“Good Lord, Who Among Us Hasn’t Paid For A Clarence Thomas Vacation?” David Kurtz of Talking Points Memo asked this morning. Kurtz was reacting to a new piece by Brett Murphy and Alex Mierjeski in ProPublica detailing Justice Thomas’s leisure activities and the benefactors who underwrote them.
States that refuse to follow federal law should not be allowed to take federal aid. Latest data ranks AL 10th on those states most reliant on federal aid.
They only problem is that would largely impact the people in AL most dependent on those federal funds. Certainly not the legislators or their wealthy benefactors.
We all agree on wanting the benefits going to those most in need. But, the AL legislature themselves have consistently and absurdly denied Their Own the expansion of Medicaid they so desperately need. Pressure has to be brought on the policy makers would be the idea.
Yes . . . Alabama (FL, LA, TX and other states) Congresspersons were voted in by the majority white occupants of illegally created - that is gerrymandered - congressional districts!
In the first month of Governor Kemp's "waiver program" they approved 265 people for enrollment after launching it July 1st. Don't overexert yourself there, Guv! Those signups represent just a small step toward Kemp’s goal of enrolling 90,000 Georgians once the initiative is at full speed.
Those residents are among an estimated 370,000 Georgia adults who don’t have jobs that offer insurance as a benefit and earn too little money to qualify for subsidized plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. If the state had opted for full Medicaid expansion, all of those men and women would be eligible for coverage.
Kemp’s plan, known as "Pathways to Coverage", mandates participants meet certain eligibility requirements, such as working, volunteering or attending school. I'm on Medicaid, thankfully, and it does make a difference!
When enough lazy Republicans feel the fallout from their representatives secessionist behavior the more likely they are to quit supporting them. These state representatives are doing what they're allowed to do by the citizens, the courts and the federal government even if that was simply a lack of action towards consequences.
I once had occasion to have a really intense conversation with a prominent medical professor at Harvard. We were talking over a number of questions I had for him, when he went off on a tangent. "Do you know what the hardest part of teaching surgeons is?" I said I didn't. He continued, "It's this: You have to let them make mistakes in the operating room -- you watch carefully, and only intervene at the last moment, when you're sure the next thing they do will kill the patient on the table. You calmly move their hands away from the patient, and tell them why. It's a dramatic lesson for both the surgeon and the teacher. You need strong nerves to stand by and watch as a patient's life hangs in the balance."
While I agree that it's the needy people in AL who depend on federal funding, rather than the legislators or the wealthy benefactors and special interest groups, it is the "needy people" who elect those uncaring, greedy legislators into office, against their own best interests, based on ill-founded belief that the legislators will work for them.
Maybe we need to let them lie on the table a little bit longer, and perhaps feel some pain, before intervening to protect them.
Mlbrowne, It appears that the medical professor's story, which you applied to voting was not appropriate.
'Poorer Americans have much lower voting rates in national elections than the nonpoor, a study finds.'
'People with low incomes who are eligible to vote are much less likely to do so in national elections than those with higher incomes, and are more often constrained from casting ballots by transportation issues, illness or other problems out of their control, according to a study released Tuesday by the Poor People’s Campaign.'
'The study, by a Columbia University researcher, found that only 46 percent of potential voters with family incomes less than twice the federal poverty line voted in the 2016 presidential election, compared with 68 percent of those with family incomes above twice the poverty line.'
'Notwithstanding the practical hurdles lower-income voters face, the reasons voters across the economic spectrum most often cited for staying home were the same: disillusionment with the candidates, campaign issues and the political process writ large.'
“They’re saying that they’re not voting because people are not speaking to their issues and that they’re just not interested in those candidates,” said the researcher, Robert Paul Hartley, an assistant professor of social work. “But it’s not that they couldn’t be.”
'Though poor and low-income people turned out in large numbers in recent some state and local elections like the 2019 Kentucky governor’s race, the Rev. William J. Barber II, co-chairman of the Poor People’s Campaign, a nonpartisan coalition advocating to increase the power of the poor, said that the over 40 percent of Americans with lower incomes remained a largely untapped political force.'
“The only way you can expand the electorate in this country is to expand among poor and low-wealth people,” he said. (NYTimes) See link below. Sorry, that the gifting option not possible for me.
I think it would be appropriate to find out if there are reliable statistics about the poor voting in local and state elections. This is the general, overall picture for voting in 2022, which were the mid-terms, statewide elections:
'Native-born citizen voter turnout was 53.4%, greater than the 41.4% turnout of naturalized citizens. The South had the nation's lowest voter turnout (48.9%), while turnout in the West (54.7%), Midwest (54.1%) and Northeast (53.8%) were not significantly different from each other. May 2, 2023 ' (US Census Bureau)
Fern, I like what you wrote, and you're correct, I hadn't read the statisticl analysis of lower voting rates in national elections among poorer citizens. I do, however, believe that there is still a significant portion of voters who are actively voting against their own best interest, and in those cases, the medical training analogy certainly still holds. Every day, we are bombarded with images and interviews of middle-Americans, mostly white, older, largely Christianist, and devotedly Trumpist, who are absolutely convinced that the world will turn upside down if the government isn't handed over to Republicans. Even if it means the end of social welfare programs that actively prop them up (affordable healthcare, caps on drug costs, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, disability coverage, disaster relief, unemployment benefits, farm subsidies, and so on).
I'm not in favor of actually hurting people; but I think that more energy needs to be invested in following them to the brink of disaster (and this includes being very public about who is actually legislating in harmful ways -- naming names, so to speak), and then guiding them in a different direction before too much damage is done.
It's very effectively gerrymandered, unfortunately (though I know perfectly well what you mean). Perhaps the defiant refusal to obey the court decision will awaken more Alabamians to take action to correct the gerrymandering.
That's a fascinating story. But those people won't improve with time. Remember that man who ran for president- course I can't remember his name! but eventually threw all his votes to Clinton, and Clinton won? Well when he was campaigning he rented tv time, I guess and he gave a presentation to the country with cardboard and marker and he showed how much debt we had. It was an awesome amount! (it didn't matter). But it was cool anyway. And I always wonder-- why can't we get out of this trouble of disinformation by taking 30 minutes of tv and have 4 or 5 charts and some plain paragraphs from Biden or someone more neutral-- some Tom Hanks guy-- to explain to the needy people in AL, those things they should know. And the taxes rich people don't pay, and their money vs our money. Etc. Why can't we do that?
mlbrowne, perhaps the "needy people" (Alabama is 35% disfranchised non-White) didn't elect the rascals now in office. In the 2020 Senate race, Alabama had the highest wacko factor in their official vote totals, as mentioned on this thread:
The whole point is that the voting districts are set up to ensure Republican (white) majorities. Hard to elect other legislators when - as even the Supreme Court of the United States ruled - the district map is illegal as it violates the Voting Rights Act. The Alabama AG didn’t even try to deny that. Reread the article!
Don't get insulting. I read the article. I thoroughly understand gerrymandering. The point the commenter was making was that perhaps slashing government funding would have an effect. Yes, it would hurt the people but perhaps, just perhaps, it would wake up some of them.
Actually, that already happened because the Supreme Court addressed it. So now the question is, who will enforce the Supreme Court ruling against AL? AL seems to be wanting to leave the Union: look at Tuberville who is trashing the US Military? Is this behavior indicative of support of the union of the US?
It does trouble me how states like AL, Texas and Fl (to name a few) have their hand out for federal money (otherwise perceived as my federal tax dollars) while flipping the bird with the other. I would like to see a system where these Republican controlled defiant states are graded on their performance and if they don’t comply with the federal rules then they get less money.
Yes, I’m talking about a Performance Improvement Plan or PIP for short. The performance review would include a recommendation of all the dark money benefactors the State Legislature is collecting with a recommendation if you want Federal dollars you need to improve by these benchmarks or seek assistance from your dark money benefactors to make up the gap. Of course this review would be made public with a copy mailed to every resident in that state. These are elected officials and there should be transparency.
Next is the resident piece of the PIP. Those who reside in that state would receive an additional notification saying because your state failed to follow federal regulations, so we are going to take those allocated funds and directly deposit them into your account. Just like they did with the Covid relief funds. This approach will bypass the state government and directly send the money to the people who need it.
I like your plan but I wonder about the last part. If funds go directly to residents, what incentive do they have to vote out non-compliant legislators?
The letter enclosing the payment advice must explain that the sum being given directly (amount of small sum) is paltry in comparison to the amount of the benefit that would be available (add some munificient figure reflecting reality) if the state followed federal regulations, and that the way to obtain the additional federal funds is to hold the current legislators accountable for their failure AND in the next election to vote for candidates who promise to comply with the regulations and get those funds directly to the people in the communities who need them - for medical care, improved roads, upgraded firetrucks, whatever. Might work, with those recipients who can both read and reason, and are not too entrenched in maggotism.
Yes, Maureen. I like your thought on this, also. I failed to state it in my (up early) "two-sentence rant" thinking that fewer words would get things started, which it did. It would only make sense for it to be a graded or otherwise sliding-scale type of pay-to-play system.
There are so many levels in states like AL. They are among a small handful that even refuse to set a min wage so as of July, I believe it stands at $7.25
This would obviously be a BFD and require much on the part of the Dems to address it as these types of legislatures view it as "states rights" but, along with things like expanding SCOTUS might take the (someday) all 3 branches to do it. With the right approach though this idea of managing the $ they take from us (the one hand) while (giving us the finger with the other as you rightly point out) giving us back gerrymandering and other obscene acts is just one way to begin "MAGA" and taking back the country they are working hard to make minority rule overtake Democracy (capital D intended).
Thanks for the thoughtful post. Keep refining it IMO.
I laugh when I read how they whine that they are being cheated out of the space Force contracts calling it political. Either you follow federal laws or you don't get federal moneys or contracts. It seems to me to be an act of secession as well as blatant racism and anti democratic behavior.
This is the R mantra. Complain as much as possible and stand in the way of any solutions and then first in line for federal or state help when things don't go well.
Overall, I'm understanding Blacks represent abt 25% of the adult voting population. I do understand that packing the 7th congressional district into a 55% black majority and leaving black minorities in all other districts. That's one big fight going on right now since Republicans have refused to acknowledge the recent Supreme Court ruling. Are state voting districts gerrymandered?
The reason all these people support Trump is because he not only allows, but encourages corruption. The US Treasury is there to be looted by anyone who has access to it. Many states have had that for over a century. Bribery is also expected. It’s the path to the destruction of a society.
Trump and "Republicans" in all branches of government posit that their own presumed supremacy trumps any law. Trump himself is find that a bit more complicated.
Sorry, won't let me edit the last sentence. Trump is just a run of the mill narcissist who has never stopped at a stop sign, bullied his way on with conned money greasing the way. He will never stop unless Jack can do it.
The Congressional Black Caucus and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) filed a brief in the Alabama redistricting case asking the court to take over map drawing, arguing that Republicans' new congressional map directly defies the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Allen v. Milligan.
Who's going to write the book about the Black man who grew up very poor, wound up being a Supreme Court Justice and was taken care of by a circle White billionaires, some of whom or was it most or all of whom had had dealings with the Court?
Mark Twain, this would be quite a match with Huckleberry Finn. Do you think those White guys shortchanged him?
And let’s not forget he’s and a sexual predator and deviant. Recall Anita Hill at time of his confirmation. It was disgusting what he did to her. He has no conscience and does not care because nothing will change. To my knowledge, not one Repug stood up against his behavior. I previously worked for the FED government. Long time ago, about 30 of us were invited to an off-site training event by a private firm where snacks, sandwiches, and beverages were laid out for lunch. Later my boss required each to chip in $10.00 which was sent back to the host to cover the cost of food. The idea was to not show bias later if that firm bid on a government contract.
