I must correct Heather here, as the Fresno Bee is not the newspaper within Speaker McCarthy's district. Fresno is a tad more than a hundred miles north of Bakersfield, where the Bakersfield Californian is the local paper.
Bakersfield is a very interesting city. Although it is not large by Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Long Beach standards, (or even Fresno in the San Joaquin valley for that matter), it is a fairly good size city, and probably the most conservative of California good sized cities. In the mid twentieth century, it became the new home for the transplanted "Okies" and "Arkies" fleeing the rigors of the Dust Bowl and the horrors of the Depression. A city that gave America Frank Gifford, Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, it was built on the booming oil industry of the early to mid century. In recent years, while its wealth and political power remain white and conservative, its Hispanic population has boomed, as has its restaurants and cultural life.
I am hoping that the likes of Kevin McCarthy are not long for the town known as "Rig City"
What a great summation of "The Field," Daniel! It's one of the settings in my new book, and you nailed it. It really is more like a transplanted chunk of Oklahoma than anything Californian. But - home of the Bakersfield Sound, so there's always something.
How interesting. Isn't Southern Cal conservative just because people migrated westward across the country, from where they were, so So. Cal. is populated by people coming from the South, which is traditionally considered more conservative. I know that there were a huge number of people from Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl. I thought some of that was the Federal Works Program making work for them. It is hard to fathom how Hollywood culture can live side-by-side with the rest of So. Cal. Does anyone know a generic address for a business in McCarthy's district, because it is impossible to write to him. I usually use a hospital address in a district when I want to write a representative not in my district who has restrictions on emails. With him, even when I pick an address right across the street I get a message that says that I am served by multiple districts and he only takes messages from those only in his district. I want to know whether this is a generic answer to everyone, to avoid answering mails, or whether there really are addresses only in his district.
Linda, I don't know where you read that Southerners went straight south (to Southern California) but I've never read anything that's said that before! Where people migrated to had much more to do with the era they migrated in, and the railroad infrastructure. For a long, long time, San Francisco was THE destination if you were going to California. That's where the Transcontinental Railroad ended. And then some people radiated out to Sacramento, and the central basin for farming. There just wasn't much to go to in Southern California. At all! Southerners definitely came to California during the Gold Rush but after the Civil War if they went West they were more likely to go to ex-Confederate/ Confederate-minded states, like Texas.
Not one bit surprised McCarthy isn't taking correspondence. There are not enough four letter words in the English language....
At the start of WWII, there was dignificant southern migration to RICHMOND, CA in the BAY area to work in Henry Kaiser's shipyards building 'Liberty Ships' There's still is a Rosie-the-Riveter Museum out there. Henry ("find a need & fill it") Kaiser's workforce was able to assemble a Liberty Ship in 5 Days. Henry Kaiser was a major health care provider, KAISER HEALTH, provided by the Employer as a benefit with a tiny cost for access. Post WWII, with Baby Boomer Families needing housing Kaiser accelerated his Construction products industry notably Kaiser Cement which built quite a few dams that produced electrical power. Don't encourage me. I'm still living in the Bay Area not far from John Muir's old homestead well after the gold rush ...
🎶 "looking for Mother Nature's silver seed heading to a new home in the Sun".🎶
Thanks, Bryan - I don't know much about middle 20th century California history! I'm obsessed with the decades from the Gold Rush to the earthquake and rebuild.
My family (father and his parents) were Okies and landed in Kern County just outside of Bakersfield. There was a huge colony of like folk! They even literally built their own school. LA Times has a great article about them (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-01-18-vw-5315-story.html)
I live in Chicago, so I consider Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri Southern. It has to do with where they stood in the Civil War. So, reading things like this, where a lot of people settled around Los Angeles and Kern Valley, makes me think South.
What are called Plains States are Southern States to me if they are south of the Mason Dixon line. That they went closest to where they were from I know about people from China for example working on the Railroad, and being in San Fransisco, and Japanese going to Hawaii. I understand that a lot of people went north for the Gold Rush. But, I pictured them going straight across for some reason. I am not sure when or where I read it. I also met a lot of people I consider Southerners in Los Angeles in the 1980s.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
David, you've said it all, succinctly and eloquently. It's not that no one understands this. It's that the whole country is hostage to the lawless Republican party, who does not give a flying **** about women. Suppressing women's rights is a key plank of their agenda.
As a native Californian, who was raised in Northern CA and now resides in Southern CA, Bakersfield is in Central CA, which most Southern Californians consider "northern" because one has to drive through mountains to go "north" out of Southern California. It's a geography thing.
Bakersfield is at the Southern end of the central valley.
If you want to reach McCarthy, you have to do it via the US Postal Service. Any congressperson or senator, only accepts calls or emails from their constituents. But they'll take money from anyone, right?
Nope, it really is supposed to be from your district only, and the convention is that out of professional courtesy, they won't respond to another legislator's constituent.
If you are looking for the speaker or committee members, it appears the phone message works best. A fax might get through as well, but the LONG standing idea is that your rep or senator is the contact for those are supposed to be working for their constituents. (Pause for deep sigh, I'm lookin' at you, Cliff Bentz et. al).
Anyway, you can also send letters (though slowed by anthrax screening and now Covid mail protocols to some degree). Don't expect a reply though.
I used to think that an address in the desired district was clever, but it struck me that there might be an 18 USC Sec 1001 component and that no longer sounded so great.
Pre covid there was a marvelous volunteer group in DC called "Herd on the Hill" that would carry messages to offices around the capitol using the stampslicked app. While I see some minor activity on their social media, it looks like covid has disorganized that activity, but the model is wonderful and it seems like it could be adapted. To that end, ask a friend to send your message, or make contact with an Indivisible type group and see if they have such an option or would be willing to ensure the message got to one of the district offices.
Meanwhile I'm going to send a note to Herd on the Hill and see what they are up to.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
The coastal cities and communities hold the majority of the population in California and are left leaning. Bakersfield and Los Angeles are separated by the San Gabriel mountains and Bakersfield is an agricultural community, which is conservative, along with most of the big ag communities in the San Joaquin valley. McCarthy is absolutely spineless.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Friendly correction: McCarthy's district is in Central California, not Southern.
It's good that you understand that the most effective way to reach members of Congress is to focus on your own. While it might be tempting to try and fake an address, it's really a waste of time, especially when the person you're trying to contact is the Speaker. I'll never forget the time image of people failing to deliver 80 boxes of petitions to Paul Ryan. Can't remember the issue but it was a lesson I never forget.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
I believe that my comment should be seen by as many people as possible. Just replying to one person does not mean that everyone will get to see my comment.
Did you have anything to say about my comment? If so I would like to hear what you have to say.
In fact, I believe I only posted once on you comment, if I posted more than once on your comments, I apologize.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
I believe I heard about this book from someone on this forum? Anyhow, everybody should read "American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North American" by Colin Woodard. This amazing and enlightening book explains the cultural history of regions and why they vote the way they do. I was fascinated by the theory that some areas vote the way they do thanks to a few dozen original immigrants over 200 years ago. I've handed my copy off to several people and they all gave it 4 star reviews.
One of the biggest CW venues outside of Nashville. Not known for interesting dining. Voted the worst city in America to raise kids 2-3 years ago. Oil, ag, and an AFB built Bakersfield.
And don't forget Tom Hanks in Castaway when a large slice of fiberglass, which he would fashion into his rescue sail, reads the name stamped on its side: "Ba-kers-field."
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Sounds like the description of Youngstown I heard some years ago: “One of the two most beautiful sights in America. The Grand Canyon and Youngstown in the rear-view mirror.”
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Since the Valley lost a House seat and the boundaries shifted, I wondered, but didn’t check. Good call. Stockton and Bakersfield are about the the size, over 300,000. Fresno is about 450,000.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
I live in CA’s Central Valley. Fresno is more liberal than Bakersfield, who keeps McCarthy in office. Dark pink vs deep red. But for The Fresno Bee to criticize The Valley’s Favorite Son is significant.
Just to add a bit more, Fresno is the ethnic capital of the nation, so I've been told. It has attracted migrants from everywhere, including such diverse places as Vietnam, Middle East, southern and eastern Europe, Asian Pacific nations, and the rest of the Americas. (Sorry! My original note left out Africa, although, other than Nigeria, I am not certain which nations.)The politics tend pink as you say, but in many ways it self-isolates as the enclaves tend to their cultures rather than America as a whole. I agree that the Bee has broken the mold! Thankfully.
IMHO, Fresno reflects the America of tomorrow as does much of California, in both good and not-so-good ways. Wealthy whites are aging out which may explain their desperation to repress the rest.
Very true. The growers, Country Western locus, and the AFB. Fresno has voted itself as California’s anti-abortion sanctuary, and has declared it will not enforce the State Constitutional Amendment making abortion legal if passed.
Good one, Eileen! I think the capital moves sometimes, seemingly everywhere I move! What a scourge meth is. Cheap to make, uses toxic, easy to find ingredients, and its use results in delusions of grandeur and power, makes a user mean as a ball of snakes, rots skin, teeth and then your mind.
Since Trut* Social started I have very few reports about him.
Recall T* hired him as CEO for Trump Media and Tech group, (TMTG) which is being investigated for money laundering.
Regarding that... remember the $8 million loan that had no repayment terms from Putin-linked entities, that was intended to prop up the holding so it could survive til Trump's Digital World Acquisition Group SPAC could illegally (kid you not!) purchase it?
For mini background, SPACs are investor groups in search of an investment; setting them up for the purpose of purchasing a specific investment is an SEC violation.
But Trump had set it up with 90% for him, 10% for the cofounder, and then tried to take over that 10% share, so as happens, the 10% guy blew the whistle to the SEC.
Agree. And newspapers aren't limited to writing about "their district". Fresno Bee was a bustler for many Western issues back in the day, and seems to be more so.
It went after Devin Nunes pretty hard a while back! Remember the winery cruise that was said to be complete with cocaine and prostitutes? He had a "Devin Nunes cow" over that reporting.
I loved that The Fresno Bee did that and cracked up when Devin Nunes’ Cow showed up on Twitter to harass him.😂 Nunes tried to sue “the cow” even though he didn’t know who he was!
It was pretty hard for the "Cow". I donated to the defense fund at the time. Nunes did backflips trying to get Twitter (back when it was a real live boy) to dox the cow, but it never did.
Being that, I, and numerous others, (much smarter than myself), fully believe he has no intention of stopping at the “brink” (“Speaker McCarthy, don’t take America to the brink of default”), I would say it’s far worse than just pretty bad!!!
McCarthy isn't going to last as it will be impossible to satisfy the rabid creatures he's beholden to, with only one needed to bring him to task. Blaming the democrats for the debt trump's tax cuts incurred is on the same level as the dog ate my homework. I'm just sitting back waiting to see, along with the myriad other debaucles, the outcome. We got the Proud Boys locked up...will anything happen with the Thomases? All in all, we should expect a satisfying summer.....
They don’t “see” the evil intentions? They believe he’ll pull out of this nose five at the very last second? Or they have faith that Dems will capitulate to the terrorist threats, because really are Dems going to let the fascist GOP kill masses of us? 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
Is there any recourse? Can those decisions be revisited? Can Justice Thomas be forced to return those funds? What about the IRS? Can he have a lien put on his undeserved salary? Can he be recalled?
If he didn’t disclose it, doubt he reported it in his tax return. Tax evasion. Wire fraud. Anybody want to bet there’s a whole lot more to come to light? Time to start some audits!
If we are going to arrest prominent Republicans, I would encourage whoever would do that (looks like nobody to me though) to arrest Trump first, or Kavanaugh. After all, Kavanaugh took money from "friends" to pay off his $200,000 baseball ticket debt before he was confirmed.
Thomas is simply doing what most white Republicans do: Collect money and perform favors.
Arresting Thomas (only) would sure look like America still penalizes black folks for doing the same thing white folks do routinely.
Trump has been collecting gifts and money from hordes of people and spending it on himself, or porn stars for years. Not to mention running an armed, seditious, violent attempt to overthrow the government.
Let's arrest a prominent white man, who is also a criminal, first, before we arrest a black man who has not even fielded an army against the government.
There are plenty of white guys to go round the jail.
Maybe go after Gorsuch and Trump or Kavanaugh first? If we cannot convict them, then, leave poor Thomas alone.
Hi Mike, did you say "poor" Thomas? Not poor, any longer. He's not above using the race card, either. Truth be told, he used it during his nomination hearings when his improper sexual peccadillos were ignored, just like Kavan-ugh during his hearings. (Well a token investigation was had.) I would not excuse his behavior. I am proud to say I stand for equality. At least when speaking of certain prominent Repubs, I would lock em all up.
Hi Mike. It's true - target the black man - just like blaming it all on 'dark' money ... reinforce the stereotypes, stir up animosity and keep us fighting against each other .... what about Alito, or Roberts? Interesting to note, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh supported a recent decision (in Oklahoma?) to honor tribal jurisdiction and land rights - something like that ... I wonder where that fits in the bigger picture ...
Have you tuned in to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse? Here are a few links:
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on ethics in the Supreme Court
I hear that Mike, he makes honesty look so easy - how does he get away with that degree of 'truthiness'?! I love the way he puts it together - does not miss a beat ...!!
