa! Thomas actually recused himself???

Clarence Thomas recuses himself as Supreme Court rejects ex-Trump lawyer John Eastman's appeal

Hi Robert,

I think I see John Robert's thumb on the scale.  

Jerry Baumchen

[jakee 1,379]

The cynical view would be that it's a good move to step aside in a meaningless case involving a bit part player, so in future you can point to it and say look, I recuse myself when I need to!

[ryoder 1,572]

Andy Borowitz summed up this story nicely:

"Unqualified Man With Job for Life Complains About Salary"

ProPublica: A “Delicate Matter”: Clarence Thomas’ Private Complaints About Money Sparked Fears He Would Resign

[jakee 1,379]

14 minutes ago, ryoder said:

Andy Borowitz summed up this story nicely:

"Unqualified Man With Job for Life Complains About Salary"

ProPublica: A “Delicate Matter”: Clarence Thomas’ Private Complaints About Money Sparked Fears He Would Resign

This one sentence is a masterpiece of journalistic writing.

"Precisely what led so many people to offer Thomas money and other gifts remains an open question."

*Chef's kiss*

Edited December 18, 2023 by jakee