Perhaps cowardice is the root cause. I would not be surprised.
But, Thomas accuser was also black. He was not being accused by a white woman.
I remember one segment of Anita Hill's testimony that made the news (and only one) from that time......that I read in the newspaper when I knew the accusations were true.
Anita Hill mentioned Thomas was looking at some issue of Penthouse that had a specific image in it. Turns out that was a famous image that had been passed all around men's (and possibly women's) college dorms at the time........including my old barracks dorm. I had glanced at the image and been substantially repelled at the time.
But, I knew Anita Hill was telling the truth. The timing was right and the image she referred to was well known to men's dorm residents all over the USA. Sadly.
But, it is very likely Biden knew she was telling the truth as well.
And let’s also not forget this took place 32 years ago.
Which of you here has not grown, have different views/ perceptions, and gained greater wisdom than you held in 1991 (the year Thomas was seated on the SCOTUS)? If we’re criticizing and constraining our view(s) of who Biden is now based on who he was and/ or what he did in 1991 then we have a very limited a view him. And in so doing we not only limit him but ourselves as well.
I seriously doubt any of us here have not grown, not developed deeper understandings, not gained wisdom that was not a part of each of our lives 32 years ago. I suspect we have all grown, have deeper understands, and wisdom; and no doubt Biden has as well.
Somehow I think he was thinking more about replacing Thurgood Marshall and it was Bush’s nominee. My take on Joe Biden is that he comes from such a close-knit loving family that he didn’t “read” Thomas very well.
All I can think of when I hear his name is a coffee table bobblehead created for white billionaires entertainment, 25 levels below the old statue of a black groomsman where horses were tied. Disrespectful of a SCJ I know, some days I cross that line.
Clarence Thomas doesn't respect his own office, nor does he--I suspect--respect himself. Thirty-eight vacations paid for by benefactors, none of which were reported??? There is NO "accidently left off the form" aspect to this...he has to know that he long ago crossed the line into corruption. How shameless does one have to be for something like this to simply roll off one's back with a shrug???
Where is the limit on shamelessness? I certainly do not know. But he has to know he owned, in the same manner a slave or junkie is owned. And his sleasy wife does not improve his "look" in my eyes. Two high-level crooks. Not Jared- or Ivanka- level though, at least not yet.
How many of those benefactors (whom Thomas calls "family friends") would even pretend to know him if he wasn't a SCOTUS Associate Justice (who has displayed how open he is to brib--uh, excuse me..."favors and gifts").
Undoubtedly. You don't get to the level of a billionaire without knowing where a person's weaknesses are, and judging from the number of emoluments CT has accepted, they have a good hold on him.
I thought it was interesting what the reporter from Slate said last night on the PBS Newshour that Thomas was more middle class and went to private school:
'Thomas was born in Pin Point, Georgia. After his father abandoned the family, he was raised by his grandfather in a poor Gullah community near Savannah. Growing up as a devout Catholic, Thomas originally intended to be a priest in the Catholic Church but was frustrated over the church's insufficient attempts to combat racism. He abandoned his aspiration of becoming a clergyman to attend the College of the Holy Cross and, later, Yale Law School, where he was influenced by a number of conservative authors, notably Thomas Sowell. Upon graduating, he was appointed as an assistant attorney general in Missouri and later entered private practice there. He became a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator John Danforth in 1979, and was made Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education in 1981. President Ronald Reagan appointed Thomas as Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) the next year.' (Wikipedia)
Oh my goodness, does anybody here has a direct a tete-a-tete chat with Clarence Thomas? I am badly in need of that vacation even to one of his destinations.
And surely, it must be really good being a Republican. You get treated with 38+-in-a lifetime adventurous vacations, alongside a lavish culinary regimen replete with opulent ingredients and sumptuous delicacies. Who would refuse such a treatment?
But, before you become a Republican, you first need to talk like this: "Let’s make it clear, we elect a Legislature to reflect the values of the people that they represent, and I don’t think anybody in this room wanted this Legislature to adopt two districts that were going to guarantee that two Democrats would be elected." First, you act like you have the interests of the people at heart, but the opulence squandering of the public resources characterizes them. Secondly, you must always speak against Democrats even in issues that require bipartisan approach.
In summary, Republican slogan sounds like as long as the shepherd has eaten to the brim, the flock can take care of themselves.
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The confederate/Republicans use culture war, wedge issues to get people to vote against their self interest. Meanwhile, they are plundering and bribing and behaving like corrupt oligarchs.
His clerks do the work. He reminds me of the slaves who were co-opted by slave owners to manage other slaves. Or the Jews put in charge of the ghettos by the Nazis. He’s being exploited by the oligarchs. With Ginni controlling him he’s the Manchurian justice.
Well said, Edwin. Your style reminds me of one of my favorite political commentators masquerading as a writer of exquisite humorous prose: name of Samuel Clements, aka Mark Twain.
This reminds me of a scene where Augustus asks if there is anyone in Rome who has not slept with his daughter. A laughable moment, but the Thomas bribery is nauseating. Once again he should have never have passed the Senate committee and then end up on the Court. His ethics reeked then and the smell has only gotten stronger.
Roberts and his Kangaroo Court will go down in history as hopeless corrupt and VERY poorly led. He should be DEEPLY ashamed, but instead, he will just whine like the corrupt, partisan snowflake that he is. Such an embarrassment. . . . .
Glad to see you got this done before midnight your time! Thanks as always.
'Clarence Thomas Hikes Price of Supreme Court Decisions to Keep Pace with Inflation'
'WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Citing “unfortunate economic realities,” Clarence Thomas is hiking the price of Supreme Court decisions to keep up with inflation.'
'The jurist disclosed his new rate card in a mass e-mail sent to more than a hundred super-donors.'
“I have tried to keep my prices reasonable, but, as inflation proves more stubborn than predicted, I have no choice but to adjust my rates accordingly,” he wrote.
“Sadly, the days of shredding civil rights in exchange for ten private-jet flights are over,” he added.
'It remains to be seen whether the billionaires who received Thomas’s e-mail will tolerate his steeper prices or whether they will explore a budget option such as Neil Gorsuch.' (Satire, NewYorker)
Fern, it is an interesting issue. Could it be perceived as bribery? I can say this without fear of contradiction: in my experience, no trial judge would have stayed in the case if he/she had received a gift of any kind from a party to a lawsuit. Highly unethical, and in this case, perhaps illegal, or should be.
Fern, I can see it now <satire>: For only two additional vacations, you can obtain the assistance of Ginni Thomas to obtain legal counsel from her firm just in case her husband is overruled by the other justices.
I wonder if he shared his glib joke about finding a pubic hair on his Coke can with the young female stewards on the yacht, and chuckled at their ignorance to the reference.
He was sponsored by Sen. Danforth of Missouri, who also pushed Josh Hawley. And now he claims Josh Hawley is 'the biggest mistake he ever made.' He ought to give up the whole kingmaker business.
Let's start a petition "requiring ex-Senator Danforth of Missouri to stop promoting horrible young Republican men into prominent positions in public life; or he'll be subject to huge financial penalties in recognition of the harm he's done our nation (the United States of America)."
Not to excuse Biden’s mistake here, but I do think the fear of appearing racist was a factor. Not a good factor, given the result-it’s too bad there wasn’t a person of color nominated without Clarence’s criminality (and yes, I use that word intentionally-he’s a criminal!). My bigger concern is that we haven’t learned. Christine Blasey-Ford testified about Kavenaugh and he was confirmed....decades later....when will we ever learn??????
Of course, Anita Hill was also black, but I guess man trumps woman in this case. And there were many other women ready to testify who were never called. Still makes my blood boil.
A man whose claim to fame was never to use his race as a crutch pulled the race card in his confirmation - calling Hill’s testimony a “High Tech Lynching”. There was no objecting by white folks to that.
Remember the metric of every woman’s testimony is whether it was enough to ruin a man’s reputation, when it should have been the first shovel of dirt they dig up. Both Thomas and Kavanaugh had numerous complaints from multiple women, yet the hearings would only allow one woman speak.
The shameful treatment of Anita Hill and the refusal to allow other women who came forward about their similar experiences with Clarence Thomas to testify at his Senate confirmation hearings is the only thing I’ve ever held against Joe Biden. Has he ever publicly apologized? If you haven’t already listened, this Slow Burn podcast about Thomas is a revelation https://slate.com/podcasts/slow-burn/s8/becoming-justice-thomas
Anita Hill, Hillary Clinton, Christine Blasey-Ford, Bandy Lee, Marie Yovanovich, Fiona Hill are all women who spoke out against powerful White men (or their tools, as is Clarence Thomas).
Of all the people in the know who could have, and should have spoken out against those men, it was women who did the necessary.
It was also women who were largely ignored.
It happens so often that I can’t think it is a coincidence that they were used to be the voices of warning.
I think in some of cases, the women were set up so their warnings would be taken less seriously.
That’s because a woman’s testimony is always measured against the thought, ‘Is this worth ruining this good man’s reputation?’ instead of taking it at face value.
From articles I read about him, it was no secret that Thomas was always a creep around women, even before Anita Hill testified about it.
That is true also and one of the primary reasons I didn’t want to vote for her. She still should have been President though. I guess she rode Bill’s coattails because it was the only way someone as talented as her could get there and one of the reasons Bill won.
I disagree HRC rode her husbands coattails. Loving Bill always put her at a disadvantage politically. And I do think she loves him. And love is complicated. I miss that she did not become president. But I know that if she did, Bill was her weak link, and easily exploited. But she would have muscled through and worked her fingers to the bone for us. But would WE have become as politically engaged and active as we are now? As we should always have been?
I think there was too much misogyny for her to not ride his coattails to some extent. Honestly, I think she used Bill to some degree like past female authors (and some present) hide behind male pen names and he used her knowledge and talent. They were a good team. Too bad he was such a womanizer (it was probably normal in Arkansas, and certain other states, but less acceptable in other states).
JaneDough, you couldn't be more right. And in some ways it's just another horror in the daily blizzard of horrors, but I heard a piece on NPR with Anita Hill last year and learned that to this day there is NO official process for a citizen to report disqualifying behavior by a candidate to the Supreme Court. None.
And tho he's so great, Joe Biden has never apologized to her. You know, so much bad behavior was obvious about Thomas, as well as about B. Kavanaugh but it made no difference.
Speaking of our party boy Kavanaugh, why do you think HE is getting a free pass for all of his partying and taking money and $200,000 in free baseball tickets (just imagine how much wasted time that is).........
and Clarence Thomas is being routinely beat on by the (nearly all white) mainstream press??
Hint: Kavanaugh is a rich, white party boy. So, it's OK to be corrupt. Boyz will be Boyz.
God, I hate it when the commentary stoops to this level. Wish we could get back to having intelligent exchanges about current issues and the historical factors that led to them.
Thomas' corruption is breathtaking and blatant. Now that it's glaringly in the open, the court's credibility will be irreparably shattered unless he resigns. Thomas is destroying one of our three branches of government and could give a damn. Living the high life in exchange for votes is a hell of a legacy.
It’s not only Thomas. Alito and Roberts have both been public about their contempt of Congress and the rest of us, and their belief that they are above the law.
I honestly think it is sad that, out of the MANY corrupt folks in Washington, the press is focused constantly on Clarence Thomas.
Yes, he has benefitted from rich, white donor support.
But, the vast majority of people in elected office are in the same exact boat as Thomas. Taking money from rich white people to be in Washington and do their bidding.
Does it not smack as that same old America when pretty much EVERYONE in DC is taking money from some rich folks (let's be honest, including Hunter Biden) ....
and the only guy we are all raving about is a black guy who is doing the same thing.