Blessings and Peace to you and yours - and all ....
Maybe that’s one reason the House to cut the increase in the IRS budget. Gotta protect those Supremes as well as what I suspect is a good lead number of legislators at the federal and state levels.
Since hiding behind imaginary protections is a thing these days, I would like to see IRS investigations into the SCOTUS purchasers. As we have learned, bad business records combined with a crime can be a felony in the right jurisdictions. I think Thomas lives in VA but there would be DC jurisdiction, too.
'The real reason for the Supreme Court’s corruption crisis'
'Who watches the philosopher kings with lifetime appointments?'
By Ian Millhiser Updated May 4, 2023, 10:45am EDT (excerpts)
'The Supreme Court has run out of excuses.'
'Earlier this month, after ProPublica revealed that Justice Clarence Thomas frequently takes lavish vacations funded by billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow, Thomas attempted to defend himself by claiming that this sort of “personal hospitality from close personal friends” is fine because Crow “did not have business before the court.”
'As it turns out, that’s not true. As Bloomberg reports, the Supreme Court — including Justice Thomas — did briefly consider a $25 million copyright dispute involving a company that Crow was a partial owner of in 2005. At that point, Crow had already given a number of gifts to Thomas, including a $19,000 Bible that once belonged to Frederick Douglass.'
'As ProPublica later revealed, Crow even paid for the private school education of Thomas’s grandnephew, who Thomas said he is raising “as a son.” That includes tuition at a boarding school that charged more than $6,000 a month.'
'Similarly, if the rule is that justices must be extra careful when dealing with people who have business before the Supreme Court, then Justice Neil Gorsuch may also have violated this rule. According to Politico, a tract of land that Gorsuch owned with two other individuals was on the market for nearly two years before it found a buyer — nine days after Gorsuch was confirmed to the Supreme Court. The buyer was the chief executive of Greenberg Traurig, a massive law firm that frequently practices before the Supreme Court.'
'As Politico notes, “such a sale would raise ethical problems for officials serving in many other branches of government,” but the rules governing the justices are particularly lax.
The Constitution makes it virtually impossible to discipline or remove a corrupt Supreme Court justice.'
'Roberts’s 2011 report is correct about one thing: One major barrier preventing Congress (or anyone else) from imposing meaningful ethics reforms on the Supreme Court is the Constitution itself.'
'The Constitution provides that federal judges shall “hold their offices during good behaviour,” a provision that’s widely understood to require a judge to be impeached before they can be removed from office. And the impeachment process requires two-thirds of the Senate to vote to remove a justice from office — meaning that, in the current Senate, 16 Republicans would need to vote to remove Thomas, even if the GOP-controlled House agreed to begin an impeachment proceeding against him in the first place.'
'(Although a 2006 paper published by the Yale Law Journal argues that this understanding of the Constitution is wrong, that paper concedes that there is a “virtually unquestioned assumption among constitutional law cognoscenti that impeachment is the only means of removing a federal judge.”)'
'Similarly, the Constitution provides that all federal judges shall receive “a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.” So Thomas or another justice cannot have their salary reduced because they behave unethically, or have their pay docked to cover the cost of expensive gifts received from wealthy benefactors.'
'And there’s also another provision of the Constitution that effectively immunizes justices from any meaningful consequences so long as they remain loyal to the political party that put them in office to begin with. Federal judges are chosen by a partisan official, the president of the United States, and confirmed by other partisans in the Senate.'
'That means that both parties have an extraordinary incentive to appoint ideologically reliable judges to the courts, and to protect them. Once a staunch conservative like Thomas (or Gorsuch) is in office, Republicans have an overwhelming incentive to keep that justice in his seat regardless of whether the justice behaves unethically. This is especially true right now, when Democrats control both the White House and the Senate, and thus could replace Thomas with his ideological opposite.'
'The entire system is set up, in other words, in a way that rewards political parties that treat the judiciary as a partisan prize. It encourages presidents to appoint reliable partisans to the Supreme Court whenever they get the chance to do so. And, because neither party is likely to control 67 Senate seats any time soon, it also gives each party a veto power over any attempt to remove a justice — even if that justice is corrupt. '(VOX) See link below.
Thanks for sharing this enlightening yet hope-darkening article. Looks like we’re stuck with these Supremely Corrupt members. We can thank nefarious Mitch McConnell for blocking Obama’s appointments of moderate justices to the SCOTUS—one among the many infamous instances of Mitch sabotaging our nation’s democracy.
Agism! Shame on you! If she's not competent, vote her out or help the party set up a successor.
But conflating age with something you don't like is like dehumanizing someone due to color or gender.
Call out the problems by all means, but saying its age - a protected class, by the way, and notorious in the US as being a tool to put people out of their jobs without cause -- is as disgusting as Trump saying that a woman isn't pretty enough to rape.
I don't care how old she is, but if she isn't able to show up and vote on critical issues, and the repubs won't let someone else fill her shoes, she should step down....
She is definitely physically and mentally impaired and no longer competent to serve. She hasn't been there in months. If she needs to be voted out, so be it, they should do it. But if she really wanted to selflessly serve her country and her party, she should step down. It is causing real issues that only compound with time.
Regarding Feinstein, NY Times has an editorial today. Gift link below. They argue based on her absence and her inability to remember anyone's name or face that she should be removed. Also, significant movement on judge confirmations are held up.
As long as RBG was alive her votes were a known quantity. After MM held back Merrick Garland, what assurance do we have about any appointment. The Republican refusal to allow a place holder for Senator Feinstein is where we should be focused.
Obama asked her to step down way before the McConnell / Garland thing. During one of the times he had a democrat Senate majority, so McConnell couldn't block it.
CJ, even though I wasn’t certain of the chronology, it is just possible that RBG “knew” what we have since discovered, with this Republican Party, if a nomination can be messed up, MM and Co. will do it. But thank you for reminding me and recalling the timing.
So, SCOTUS judges are dictators? Immune to corruption? Immune from consequences? When they were appointed to the court all their human desires and frailties for wealth and privilege automatically disappeared and a metaphysical change that these human like qualities are suddenly no longer an issue because they become Demi-gods? Their biological/psychological makeup is so changed that they can no longer access their most basic desires for power? Whose stupid idea was that?
Punishment for crimes is reserved for the lower classes who are unable to defend themselves. They are called common criminals. White collar crime is an extension of the days work and as such is usually not only expected but politely overlooked. It is extended as a courtesy amongst business associates.
You know very well they are not our heroes. I wish you could have known Mr. Olivas a railroad employee living in Rock River, Wyoming. He kept the rail line open in the deep snow and heavy winds of southeast Wyoming winters. Mrs. Olivas shared her table and warm fire with the small town’s hungry children. They are the unsung. They make up the tapestry and lifeblood and soul of us. We can live with the interlopers but we cannot live without the Olivas family.
Thank you so much Fern. Brilliant summation of the politicization of the judicial branch of our government. The toboggan loaded with all of us continues rushing down the slope - out of control.
Thank you, William. I am thrilled to have found Ian Millhiser. 'He is a senior correspondent at Vox, where he focuses on the Supreme Court, the Constitution, and the decline of liberal democracy in the United States. Among other things, he clerked for Judge Eric L. Clay of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and served as a Teach For America corps member in the Mississippi Delta. He received a BA in philosophy from Kenyon College and a JD, magna cum laude, from Duke University, where he served as senior note editor on the Duke Law Journal and was elected to the Order of the Coif. He is the author of two books on the Supreme Court: Injustices: The Supreme Court's History of Comforting the Comfortable and Afflicting the Afflicted and The Agenda: How a Republican Supreme Court Is Reshaping America.'
I'll be back with info on Supreme Court, judges, the Constitution, court cases, Trump and other legal matters perched on Ian's shoulders.
That would have to be tested, actually. There are IRS code violations that do carry penalties. Lying to Congress under oath may be actionable. There may be other violations that I'm forgetting at the moment. But who's going to have the time to investigate and prosecute? There is do much crime and corruption already being addressed, so how does one prioritize? Seditionists first? Rapists first? Liars first? Corruption judges first? How large do we want the Justice Department to get at public expense?
One thing that I don't understand is why some conservative organizations with business before the Court feel the need to reward corrupt Justices like Thomas. Isn't he a reliable right wing vote already? Or are his opinions for sale?
Hi Fern, thank you for your diligence! I can hardly keep up with so much to do - just no time to spend in conversation right now- as important as it is to communicate ... here are some links and a couple of books from Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on this subject and the surrounding politiscape ... scroll to the bottom of the list for a link to a beautiful, powerful new song (new to me, anyway - still 'discovering' America, ya know!!) ...:
*******
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on ethics in the Supreme Court
... it is way past time in America to honor indigenous treaty rights and responsibilities we all share - for lands, waters, the children ... all of life - currently (and hystorically) in jeopardy of Supreme Court actions to redefine and undermine important provisions in the Constitution, backed by fossil fuel finance and associated interest groups who are so wrapped up in the money and power games, they are drastically out of touch with true value ... truth.
I will gather some references about "child welfare" policies and practices applied to indigenous families that would metastasize if a corrupt Supreme Court strikes down the Indian Child Welfare Act and local communities continue to violate the laws - no time now, so I hope people will tune in to Senator Whitehouse - well worth a listen (love the song!!)
Take care - be well ... one breath at a time, flow through ....
Kathleen Allen, great to 'see' you. I am familiar with the The Great Sheldon Whitehouse, but have not seen the videos. Thank you for the cornucopia. Receiving sunlight from your spirit. Salud.
Thank you, Sharon. Learning facts that reveal the underside of our 'rule of law', equality, etc., can be very disturbing, but we cannot correct these undemocratic practices if we remain ignorant.
What if ...a POTUS were to declare that the executive branch may decline to follow SC decisions that are a product of participation by justices who are publicly exposed as unethical, tainted by conflicts of interest, and/or evidence of corruption. Therefor, if the Court wishes its decisions to be followed, it needs to police the behavior of its members.
Perhaps such a declaration might produce some resignations. One might dream....
Jerry, the main question that keeps coming up for me is why is Pro Publica only now able to get these details of DECADES of deceit, cheating the American people on every level and then his wife being directly involved in the insurrection? Why is this just coming to light? This Court really needs to be reinvented.
Exactly, he has been a cretin with a cretin wife for decades; I knew of much of the shenanigans so it must have hit the news at some point and then disappeared. People should have tuned in to Bill Moyers instead of Rupert.
He cannot be recalled. The only way to remove a federal judge is through impeachment and removal. Unfortunately, that is the only check and balance our Constitution provides.
Old age, poor health, and a natural death works too. There is always a little hope. Pressure from the continued drip drip of bad news isn't bad either.
The Clarence Cheat-O-Meter hits 10 with today’s news from Heather. Take off the robes and what’s left is a conscienceless grifter. His children, long since become adults, probably don’t even recognize their tuition was a pay to play event, given that they were raised in such a morally poisoned environment.
What galls me at the moment is that all nine justices signed off on Roberts’ letter to Congress which contained his refusal to testify and an attachment that solemnly assured the Legislative Body that they “voluntarily subscribe to ethical principles, like disclosing conflicts of interest”. Really. They all got together and pinky swore on it
What were Sotomayor, Kagan and Jackson thinking? This was a moment for moral courage and they folded like a $5 suitcase.
Thomas has surpassed Abe Fortas in his disregard for questionable entanglements. Fortas resigned. He could have been impeached. There seem to be lots of 'quids' for a number of well placed 'pro quos.'
"....there was an implicit agreement to prevent Biden from becoming president."
And the work continues - said the Attorney General..
See Prosecutor Jack Smith...
Our national disgrace will continue for years. We must wonder if the Republican Party will reform itself... and jettison its worst elements...
President Trump will be charged, and charged, and charged, tried, and tried, convicted and convicted...sentenced and sentenced... and jailed... for state and federal crimes... thus erasing the feeling of the Pardon granted by President Ford for President Nixon...
President Biden is unlikely to pardon President Trump without a full and honest confession in writing, spoken aloud to the nation - that admits his lies and crimes... clearly.
President Trump's long sentence will be served with Secret Service protection at a remote location...
We would like to see a stipulation, if he is ever convicted, that he must take a vow of silence, including all forms of communication, for the rest of his natural life.
The only way to silence tRUMP is to snip one vocal cord. I'll donate the scissors.
Your other point is germane also. Even if/when he's convicted, he won't be put in a cell like the rest of us ooor schmucks. If it ever happens, he'll be confined to his multi-million dollar golden apartment or some other cushy spot. The only way to really hurt him is to take away all forms of communication with the outside world. He'd be dead in a week.
We still can dream, can't we. My philosophy is more along the lines of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. I dont mind if he suffers the way 1 miilion Covid 19 victims did.
I honestly believe that narcissists live in their own hell, every day. But he has to be stopped from the grotesque, incalculable damage he's caused to the whole world.
"Actual justice"? I'd start with a scene from Game of Thrones. Cersei Lannister has her hair shorn, stripped naked and marched through the village. The people throw rotten fruit and poop at her. The Crowd is led by nuns in a chant: "Shame! Shame! Shame!"