To be fair, Mike, Thomas is not the only guy. There’s a good reason Alito has taken to the WSJ opinion pages lately - his corruption seems to be on par with Thomas’ and has also been in the news. Credit Senator Sheldon Whitehouse for shining a light on dark money influence in the Supreme Court.
I will never forget Sheldon Whitehouse's focused presentation ( with all his poster boards) directly to Amy Coney Barrett during her confirmation hearing. He was saying " This is what is happening. Pay attention. And, I hope you will do something to change this!." He managed to be both respectful and fiercely passionate.
And last night Whitehouse told Lawrence O'Donnell that more revelations are to come. The reported transgressions are so numerous and unprecedented that the scale of corruption is hard to grasp.
Nope. Alito is under fire , as is Gorsuch. Thomas is just more egregious. H. Biden is not a member of government. Mike S whataboutism has no place here in solving the dilemma.
Maybe that's why Biden didn't speak up during the confirmation hearings--he knew that creepy behavior towards women was par for the course. Singling out the black guy would not be okay.
But, now? We are all raving about Thomas like he is an outlier.
He is NOT an outlier in Washington D. C. His fellow Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh has all kinds of stuff published about his corrupt behaviors and ill behavior toward women.
Do you not remember BK’s confirmation? A woman DID try to speak out against him and as another person pointed out she was ignored just like Anita Hill because why allow a woman to tarnish a frat boy’s reputation? Women deal with this crap every day. This is why the majority of women never come forward...we are never believed! This is not new.
I agree with you, Mike. Especially regarding the amounts of money that many DC pols take from millionaires and billionaires. Thomas is not an outlier in this respect vis a vis the rest of DC. He might be an outlier among the Supremes--but we don't really know, do we?
You raise an interesting question, Mike. I would point out that at this point, he is the senior SCROTUS associate judge. His grift has been more blatant that Alito's (which has been blatant enough itself, and I have seen it frequently mentioned.) I'm not sure Kavanaugh has the finesse to work the way Thomas and Alito have.
Yes, corruption is everywhere. But because Supreme Court justices have so much power, any of them violating basic ethical standards stand out. Thomas is making corruption an integral part of his profession, judging by the sheer number of cases that ProPublica has exposed.
The host of the “Slow Burn”podcast, Joel Anderson said in his interview with PSB Newshour’s John Yang, that Thomas has stated previously that his goal in life is to be rich. Corruption is not a shockingly new way to get rich. Thomas had no credibility since his confirmation-hearing-circus. And he believes America should not have put him through that- his behavior should get a pass, -just like the white guys. I applaud ProPublica for doing this deep reporting of SCOTUS justices’ ethics. It’s time we take a sober look at SCOTUS. Pull away the curtain.
David Kurtz writes the AM morning Talking Points Memo. Commemts are few on
David's morning TPM ...just 2 yesterday. But, David is precise on every point he anticipates folks will be discussing such as ProPublica's exceptional report. This ABA meber joins the call for Thomas' resignation.
Also, let's express gratitude to ProPublica, which consistently demonstrates the essential importance of quality investigative journalism. And I'm thrilled with this announcement that ProPublica is creating a Northwest reporting team.
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ira, you may not have seen my reply to your comment yesterday. As a strong supporter of the youth vote, I'm surprised that you haven't mentioned ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING.
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Rating for Alliance for Youth Organizing
Rating: 4/4 · Review by Charity Navigator
'This charity's score is 100%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.'
If you have not been aware of this wonderful organization, Ira, I hope you and LFAA's subscribers will be. Once you know what ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING is doing, you'll want to support its work.
Ira, it seems you did your research and this group is both legit and effective from everything I can find on line. Youth vote 'saved the day' for Dems in the midterm elections and it's looking like the Youth Vote will determine the House, Senate and Biden-Trump (or Trump acolyte) election. Fern mentions ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING, Charity Navigator gives it 4 out of 4 stars and older organization. Both sound great, maybe a good idea to apply Modern Portfolio Theory from Finance and diversity away risks by donating to both!
Thanks for your follow up research--I have been registering high school seniors in 9 states for
seven (7) years as my nonpartisan 501c3 foundation "Inspire2Vote" with a full time staff of activist 25 yr olds! We registered and documented 104,000 high school seniors! Inspire2Vote developed relationships as the leading voter reg 501C3 organization with the official Secretaries of State in those states (CA, AZ, MI, CO, KY, IA, PA, NJ, NV). However, when I discovered Turnup last year and their brilliant leader Harvard student Zev Shapiro, I closed up my foundation and merged it with Turnup as he demonstrated, for example, that he was able to register 180,000 mostly young women 18 to 29 in just one month! I've never heard of the Alliance which Fern works with, but I'm not doubting what she writes about their organization doing very fine work. There are other well meaning orgs here and there, but in my opinion clearly Zev's group has now been recognized by Forbes Magazine as the leading voter reg org for GenZ in the entire country.
It is very surprising that you are unfamiliar with ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING. I don't work for the organization, Ira. I am one of its many fans.
As a result of its outstanding work, the organization was awarded $1,500,000 between 2020 and 2021, including 2 grants in Equitable Recovery.
'The Alliance for Youth Organizing educates young people about how to become involved in the civic and electoral process and how to organize and encourage their peers to do the same. It supports and scales the work of local organizations, building a movement of young people, by young people, and for all people. This award supports the Alliance’s charitable work with its network of independent affiliate organizations to educate and engage young people in Wisconsin about civic life and mobilization; to train and develop youth leadership skills; and to work on campuses, in high schools, and in communities of color across Wisconsin to build independent power for social, racial, and economic justice.'
'The Alliance for Youth Organizing (the Alliance) is a nationwide network of organizations building the civic and political power of young people across the country, with a special commitment to young people of color. It is the premier youth-driven vote vehicle in the United States, having registered millions of Americans of all ages since 2012 and supported youth-led efforts to transform the voting system so it works for all Americans.' (The MacArthur Foundation) See link below.
Mimi, so good, so, so good! Thank you! It's an absolutely great donation. Please pass on the word of their important work.
'The Alliance for Youth Organizing grows progressive people power across America by empowering local young people's organizations to strengthen our democracy, …'
That is wonderful, k.paschal. I can't imagine a more worthwhile organization, and it's particularly geared to serve young people of color. Thank you. Please pass the good word on.
Ira, Inspire2Vote is really a great accomplishment, very impressive. One never knows how a really great organization will prioritize its resources so spreading funding around until an optimal alternative arrives, makes a lot so sense to me. For example, Mike Bloomberg dumped a ton of money in Florida to help Biden, luckily others put their money in PA, AZ, NV, Wis...etc.
Panthers, the bigger problem with campaign money is that 95% of it goes to TV ads which certainly 18 to 19s do not watch at all, and many adults simply ignore! But candidates of both parties are stuck with that approach and I personally warn them that when they lose, their insistent consultants are on a plane to vacation and they don't give a damn about the loss as they have very full bank accounts by then! So, why don't all of these very bright folks with many years of experience ever focus on registering GenZ and then promoting their tun-out? Not any kickback money in it like TV ads. And candidates afraid of their opponent's TV ads! So they lose CD after CD which were winnable but they get the rest of us to contribute, don't they?
Spot on, Ira. Here's my take. Most people who watch a lot of standard TV (cable) have established political and cultural opinions. Ads will do one of two things. Either harden those opinions or anger the viewer. The idea that millions of TV ad dollars will change the course of an election is antique at best. The generation (mine) that still watches cable TV also votes in big numbers. So we can't change their minds, and they are going to participate...what to do?
We have just one thing - a big one - on our side. Gen Y and gen Z lean in the direction of Democratic values. Climate crisis, reproductive rights and a belief in science are at the top. But they also have grown up around a greater variety of people - national origin, gender identity, skin color, etc. They think of diversity as variety - not a threat!
So the answer is not to waste money trying to change the embedded beliefs of old farts like me. THE answer is turnout by young people. That's it!
Totally agree. 18-38yos know best how to spend that money and reach each other. E.g. Obama had lots of 20-somethings working on his campaigns. Afterwards a few started Crooked Media and Pod Save America which, now that they are in their early 40s, is doing extremely well. Another example was JFK, who wisely tapped into the newly emerging women vote, by having neighborhood teas and his wife stump for him. If democracy depends ONLY on persuading a 60yo clown who voted for Trump twice that his indictments means he should now vote for Biden, the Republic is already lost!
Many thanks; Turnup is focused on registering hundreds of thousands and turning them out specifically in competitive CDs; do not waste funds on those CDs, whether D or R, which are totally safe for the incumbent of either party or are entirely impossible for a challenger of either party to win in November 24! Very smart and efficient strategy, I believe! We appreciate your support!
While I certainly agree with you that he needs to resign, that would take someone with a modicum of a moral compass of which he has demonstrated over the past 30 years that he does not have.
Wow caught an early night! Appreciate your efforts HCR. As a state worker we were not allowed to accumulate points at hotels we frequented on work trips. Petty it seemed at the time. The elite in our members of congress and the Supreme Court apparently need laws and more vigilant oversight of the money and perks flowing their way as they have no moral compass
Griftings, Sleazell Hellskap and Bollax Attnys at Law
Memo to staff: SCOTUS case check list
Team! September fast approaches, when it is our great honor to defend Oleaginous Toxins and Energy against the small towns who are unhappy about the derailment. Lot’s to do! Everybody pick an item or three and get cracking!
#1 venmo some dosh to Thomas’s clerks for “xmas party”
#2 send check to federalist society ask leo to forward to ginni to fund her “non profit work”
#3 make contribution to the “retire kavanaugh’s credit card debt” fund
REDACTED
#100 donate to ACB’s cult. Kick women in the teeth and get a tax write off for it!
#101 put some money down on a contract with robert’s wife’s executive recruiting firm. No we don’t have an opening; yes we need that paid contract.
#102 lease some oil lands from alito’s wife i don’t care where just get a lease
103 buy whatever Gorsuch is trying to unload, is it some ranch or something else this time.
#104 cut check to Horatio Alger Society
#105 Scalia Law school at george Mason University is looking for underwriters at the Silver, Gold and Platinum levels for their Summer in Tuscany Legal Seminars for CEOs with Litigation Before the Courts program taught by SCOTUS judges.
#106 some gold fixtures for the motor home?
#107 thomas’s car needs tires
#108 alito wants to fish a pristine stream before the next set of rulings means it’s paved. Can we get him on a jet to alaska
#109 thomas needs to see some pretty russian girls. Do any of our contacts have a super yacht in the black sea this summer?
#110 thomas’ nephew needs a scholarship
#111 thomas’ mom doesnt like her neighbors, buy them out
#112 thomas wants cornhusker VIP football tix AND cowboys AND dolphins VIP tix. AND, not OR.
#113 prep some legal arguments - ha! - just joking!
Sad, isn’t it? A Supreme Court Justice with so little dignity and self respect that he accepts the free gifts offered to him by tycoons and in his mind thinks it’s all about friendship. A man who goes about his life depending upon others for the first class leisure activities he so desperately craves. Married to a complete lunatic who sticks her nose into every right wing paranoid fantasy she can conjure. Thomas is pathetic. He’s an intellectual midget and a fool, and nothing more than a tool. Of course, he’s the darling of the Republican Party, who have become the book-banning, reality-denying mob that manages to attract half of America’s votes.
Fully agree. He also seems to be proving my opinion of him as an unqualified political hack (and hopelessly inept lawyer) with the stunningly poor job covering up his corruption.
I wonder how much more will be found that was at least half-assed hidden???