Then clean him up, put him in a small isolated cell. The cell has no devices to communicate with. The walls are all covered with books. There is a TV fastened to the ceiling. It is permanently tuned to MSNBC or locked into endless reruns of the Rachel Maddow show. There is closed captioning as sound is turned off - replaced with an endless loop of "Baby Shark".
Turn off everything for 8 hours so he can rest up. Then begin again. Oh, and the diet? Impossible burgers topped with kale.
Thanks, Bill. Reading this letter today got me so depressed! I am grateful to the chuckles many have posted today, as sometimes, comments this forum (mine included) further add to the sense of despair.
This implies Solitary Confinement.. in Illinois. There’s no chance unless the sentencing judge believes the former president is likely to harm himself.
Instead of beginning with solitary confinement -- which would reasonably be considered cruel and unusual punishment for someone suffering from narcissistic personality disorder -- offer him a choice: he remains silent, or he ends up in solitary.
I think what will happen is that he will be confined to Mar-A-Lago. He will have to give up his passports and jet. He will not be allowed to venture out to any public or private settings, outside of his compound. He will only be able to see a family member, one at a time. No members of his elite club will ever see him again and any monies he makes off his clubs, homes, etc. should be given to all of the women he raped or groped. In other words, let him rot in his own filth. Make his stench so bad that no one will want to be near him.
We won't need (and shouldn't call for) a vow of silence or to cut out his tongue. If/when convicted, I want him to have the same consequences as any other felon - completely ignored by society. For TFG, that will be torture in and of itself.
David H... we're there... a segment of our population is firmly engaged in barbarism... rank fascism, really... and Trump merely ignited that element... he is skilled as Putin was skilled in East Germany... as Mussolini was skilled... so, we're there... and DJT is serving a function in his blundering stupidity... he's poorly educated, simply epitomizes many our worst characteristics... BUT by exemplifying, by featuring our worst, he's a mirror of our discontents... recall Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud, c. 1937/8, when Freud had jaw cancer... the oceanic feeling... DJT obliges us to look at ourselves... in the most unattractive
light possible... first, he's simply hideous, repulsive...really; morbidly obese, yellow died hair, installed, implanted, his orange sunlamp greasy face, his socketed dead eyes, his stubby fingers and pallid white, rubbery skin with no tone... he's unhealthy and getting worse... and the sentence of his carnage driving pawns for January 6th and worse... will explode in the MSM sooner or later... and he cannot hide from reality... forever. We are learning the end of Trump... and when he's gone, will will not have his image to repel from, we will need to find the way to shatter the myths that have propelled this Ghost of Christmas c. 500 AD...this primitive is on his way out. Bannon and the weird ones will go out with him... and we will have to face the music without the distraction of Trump, we will address the mess we are in, regardless of Trump. We will have no choice.
“What are the significant differences among people” ... the set question c. 1955 from the Princeton ETS - to be submitted in writing... in a few hundred words... an assignment.. nationwide… in handwriting… to gain access to the best campus…
This is the most important essay teens can write... and it is the sure cure of racism if the teacher edits and reedits the essays, handing back for more and more work, for writing attention in the 10th grade... this essay can save lives. It is the remedy for intolerance and prejudice. It was used at UCLS or U-High of The Lab Schools… by Miss Eunice Helmkamp later Mrs. Eunice Helmkamp MaGuire…. after whom The Eunice Helmkamp MaGuire Award is given annually to two rising juniors… that submit voluntarily … the winners are accepted at the college of their choice, without fail.
Some scars and stains can't be removed. But we can't allow him to define US. Maybe his effect will be like a societal antibody, like an immunization against future would-be kings and queens. Maybe in the future any candidate for public office who reminds us of TFG 45 will find that it's the kiss of death for their careers.
Martin Luther king Jr. Spoke about people being judged by the “content of their character”.
People like Trump and Clarence Thomas (along with many others like Kavanaugh, MTG, etc) showed us what the content of their character was even before they were elected or appointed.
As Maya Angelou said-when they show us who they are believe them. It’s crazy that we allow these kinds of folks to sit in positions of power. Character counts and we better pay closer attention to who we allow to be “leaders”.
And yet.....among the likes of those who stormed the Capital and thousands of Americans, he is the greatest thing since "sliced bread."
SANITY and work experience, wisdom and true devotion to a free
America and support of freedom in the world.....care for our environment and all families, FREEDOM OF RELIGION or NOT CHOOSING A RELIGION etc, etc can be seen in President Joe Biden's administration....and much gratitude and praise for the support of ALL the great people, young and old persons who are with the President working at home and worldwide for PEACE, for COOPERATION, providing education opportunities for the youngest....and Social Security of us older ones.....assisting with disasters as best as possible......THANK YOU!!!!! (and THANK YOU, JILL.....you two are a great team!!!)
Mention of that reminds me of Thomas Tryon's "Harvest Home" - the only book I've ever read that still gives me nightmares. Steven King will never reach that pinnacle of fright.
'Billionaire Offered Tuition to Send Ginni Thomas to Law School for Second Time'
'WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In the latest scandal to rock the United States Supreme Court, reports have emerged that Harlan Crow, the Republican megadonor, offered to pay to send Ginni Thomas to law school for a second time.'
'According to a source who witnessed the offer, made on board Crow’s yacht, the real-estate mogul told Justice Clarence Thomas that “since Ginni is involved in making so many Supreme Court decisions, she really should go to law school.”
'After Justice Thomas informed him that she had, in fact, already gone to law school, “Crow appeared absolutely shocked,” the source said.' (Satire from The Borowitz Report, NewYorker)
As far as i am concerned, he was NEVER my president either. He wasn't even a president at all, he was a Dictator and wants to be Dictator again in 2024. I despise that orange baboon and the female goon Marjorie Traitor Goon. Actually i despise all of the fascist GQP and what they stand for. I can only wish there was a way to send all of the GQP to North Korea and Russia. Their agenda would fit in perfectly with those 2 banana republics. I am so sick and tired them tearing down our nation bit by bit. This insanity has to end...........
Send him to Alcatraz, S B. There is no one there anymore. Do we really need to provide secret service to a convicted felon on many counts? Doesn’t he lose his privileges for being a schmuck of epic proportions and responsible for death and destruction of so many???
Solitary confinement with no privileges on Alcatraz sounds perfect- no need for personal security guards- meals , well, microwave oven?
He should have nothing available to him- let him smother himself with his own self aggrandizement, suffocating on his own words come back to haunt him.
Alcatraz is too beautiful a spot for the likes of TFG. I suggest a rocky, windswept, isolated outcropping in the Aleutians, accessible by boat only twice a year.
Kamchatka !! Chained to a tree, immersed in old cooking oil and heaped with rotting apples. Employing a surveillance camera to watch the bears on OrangeMarmalade.com.
Justice Dept. Intensifying Efforts to Determine if Trump Hid Documents
Prosecutors investigating the former president’s handling of classified material have issued a wave of new subpoenas and obtained the confidential cooperation of a witness who worked at Mar-a-Lago. NYTimes today..
Yup, on a daily basis (finally) things are beginning to look DESPERATE for Trump and the crowd around him, including Clarence “I come from Simple Stock” Thomas, which is why Trump is DESPERATELY trying to become President again - which will give him the POWER to pardon himself and the rest of his ilk.
Will China and Russia live that turmoil? You betcha!
What we need Sandy is a prison for political riff raff. No secret service necessary as all the inmates are former government. Let their fortunes be given to those they wronged.
No matter what disclosures come out about Clarence (and Ginni) Thomas and their illegal activities, Clarence is still seen in photographs with that smug look on his face. He knows the Koch Klub is covering his back and will continue paying him big bonuses as long as he votes for their causes.
Don’t know how long his “dancing by the graveyard” shtick can hold up. Meanwhile, how can Roberts be standing by silent as Clarence burns the Roberts’ house down?
Clarence might have triggered it, but now the activities of other justices have been exposed. They might even have a pecking order in terms of big perks: Chief Justice gets at least twice as much as the lower justices. Lower justices receive an amount relative to their seniority on the court. Woe is us....
Justices of the Supreme Court should be supremely ethical, both in their private lives, and in their professional lives.
When they fail to meet ethical standards, there should be consequences. It appears that any improper behavior has been ignored if it does not rise to the level of impeachable offense.
“Impeachable” is whatever a majority in the House and Senate will vote for.
Impeachment is not a criminal proceeding; it’s a job performance evaluation. Conviction by the Senate means, “You’re fired!”, nothing more. There are no penalties, fines, or jail time. (DOJ can decide to pursue criminaiity as a separate matter.)
The scandals swirling around Justice Thomas underscores the importance of winning back the Democratic House majority and expanding the Democratic majority in the Senate in the 2024 election.
The SCOTUS Justices are exempt from All laws on bribery and other unethical and immorality that applies to other judges. Chief Justice Roberts says they don’t need ethical or other code of conduct. Maybe their spouses do—$10M and counting for Roberts’s wife in “commissions” and unknown thousands to Thomas’s wife without her name attached to it.
As more SCOTUS scandals come to light, more flaws in our Constitution are revealed. Depending on a person holding any office in government to have good character is a shaky foundation for a country. Reagan, Nixon, Dick Cheney, Moscow Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump, the Six Sick Supreme Court justices, etc. are all evidence of how lack of character endangers the country. I heard that integrity is how one behaves when no one is watching. Any position with no oversight is abuse and corruption waiting to happen. BTW, evidently oaths of office don't mean a damn thing.
What my father said to each of us six children as we became old enough to get paying jobs: Work hard. Give the family a good name. What I said to my children as they became old enough to get paying jobs: Work hard. Give the family a good name. I don’t know what grandad and great grandad said but they talked about being horse thieves.
Me, too! Two sexual assaulters on the highest Court of the land-and the financial and ethical breaches...as Jeri Chilcutt calls it, they are the supreme joke-but no one is laughing.
And, Leonard Leo, and Kellyanne Conway, and the for profit shell corp ... sorry, allegedly the non-profit corp front ... all to get substantial sums to G. Thomas. I calculate at least four (4) subpoena targets ... eight (8) targets if you include the accountants twelve (12) targets if you serve the banks.
Yes, David, and I believe Dick Durbin is leading the charge to do just that. It is totally unbelievable that these out-of-touch people have never presented or complied with any ethics rules. WTAF?
It jolted me to be reminded of his vote for Citizens United, Voting Rights Abolishment, Dobbs, and so many others.
So much arrogant and corrupt power and essentially untouchable. Something is very wrong - no checks and balances at all on one of our branches of government.
I fully agree, David. The biggest problem here is there’s no Ethics written fir the Supreme Court justices to be forced to follow, as there is for all the lower courts justices.
The leaders of the Proud Boys most likely never considered that they would be tried and convicted of seditious conspiracy. Tucker Carlson never thought that Fox News would fire him. Trump fully expected to be installed as President for Life on January 6.
More daylighting, less gaslighting. The long arc of history may yet swing toward justice.
Why hasn't the initiative been taken to add justices to the SCOTUS? It seems like the house is on fire but those who have access to the extinguisher would rather the house burn to the ground than use it.
My Dem senator, Mark Warner, sent me an email questionnaire asking me to prioritize what I wanted him to focus on. Among many issues, I advocated for expanding the SC along with ethics rules. Do I think this will happen in the next few months? No. But I think it's worth contacting our reps constantly, which I will do. Here's the deal: As a voter, I am not obligated to know the law/rules such that I will ask for only things that are "possible." As a voter, I get to ask for whatever I want to see happen.
Making rectifying the SCOTUS destruction of our legal system as an issue early and loudly and eventually a platform issue for Democrats is what I would like to see. I responded in more detail to TCinLA's attack, so I won't duplicate it here. The ethics of SCOTUS justices (I'm thankful for independent journalists because they did the research and broke the silence.) are legitimate issues for voters to communicate to their representatives. So, good on you and all who actively advocate for this!
I really wish people like you had a frickin' clue what you are talking about before you get in a high dither and embarrass the shit out of the rest of us by claiming you're on our side. Now I see where the figures that only 18% US eighth graders are competent in US history and 20% are competent in civics come from - those figures hold true for adult Americans as well. Tghe failure of public miseducation has been going on a long time.
The number of justices has varied in the past. Just ask Heather to verify this for you. Many of us have already checked and know that it has. We don't need to do loyalty tests about "sides" instead of breaching solutions.
See <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kD1v7LUk4M> (start at 45 minutes if time is short). Over a year ago, the speaker already understood three things. (1) The viable solution, perhaps the only one, is to expand the court. Precedent does exist to bringing it from 9 to 13 (in video). (2) The path to expanding the court rests in electing a critical mass of Democrats committed to doing such. (3) Democrats need to start making the court's unprecedented behavior of eviscerating personal autonomy (even more than it already has) an issue of the next election and clearly present their plan to take action (my point of poking readers to start promoting this—seems to have worked in your case) instead of just screaming "Trummmmp!!!" while preventing any primary debates where this could be breached to an audience broader than Biden's present choir member fan club.
I do assert that the following is not a solution. I hope you aren't trying to promote this to readers as their only choice. If you have other solutions, share.
Recommended to Ed & everyone interested in the question of removing justices or enlarging the size of the court. Reliable source ....well worth six pages:
What Supreme Court? With at least 3 justices with ethics and legal problems, all their credibility is gone. And, since it appears that the voting rights act case was bought and sold, i bet that and other decisions will be revisited. Like many government functions, many people don't understand how thwy do what they do but as more of these facts come out, I think public outrage wilm build.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse has been working hard for years now to bring "dark money" in the Supreme Court to light. Yes, I understand what you mean by, "What Supreme Court?" It's become a travesty. I think these important cases like Voting Rights need to be revisited, for sure. Thomas's vote certainly impacted those decisions and he was impacted by all those illegal gifts.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Impossible with Republicans!Please stop dreaming folks--the onlty way to get him off the court is for criminal tax or other charges to be brought and we don't have any reliable information to support that right now.
Well yes, but the wheels of corruption were already turning. Unfortunately, Biden was on the committee that ended up approving Thomas over Hill. I believe he has been kicking himself ever since over that horrible decision.
'The Supreme Court’s tone-deaf response to the Clarence Thomas corruption scandal'
'The justices unintentionally make the case for more ethics rules that bind the Supreme Court. '(excerpts)
By Ian Millhiser Apr 26, 2023,
'The entire Supreme Court — all nine justices — released a brief document Tuesday night responding to allegations that the Court’s ethical standards are too lax. The document appears to be the Court’s first response to revelations, first published by ProPublica, that Justice Clarence Thomas frequently takes luxurious vacations funded by billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow.'
'It’s the Court’s most robust public statement on its ethical responsibilities in over a decade. But it hardly seems to respond to the Thomas revelations that prompted it.'
'The document spends far more time discussing other ethical issues, such as the rules governing when a justice can be paid to teach at a university, than it does discussing the more salient question of whether a sitting justice should be accepting expensive gifts from a wealthy political activist. And the Court’s brief discussion of such gifts suggests that its approach needs to be tightened down considerably.'
'The Supreme Court is famously clueless about how corruption works'
'The Supreme Court’s devil-may-care response to Thomas’s actions, and to Crow’s apparent influence-buying, is not especially surprising given how the Court has spoken about corruption in its own decisions. Indeed, many of those decisions speak of such influence-buying as if it is both a positive good and an essential aspect of democracy.'
'Consider, for example, the Court’s anti-canonical decision in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), which permitted corporations and unions to spend unlimited sums to influence elections. In reaching that conclusion, the Court spoke of elected officials who are unusually responsive to their donors as pillars of democracy:
'Favoritism and influence are not . . . avoidable in representative politics. It is in the nature of an elected representative to favor certain policies, and, by necessary corollary, to favor the voters and contributors who support those policies. It is well understood that a substantial and legitimate reason, if not the only reason, to cast a vote for, or to make a contribution to, one candidate over another is that the candidate will respond by producing those political outcomes the supporter favors. Democracy is premised on responsiveness.'
'Supreme Court justices are obviously different from members of Congress in that they are not elected. But that suggests that justices should be held to a higher standard than elected officials: A corrupt member of Congress can potentially be cast out of office by their voters, while a justice serves for life unless they are successfully impeached.' (VOX) See link below.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
So now we know that the two SCOTUS decisions most destructive of fairness and transparency in politics and of free and fair elections -- Citizens United and Shelby County v. Holder -- are utterly and completely compromised, and the integrity of the court as a whole beyond those two decisions is stinking like 4-day-old fish. That is how deep the corruption runs in this country, and we don't even know if that is indeed the bottom.
Oligarchic control of politics via limitless and unaccountable dark money and barrier-free voter suppression, which resumed only days after the Shelby decision came down and today is widespread, are two conditions the far-right _has_ to have. They know their goal -- permanent oligarchic, male, white-supremacist, theocratic control of the country -- would be completely rejected by the voting public at large, if all eligible voters were allowed to vote. Therefore, the moneyed interests must be able to control the politicians who run the federal, state, and local systems. And they in turn ensure that only the "right" or "real" people can vote and that no one else can have meaningful representation or significant political power.
And now we know they bought at least one SCOTUS justice to ensure the desired outcomes on the two relevant cases. We really do have the best "democracy" and the best legal system money can buy.
Land of the free. If you're rich, white, straight, male, and Christian, that is.
Very well said, PTS. And as you say, at least one Scotus justice was bought. I thought for a long time that Roberts was a moderating voice on the SC. That has proven not to be true. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse has brought so much to light regarding the SC. We need to continue taking a look at the cases in 5-4 decisions. Whitehouse spoke about this in one of his videos but I'm going to revisit some of his lectures.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
In my 89 years I have witnessed Watergate, Irangate, Cheney-Rumsfeld-Bush in Iraq, Church Committee hearings on CIA assassination plots, our involvement in the overthrow of democratic governments, and many other untoward incidents that made me ashamed of and concerned for the country I love.
I have never encountered a more disturbing single night’s listing of a wrong-directioned America than what Heather has catalogued today:
1) A Supreme Court Justice who seems to be in the pocket of a right-wing billionaire who has a collection of Nazi memorabilia including personal Hitler ‘souvenirs;’
2) The wife of this Supreme Court Justice who was surreptitiously paid countless $$$ from right-wing sources in a manner intended to hide such payoffs;
3) Four insurrectionists convicted of ‘insidious conspiracy’ for events related to the January 6th insurrection with which a former president is being investigated for being the instigator;
4) The attorney general announcing that over 600 individuals have already been convicted for their participation in this insurrection;
5) The prospect that the United States could default on the ‘full faith and credit of the United States’ because a pipsqueak guy is more concerned with retaining his squalid speakership than serving the interests of his country. He is playing Russian roulette with the American and global economy.
6) An ex-president involved in a bevy of criminal and civil indictments, while he proclaims that his re-election in 2024 would ‘restore justice’ in America.
What the hell is happening to your and my country? President Biden is fighting for the soul of our country against the Armageddon reflected in the alternative. Hitler, Stalin, and Togo were no less a threat to America than are Trump and his sycophants.
Jon Meacham, in his THE SOUL OF AMERICA, wrote about the ups, downs, and then ups in America’s nearly 250 years. I believe that he would agree with me that today is America’s greatest crisis since the Civil War.
Then we had Abraham Lincoln, a stalwart warrior for the soul of America. Today we have President Biden, who has succinctly stated the choice: “Do not compare me with the Almighty, but compare me with the alternative.”
Makes me want there to be a Dark State that actually keeps everything going, despite all the mess we hear of in MSM and the other organs of poop. Where has our moral compass gone? Buried in the excrements of our unending demand for entertainment or attention marketed as News? Jon Meacham surly must be roiling in his grave, if he is indeed deceased.
In light of your lifelong affair with the well-being of the American dream and your experiences of keeping the “torch” burning, what is the must reading list you recommend?
Pat In 2014 I wrote an eighteen page annotated bibliography of those books that had been especially important to me. Nine years later, let me simply mention a few that strike my fancy at this moment:
1) MIRACLE AT PHILADELPHIA by Catherine Drinker Bowen Essential and delightful read on the compromises that resulted in the Constitution. I am tempted to take this and shove it up the ‘originalists’ anatomy
2) BRAVE COMPANIONS by David McCullough. I have read all but one of David’s books. He had been a close friend and colleague. As for a whacking good mystery, his BETWEEN TWO SEAS is my choice. I find the essence of David’s personal story telling in BRAVE COMPANIONS. His biographical essays focus on soul, substance, and personal perseverance. When I am at a family/personal road block, I re-read portions of BC.
3) THE SOUL OF AMERICA by Jon Meacham. This is an excellent primer on the ups, downs, and then ups of America over nearly 250 years. [It would be banned in Florida]. The core message is that, so far, our trajectory has been begrudgingly up. I’d like to believe that such is still true. At present I am not sure.
4) MYTH AMERICA: HISTORIANS TAKE ON THE BIGGEST LEGENDS AND LIES ABOUT OUR PAST. Heather constantly puts today’s events into an historical context. MYTH AMERICA, essays by a number of notable American historians, provides the reader factual myth busting on some of the false images of the past and present.
I find myself re-rereading a number of favorites as well as re-watching a diverse range of DVDs/VHS. For reflection/contemplation I recommend THE POWER OF MYTH: Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers.
So well said, Keith. And of course there are even more examples of how things have gone so terribly wrong.
I'm amazed at the Epstein situation. Info about it has been so limited. It's bad enough about his serious abuse of the girls and handing them out to the powerful slugs like door prizes. I'm thinking of those power and high-finance connections who were compromised by him. I'll bet there was a bi-partisan agreement about not pursuing more info on Epstein's network and his "suicide". A journalist named Whitney Webb has pursued the network issue. She has a book published about it all, titled "One Nation Under Blackmail." I heard her on a couple podcasts, and she knows her business. She's calm and collected and says she's not afraid about retribution for the material she has exposed. She's worth listening to.
Heydon I recall, in earlier days, when the story that Ike was having an affair with Kay Summersby and wanted to divorce Mamie and marry Kay would have smashed Ike’s smiling image. As for Jack and Jackie—the ‘Camelot’ family in the White House—the Secret Service was shoveling Jack’s paramours in and out of the White House like laundry. ‘Everyone’ knew.
As for Epstein, he was providing upper class whoring services to the high and mighty in America, England, and elsewhere. While I am inclined to believe that he committed suicide, there were lots of folks who would be delighted with his death.
Why has it taken so long for the story of Corruptible Clarance and Give-but-don’t-tell Ginni to ooze onto the media? Why do I think that there will be more Thomas skeletons by Halloween?
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
"...it appears a key vote on the court that decided those cases was compromised."
"Compromised" is appropriate usage for this excellent summary and commentary of today's major news. But is there any reason to doubt that Justice Thomas' votes were bought?
Bribery is defined as "the offering, giving, soliciting, or receiving of any item of value as a means of influencing the actions of an individual holding a public or legal duty."
And we need to take a long look at what constitutes a conflict of interest even without demonstrated abuse of authority. I know of people fired from private sector jobs for that. Part of the core protocols of the scientific method are intended to reduce the effect of unconscious bias, which is very possible with no deliberate attempt to improperly influence findings.
JL ‘conflict of interest’ reminds me of “If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and smells like a duck, most likely it is a duck.” As a former SC justice said about defining pornography: ‘when you see it, you know.’
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Michael I was brought up to believe that you shouldn’t do anything that would embarrass you were it on the front page of a newspaper. It seems that Crooked Clarence was brought up with ‘Take the Money and Run.’ As for Give & Take Ginni, she embodies an ‘originalist’ without scruples—or is this an oxymoron?
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
The 'little' guys are getting convicted, and jailed, one after the other, and the big kahuna who incited them to storm the Capitol is still freewheeling, flitting unhindered to Scotland for a round of golf, opining freely on all kinds of matters, just not admitting guilt in any of his indictments and is now getting the stage at a CNN-hosted townhall? What a disgrace that MSM is giving him that center stage even now!
I stopped watching Rachel Maddow more than a year ago. I couldn't stomach the amount of Trump coverage. I don't miss it. I recommend that you read Joyce Vance's article today about going up the chain after the conviction of the Proud Boys. The work of the Justice Department continues.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
I used to watch only Maddow because she was the only pundit who refused to put tffg on the air. She always said we will watch what he DOES not what he says. Plus it’s been over a year now that she has moved to just Monday nights only, so your comment is confusing. I also value Vance’s commentary.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
My friends and i share a profound bond that some say is as deep as the ocean, and yet recent news still leaves me troubled.
Of my many fine friends, none has offered to pay my nephew's private school tuition, as did Harlan Crow for his dear friend Clarence Thomas.
Not one has selflessly bought the home of my mother and refurbished it while allowing her to live there rent-free.
I suppose it goes then without saying that none of my friends has bothered to send their private jets to whisk me to the yacht for a jaunt around Indonesia.
This beautiful friendship of Harlan Crow and Clarence Thomas makes my own friends look kind of shabby by comparison.
I've made this comment before, but it bears repeating: consider the influential relationship between Justice Thomas and Harlan Crow. Now change the names to Justice Sotomayor and George Soros. The collective gasp on the Right would leave no air left to breathe for the rest of us (and there'd be plenty among us who would be equally apoplectic.)
This is a tack I have tried several times with some of my MAGAt friends/family. Once, with my Father-in-Law (this was in about 2016, before the election) what his opinion would be if the same allegations regarding Russia were made about H. Clinton rather that tfg. He went apoplectic and threw faux talking points at me while never answering the question I had posed.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Are these radical R's that evil? They really eschew democracy. The corruption of Clarence Thomas abetted by none other than Leonard Leo is truly eye opening. This Leo who professes to be a man of deep Catholic faith, pro life, is in fact dishonest and lacking any modicum of compassion that his faith teaches. Who does he think he's looking at when he looks in the mirror? A magic mirror could show a twisted, ugly soul.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
i was thinking the same thing, but then realized that with the current composition of the SC, even without Thomas, those cases would likely come out the same as before ...