Perhaps Alabama doesn't intend to ever make application to the Supreme Court in the future. If they do so, I can picture a SC judge leaning down and asking the AG from Alabama why he is wasting the court's time seeking relief. If Alabama likes the decision, then they may follow it. If they don't like it, then they will thumb their nose at the court's decision. In my court, we call that being in contempt of a court order. And we might require an applicant to purge their contempt before being permitting to coming back before the court.
Unlikely. Alabama defied court order in the past. There is a federal remedy. Ask George Wallace how it worked out for him when he refused to allow Black people to register for university. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_in_the_Schoolhouse_Door
That absolutely is not what happened here in Ohio. Republicans ignored Ohio Supreme Court rulings on voting districts, and we voted with an unconstitutional map while the Court didn’t place anyone, from the Governor on down, in contempt. They got away with it. We have voted twice, overwhelmingly, to do away with gerrymandering, and the legislature has just ignored us with no consequence. Ohio is not as red as it seems, but we are (mostly) powerless. This week’s vote was a triumph - but I fully expect the Rs to do something to ignore that vote too.
Thank you Heather Cox Richardson for another great letter! Our "Supreme Court" is such a joke and a bad one at that. They will be ashamed all the way to the bank where their rich benefactors send money and gifts! It is just incredible that they have life time appointments and don't have to adhere to ANY ethics!
Deep down, what really matters right now is the Medicaid disaster leaving 4 million Americans without coverage. Of the 5 states named for violation of all three areas of noncompliance with federal law, only Rhode Island has been working on breaking the logjam. The Thomas Follies?Blah blah blah we all know and nothing happens. That slime destroyed of one branch of gov, so they only need a few more goons to take down the other two. SHAME! SCORRUPTUS!
I volunteer at a community food bank in San Antonio. Our numbers of people served have been steadily rising this summer. People who have never been to a food bank before come in embarrassed and desperate to feed their families. Many of them have been cut from SNAP benefits due to missing paperwork. Trying to get help from the State of Texas is like pulling teeth--hens' teeth at that.
I really wanted my children to learn to care for others while they were very young. At that time I served with "Meals on Wheels." My three children and I were assigned persons to deliver meals to. We would go to their homes. I would give each child something to hold to deliver to the person or persons in that home. We always spent time with the people. My children and I valued this opportunity. My children are young adults now and remember those days as well as the dear persons black and white, we spent precious time with....I am so grateful that we chose to share with others....not only food but friendship and encouragement.
Loving one another...serving one another....joyfully sharing and meeting needs is a great and precious experience. Greed dries up our souls....
My Mom was a part-time OA for Medford's "Meals on Wheels". I was just turned 16, and she asked me if I wanted to deliver for them. Often, my younger sister (12) would go with me. We had several favorites, from an octogenarian retired attorney who had a great sense of humor to a couple in (I'm guessing in their mid 60's) who were both disabled. My favorite was a woman living in a retirement home; she had ordered an extra dinner one day because she had a "gentleman friend" coming. She was dismayed when her daughter came to visit (I told her she could freeze and reheat the dinners), which made her happy. Just as we were leaving, her daughter arrived, and it turned out to be a former gym teacher of mine that HATED me, who said "Oh, your favorite is her?" to her mom. On a subsequent visit, the lady said "I see you knew my daughter. Interesting, isn't she?"
Thank you, Emily. My dad received Meals on Wheels. One day I was there when a woman and her daughter delivered his meal with kind words and a hug.It warmed my heart…such a teachable moment(s)…
Alabama... gee, if it really is the will of the people of the state of AL to be a red state, then wtf are they so afraid of?! Anyone else pick up on that?!
Can they contradict themselves anymore in the SAME sentence?
"I don’t think anybody in this room wanted this Legislature to adopt two districts that were going to guarantee that two Democrats would be elected…. What we believe fully is that we just live in a red state with conservative people, and that’s who the candidates of Alabama want to be able to elect going forward.”
Yes indeed. As I read it the AL AG does not contradict himself, but says the voter shoe is now worn by the *candidates*, as they pick all those lovely red-state-conservative people. Not a Civics model likely to be found outside a yard sale anywhere else, and likely to induce vapors to anyone with their brain in gear.
Oh, this is likely to be found in multiple states at this point. One state lowers the bar...and others start to salivate at the possible ways they can sink even lower!
Only 2/3 of the population in AL is White, while more than 1/4 of the citizens are Black. I'm guessing that it's more likely that the White voters objected to the possibility of two Black reps than the possibility of two Dems.
Let us not forget Thomas BFF and court capture entrepreneur Leonard Leo. Who also lives high off the hog serving those who'd be unburdened of the regulations and responsibilities of democracy. Such as equality before the law, equal representation, and equitable taxation.
There is a complaint to the IRS presenting evidence that money which should have been shuffled through Leo's network of not for profit shell corporations to fund a myriad of antidemocratic initiatives, seems to have found its way into Leo's for profit accounts and then onto to buying high end real estate etc Any wonder the GOP slashed Biden's IRS budget for forensic accountants?
Judge Thomas should resign and in an earlier time in our history, such shamefully corrupt practices would have produced exactly that. In this era we find ourselves in, it is doubtful that we shall see it. For once, how refreshing it would be for someone from the GOP, to do the right thing.
Abe Fortas resigned under far less corrupt circumstances. Douglas Ginsberg, nominated to the Supremes by St. Ronnie of Eureka after Robert Bork was voted down by a bipartisan Senate, voluntarily withdrew his nomination after----oh, the horror---it was revealed he smoked the bud every now and again. Clarence "No Clearance" Thomas is, and has always been, a shameless hack too benighted to see the error of his conflicted ways. He should resign for sure.
I am so tired of hearing some crooked politician should resign; of being asked to sign petition asking them to resign. The reasoning there is faulty. Why would they ever willingly do that? Their lack of morals has been proven. They are benefiting from their refusal. There apparently are no laws that force the issue or people willing to act within the laws. Gee, we didn’t ask Trump to resign. DO you think that’s why he’s still around? Voting in Senators and Congressional Representatives who will act is the only answer. Get out the vote! Get out the news of these selfish monsters’ .
"Good Lord, Who Among Us Hasn’t Paid For A Clarence Thomas Vacation?”
Well the answer is clear: Clarence Thomas
I guess Thomas was quiet on the Court for so long because he was too busy taking those luxurious vacations.
As for Alabama legislature, is anyone suing them?
States that refuse to follow federal law should not be allowed to take federal aid. Latest data ranks AL 10th on those states most reliant on federal aid.
https://www.moneygeek.com/living/states-most-reliant-federal-government/
They only problem is that would largely impact the people in AL most dependent on those federal funds. Certainly not the legislators or their wealthy benefactors.
We all agree on wanting the benefits going to those most in need. But, the AL legislature themselves have consistently and absurdly denied Their Own the expansion of Medicaid they so desperately need. Pressure has to be brought on the policy makers would be the idea.
https://www.alarise.org/blog-posts/the-workforce-benefits-of-medicaid-expansion-in-alabama/
Tennessee too
Florida too.
SOMEbody hadda vote for those rascals...
Yes . . . Alabama (FL, LA, TX and other states) Congresspersons were voted in by the majority white occupants of illegally created - that is gerrymandered - congressional districts!
Bern:
I was thinking of a different name for them other than rascals.
Georgia, too.
In the first month of Governor Kemp's "waiver program" they approved 265 people for enrollment after launching it July 1st. Don't overexert yourself there, Guv! Those signups represent just a small step toward Kemp’s goal of enrolling 90,000 Georgians once the initiative is at full speed.
Those residents are among an estimated 370,000 Georgia adults who don’t have jobs that offer insurance as a benefit and earn too little money to qualify for subsidized plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. If the state had opted for full Medicaid expansion, all of those men and women would be eligible for coverage.
Kemp’s plan, known as "Pathways to Coverage", mandates participants meet certain eligibility requirements, such as working, volunteering or attending school. I'm on Medicaid, thankfully, and it does make a difference!
When enough lazy Republicans feel the fallout from their representatives secessionist behavior the more likely they are to quit supporting them. These state representatives are doing what they're allowed to do by the citizens, the courts and the federal government even if that was simply a lack of action towards consequences.
Highway funds. Military NASA there is a lot to hold up.
I once had occasion to have a really intense conversation with a prominent medical professor at Harvard. We were talking over a number of questions I had for him, when he went off on a tangent. "Do you know what the hardest part of teaching surgeons is?" I said I didn't. He continued, "It's this: You have to let them make mistakes in the operating room -- you watch carefully, and only intervene at the last moment, when you're sure the next thing they do will kill the patient on the table. You calmly move their hands away from the patient, and tell them why. It's a dramatic lesson for both the surgeon and the teacher. You need strong nerves to stand by and watch as a patient's life hangs in the balance."
While I agree that it's the needy people in AL who depend on federal funding, rather than the legislators or the wealthy benefactors and special interest groups, it is the "needy people" who elect those uncaring, greedy legislators into office, against their own best interests, based on ill-founded belief that the legislators will work for them.
Maybe we need to let them lie on the table a little bit longer, and perhaps feel some pain, before intervening to protect them.
Mlbrowne, It appears that the medical professor's story, which you applied to voting was not appropriate.
'Poorer Americans have much lower voting rates in national elections than the nonpoor, a study finds.'
'People with low incomes who are eligible to vote are much less likely to do so in national elections than those with higher incomes, and are more often constrained from casting ballots by transportation issues, illness or other problems out of their control, according to a study released Tuesday by the Poor People’s Campaign.'
'The study, by a Columbia University researcher, found that only 46 percent of potential voters with family incomes less than twice the federal poverty line voted in the 2016 presidential election, compared with 68 percent of those with family incomes above twice the poverty line.'
'Notwithstanding the practical hurdles lower-income voters face, the reasons voters across the economic spectrum most often cited for staying home were the same: disillusionment with the candidates, campaign issues and the political process writ large.'
“They’re saying that they’re not voting because people are not speaking to their issues and that they’re just not interested in those candidates,” said the researcher, Robert Paul Hartley, an assistant professor of social work. “But it’s not that they couldn’t be.”
'Though poor and low-income people turned out in large numbers in recent some state and local elections like the 2019 Kentucky governor’s race, the Rev. William J. Barber II, co-chairman of the Poor People’s Campaign, a nonpartisan coalition advocating to increase the power of the poor, said that the over 40 percent of Americans with lower incomes remained a largely untapped political force.'
“The only way you can expand the electorate in this country is to expand among poor and low-wealth people,” he said. (NYTimes) See link below. Sorry, that the gifting option not possible for me.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/11/us/politics/poorer-americans-have-much-lower-voting-rates-in-national-elections-than-the-nonpoor-a-study-finds.html?searchResultPosition=1
I think it would be appropriate to find out if there are reliable statistics about the poor voting in local and state elections. This is the general, overall picture for voting in 2022, which were the mid-terms, statewide elections:
'Native-born citizen voter turnout was 53.4%, greater than the 41.4% turnout of naturalized citizens. The South had the nation's lowest voter turnout (48.9%), while turnout in the West (54.7%), Midwest (54.1%) and Northeast (53.8%) were not significantly different from each other. May 2, 2023 ' (US Census Bureau)
Fern, I like what you wrote, and you're correct, I hadn't read the statisticl analysis of lower voting rates in national elections among poorer citizens. I do, however, believe that there is still a significant portion of voters who are actively voting against their own best interest, and in those cases, the medical training analogy certainly still holds. Every day, we are bombarded with images and interviews of middle-Americans, mostly white, older, largely Christianist, and devotedly Trumpist, who are absolutely convinced that the world will turn upside down if the government isn't handed over to Republicans. Even if it means the end of social welfare programs that actively prop them up (affordable healthcare, caps on drug costs, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, disability coverage, disaster relief, unemployment benefits, farm subsidies, and so on).
I'm not in favor of actually hurting people; but I think that more energy needs to be invested in following them to the brink of disaster (and this includes being very public about who is actually legislating in harmful ways -- naming names, so to speak), and then guiding them in a different direction before too much damage is done.
Badly gerrymandered.
It's very effectively gerrymandered, unfortunately (though I know perfectly well what you mean). Perhaps the defiant refusal to obey the court decision will awaken more Alabamians to take action to correct the gerrymandering.
That's a fascinating story. But those people won't improve with time. Remember that man who ran for president- course I can't remember his name! but eventually threw all his votes to Clinton, and Clinton won? Well when he was campaigning he rented tv time, I guess and he gave a presentation to the country with cardboard and marker and he showed how much debt we had. It was an awesome amount! (it didn't matter). But it was cool anyway. And I always wonder-- why can't we get out of this trouble of disinformation by taking 30 minutes of tv and have 4 or 5 charts and some plain paragraphs from Biden or someone more neutral-- some Tom Hanks guy-- to explain to the needy people in AL, those things they should know. And the taxes rich people don't pay, and their money vs our money. Etc. Why can't we do that?
mlbrowne, perhaps the "needy people" (Alabama is 35% disfranchised non-White) didn't elect the rascals now in office. In the 2020 Senate race, Alabama had the highest wacko factor in their official vote totals, as mentioned on this thread:
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/august-10-2023/comment/22195359#comment-22195523?utm_source=activity_item
Perhaps it would wake up some of them and get them to vote for decent legislators.
The whole point is that the voting districts are set up to ensure Republican (white) majorities. Hard to elect other legislators when - as even the Supreme Court of the United States ruled - the district map is illegal as it violates the Voting Rights Act. The Alabama AG didn’t even try to deny that. Reread the article!
Don't get insulting. I read the article. I thoroughly understand gerrymandering. The point the commenter was making was that perhaps slashing government funding would have an effect. Yes, it would hurt the people but perhaps, just perhaps, it would wake up some of them.
Iis there anyone in Alabama who can show harm that could get together and get legal representation to sue the State?
Actually, that already happened because the Supreme Court addressed it. So now the question is, who will enforce the Supreme Court ruling against AL? AL seems to be wanting to leave the Union: look at Tuberville who is trashing the US Military? Is this behavior indicative of support of the union of the US?
Interesting report that Tuberville actually lives in the Florida panhandle. Republicans are such swindlers!
Who elects those legislatures?
Citizens in highly gerrymandered districts
As few people of color as possible.
It does trouble me how states like AL, Texas and Fl (to name a few) have their hand out for federal money (otherwise perceived as my federal tax dollars) while flipping the bird with the other. I would like to see a system where these Republican controlled defiant states are graded on their performance and if they don’t comply with the federal rules then they get less money.
Yes, I’m talking about a Performance Improvement Plan or PIP for short. The performance review would include a recommendation of all the dark money benefactors the State Legislature is collecting with a recommendation if you want Federal dollars you need to improve by these benchmarks or seek assistance from your dark money benefactors to make up the gap. Of course this review would be made public with a copy mailed to every resident in that state. These are elected officials and there should be transparency.
Next is the resident piece of the PIP. Those who reside in that state would receive an additional notification saying because your state failed to follow federal regulations, so we are going to take those allocated funds and directly deposit them into your account. Just like they did with the Covid relief funds. This approach will bypass the state government and directly send the money to the people who need it.
Comments from this peanut gallery!
I like your plan but I wonder about the last part. If funds go directly to residents, what incentive do they have to vote out non-compliant legislators?
The letter enclosing the payment advice must explain that the sum being given directly (amount of small sum) is paltry in comparison to the amount of the benefit that would be available (add some munificient figure reflecting reality) if the state followed federal regulations, and that the way to obtain the additional federal funds is to hold the current legislators accountable for their failure AND in the next election to vote for candidates who promise to comply with the regulations and get those funds directly to the people in the communities who need them - for medical care, improved roads, upgraded firetrucks, whatever. Might work, with those recipients who can both read and reason, and are not too entrenched in maggotism.
It might get them more polling places!
Yes, Maureen. I like your thought on this, also. I failed to state it in my (up early) "two-sentence rant" thinking that fewer words would get things started, which it did. It would only make sense for it to be a graded or otherwise sliding-scale type of pay-to-play system.
There are so many levels in states like AL. They are among a small handful that even refuse to set a min wage so as of July, I believe it stands at $7.25
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state
This would obviously be a BFD and require much on the part of the Dems to address it as these types of legislatures view it as "states rights" but, along with things like expanding SCOTUS might take the (someday) all 3 branches to do it. With the right approach though this idea of managing the $ they take from us (the one hand) while (giving us the finger with the other as you rightly point out) giving us back gerrymandering and other obscene acts is just one way to begin "MAGA" and taking back the country they are working hard to make minority rule overtake Democracy (capital D intended).
Thanks for the thoughtful post. Keep refining it IMO.
I laugh when I read how they whine that they are being cheated out of the space Force contracts calling it political. Either you follow federal laws or you don't get federal moneys or contracts. It seems to me to be an act of secession as well as blatant racism and anti democratic behavior.
Yes, the states that complain the most about Federal regulation are typically the ones receiving the most Federal aid eg Kentucky and Alabama et al.
This is the R mantra. Complain as much as possible and stand in the way of any solutions and then first in line for federal or state help when things don't go well.
You might think those most in need would support Medicaid, etc, so how does the voting go in Alabama?
Fraudulently, apparently.
Or scarcely
With a majority non-white, whites control the legislature.
Overall, I'm understanding Blacks represent abt 25% of the adult voting population. I do understand that packing the 7th congressional district into a 55% black majority and leaving black minorities in all other districts. That's one big fight going on right now since Republicans have refused to acknowledge the recent Supreme Court ruling. Are state voting districts gerrymandered?
Well, Frank, you’ve hit upon the reason for the gerrymandering. The cruelty is the point.
The reason all these people support Trump is because he not only allows, but encourages corruption. The US Treasury is there to be looted by anyone who has access to it. Many states have had that for over a century. Bribery is also expected. It’s the path to the destruction of a society.
Amen!
Thomas was likely patiently waiting for instruction from his benefactors.
Would it do any good. Our laws mean nothing to them or the SC
Trump and "Republicans" in all branches of government posit that their own presumed supremacy trumps any law. Trump himself is find that a bit more complicated.
Sorry, won't let me edit the last sentence. Trump is just a run of the mill narcissist who has never stopped at a stop sign, bullied his way on with conned money greasing the way. He will never stop unless Jack can do it.
Yes, their “presumed supremacy” triumphs “individual freedom” which to them is freedom from all laws and rules…kind of like 2 year old toddlers.
A Democracy Docket update from Monday 08/072023:
The Congressional Black Caucus and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) filed a brief in the Alabama redistricting case asking the court to take over map drawing, arguing that Republicans' new congressional map directly defies the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Allen v. Milligan.
Thank you, Leeclare.
Who's going to write the book about the Black man who grew up very poor, wound up being a Supreme Court Justice and was taken care of by a circle White billionaires, some of whom or was it most or all of whom had had dealings with the Court?
Mark Twain, this would be quite a match with Huckleberry Finn. Do you think those White guys shortchanged him?
A Black man who seems to have sulked his way through his childhood. And probably never had a normal conversation with a girl.
And let’s not forget he’s and a sexual predator and deviant. Recall Anita Hill at time of his confirmation. It was disgusting what he did to her. He has no conscience and does not care because nothing will change. To my knowledge, not one Repug stood up against his behavior. I previously worked for the FED government. Long time ago, about 30 of us were invited to an off-site training event by a private firm where snacks, sandwiches, and beverages were laid out for lunch. Later my boss required each to chip in $10.00 which was sent back to the host to cover the cost of food. The idea was to not show bias later if that firm bid on a government contract.
Linda,
Don't forget, Joe Biden, who presided over the confirmation of Clarence Thomas, ignored all of Anita Hill's (valid) claims.
Clarence Thomas would not have been confirmed without that blind oversight role ably led by Biden.
Even my own ignorant self, back then, knew Thomas was a deviant odd ball.
Joe Biden did not mind though.
The white senators and HW were too terrified of looking like racists to do anything.
Perhaps cowardice is the root cause. I would not be surprised.
But, Thomas accuser was also black. He was not being accused by a white woman.
I remember one segment of Anita Hill's testimony that made the news (and only one) from that time......that I read in the newspaper when I knew the accusations were true.
Anita Hill mentioned Thomas was looking at some issue of Penthouse that had a specific image in it. Turns out that was a famous image that had been passed all around men's (and possibly women's) college dorms at the time........including my old barracks dorm. I had glanced at the image and been substantially repelled at the time.
But, I knew Anita Hill was telling the truth. The timing was right and the image she referred to was well known to men's dorm residents all over the USA. Sadly.
But, it is very likely Biden knew she was telling the truth as well.
Yes. This was a stain on Biden.
And let’s also not forget this took place 32 years ago.
Which of you here has not grown, have different views/ perceptions, and gained greater wisdom than you held in 1991 (the year Thomas was seated on the SCOTUS)? If we’re criticizing and constraining our view(s) of who Biden is now based on who he was and/ or what he did in 1991 then we have a very limited a view him. And in so doing we not only limit him but ourselves as well.
I seriously doubt any of us here have not grown, not developed deeper understandings, not gained wisdom that was not a part of each of our lives 32 years ago. I suspect we have all grown, have deeper understands, and wisdom; and no doubt Biden has as well.
Somehow I think he was thinking more about replacing Thurgood Marshall and it was Bush’s nominee. My take on Joe Biden is that he comes from such a close-knit loving family that he didn’t “read” Thomas very well.
Not quite finished but I’m sure you all know this anyway.
All I can think of when I hear his name is a coffee table bobblehead created for white billionaires entertainment, 25 levels below the old statue of a black groomsman where horses were tied. Disrespectful of a SCJ I know, some days I cross that line.
Clarence Thomas doesn't respect his own office, nor does he--I suspect--respect himself. Thirty-eight vacations paid for by benefactors, none of which were reported??? There is NO "accidently left off the form" aspect to this...he has to know that he long ago crossed the line into corruption. How shameless does one have to be for something like this to simply roll off one's back with a shrug???
Where is the limit on shamelessness? I certainly do not know. But he has to know he owned, in the same manner a slave or junkie is owned. And his sleasy wife does not improve his "look" in my eyes. Two high-level crooks. Not Jared- or Ivanka- level though, at least not yet.
Perhaps his "benefactors" view him as just that. Wouldn't surprise me in the least
How many of those benefactors (whom Thomas calls "family friends") would even pretend to know him if he wasn't a SCOTUS Associate Justice (who has displayed how open he is to brib--uh, excuse me..."favors and gifts").
I bet we all know the answer to that question.
Undoubtedly. You don't get to the level of a billionaire without knowing where a person's weaknesses are, and judging from the number of emoluments CT has accepted, they have a good hold on him.
Impossible to write about Thomas without Anita Hill’s testimony before Congress.
I thought it was interesting what the reporter from Slate said last night on the PBS Newshour that Thomas was more middle class and went to private school:
https://www.pbs.org/video/high-court-ethics-1691698550/
'Thomas was born in Pin Point, Georgia. After his father abandoned the family, he was raised by his grandfather in a poor Gullah community near Savannah. Growing up as a devout Catholic, Thomas originally intended to be a priest in the Catholic Church but was frustrated over the church's insufficient attempts to combat racism. He abandoned his aspiration of becoming a clergyman to attend the College of the Holy Cross and, later, Yale Law School, where he was influenced by a number of conservative authors, notably Thomas Sowell. Upon graduating, he was appointed as an assistant attorney general in Missouri and later entered private practice there. He became a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator John Danforth in 1979, and was made Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education in 1981. President Ronald Reagan appointed Thomas as Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) the next year.' (Wikipedia)
Thank you Fern, for researching Justice Thomas’ background.