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
When the Fresno Bee calls out Republicans it must be pretty bad.
I must correct Heather here, as the Fresno Bee is not the newspaper within Speaker McCarthy's district. Fresno is a tad more than a hundred miles north of Bakersfield, where the Bakersfield Californian is the local paper.
Bakersfield is a very interesting city. Although it is not large by Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Long Beach standards, (or even Fresno in the San Joaquin valley for that matter), it is a fairly good size city, and probably the most conservative of California good sized cities. In the mid twentieth century, it became the new home for the transplanted "Okies" and "Arkies" fleeing the rigors of the Dust Bowl and the horrors of the Depression. A city that gave America Frank Gifford, Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, it was built on the booming oil industry of the early to mid century. In recent years, while its wealth and political power remain white and conservative, its Hispanic population has boomed, as has its restaurants and cultural life.
I am hoping that the likes of Kevin McCarthy are not long for the town known as "Rig City"
What a great summation of "The Field," Daniel! It's one of the settings in my new book, and you nailed it. It really is more like a transplanted chunk of Oklahoma than anything Californian. But - home of the Bakersfield Sound, so there's always something.
How interesting. Isn't Southern Cal conservative just because people migrated westward across the country, from where they were, so So. Cal. is populated by people coming from the South, which is traditionally considered more conservative. I know that there were a huge number of people from Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl. I thought some of that was the Federal Works Program making work for them. It is hard to fathom how Hollywood culture can live side-by-side with the rest of So. Cal. Does anyone know a generic address for a business in McCarthy's district, because it is impossible to write to him. I usually use a hospital address in a district when I want to write a representative not in my district who has restrictions on emails. With him, even when I pick an address right across the street I get a message that says that I am served by multiple districts and he only takes messages from those only in his district. I want to know whether this is a generic answer to everyone, to avoid answering mails, or whether there really are addresses only in his district.
Linda, I don't know where you read that Southerners went straight south (to Southern California) but I've never read anything that's said that before! Where people migrated to had much more to do with the era they migrated in, and the railroad infrastructure. For a long, long time, San Francisco was THE destination if you were going to California. That's where the Transcontinental Railroad ended. And then some people radiated out to Sacramento, and the central basin for farming. There just wasn't much to go to in Southern California. At all! Southerners definitely came to California during the Gold Rush but after the Civil War if they went West they were more likely to go to ex-Confederate/ Confederate-minded states, like Texas.
Not one bit surprised McCarthy isn't taking correspondence. There are not enough four letter words in the English language....
At the start of WWII, there was dignificant southern migration to RICHMOND, CA in the BAY area to work in Henry Kaiser's shipyards building 'Liberty Ships' There's still is a Rosie-the-Riveter Museum out there. Henry ("find a need & fill it") Kaiser's workforce was able to assemble a Liberty Ship in 5 Days. Henry Kaiser was a major health care provider, KAISER HEALTH, provided by the Employer as a benefit with a tiny cost for access. Post WWII, with Baby Boomer Families needing housing Kaiser accelerated his Construction products industry notably Kaiser Cement which built quite a few dams that produced electrical power. Don't encourage me. I'm still living in the Bay Area not far from John Muir's old homestead well after the gold rush ...
🎶 "looking for Mother Nature's silver seed heading to a new home in the Sun".🎶
Thanks, Bryan - I don't know much about middle 20th century California history! I'm obsessed with the decades from the Gold Rush to the earthquake and rebuild.
John Muir, though - what a character!
My family (father and his parents) were Okies and landed in Kern County just outside of Bakersfield. There was a huge colony of like folk! They even literally built their own school. LA Times has a great article about them (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-01-18-vw-5315-story.html)
I live in Chicago, so I consider Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri Southern. It has to do with where they stood in the Civil War. So, reading things like this, where a lot of people settled around Los Angeles and Kern Valley, makes me think South.
https://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/exhibits/the-dust-bowl-california-and-the-politics-of-hard-times/#:~:text=Hopeful%20migrants%20drove%20Route%2066,in%20the%20San%20Joaquin%20Valley.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/surviving-the-dust-bowl-mass-exodus-plains/
What are called Plains States are Southern States to me if they are south of the Mason Dixon line. That they went closest to where they were from I know about people from China for example working on the Railroad, and being in San Fransisco, and Japanese going to Hawaii. I understand that a lot of people went north for the Gold Rush. But, I pictured them going straight across for some reason. I am not sure when or where I read it. I also met a lot of people I consider Southerners in Los Angeles in the 1980s.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
David, you've said it all, succinctly and eloquently. It's not that no one understands this. It's that the whole country is hostage to the lawless Republican party, who does not give a flying **** about women. Suppressing women's rights is a key plank of their agenda.
As a native Californian, who was raised in Northern CA and now resides in Southern CA, Bakersfield is in Central CA, which most Southern Californians consider "northern" because one has to drive through mountains to go "north" out of Southern California. It's a geography thing.
Bakersfield is at the Southern end of the central valley.
If you want to reach McCarthy, you have to do it via the US Postal Service. Any congressperson or senator, only accepts calls or emails from their constituents. But they'll take money from anyone, right?
Send a snail mail letter.
It is acceptable to include snails in the package?
Nope, it really is supposed to be from your district only, and the convention is that out of professional courtesy, they won't respond to another legislator's constituent.
If you are looking for the speaker or committee members, it appears the phone message works best. A fax might get through as well, but the LONG standing idea is that your rep or senator is the contact for those are supposed to be working for their constituents. (Pause for deep sigh, I'm lookin' at you, Cliff Bentz et. al).
Anyway, you can also send letters (though slowed by anthrax screening and now Covid mail protocols to some degree). Don't expect a reply though.
I used to think that an address in the desired district was clever, but it struck me that there might be an 18 USC Sec 1001 component and that no longer sounded so great.
Pre covid there was a marvelous volunteer group in DC called "Herd on the Hill" that would carry messages to offices around the capitol using the stampslicked app. While I see some minor activity on their social media, it looks like covid has disorganized that activity, but the model is wonderful and it seems like it could be adapted. To that end, ask a friend to send your message, or make contact with an Indivisible type group and see if they have such an option or would be willing to ensure the message got to one of the district offices.
Meanwhile I'm going to send a note to Herd on the Hill and see what they are up to.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
The coastal cities and communities hold the majority of the population in California and are left leaning. Bakersfield and Los Angeles are separated by the San Gabriel mountains and Bakersfield is an agricultural community, which is conservative, along with most of the big ag communities in the San Joaquin valley. McCarthy is absolutely spineless.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Why not write to Kev at his office in DC? Not email. Better yet, mark the letter Confidential and send it FedEx.
Friendly correction: McCarthy's district is in Central California, not Southern.
It's good that you understand that the most effective way to reach members of Congress is to focus on your own. While it might be tempting to try and fake an address, it's really a waste of time, especially when the person you're trying to contact is the Speaker. I'll never forget the time image of people failing to deliver 80 boxes of petitions to Paul Ryan. Can't remember the issue but it was a lesson I never forget.
The Indivisible guide has been very helpful in this regard. https://indivisible.org/democracy-guide
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Please stop posting the same comment repeatedly!
I believe that my comment should be seen by as many people as possible. Just replying to one person does not mean that everyone will get to see my comment.
Did you have anything to say about my comment? If so I would like to hear what you have to say.
In fact, I believe I only posted once on you comment, if I posted more than once on your comments, I apologize.
it's standard for the House of Representatives, none of them will take correspondence from outside their districts.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Thank you, Alexandra!😀
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
I believe I heard about this book from someone on this forum? Anyhow, everybody should read "American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North American" by Colin Woodard. This amazing and enlightening book explains the cultural history of regions and why they vote the way they do. I was fascinated by the theory that some areas vote the way they do thanks to a few dozen original immigrants over 200 years ago. I've handed my copy off to several people and they all gave it 4 star reviews.
Added to my ever expanding book list.
I’m a native Californian. We always called Bakersfield “The Armpit of California”. It makes sense that McCarthy hails from that place!
It absolutely is!☹️
Restaurants and cultural life???
One of the biggest CW venues outside of Nashville. Not known for interesting dining. Voted the worst city in America to raise kids 2-3 years ago. Oil, ag, and an AFB built Bakersfield.
Mick Jagger sings glowingly about Bakersfield in the Rolling Stones' "Girl With Far Away Eyes."
And don't forget Tom Hanks in Castaway when a large slice of fiberglass, which he would fashion into his rescue sail, reads the name stamped on its side: "Ba-kers-field."
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
He was high and forgot what town he was in 🤣
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Sounds like the description of Youngstown I heard some years ago: “One of the two most beautiful sights in America. The Grand Canyon and Youngstown in the rear-view mirror.”
What AFB are you referring to? Edwards, formerly Muroc and the site of Chuck Yeager's feats is further south in the high desert north of L A. County
Lemoore Naval.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
😂
Believe it or not, they are getting there
Since the Valley lost a House seat and the boundaries shifted, I wondered, but didn’t check. Good call. Stockton and Bakersfield are about the the size, over 300,000. Fresno is about 450,000.
McCarthy’s district now includes the eastern part of Fresno.
Really?!? How did the Commission conjure that up?
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
I live in CA’s Central Valley. Fresno is more liberal than Bakersfield, who keeps McCarthy in office. Dark pink vs deep red. But for The Fresno Bee to criticize The Valley’s Favorite Son is significant.
Just to add a bit more, Fresno is the ethnic capital of the nation, so I've been told. It has attracted migrants from everywhere, including such diverse places as Vietnam, Middle East, southern and eastern Europe, Asian Pacific nations, and the rest of the Americas. (Sorry! My original note left out Africa, although, other than Nigeria, I am not certain which nations.)The politics tend pink as you say, but in many ways it self-isolates as the enclaves tend to their cultures rather than America as a whole. I agree that the Bee has broken the mold! Thankfully.
IMHO, Fresno reflects the America of tomorrow as does much of California, in both good and not-so-good ways. Wealthy whites are aging out which may explain their desperation to repress the rest.
Hope is right. But Fresno has a large population of Christian Armenians.. I
Very true. The growers, Country Western locus, and the AFB. Fresno has voted itself as California’s anti-abortion sanctuary, and has declared it will not enforce the State Constitutional Amendment making abortion legal if passed.
Ye gods, it never ends...
I always think of Fresno as the meth capital of the world.
Good one, Eileen! I think the capital moves sometimes, seemingly everywhere I move! What a scourge meth is. Cheap to make, uses toxic, easy to find ingredients, and its use results in delusions of grandeur and power, makes a user mean as a ball of snakes, rots skin, teeth and then your mind.
There is a lot of it. And big gangs of South of the border descent.
True that. And Nunes is not popular in Fresno proper.
Since Trut* Social started I have very few reports about him.
Recall T* hired him as CEO for Trump Media and Tech group, (TMTG) which is being investigated for money laundering.
Regarding that... remember the $8 million loan that had no repayment terms from Putin-linked entities, that was intended to prop up the holding so it could survive til Trump's Digital World Acquisition Group SPAC could illegally (kid you not!) purchase it?
For mini background, SPACs are investor groups in search of an investment; setting them up for the purpose of purchasing a specific investment is an SEC violation.
But Trump had set it up with 90% for him, 10% for the cofounder, and then tried to take over that 10% share, so as happens, the 10% guy blew the whistle to the SEC.
I love litigation disaster tourism.
Agree. And newspapers aren't limited to writing about "their district". Fresno Bee was a bustler for many Western issues back in the day, and seems to be more so.
It went after Devin Nunes pretty hard a while back! Remember the winery cruise that was said to be complete with cocaine and prostitutes? He had a "Devin Nunes cow" over that reporting.
I loved that The Fresno Bee did that and cracked up when Devin Nunes’ Cow showed up on Twitter to harass him.😂 Nunes tried to sue “the cow” even though he didn’t know who he was!
So that’s the origin of Devin Nunes’ Cow. Now it’s even funnier!
It was pretty hard for the "Cow". I donated to the defense fund at the time. Nunes did backflips trying to get Twitter (back when it was a real live boy) to dox the cow, but it never did.
Being that, I, and numerous others, (much smarter than myself), fully believe he has no intention of stopping at the “brink” (“Speaker McCarthy, don’t take America to the brink of default”), I would say it’s far worse than just pretty bad!!!
McCarthy isn't going to last as it will be impossible to satisfy the rabid creatures he's beholden to, with only one needed to bring him to task. Blaming the democrats for the debt trump's tax cuts incurred is on the same level as the dog ate my homework. I'm just sitting back waiting to see, along with the myriad other debaucles, the outcome. We got the Proud Boys locked up...will anything happen with the Thomases? All in all, we should expect a satisfying summer.....
Or unsatisfying.
If Fani Willis does her RICO thing and all the big guys go to prison and trump is ordered to pay E. Jean lots of money, I will be beyond satisfied....
I keep looking for signs that banks and billionwidgeteers and going to lean on him. They can't all be JP Morgan.
They don’t “see” the evil intentions? They believe he’ll pull out of this nose five at the very last second? Or they have faith that Dems will capitulate to the terrorist threats, because really are Dems going to let the fascist GOP kill masses of us? 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
Q: did that happen?
Actually, looking at the district map right now, and it DOES include the east side of Fresno.
Hah! Seriously.
Is there any recourse? Can those decisions be revisited? Can Justice Thomas be forced to return those funds? What about the IRS? Can he have a lien put on his undeserved salary? Can he be recalled?
If he didn’t disclose it, doubt he reported it in his tax return. Tax evasion. Wire fraud. Anybody want to bet there’s a whole lot more to come to light? Time to start some audits!
I know it can't happen, but...I am savoring a delicious image of Thomas being arrested for tax evasion and wire fraud as I sip my coffee...
Him and his obnoxious wife.
Juanita,
If we are going to arrest prominent Republicans, I would encourage whoever would do that (looks like nobody to me though) to arrest Trump first, or Kavanaugh. After all, Kavanaugh took money from "friends" to pay off his $200,000 baseball ticket debt before he was confirmed.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/12/politics/brett-kavanaugh-baseball-ticket-debt-washington-nationals/index.html#:~:text=Brett%20Kavanaugh%2C%20the%20Supreme%20Court,tickets%20%E2%80%9Cto%20the%20dollar.%E2%80%9D
Thomas is simply doing what most white Republicans do: Collect money and perform favors.
Arresting Thomas (only) would sure look like America still penalizes black folks for doing the same thing white folks do routinely.
Trump has been collecting gifts and money from hordes of people and spending it on himself, or porn stars for years. Not to mention running an armed, seditious, violent attempt to overthrow the government.
Let's arrest a prominent white man, who is also a criminal, first, before we arrest a black man who has not even fielded an army against the government.
There are plenty of white guys to go round the jail.
Maybe go after Gorsuch and Trump or Kavanaugh first? If we cannot convict them, then, leave poor Thomas alone.
Hi Mike, did you say "poor" Thomas? Not poor, any longer. He's not above using the race card, either. Truth be told, he used it during his nomination hearings when his improper sexual peccadillos were ignored, just like Kavan-ugh during his hearings. (Well a token investigation was had.) I would not excuse his behavior. I am proud to say I stand for equality. At least when speaking of certain prominent Repubs, I would lock em all up.
Hi Hope and thank you for your perspective. I appreciate it.
poor Thomas might have been overly sympathetic, agree.
But, I am not proposing to excuse his behavior. I am proposing that we charge and arrest a white man first: Pick one:
Kavanaugh, Trump, Alito or Roberts, all who have questionable money or property acquisitions.
Good point Mike! I really think Trump is close to his "just desserts." I hope, I hope. Next, for me is Kavan-ugh!
(Signed, your friend, Hope)
Hi Mike. It's true - target the black man - just like blaming it all on 'dark' money ... reinforce the stereotypes, stir up animosity and keep us fighting against each other .... what about Alito, or Roberts? Interesting to note, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh supported a recent decision (in Oklahoma?) to honor tribal jurisdiction and land rights - something like that ... I wonder where that fits in the bigger picture ...
Have you tuned in to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse? Here are a few links:
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on ethics in the Supreme Court
https://m.youtube.com/@SenatorWhitehouse
*******
Books:
The Scheme: How the Right Wing Used Dark Money to Capture the Supreme Court
https://www.amazon.com/Scheme-Right-Money-Capture-Supreme/dp/B0BFSTP3TP/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Captured: The Corporate Infiltration of American Democracy
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073PD9X5Q?plink=KSRBBnko8Ghph4yi&ref_=adblp13nvvxx_0_0_im
*******
Videos:
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse — The Scheme
(with Jane Meyer /Joan Claybrook)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_2EWaftzNvM&pp=QAFIAw%3D%3D
*****
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, "Captured: The Corporate Infiltration Of American Democracy"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SNr0XcoJHsc
*****
Sen. Whitehouse Delivers Opening Statement at Judiciary Cmte Hearing on Supreme Court Ethics Reform
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ojOBGTUDPVA
*****
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: Dark Money, The Supreme Court, and What Comes Next
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAdbWgmPEDkSs
*****
Kathleen,
Thank you for chiming in. Yes, I have seen Sheldon Whitehouse several times. I long for the day when his information is leveraged into consequences.
I hear that Mike, he makes honesty look so easy - how does he get away with that degree of 'truthiness'?! I love the way he puts it together - does not miss a beat ...!!
Blessings and Peace to you and yours - and all ....
A simple impeachment would satisfy me....
Majority of Americans know he is undeniably corrupt and has NO CREDIBILITY as a judge, no honor as a citizen.
Maybe that’s one reason the House to cut the increase in the IRS budget. Gotta protect those Supremes as well as what I suspect is a good lead number of legislators at the federal and state levels.
Oops. I meant House Republicans to attempt to cut....
Since hiding behind imaginary protections is a thing these days, I would like to see IRS investigations into the SCOTUS purchasers. As we have learned, bad business records combined with a crime can be a felony in the right jurisdictions. I think Thomas lives in VA but there would be DC jurisdiction, too.
Follow the money...
'The real reason for the Supreme Court’s corruption crisis'
'Who watches the philosopher kings with lifetime appointments?'
By Ian Millhiser Updated May 4, 2023, 10:45am EDT (excerpts)
'The Supreme Court has run out of excuses.'
'Earlier this month, after ProPublica revealed that Justice Clarence Thomas frequently takes lavish vacations funded by billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow, Thomas attempted to defend himself by claiming that this sort of “personal hospitality from close personal friends” is fine because Crow “did not have business before the court.”
'As it turns out, that’s not true. As Bloomberg reports, the Supreme Court — including Justice Thomas — did briefly consider a $25 million copyright dispute involving a company that Crow was a partial owner of in 2005. At that point, Crow had already given a number of gifts to Thomas, including a $19,000 Bible that once belonged to Frederick Douglass.'
'As ProPublica later revealed, Crow even paid for the private school education of Thomas’s grandnephew, who Thomas said he is raising “as a son.” That includes tuition at a boarding school that charged more than $6,000 a month.'
'Similarly, if the rule is that justices must be extra careful when dealing with people who have business before the Supreme Court, then Justice Neil Gorsuch may also have violated this rule. According to Politico, a tract of land that Gorsuch owned with two other individuals was on the market for nearly two years before it found a buyer — nine days after Gorsuch was confirmed to the Supreme Court. The buyer was the chief executive of Greenberg Traurig, a massive law firm that frequently practices before the Supreme Court.'
'As Politico notes, “such a sale would raise ethical problems for officials serving in many other branches of government,” but the rules governing the justices are particularly lax.
The Constitution makes it virtually impossible to discipline or remove a corrupt Supreme Court justice.'
'Roberts’s 2011 report is correct about one thing: One major barrier preventing Congress (or anyone else) from imposing meaningful ethics reforms on the Supreme Court is the Constitution itself.'
'The Constitution provides that federal judges shall “hold their offices during good behaviour,” a provision that’s widely understood to require a judge to be impeached before they can be removed from office. And the impeachment process requires two-thirds of the Senate to vote to remove a justice from office — meaning that, in the current Senate, 16 Republicans would need to vote to remove Thomas, even if the GOP-controlled House agreed to begin an impeachment proceeding against him in the first place.'
'(Although a 2006 paper published by the Yale Law Journal argues that this understanding of the Constitution is wrong, that paper concedes that there is a “virtually unquestioned assumption among constitutional law cognoscenti that impeachment is the only means of removing a federal judge.”)'
'Similarly, the Constitution provides that all federal judges shall receive “a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.” So Thomas or another justice cannot have their salary reduced because they behave unethically, or have their pay docked to cover the cost of expensive gifts received from wealthy benefactors.'
'And there’s also another provision of the Constitution that effectively immunizes justices from any meaningful consequences so long as they remain loyal to the political party that put them in office to begin with. Federal judges are chosen by a partisan official, the president of the United States, and confirmed by other partisans in the Senate.'
'That means that both parties have an extraordinary incentive to appoint ideologically reliable judges to the courts, and to protect them. Once a staunch conservative like Thomas (or Gorsuch) is in office, Republicans have an overwhelming incentive to keep that justice in his seat regardless of whether the justice behaves unethically. This is especially true right now, when Democrats control both the White House and the Senate, and thus could replace Thomas with his ideological opposite.'
'The entire system is set up, in other words, in a way that rewards political parties that treat the judiciary as a partisan prize. It encourages presidents to appoint reliable partisans to the Supreme Court whenever they get the chance to do so. And, because neither party is likely to control 67 Senate seats any time soon, it also gives each party a veto power over any attempt to remove a justice — even if that justice is corrupt. '(VOX) See link below.
https://www.vox.com/politics/2023/4/25/23697394/supreme-court-clarence-thomas-neil-gorsuch-corruption-harlan-crow-constitution
Thanks for sharing this enlightening yet hope-darkening article. Looks like we’re stuck with these Supremely Corrupt members. We can thank nefarious Mitch McConnell for blocking Obama’s appointments of moderate justices to the SCOTUS—one among the many infamous instances of Mitch sabotaging our nation’s democracy.
Rose, I am eager for a book on Mitch --a real one that squarely throws the book at him.
LOL!! Nice play on words, Fern!
A good weekend to you!
Good to see you, Miselle. To better days ahead - make that years! Cheers!
We can also, unfortunately, thank RBG for her selfish and stubborn refusal to resign.
As a fan of RGB I agree. It is time for Feinstein to step down too already. We need term limits.
Agism! Shame on you! If she's not competent, vote her out or help the party set up a successor.
But conflating age with something you don't like is like dehumanizing someone due to color or gender.
Call out the problems by all means, but saying its age - a protected class, by the way, and notorious in the US as being a tool to put people out of their jobs without cause -- is as disgusting as Trump saying that a woman isn't pretty enough to rape.
I don't care how old she is, but if she isn't able to show up and vote on critical issues, and the repubs won't let someone else fill her shoes, she should step down....
She is definitely physically and mentally impaired and no longer competent to serve. She hasn't been there in months. If she needs to be voted out, so be it, they should do it. But if she really wanted to selflessly serve her country and her party, she should step down. It is causing real issues that only compound with time.
Regarding Feinstein, NY Times has an editorial today. Gift link below. They argue based on her absence and her inability to remember anyone's name or face that she should be removed. Also, significant movement on judge confirmations are held up.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/05/opinion/dianne-feinstein-senate.html?unlocked_article_code=5_QcCtfFS1Jli7dNCP9gBgfrXb7gCV5GWTBOUIkGr-AvknQGsoIn_UWcy_WOm_yVknhABYPv1lX1A0Ok8GhB9YsEUqkoEZ0_SZw-Lh7TJyQe9a0rY503PnXaHaa-LdkwB7paYLV_CCu3h43xXMaTdDKYq0DQx-AHqaE2tzZEKPZMVDVSD5STeDfDE6rl1r70fTTy0KVNB34B2NlkUh0DQxYo6I84jDW-BPe_aQ_UhgKkAAfsDRP10BxEB8Nj9LTj-HBB7sNOjHdUhssQo-26DOP5i5PKJciCoF1b-Oxvlf-OtPTCbWRgJZ7t6VG1isCfgYL-Bw1BOxT61XXTcgMdONM&smid=url-share
I agree to being a fan of RGB and that Feinstein should step down. See below KathyintheWallowas with whom I agree age should not be the factor chosen.
Probably the worst decision of her career. Much like Dianne Feinstein's refusal to step down.
Selfish? You think she was doing it for herself? She was trying to keep the court from going full Dobbs.
As long as RBG was alive her votes were a known quantity. After MM held back Merrick Garland, what assurance do we have about any appointment. The Republican refusal to allow a place holder for Senator Feinstein is where we should be focused.
Obama asked her to step down way before the McConnell / Garland thing. During one of the times he had a democrat Senate majority, so McConnell couldn't block it.
CJ, even though I wasn’t certain of the chronology, it is just possible that RBG “knew” what we have since discovered, with this Republican Party, if a nomination can be messed up, MM and Co. will do it. But thank you for reminding me and recalling the timing.
So, SCOTUS judges are dictators? Immune to corruption? Immune from consequences? When they were appointed to the court all their human desires and frailties for wealth and privilege automatically disappeared and a metaphysical change that these human like qualities are suddenly no longer an issue because they become Demi-gods? Their biological/psychological makeup is so changed that they can no longer access their most basic desires for power? Whose stupid idea was that?
Punishment for crimes is reserved for the lower classes who are unable to defend themselves. They are called common criminals. White collar crime is an extension of the days work and as such is usually not only expected but politely overlooked. It is extended as a courtesy amongst business associates.
Pat,
In fact, in America, we LAUD white folks who break the law. They are our heroes.
Right? Remember Clint Eastwood? Shoot anyone in the street if you feel like it.
Remember Michael Milken? Heroes of Wall Street.
You know very well they are not our heroes. I wish you could have known Mr. Olivas a railroad employee living in Rock River, Wyoming. He kept the rail line open in the deep snow and heavy winds of southeast Wyoming winters. Mrs. Olivas shared her table and warm fire with the small town’s hungry children. They are the unsung. They make up the tapestry and lifeblood and soul of us. We can live with the interlopers but we cannot live without the Olivas family.