Helped out by all the wrong people.
Thank you for posting this. I missed the interview last night.
What would “Jim” say?
Oh my goodness, does anybody here has a direct a tete-a-tete chat with Clarence Thomas? I am badly in need of that vacation even to one of his destinations.
And surely, it must be really good being a Republican. You get treated with 38+-in-a lifetime adventurous vacations, alongside a lavish culinary regimen replete with opulent ingredients and sumptuous delicacies. Who would refuse such a treatment?
But, before you become a Republican, you first need to talk like this: "Let’s make it clear, we elect a Legislature to reflect the values of the people that they represent, and I don’t think anybody in this room wanted this Legislature to adopt two districts that were going to guarantee that two Democrats would be elected." First, you act like you have the interests of the people at heart, but the opulence squandering of the public resources characterizes them. Secondly, you must always speak against Democrats even in issues that require bipartisan approach.
In summary, Republican slogan sounds like as long as the shepherd has eaten to the brim, the flock can take care of themselves.
Meanwhile, if haven't subscribe to my newsletter, I welcome you wholeheartedly. By subscribing, you automatically join my mission of not only supporting my work but also helping the underserved and most vulnerable communities in Africa.
The confederate/Republicans use culture war, wedge issues to get people to vote against their self interest. Meanwhile, they are plundering and bribing and behaving like corrupt oligarchs.
That’s because they are corrupt oligarchs. We’re just beginning to peel the onion.
Thomas was seated in 1991. That is more than 1 lavish trip per year. When does he find time to 'work'?
His clerks do the work. He reminds me of the slaves who were co-opted by slave owners to manage other slaves. Or the Jews put in charge of the ghettos by the Nazis. He’s being exploited by the oligarchs. With Ginni controlling him he’s the Manchurian justice.
Probably like Jan stated - it was why he was quiet for so many years.
Well said, Edwin. Your style reminds me of one of my favorite political commentators masquerading as a writer of exquisite humorous prose: name of Samuel Clements, aka Mark Twain.
This reminds me of a scene where Augustus asks if there is anyone in Rome who has not slept with his daughter. A laughable moment, but the Thomas bribery is nauseating. Once again he should have never have passed the Senate committee and then end up on the Court. His ethics reeked then and the smell has only gotten stronger.
Well done
LOL
Jajajajajajaj! Just choked on my coffee. Thank you!
🤣
So much swampiness . . .
Roberts and his Kangaroo Court will go down in history as hopeless corrupt and VERY poorly led. He should be DEEPLY ashamed, but instead, he will just whine like the corrupt, partisan snowflake that he is. Such an embarrassment. . . . .
Glad to see you got this done before midnight your time! Thanks as always.
'Clarence Thomas Hikes Price of Supreme Court Decisions to Keep Pace with Inflation'
'WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Citing “unfortunate economic realities,” Clarence Thomas is hiking the price of Supreme Court decisions to keep up with inflation.'
'The jurist disclosed his new rate card in a mass e-mail sent to more than a hundred super-donors.'
“I have tried to keep my prices reasonable, but, as inflation proves more stubborn than predicted, I have no choice but to adjust my rates accordingly,” he wrote.
“Sadly, the days of shredding civil rights in exchange for ten private-jet flights are over,” he added.
'It remains to be seen whether the billionaires who received Thomas’s e-mail will tolerate his steeper prices or whether they will explore a budget option such as Neil Gorsuch.' (Satire, NewYorker)
“or whether they will explore a budget option such as Neil Gorsuch.” 😂😂😂😂
I love "The Borowitz Report." Satire can cut to the chase in a heartbeat.
What about those WHITE BILLIONAIRES? Are they scot free by America's 'rule of law'?
Fern, it is an interesting issue. Could it be perceived as bribery? I can say this without fear of contradiction: in my experience, no trial judge would have stayed in the case if he/she had received a gift of any kind from a party to a lawsuit. Highly unethical, and in this case, perhaps illegal, or should be.
Both, Richard, both. What a disgusting set of revelations.
Thank you, Richard. I think you may have calmed a group of heated hearts and angry minds, of course, not mine!
Fern, thank you for this. As always, Borowitz hits the nail on the head.
Gorsuch as a budget item indeed.
😂😂😂
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC) - '𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘗𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯'
'𝘞𝘈𝘚𝘏𝘐𝘕𝘎𝘛𝘖𝘕 (𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘻 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵)—𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 “𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴,” 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.'
The jurist disclosed his new rate card in a mass e-mail sent to more than a hundred super-donors.
https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/clarence-thomas-hikes-price-of-supreme-court-decisions-to-keep-pace-with-inflation?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=tny&utm_mailing=TNY_Borowitz_08102023&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=5e7f5124b43a61296d02c45d&cndid=60422787&hasha=85f8e7210ecfab1cfc218636352e8ddc&hashb=11a1dfc30300d84997d051c4ab9ffe052e43197b&hashc=159a5ab04a4bf53f19b93966f49236d0d7c0f0784cea792169e0ffc6f4d975f5&esrc=tny_humor_nl&utm_term=TNY_Borowitz
Thanks Fern, much needed!
Laughs, smiles, hugs... all feel very special at this time. Cheers!
Thanks Fern! I needed that!
Thank you, Fern McBride! Today we need a good Borowitz to relax as we await de judge in DC.
Fern, I can see it now <satire>: For only two additional vacations, you can obtain the assistance of Ginni Thomas to obtain legal counsel from her firm just in case her husband is overruled by the other justices.
When Andy is on vacation, you would be a good replacement, Mary!
What a compliment—thank you, Fern.
You earned it, Mary!
🤣
Every American woman paid for those vacations.
I wonder if he shared his glib joke about finding a pubic hair on his Coke can with the young female stewards on the yacht, and chuckled at their ignorance to the reference.
#anitawasright
Anita Hill's testimony should have been enough of a warning. Can we say Not To Be Trusted?
But no, we had to wait 3 decades and see the proof. &^%$#!!!!
#AnitaHillWasRight
I believed her all along!!!
He was sponsored by Sen. Danforth of Missouri, who also pushed Josh Hawley. And now he claims Josh Hawley is 'the biggest mistake he ever made.' He ought to give up the whole kingmaker business.
Let's start a petition "requiring ex-Senator Danforth of Missouri to stop promoting horrible young Republican men into prominent positions in public life; or he'll be subject to huge financial penalties in recognition of the harm he's done our nation (the United States of America)."
Not to excuse Biden’s mistake here, but I do think the fear of appearing racist was a factor. Not a good factor, given the result-it’s too bad there wasn’t a person of color nominated without Clarence’s criminality (and yes, I use that word intentionally-he’s a criminal!). My bigger concern is that we haven’t learned. Christine Blasey-Ford testified about Kavenaugh and he was confirmed....decades later....when will we ever learn??????
Of course, Anita Hill was also black, but I guess man trumps woman in this case. And there were many other women ready to testify who were never called. Still makes my blood boil.
A man whose claim to fame was never to use his race as a crutch pulled the race card in his confirmation - calling Hill’s testimony a “High Tech Lynching”. There was no objecting by white folks to that.
Remember the metric of every woman’s testimony is whether it was enough to ruin a man’s reputation, when it should have been the first shovel of dirt they dig up. Both Thomas and Kavanaugh had numerous complaints from multiple women, yet the hearings would only allow one woman speak.
The shameful treatment of Anita Hill and the refusal to allow other women who came forward about their similar experiences with Clarence Thomas to testify at his Senate confirmation hearings is the only thing I’ve ever held against Joe Biden. Has he ever publicly apologized? If you haven’t already listened, this Slow Burn podcast about Thomas is a revelation https://slate.com/podcasts/slow-burn/s8/becoming-justice-thomas
He did. In 2019. A tad late.
Do you have a link for that? I'd love to read it. And yes, of course, more than a tad late.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ0CzN-Yqvk
Sadly,
Joe Biden, the guy in charge of the confirmation hearing for Clarence Thomas, managed to ignore all the warning signs.
Precisely, and as have I!
Me too.
Me too!
Anita Hill, Hillary Clinton, Christine Blasey-Ford, Bandy Lee, Marie Yovanovich, Fiona Hill are all women who spoke out against powerful White men (or their tools, as is Clarence Thomas).
Of all the people in the know who could have, and should have spoken out against those men, it was women who did the necessary.
It was also women who were largely ignored.
It happens so often that I can’t think it is a coincidence that they were used to be the voices of warning.
I think in some of cases, the women were set up so their warnings would be taken less seriously.
That’s because a woman’s testimony is always measured against the thought, ‘Is this worth ruining this good man’s reputation?’ instead of taking it at face value.
From articles I read about him, it was no secret that Thomas was always a creep around women, even before Anita Hill testified about it.
In a documentary I saw, a long-time former girlfriend talked about him extensively. He was creepy.
It’s exhausting to be a woman sometimes, trying to speak truth, isn’t it?
Lisa,
Unfortunately for Hillary, she did NOT speak out about her abuser (of women) husband. Not when he was governor, not when he was President. Not ever.
So, Hillary was (and remains) totally OK being married to, and supporting, a serial abuser of women, as long as it moved them along the path to power.
Correct?
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/11/reckoning-with-bill-clintons-sex-crimes/545729/
And? That specific behavior is why the weakest of candidates, Trump, beat her.
Hillary won the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes. So, it is thanks only to the Electoral College vote that Trump won.
That is true also and one of the primary reasons I didn’t want to vote for her. She still should have been President though. I guess she rode Bill’s coattails because it was the only way someone as talented as her could get there and one of the reasons Bill won.
I disagree HRC rode her husbands coattails. Loving Bill always put her at a disadvantage politically. And I do think she loves him. And love is complicated. I miss that she did not become president. But I know that if she did, Bill was her weak link, and easily exploited. But she would have muscled through and worked her fingers to the bone for us. But would WE have become as politically engaged and active as we are now? As we should always have been?
I think there was too much misogyny for her to not ride his coattails to some extent. Honestly, I think she used Bill to some degree like past female authors (and some present) hide behind male pen names and he used her knowledge and talent. They were a good team. Too bad he was such a womanizer (it was probably normal in Arkansas, and certain other states, but less acceptable in other states).
I was wondering who Hillary supposedly spoke out against.
Trump
Yes, the Cassandras!
And then, Lisa, we have Trump, misogynist extraordinaire!
Amen!
JaneDough, you couldn't be more right. And in some ways it's just another horror in the daily blizzard of horrors, but I heard a piece on NPR with Anita Hill last year and learned that to this day there is NO official process for a citizen to report disqualifying behavior by a candidate to the Supreme Court. None.
And tho he's so great, Joe Biden has never apologized to her. You know, so much bad behavior was obvious about Thomas, as well as about B. Kavanaugh but it made no difference.
Speaking of our party boy Kavanaugh, why do you think HE is getting a free pass for all of his partying and taking money and $200,000 in free baseball tickets (just imagine how much wasted time that is).........
and Clarence Thomas is being routinely beat on by the (nearly all white) mainstream press??
Hint: Kavanaugh is a rich, white party boy. So, it's OK to be corrupt. Boyz will be Boyz.
Think he's taking money too? I know he's horrible but he seems that he'd be sane in that respect. But-- I give up!
Alito's reaction to this coming out about the court led to Alito to say it was reckless and put them in danger of being assassinated.
So right.
I never doubted Anita.
I just found out (googled it) that DNA has proven that it really was a pubic hair, and it was CLEARANCE'S. PUKE!
God, I hate it when the commentary stoops to this level. Wish we could get back to having intelligent exchanges about current issues and the historical factors that led to them.
No way. ?
Yes. Really.
Thomas' corruption is breathtaking and blatant. Now that it's glaringly in the open, the court's credibility will be irreparably shattered unless he resigns. Thomas is destroying one of our three branches of government and could give a damn. Living the high life in exchange for votes is a hell of a legacy.
It’s not only Thomas. Alito and Roberts have both been public about their contempt of Congress and the rest of us, and their belief that they are above the law.
pretty sure his model was Scalia
Michael,
I honestly think it is sad that, out of the MANY corrupt folks in Washington, the press is focused constantly on Clarence Thomas.
Yes, he has benefitted from rich, white donor support.
But, the vast majority of people in elected office are in the same exact boat as Thomas. Taking money from rich white people to be in Washington and do their bidding.
Does it not smack as that same old America when pretty much EVERYONE in DC is taking money from some rich folks (let's be honest, including Hunter Biden) ....
and the only guy we are all raving about is a black guy who is doing the same thing.
To be fair, Mike, Thomas is not the only guy. There’s a good reason Alito has taken to the WSJ opinion pages lately - his corruption seems to be on par with Thomas’ and has also been in the news. Credit Senator Sheldon Whitehouse for shining a light on dark money influence in the Supreme Court.
I will never forget Sheldon Whitehouse's focused presentation ( with all his poster boards) directly to Amy Coney Barrett during her confirmation hearing. He was saying " This is what is happening. Pay attention. And, I hope you will do something to change this!." He managed to be both respectful and fiercely passionate.
And last night Whitehouse told Lawrence O'Donnell that more revelations are to come. The reported transgressions are so numerous and unprecedented that the scale of corruption is hard to grasp.
Nope. Alito is under fire , as is Gorsuch. Thomas is just more egregious. H. Biden is not a member of government. Mike S whataboutism has no place here in solving the dilemma.
Hunter Biden is a private citizen.
Maybe that's why Biden didn't speak up during the confirmation hearings--he knew that creepy behavior towards women was par for the course. Singling out the black guy would not be okay.
Excellent point.
But, now? We are all raving about Thomas like he is an outlier.
He is NOT an outlier in Washington D. C. His fellow Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh has all kinds of stuff published about his corrupt behaviors and ill behavior toward women.
Do you not remember BK’s confirmation? A woman DID try to speak out against him and as another person pointed out she was ignored just like Anita Hill because why allow a woman to tarnish a frat boy’s reputation? Women deal with this crap every day. This is why the majority of women never come forward...we are never believed! This is not new.
I agree with you, Mike. Especially regarding the amounts of money that many DC pols take from millionaires and billionaires. Thomas is not an outlier in this respect vis a vis the rest of DC. He might be an outlier among the Supremes--but we don't really know, do we?
You raise an interesting question, Mike. I would point out that at this point, he is the senior SCROTUS associate judge. His grift has been more blatant that Alito's (which has been blatant enough itself, and I have seen it frequently mentioned.) I'm not sure Kavanaugh has the finesse to work the way Thomas and Alito have.
Yes, corruption is everywhere. But because Supreme Court justices have so much power, any of them violating basic ethical standards stand out. Thomas is making corruption an integral part of his profession, judging by the sheer number of cases that ProPublica has exposed.
The host of the “Slow Burn”podcast, Joel Anderson said in his interview with PSB Newshour’s John Yang, that Thomas has stated previously that his goal in life is to be rich. Corruption is not a shockingly new way to get rich. Thomas had no credibility since his confirmation-hearing-circus. And he believes America should not have put him through that- his behavior should get a pass, -just like the white guys. I applaud ProPublica for doing this deep reporting of SCOTUS justices’ ethics. It’s time we take a sober look at SCOTUS. Pull away the curtain.
David Kurtz writes the AM morning Talking Points Memo. Commemts are few on
David's morning TPM ...just 2 yesterday. But, David is precise on every point he anticipates folks will be discussing such as ProPublica's exceptional report. This ABA meber joins the call for Thomas' resignation.
Also, let's express gratitude to ProPublica, which consistently demonstrates the essential importance of quality investigative journalism. And I'm thrilled with this announcement that ProPublica is creating a Northwest reporting team.
https://www.propublica.org/atpropublica/propublica-announces-northwest-reporting-team
Aw... be kind. If he resigns he'll lose all his good friends!!!
Damn immoral GOP! They only care about power and money! I am with Rep. Lieu, Thomas needs to resign!
My goal today is to focus our society as to how we can remedy the potential trumpian electoral outrages! My respectful suggestion is that these crimes should motivate the rest of us to help register and turnout millions of potential young voters for 24!
The very best way according to Forbes Magazine is that there is one nonpartisan organization that is the most effective in the country in registering young voters-- please click now on www.turnup.us/
Please contribute generously to a brilliant group of Harvard students who are using hi tech means on SnapChat to register and turn GenZ and Millenians out! Please go to www.turnup.us/ right now and see what they are doing with potentially millions of 18 to 29s.
Please help this nonpartisan 501c3 succeed--your donation is tax deductible! Thank you; this is really important and this group of Harvard students is very experienced and effective!
ira, you may not have seen my reply to your comment yesterday. As a strong supporter of the youth vote, I'm surprised that you haven't mentioned ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING.
'We are a nationwide network of organizations building political power of young people, and the premier youth vote vehicle in the United States.'
'We are local young people’s organizations joining together to make each other – and our entire movement – stronger.'
'We entice millions of young voters into our sweet democracy. Where young voters are unregistered, we register them. Where young people aren’t sure if they’ll vote, we convince them.'
'Every great social movement in history has depended on young leaders, and so do we. The Alliance has always been about more than young people voting. We’re about supporting and empowering the young people leading these movements.'
'Many of the 100+ staff and board members of the Alliance’s affiliates are serving on a board or working in a professional environment for the first time. The Alliance staff and board is committed to providing them with the support, training, and resources they need to succeed in their work and scale their campaigns. A huge portion of our work is dedicated to capacity building so we can empower strong leaders for the next generation.
We entice millions of young voters into our sweet democracy. Where young voters are unregistered, we register them. Where young people aren’t sure if they’ll vote, we convince them. '
'We develop tomorrow’s leaders by empowering them to lead today. Our local organizations are run top to bottom by young people. Our national team answers to those young locals, because supporting each other gets the work don
We transform our voting systems so that they work for every American citizen. We drive innovative economic policies that put more money in the pockets of regular people. We fight for justice, democracy, and sustainability. And we win.'
Rating for Alliance for Youth Organizing
Rating: 4/4 · Review by Charity Navigator
'This charity's score is 100%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.'
If you have not been aware of this wonderful organization, Ira, I hope you and LFAA's subscribers will be. Once you know what ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING is doing, you'll want to support its work.
https://allianceforyouthorganizing.org/about/
Thanks, Ira. I am so freaking disheartened by the news today that I'm just going to donate extra to www.turnup.us/ instead of trying to comment.
With you.
Terrific thanks
done
Ira, it seems you did your research and this group is both legit and effective from everything I can find on line. Youth vote 'saved the day' for Dems in the midterm elections and it's looking like the Youth Vote will determine the House, Senate and Biden-Trump (or Trump acolyte) election. Fern mentions ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING, Charity Navigator gives it 4 out of 4 stars and older organization. Both sound great, maybe a good idea to apply Modern Portfolio Theory from Finance and diversity away risks by donating to both!
Thanks for your follow up research--I have been registering high school seniors in 9 states for
seven (7) years as my nonpartisan 501c3 foundation "Inspire2Vote" with a full time staff of activist 25 yr olds! We registered and documented 104,000 high school seniors! Inspire2Vote developed relationships as the leading voter reg 501C3 organization with the official Secretaries of State in those states (CA, AZ, MI, CO, KY, IA, PA, NJ, NV). However, when I discovered Turnup last year and their brilliant leader Harvard student Zev Shapiro, I closed up my foundation and merged it with Turnup as he demonstrated, for example, that he was able to register 180,000 mostly young women 18 to 29 in just one month! I've never heard of the Alliance which Fern works with, but I'm not doubting what she writes about their organization doing very fine work. There are other well meaning orgs here and there, but in my opinion clearly Zev's group has now been recognized by Forbes Magazine as the leading voter reg org for GenZ in the entire country.
It is very surprising that you are unfamiliar with ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING. I don't work for the organization, Ira. I am one of its many fans.
As a result of its outstanding work, the organization was awarded $1,500,000 between 2020 and 2021, including 2 grants in Equitable Recovery.
'The Alliance for Youth Organizing educates young people about how to become involved in the civic and electoral process and how to organize and encourage their peers to do the same. It supports and scales the work of local organizations, building a movement of young people, by young people, and for all people. This award supports the Alliance’s charitable work with its network of independent affiliate organizations to educate and engage young people in Wisconsin about civic life and mobilization; to train and develop youth leadership skills; and to work on campuses, in high schools, and in communities of color across Wisconsin to build independent power for social, racial, and economic justice.'
'The Alliance for Youth Organizing (the Alliance) is a nationwide network of organizations building the civic and political power of young people across the country, with a special commitment to young people of color. It is the premier youth-driven vote vehicle in the United States, having registered millions of Americans of all ages since 2012 and supported youth-led efforts to transform the voting system so it works for all Americans.' (The MacArthur Foundation) See link below.
https://www.macfound.org/grantee/alliance-for-youth-organizing-10115275/
Very interesting Fern; thank you.
Just donated! Thanks, Fern. I have and will donate to both organizations.
Mimi, so good, so, so good! Thank you! It's an absolutely great donation. Please pass on the word of their important work.
'The Alliance for Youth Organizing grows progressive people power across America by empowering local young people's organizations to strengthen our democracy, …'
just made a donation, thanks Fern
That is wonderful, k.paschal. I can't imagine a more worthwhile organization, and it's particularly geared to serve young people of color. Thank you. Please pass the good word on.
Ira, Inspire2Vote is really a great accomplishment, very impressive. One never knows how a really great organization will prioritize its resources so spreading funding around until an optimal alternative arrives, makes a lot so sense to me. For example, Mike Bloomberg dumped a ton of money in Florida to help Biden, luckily others put their money in PA, AZ, NV, Wis...etc.
Panthers, the bigger problem with campaign money is that 95% of it goes to TV ads which certainly 18 to 19s do not watch at all, and many adults simply ignore! But candidates of both parties are stuck with that approach and I personally warn them that when they lose, their insistent consultants are on a plane to vacation and they don't give a damn about the loss as they have very full bank accounts by then! So, why don't all of these very bright folks with many years of experience ever focus on registering GenZ and then promoting their tun-out? Not any kickback money in it like TV ads. And candidates afraid of their opponent's TV ads! So they lose CD after CD which were winnable but they get the rest of us to contribute, don't they?
Spot on, Ira. Here's my take. Most people who watch a lot of standard TV (cable) have established political and cultural opinions. Ads will do one of two things. Either harden those opinions or anger the viewer. The idea that millions of TV ad dollars will change the course of an election is antique at best. The generation (mine) that still watches cable TV also votes in big numbers. So we can't change their minds, and they are going to participate...what to do?
We have just one thing - a big one - on our side. Gen Y and gen Z lean in the direction of Democratic values. Climate crisis, reproductive rights and a belief in science are at the top. But they also have grown up around a greater variety of people - national origin, gender identity, skin color, etc. They think of diversity as variety - not a threat!