Thank you so much Fern. Brilliant summation of the politicization of the judicial branch of our government. The toboggan loaded with all of us continues rushing down the slope - out of control.
Thank you, William. I am thrilled to have found Ian Millhiser. 'He is a senior correspondent at Vox, where he focuses on the Supreme Court, the Constitution, and the decline of liberal democracy in the United States. Among other things, he clerked for Judge Eric L. Clay of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and served as a Teach For America corps member in the Mississippi Delta. He received a BA in philosophy from Kenyon College and a JD, magna cum laude, from Duke University, where he served as senior note editor on the Duke Law Journal and was elected to the Order of the Coif. He is the author of two books on the Supreme Court: Injustices: The Supreme Court's History of Comforting the Comfortable and Afflicting the Afflicted and The Agenda: How a Republican Supreme Court Is Reshaping America.'
I'll be back with info on Supreme Court, judges, the Constitution, court cases, Trump and other legal matters perched on Ian's shoulders.
Thank You Fern!!
Great to see you, MaryPart, and it isn't even Sunday. Cheers!
I've been following Ian Millhiser on Post. I really like his take on things.
Thank you, Fern!
So essentially a corrupt Supreme Court justice is above the law, is that right?
That would have to be tested, actually. There are IRS code violations that do carry penalties. Lying to Congress under oath may be actionable. There may be other violations that I'm forgetting at the moment. But who's going to have the time to investigate and prosecute? There is do much crime and corruption already being addressed, so how does one prioritize? Seditionists first? Rapists first? Liars first? Corruption judges first? How large do we want the Justice Department to get at public expense?
One thing that I don't understand is why some conservative organizations with business before the Court feel the need to reward corrupt Justices like Thomas. Isn't he a reliable right wing vote already? Or are his opinions for sale?
My thought as well.
Hi Fern, thank you for your diligence! I can hardly keep up with so much to do - just no time to spend in conversation right now- as important as it is to communicate ... here are some links and a couple of books from Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on this subject and the surrounding politiscape ... scroll to the bottom of the list for a link to a beautiful, powerful new song (new to me, anyway - still 'discovering' America, ya know!!) ...:
*******
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on ethics in the Supreme Court
https://m.youtube.com/@SenatorWhitehouse
*******
Books:
The Scheme: How the Right Wing Used Dark Money to Capture the Supreme Court
https://www.amazon.com/Scheme-Right-Money-Capture-Supreme/dp/B0BFSTP3TP/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
*****
Captured: The Corporate Infiltration of American Democracy
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073PD9X5Q?plink=KSRBBnko8Ghph4yi&ref_=adblp13nvvxx_0_0_im
*******
Videos:
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse — The Scheme
(with Jane Meyer /Joan Claybrook)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_2EWaftzNvM&pp=QAFIAw%3D%3D
*****
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, "Captured: The Corporate Infiltration Of American Democracy"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SNr0XcoJHsc
*****
Sen. Whitehouse Delivers Opening Statement at Judiciary Cmte Hearing on Supreme Court Ethics Reform
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ojOBGTUDPVA
*****
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: Dark Money, The Supreme Court, and What Comes Next
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAdbWgmPEDkSs
*****
Time to Wake Up 288: Republicans’ Oily Wish List
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xcp7rIJQXyM
*******
... and, dear sister Fern, here comes the song ...:
Lyla June - All Nations Rise (Official Music Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr2VLI8jKww
... and these ...
https://www.lylajune.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH5zJxQETl4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwzkLNFBm48
https://www.facebook.com/lylajune
*****
... it is way past time in America to honor indigenous treaty rights and responsibilities we all share - for lands, waters, the children ... all of life - currently (and hystorically) in jeopardy of Supreme Court actions to redefine and undermine important provisions in the Constitution, backed by fossil fuel finance and associated interest groups who are so wrapped up in the money and power games, they are drastically out of touch with true value ... truth.
I will gather some references about "child welfare" policies and practices applied to indigenous families that would metastasize if a corrupt Supreme Court strikes down the Indian Child Welfare Act and local communities continue to violate the laws - no time now, so I hope people will tune in to Senator Whitehouse - well worth a listen (love the song!!)
Take care - be well ... one breath at a time, flow through ....
Thank you for All Nations Rise (Official Music Video). I am passing it forward!
Kathleen Allen, great to 'see' you. I am familiar with the The Great Sheldon Whitehouse, but have not seen the videos. Thank you for the cornucopia. Receiving sunlight from your spirit. Salud.
Thank you, Fern, for your additional insights.
Thank you, Mark, for following this serious 'rule of law' problem.
You’re welcome. As I scroll through the comments, I’m always on the lookout for your posts. I appreciate you.
Thank you for your kind words, Mark. HCR encourages us to keep learning and act as citizens.
Thank you, Fern for sharing this information. This is so heartbreaking to think that those that are supposed to be lawful are leeches!
Thank you, Sharon. Learning facts that reveal the underside of our 'rule of law', equality, etc., can be very disturbing, but we cannot correct these undemocratic practices if we remain ignorant.
What if ...a POTUS were to declare that the executive branch may decline to follow SC decisions that are a product of participation by justices who are publicly exposed as unethical, tainted by conflicts of interest, and/or evidence of corruption. Therefor, if the Court wishes its decisions to be followed, it needs to police the behavior of its members.
Perhaps such a declaration might produce some resignations. One might dream....
Jerry, the main question that keeps coming up for me is why is Pro Publica only now able to get these details of DECADES of deceit, cheating the American people on every level and then his wife being directly involved in the insurrection? Why is this just coming to light? This Court really needs to be reinvented.
Exactly, he has been a cretin with a cretin wife for decades; I knew of much of the shenanigans so it must have hit the news at some point and then disappeared. People should have tuned in to Bill Moyers instead of Rupert.
Pro Publica is not the only news organization. I think we got use to not looking too close at the SCOTUS
I really hope Leonard Leo is investigated for bribery.
No, no, no, no, no, and no. And the "justice" can just kick back and mock us all.
(I think I'm a little bitter about this)
He cannot be recalled. The only way to remove a federal judge is through impeachment and removal. Unfortunately, that is the only check and balance our Constitution provides.
Old age, poor health, and a natural death works too. There is always a little hope. Pressure from the continued drip drip of bad news isn't bad either.
Unfortunately, indeed.
2024 🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊 2024
Bring on the disinfectant ☀️🌞☀️🌞 the 4th Estate! Investigative Journalists stepping up and showing us their hidden Marvel Hero 🦸♀️🦸🏽♂️
Jerry, perfect questions! I am sure there are answers to all of them. Hoping we know those answers soon!
The Clarence Cheat-O-Meter hits 10 with today’s news from Heather. Take off the robes and what’s left is a conscienceless grifter. His children, long since become adults, probably don’t even recognize their tuition was a pay to play event, given that they were raised in such a morally poisoned environment.
What galls me at the moment is that all nine justices signed off on Roberts’ letter to Congress which contained his refusal to testify and an attachment that solemnly assured the Legislative Body that they “voluntarily subscribe to ethical principles, like disclosing conflicts of interest”. Really. They all got together and pinky swore on it
What were Sotomayor, Kagan and Jackson thinking? This was a moment for moral courage and they folded like a $5 suitcase.
Thomas has surpassed Abe Fortas in his disregard for questionable entanglements. Fortas resigned. He could have been impeached. There seem to be lots of 'quids' for a number of well placed 'pro quos.'
Can he be fired?
Lock him up!
He can and should be impeached
"....there was an implicit agreement to prevent Biden from becoming president."
And the work continues - said the Attorney General..
See Prosecutor Jack Smith...
Our national disgrace will continue for years. We must wonder if the Republican Party will reform itself... and jettison its worst elements...
President Trump will be charged, and charged, and charged, tried, and tried, convicted and convicted...sentenced and sentenced... and jailed... for state and federal crimes... thus erasing the feeling of the Pardon granted by President Ford for President Nixon...
President Biden is unlikely to pardon President Trump without a full and honest confession in writing, spoken aloud to the nation - that admits his lies and crimes... clearly.
President Trump's long sentence will be served with Secret Service protection at a remote location...
Think Napoleon - and the King of Belgium...
We would like to see a stipulation, if he is ever convicted, that he must take a vow of silence, including all forms of communication, for the rest of his natural life.
The only way to silence tRUMP is to snip one vocal cord. I'll donate the scissors.
Your other point is germane also. Even if/when he's convicted, he won't be put in a cell like the rest of us ooor schmucks. If it ever happens, he'll be confined to his multi-million dollar golden apartment or some other cushy spot. The only way to really hurt him is to take away all forms of communication with the outside world. He'd be dead in a week.
We still can dream, can't we. My philosophy is more along the lines of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. I dont mind if he suffers the way 1 miilion Covid 19 victims did.
I've been trying to imagine what actual justice would look like.
Nothing I've imagined seems to get close to what I think djt deserves.
Perhaps he will be remembered in history, as a lesson for all time, of what can go wrong in a nation that aspires to true democratic governance.
I honestly believe that narcissists live in their own hell, every day. But he has to be stopped from the grotesque, incalculable damage he's caused to the whole world.
"Actual justice"? I'd start with a scene from Game of Thrones. Cersei Lannister has her hair shorn, stripped naked and marched through the village. The people throw rotten fruit and poop at her. The Crowd is led by nuns in a chant: "Shame! Shame! Shame!"
Then clean him up, put him in a small isolated cell. The cell has no devices to communicate with. The walls are all covered with books. There is a TV fastened to the ceiling. It is permanently tuned to MSNBC or locked into endless reruns of the Rachel Maddow show. There is closed captioning as sound is turned off - replaced with an endless loop of "Baby Shark".
Turn off everything for 8 hours so he can rest up. Then begin again. Oh, and the diet? Impossible burgers topped with kale.
Impossible burger, kale, and NO KETCHUP!!
🤣👏
The head shaving would be a nice touch, but spare us the nakedness. For our sakes, not his.
Thanks, Bill. Reading this letter today got me so depressed! I am grateful to the chuckles many have posted today, as sometimes, comments this forum (mine included) further add to the sense of despair.
Actual justice? For me, it’s seeing him frog-marched out of Mar-a-Lardo in an orange jumpsuit and silver bracelets.
But I know that’s not going to happen.
Any more than my other fantasy of some Old Testament payback involving salting the earth and plowing his fields with poison. Or something.
Plague of frogs? that would be cute on the tee.
Right on.
Write on!
Take away all his money. That would also hurt.
Would you mind if I dulled those scissors before they are used? I have some granite in the yard that will easily remove a sharp edge 🤷♂️
He's also old, and lived a life of indulgence, so how long can he last?
His mother is 95...or older.
Longevity is only 15% determined by genetics.
This implies Solitary Confinement.. in Illinois. There’s no chance unless the sentencing judge believes the former president is likely to harm himself.
Instead of beginning with solitary confinement -- which would reasonably be considered cruel and unusual punishment for someone suffering from narcissistic personality disorder -- offer him a choice: he remains silent, or he ends up in solitary.
I think what will happen is that he will be confined to Mar-A-Lago. He will have to give up his passports and jet. He will not be allowed to venture out to any public or private settings, outside of his compound. He will only be able to see a family member, one at a time. No members of his elite club will ever see him again and any monies he makes off his clubs, homes, etc. should be given to all of the women he raped or groped. In other words, let him rot in his own filth. Make his stench so bad that no one will want to be near him.
Passport or no passport he will flee to the middle east. I am even OK with that. Might take some family too.
Answering very very late but I don’t want him to have ANY opportunity to flee, Dave. He should hot be afforded that “right”.
We won't need (and shouldn't call for) a vow of silence or to cut out his tongue. If/when convicted, I want him to have the same consequences as any other felon - completely ignored by society. For TFG, that will be torture in and of itself.
And remove his tongue?
We do not want that creature to lead us into barbarism. He's already done enough damage to our society.
David H... we're there... a segment of our population is firmly engaged in barbarism... rank fascism, really... and Trump merely ignited that element... he is skilled as Putin was skilled in East Germany... as Mussolini was skilled... so, we're there... and DJT is serving a function in his blundering stupidity... he's poorly educated, simply epitomizes many our worst characteristics... BUT by exemplifying, by featuring our worst, he's a mirror of our discontents... recall Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud, c. 1937/8, when Freud had jaw cancer... the oceanic feeling... DJT obliges us to look at ourselves... in the most unattractive
light possible... first, he's simply hideous, repulsive...really; morbidly obese, yellow died hair, installed, implanted, his orange sunlamp greasy face, his socketed dead eyes, his stubby fingers and pallid white, rubbery skin with no tone... he's unhealthy and getting worse... and the sentence of his carnage driving pawns for January 6th and worse... will explode in the MSM sooner or later... and he cannot hide from reality... forever. We are learning the end of Trump... and when he's gone, will will not have his image to repel from, we will need to find the way to shatter the myths that have propelled this Ghost of Christmas c. 500 AD...this primitive is on his way out. Bannon and the weird ones will go out with him... and we will have to face the music without the distraction of Trump, we will address the mess we are in, regardless of Trump. We will have no choice.