So the answer is not to waste money trying to change the embedded beliefs of old farts like me. THE answer is turnout by young people. That's it!
Totally agree. 18-38yos know best how to spend that money and reach each other. E.g. Obama had lots of 20-somethings working on his campaigns. Afterwards a few started Crooked Media and Pod Save America which, now that they are in their early 40s, is doing extremely well. Another example was JFK, who wisely tapped into the newly emerging women vote, by having neighborhood teas and his wife stump for him. If democracy depends ONLY on persuading a 60yo clown who voted for Trump twice that his indictments means he should now vote for Biden, the Republic is already lost!
Give 'em hell, with both barrels.
Ira, thanks for your continued support for this group. I have become a monthly donor thanks to your focus
Wonderful; many thanks Barbara
Wish I could contribute more, but I guess every little bit helps
Absolutely many thanks
Thank you for this comment. We went to this website yesterday and I posted it on my Facebook page.
Terrific; please let me know if any contributed or passed it on!
done.
Many thanks; Turnup is focused on registering hundreds of thousands and turning them out specifically in competitive CDs; do not waste funds on those CDs, whether D or R, which are totally safe for the incumbent of either party or are entirely impossible for a challenger of either party to win in November 24! Very smart and efficient strategy, I believe! We appreciate your support!
While I certainly agree with you that he needs to resign, that would take someone with a modicum of a moral compass of which he has demonstrated over the past 30 years that he does not have.
He will never, he now is whiter than white, in his mirror…
Wow caught an early night! Appreciate your efforts HCR. As a state worker we were not allowed to accumulate points at hotels we frequented on work trips. Petty it seemed at the time. The elite in our members of congress and the Supreme Court apparently need laws and more vigilant oversight of the money and perks flowing their way as they have no moral compass
Thanks for reminding me. As a FED worker, was not allowed to accept those Hotel perks. And, of course, no food from a vendor.
Griftings, Sleazell Hellskap and Bollax Attnys at Law
Memo to staff: SCOTUS case check list
Team! September fast approaches, when it is our great honor to defend Oleaginous Toxins and Energy against the small towns who are unhappy about the derailment. Lot’s to do! Everybody pick an item or three and get cracking!
#1 venmo some dosh to Thomas’s clerks for “xmas party”
#2 send check to federalist society ask leo to forward to ginni to fund her “non profit work”
#3 make contribution to the “retire kavanaugh’s credit card debt” fund
REDACTED
#100 donate to ACB’s cult. Kick women in the teeth and get a tax write off for it!
#101 put some money down on a contract with robert’s wife’s executive recruiting firm. No we don’t have an opening; yes we need that paid contract.
#102 lease some oil lands from alito’s wife i don’t care where just get a lease
103 buy whatever Gorsuch is trying to unload, is it some ranch or something else this time.
#104 cut check to Horatio Alger Society
#105 Scalia Law school at george Mason University is looking for underwriters at the Silver, Gold and Platinum levels for their Summer in Tuscany Legal Seminars for CEOs with Litigation Before the Courts program taught by SCOTUS judges.
#106 some gold fixtures for the motor home?
#107 thomas’s car needs tires
#108 alito wants to fish a pristine stream before the next set of rulings means it’s paved. Can we get him on a jet to alaska
#109 thomas needs to see some pretty russian girls. Do any of our contacts have a super yacht in the black sea this summer?
#110 thomas’ nephew needs a scholarship
#111 thomas’ mom doesnt like her neighbors, buy them out
#112 thomas wants cornhusker VIP football tix AND cowboys AND dolphins VIP tix. AND, not OR.
#113 prep some legal arguments - ha! - just joking!
That all looks pretty reasonable to me. Why didn't you show us the redacted bit, we're all friends here?
totally hilarious (mostly because it reads like real events).
sadly
Satire is becoming harder and harder to create.
Hmmm I think I’d contribute to #109. A vacay in the Black Sea for Thomas right now? The closer to Odesa the better.
I was laughing so hard reading what you wrote I almost fell off my chair. Very creative and funny!
Sad, isn’t it? A Supreme Court Justice with so little dignity and self respect that he accepts the free gifts offered to him by tycoons and in his mind thinks it’s all about friendship. A man who goes about his life depending upon others for the first class leisure activities he so desperately craves. Married to a complete lunatic who sticks her nose into every right wing paranoid fantasy she can conjure. Thomas is pathetic. He’s an intellectual midget and a fool, and nothing more than a tool. Of course, he’s the darling of the Republican Party, who have become the book-banning, reality-denying mob that manages to attract half of America’s votes.
Fully agree. He also seems to be proving my opinion of him as an unqualified political hack (and hopelessly inept lawyer) with the stunningly poor job covering up his corruption.
I wonder how much more will be found that was at least half-assed hidden???
Not half.
Perhaps Alabama doesn't intend to ever make application to the Supreme Court in the future. If they do so, I can picture a SC judge leaning down and asking the AG from Alabama why he is wasting the court's time seeking relief. If Alabama likes the decision, then they may follow it. If they don't like it, then they will thumb their nose at the court's decision. In my court, we call that being in contempt of a court order. And we might require an applicant to purge their contempt before being permitting to coming back before the court.
Unlikely. Alabama defied court order in the past. There is a federal remedy. Ask George Wallace how it worked out for him when he refused to allow Black people to register for university. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_in_the_Schoolhouse_Door
The American way - use guns and troops.
That absolutely is not what happened here in Ohio. Republicans ignored Ohio Supreme Court rulings on voting districts, and we voted with an unconstitutional map while the Court didn’t place anyone, from the Governor on down, in contempt. They got away with it. We have voted twice, overwhelmingly, to do away with gerrymandering, and the legislature has just ignored us with no consequence. Ohio is not as red as it seems, but we are (mostly) powerless. This week’s vote was a triumph - but I fully expect the Rs to do something to ignore that vote too.
President Biden was right. We are in a pitched battle for the soul of this country. And neither side has triumphed--yet...
“neither side”?
Thank you Heather Cox Richardson for another great letter! Our "Supreme Court" is such a joke and a bad one at that. They will be ashamed all the way to the bank where their rich benefactors send money and gifts! It is just incredible that they have life time appointments and don't have to adhere to ANY ethics!
Deep down, what really matters right now is the Medicaid disaster leaving 4 million Americans without coverage. Of the 5 states named for violation of all three areas of noncompliance with federal law, only Rhode Island has been working on breaking the logjam. The Thomas Follies?Blah blah blah we all know and nothing happens. That slime destroyed of one branch of gov, so they only need a few more goons to take down the other two. SHAME! SCORRUPTUS!
Let me change that. A handful of Democratic Senators are trying to do something. Thomas is out of control, along with 5 other supremes.
A dream job for "Republicans".
And once again, nothing will happen
I volunteer at a community food bank in San Antonio. Our numbers of people served have been steadily rising this summer. People who have never been to a food bank before come in embarrassed and desperate to feed their families. Many of them have been cut from SNAP benefits due to missing paperwork. Trying to get help from the State of Texas is like pulling teeth--hens' teeth at that.
I really wanted my children to learn to care for others while they were very young. At that time I served with "Meals on Wheels." My three children and I were assigned persons to deliver meals to. We would go to their homes. I would give each child something to hold to deliver to the person or persons in that home. We always spent time with the people. My children and I valued this opportunity. My children are young adults now and remember those days as well as the dear persons black and white, we spent precious time with....I am so grateful that we chose to share with others....not only food but friendship and encouragement.
Loving one another...serving one another....joyfully sharing and meeting needs is a great and precious experience. Greed dries up our souls....
My Mom was a part-time OA for Medford's "Meals on Wheels". I was just turned 16, and she asked me if I wanted to deliver for them. Often, my younger sister (12) would go with me. We had several favorites, from an octogenarian retired attorney who had a great sense of humor to a couple in (I'm guessing in their mid 60's) who were both disabled. My favorite was a woman living in a retirement home; she had ordered an extra dinner one day because she had a "gentleman friend" coming. She was dismayed when her daughter came to visit (I told her she could freeze and reheat the dinners), which made her happy. Just as we were leaving, her daughter arrived, and it turned out to be a former gym teacher of mine that HATED me, who said "Oh, your favorite is her?" to her mom. On a subsequent visit, the lady said "I see you knew my daughter. Interesting, isn't she?"
Thank you, Emily. My dad received Meals on Wheels. One day I was there when a woman and her daughter delivered his meal with kind words and a hug.It warmed my heart…such a teachable moment(s)…
Alabama... gee, if it really is the will of the people of the state of AL to be a red state, then wtf are they so afraid of?! Anyone else pick up on that?!
Can they contradict themselves anymore in the SAME sentence?
"I don’t think anybody in this room wanted this Legislature to adopt two districts that were going to guarantee that two Democrats would be elected…. What we believe fully is that we just live in a red state with conservative people, and that’s who the candidates of Alabama want to be able to elect going forward.”
Yes indeed. As I read it the AL AG does not contradict himself, but says the voter shoe is now worn by the *candidates*, as they pick all those lovely red-state-conservative people. Not a Civics model likely to be found outside a yard sale anywhere else, and likely to induce vapors to anyone with their brain in gear.
Oh, this is likely to be found in multiple states at this point. One state lowers the bar...and others start to salivate at the possible ways they can sink even lower!
Only 2/3 of the population in AL is White, while more than 1/4 of the citizens are Black. I'm guessing that it's more likely that the White voters objected to the possibility of two Black reps than the possibility of two Dems.
Totally agree! It's a farce... and they're not even hiding it. In defiance of court orders at this point. They can only 'win' when they cheat.
Unf***ingbelievable, an oman with flashing lights, as other “red” states follow
Let us not forget Thomas BFF and court capture entrepreneur Leonard Leo. Who also lives high off the hog serving those who'd be unburdened of the regulations and responsibilities of democracy. Such as equality before the law, equal representation, and equitable taxation.
There is a complaint to the IRS presenting evidence that money which should have been shuffled through Leo's network of not for profit shell corporations to fund a myriad of antidemocratic initiatives, seems to have found its way into Leo's for profit accounts and then onto to buying high end real estate etc Any wonder the GOP slashed Biden's IRS budget for forensic accountants?
https://campaignforaccountability.org/watchdog-requests-irs-investigate-leonard-leo-affiliated-nonprofits-for-potential-self-dealing/
https://theqsjournal.substack.com/p/breaking-news-leonard-leo-accused
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/cutting-irs-funding-is-a-gift-to-americas-wealthiest-tax-evaders/
Well done lin. Nice work ~
Judge Thomas should resign and in an earlier time in our history, such shamefully corrupt practices would have produced exactly that. In this era we find ourselves in, it is doubtful that we shall see it. For once, how refreshing it would be for someone from the GOP, to do the right thing.
Abe Fortas resigned under far less corrupt circumstances. Douglas Ginsberg, nominated to the Supremes by St. Ronnie of Eureka after Robert Bork was voted down by a bipartisan Senate, voluntarily withdrew his nomination after----oh, the horror---it was revealed he smoked the bud every now and again. Clarence "No Clearance" Thomas is, and has always been, a shameless hack too benighted to see the error of his conflicted ways. He should resign for sure.
I am so tired of hearing some crooked politician should resign; of being asked to sign petition asking them to resign. The reasoning there is faulty. Why would they ever willingly do that? Their lack of morals has been proven. They are benefiting from their refusal. There apparently are no laws that force the issue or people willing to act within the laws. Gee, we didn’t ask Trump to resign. DO you think that’s why he’s still around? Voting in Senators and Congressional Representatives who will act is the only answer. Get out the vote! Get out the news of these selfish monsters’ .