“What are the significant differences among people” ... the set question c. 1955 from the Princeton ETS - to be submitted in writing... in a few hundred words... an assignment.. nationwide… in handwriting… to gain access to the best campus…
This is the most important essay teens can write... and it is the sure cure of racism if the teacher edits and reedits the essays, handing back for more and more work, for writing attention in the 10th grade... this essay can save lives. It is the remedy for intolerance and prejudice. It was used at UCLS or U-High of The Lab Schools… by Miss Eunice Helmkamp later Mrs. Eunice Helmkamp MaGuire…. after whom The Eunice Helmkamp MaGuire Award is given annually to two rising juniors… that submit voluntarily … the winners are accepted at the college of their choice, without fail.
Some scars and stains can't be removed. But we can't allow him to define US. Maybe his effect will be like a societal antibody, like an immunization against future would-be kings and queens. Maybe in the future any candidate for public office who reminds us of TFG 45 will find that it's the kiss of death for their careers.
Martin Luther king Jr. Spoke about people being judged by the “content of their character”.
People like Trump and Clarence Thomas (along with many others like Kavanaugh, MTG, etc) showed us what the content of their character was even before they were elected or appointed.
As Maya Angelou said-when they show us who they are believe them. It’s crazy that we allow these kinds of folks to sit in positions of power. Character counts and we better pay closer attention to who we allow to be “leaders”.
And yet.....among the likes of those who stormed the Capital and thousands of Americans, he is the greatest thing since "sliced bread."
SANITY and work experience, wisdom and true devotion to a free
America and support of freedom in the world.....care for our environment and all families, FREEDOM OF RELIGION or NOT CHOOSING A RELIGION etc, etc can be seen in President Joe Biden's administration....and much gratitude and praise for the support of ALL the great people, young and old persons who are with the President working at home and worldwide for PEACE, for COOPERATION, providing education opportunities for the youngest....and Social Security of us older ones.....assisting with disasters as best as possible......THANK YOU!!!!! (and THANK YOU, JILL.....you two are a great team!!!)
A New Testament SB. Well done.
Thank You, Sandy.
.....and, Sandy, the teens will have to be given pencils and paper to write their essays.....otherwise AI generated responses will abound!!!
Best idea yet
Mention of that reminds me of Thomas Tryon's "Harvest Home" - the only book I've ever read that still gives me nightmares. Steven King will never reach that pinnacle of fright.
That would be wonderful! Imagine never having to hear that voice or see that smirking face EVER again!
David: that is really mythical--a stipulation of silence from trump is unimaginable!!
Ira, I know, right!? As if!
At one point we imagined offering him a do-over, but the time spent in solitary would double each time he failed to contain himself.
But wouldn’t he just explode at some point?
'Billionaire Offered Tuition to Send Ginni Thomas to Law School for Second Time'
'WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In the latest scandal to rock the United States Supreme Court, reports have emerged that Harlan Crow, the Republican megadonor, offered to pay to send Ginni Thomas to law school for a second time.'
'According to a source who witnessed the offer, made on board Crow’s yacht, the real-estate mogul told Justice Clarence Thomas that “since Ginni is involved in making so many Supreme Court decisions, she really should go to law school.”
'After Justice Thomas informed him that she had, in fact, already gone to law school, “Crow appeared absolutely shocked,” the source said.' (Satire from The Borowitz Report, NewYorker)
Thank you, Fern! I love some Borowitz humor!😂
Please do not write 'president trump' - FORMER/EX president ...
He was never MY president. I call him Fake 45.
As far as i am concerned, he was NEVER my president either. He wasn't even a president at all, he was a Dictator and wants to be Dictator again in 2024. I despise that orange baboon and the female goon Marjorie Traitor Goon. Actually i despise all of the fascist GQP and what they stand for. I can only wish there was a way to send all of the GQP to North Korea and Russia. Their agenda would fit in perfectly with those 2 banana republics. I am so sick and tired them tearing down our nation bit by bit. This insanity has to end...........
I like the moniker “Dolt 45”……
Nor mine.
I use President Biden’s nickname for him — “The Former Guy,” or “TFG.”
TFFG
🙊😄😄😄
In my mind the F stands for a different word, as Mary Pat implies.
I didn't know that came from Biden, "TFG".
TFB would fit him too, ''The Former Baboon'' i apologize to baboons for insulting them by associating them with Donald TUMP.
I don’t think “TFG” is from Joe Biden, but “The Former Guy” is his creation. After that, it was natural to abbreviate it.
Send him to Alcatraz, S B. There is no one there anymore. Do we really need to provide secret service to a convicted felon on many counts? Doesn’t he lose his privileges for being a schmuck of epic proportions and responsible for death and destruction of so many???
I can't see how he still has the privilege of secret service
Solitary confinement with no privileges on Alcatraz sounds perfect- no need for personal security guards- meals , well, microwave oven?
He should have nothing available to him- let him smother himself with his own self aggrandizement, suffocating on his own words come back to haunt him.
Alcatraz is too beautiful a spot for the likes of TFG. I suggest a rocky, windswept, isolated outcropping in the Aleutians, accessible by boat only twice a year.
Kamchatka !! Chained to a tree, immersed in old cooking oil and heaped with rotting apples. Employing a surveillance camera to watch the bears on OrangeMarmalade.com.
Them’s some strong words, Cheryl. I like the way you think!
Just leave a freezer full of TV dinners and a microwave.
Justice Dept. Intensifying Efforts to Determine if Trump Hid Documents
Prosecutors investigating the former president’s handling of classified material have issued a wave of new subpoenas and obtained the confidential cooperation of a witness who worked at Mar-a-Lago. NYTimes today..
I'm most concerned into whose hands those classified documents may have gone.
From your lips to God’s ear.
Yup, on a daily basis (finally) things are beginning to look DESPERATE for Trump and the crowd around him, including Clarence “I come from Simple Stock” Thomas, which is why Trump is DESPERATELY trying to become President again - which will give him the POWER to pardon himself and the rest of his ilk.
Will China and Russia live that turmoil? You betcha!
"implicit"? His words were, as I recall, "Be there. Will be wild."
Best laugh ever, the dream of chump giving a “full and honest confession.” Must agree that our national disgrace will continue for years.
And Mark Twain’s piece ... on the Belgian King... a short writing... that spelled it out.
What we need Sandy is a prison for political riff raff. No secret service necessary as all the inmates are former government. Let their fortunes be given to those they wronged.
A golf course in Hell!
Oh happy day 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
No matter what disclosures come out about Clarence (and Ginni) Thomas and their illegal activities, Clarence is still seen in photographs with that smug look on his face. He knows the Koch Klub is covering his back and will continue paying him big bonuses as long as he votes for their causes.
That look is a big “F you” to all of us mortals
Don’t know how long his “dancing by the graveyard” shtick can hold up. Meanwhile, how can Roberts be standing by silent as Clarence burns the Roberts’ house down?
Clarence might have triggered it, but now the activities of other justices have been exposed. They might even have a pecking order in terms of big perks: Chief Justice gets at least twice as much as the lower justices. Lower justices receive an amount relative to their seniority on the court. Woe is us....
William, I find it completely astonishing. Roberts is a loser with a capital “L”.
Roberts always has a smug smirk on his face while pretending to be honest and reasonable. Now we know why. Impeach him too.
are journalists looking into possible $-ties between the Koch Klub and the Thomas family?
Justices of the Supreme Court should be supremely ethical, both in their private lives, and in their professional lives.
When they fail to meet ethical standards, there should be consequences. It appears that any improper behavior has been ignored if it does not rise to the level of impeachable offense.
“Impeachable” is whatever a majority in the House and Senate will vote for.
Impeachment is not a criminal proceeding; it’s a job performance evaluation. Conviction by the Senate means, “You’re fired!”, nothing more. There are no penalties, fines, or jail time. (DOJ can decide to pursue criminaiity as a separate matter.)
The scandals swirling around Justice Thomas underscores the importance of winning back the Democratic House majority and expanding the Democratic majority in the Senate in the 2024 election.
“Because power corrupts, society’s demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.” - John Adams
Votes for sale would be an impeachable offense in my book.
Prostitution is illegal, correct?
Isn't there a criminal statute or law against a judge accepting bribes? wouldn't that be a criminal offense?
The SCOTUS Justices are exempt from All laws on bribery and other unethical and immorality that applies to other judges. Chief Justice Roberts says they don’t need ethical or other code of conduct. Maybe their spouses do—$10M and counting for Roberts’s wife in “commissions” and unknown thousands to Thomas’s wife without her name attached to it.
Robed Dictators
As more SCOTUS scandals come to light, more flaws in our Constitution are revealed. Depending on a person holding any office in government to have good character is a shaky foundation for a country. Reagan, Nixon, Dick Cheney, Moscow Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump, the Six Sick Supreme Court justices, etc. are all evidence of how lack of character endangers the country. I heard that integrity is how one behaves when no one is watching. Any position with no oversight is abuse and corruption waiting to happen. BTW, evidently oaths of office don't mean a damn thing.
What my father said to each of us six children as we became old enough to get paying jobs: Work hard. Give the family a good name. What I said to my children as they became old enough to get paying jobs: Work hard. Give the family a good name. I don’t know what grandad and great grandad said but they talked about being horse thieves.
Exactly, they are Robed Dictators.
Absolutely!
Justice Thomas has been compromised......
I remember Anita Hill.
And I STILL believe her!
Same here!
Me, too! Two sexual assaulters on the highest Court of the land-and the financial and ethical breaches...as Jeri Chilcutt calls it, they are the supreme joke-but no one is laughing.
I always believed her.
And, Leonard Leo, and Kellyanne Conway, and the for profit shell corp ... sorry, allegedly the non-profit corp front ... all to get substantial sums to G. Thomas. I calculate at least four (4) subpoena targets ... eight (8) targets if you include the accountants twelve (12) targets if you serve the banks.
Always was…
Impeachment is a fig leaf for the government to hide behind. It's an impossible bar to clear.
Especially in this House to impeach, not to mention the 2/3 needed to convict in the Senate!
Yes, David, and I believe Dick Durbin is leading the charge to do just that. It is totally unbelievable that these out-of-touch people have never presented or complied with any ethics rules. WTAF?
It jolted me to be reminded of his vote for Citizens United, Voting Rights Abolishment, Dobbs, and so many others.
So much arrogant and corrupt power and essentially untouchable. Something is very wrong - no checks and balances at all on one of our branches of government.
So many ripples affecting all of us.
I fully agree, David. The biggest problem here is there’s no Ethics written fir the Supreme Court justices to be forced to follow, as there is for all the lower courts justices.
The leaders of the Proud Boys most likely never considered that they would be tried and convicted of seditious conspiracy. Tucker Carlson never thought that Fox News would fire him. Trump fully expected to be installed as President for Life on January 6.
More daylighting, less gaslighting. The long arc of history may yet swing toward justice.
Yes, there have been a few surprises along the way, but none so shocking as the 1/3 of the country who are rabid cult nuts
Well said, Jeri. I am constantly stunned by the stuff that they spew on a regular basis.
There is hope...
❤️❤️❤️🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 Hope is alive for the Golden Rule!! Love ya!
Why hasn't the initiative been taken to add justices to the SCOTUS? It seems like the house is on fire but those who have access to the extinguisher would rather the house burn to the ground than use it.
Manchinema.
Agree for now, but for now is not forever. How many voters want this to go on until all Trump's appointees retire?
My Dem senator, Mark Warner, sent me an email questionnaire asking me to prioritize what I wanted him to focus on. Among many issues, I advocated for expanding the SC along with ethics rules. Do I think this will happen in the next few months? No. But I think it's worth contacting our reps constantly, which I will do. Here's the deal: As a voter, I am not obligated to know the law/rules such that I will ask for only things that are "possible." As a voter, I get to ask for whatever I want to see happen.
Making rectifying the SCOTUS destruction of our legal system as an issue early and loudly and eventually a platform issue for Democrats is what I would like to see. I responded in more detail to TCinLA's attack, so I won't duplicate it here. The ethics of SCOTUS justices (I'm thankful for independent journalists because they did the research and broke the silence.) are legitimate issues for voters to communicate to their representatives. So, good on you and all who actively advocate for this!
Thank you, Ed. And good on you, too, for your activism!
Because you need 60+ Democrats in the Senate to make the change since Republicans will never agree and will fight it to the death.
I really wish people like you had a frickin' clue what you are talking about before you get in a high dither and embarrass the shit out of the rest of us by claiming you're on our side. Now I see where the figures that only 18% US eighth graders are competent in US history and 20% are competent in civics come from - those figures hold true for adult Americans as well. Tghe failure of public miseducation has been going on a long time.
The number of justices has varied in the past. Just ask Heather to verify this for you. Many of us have already checked and know that it has. We don't need to do loyalty tests about "sides" instead of breaching solutions.
See <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kD1v7LUk4M> (start at 45 minutes if time is short). Over a year ago, the speaker already understood three things. (1) The viable solution, perhaps the only one, is to expand the court. Precedent does exist to bringing it from 9 to 13 (in video). (2) The path to expanding the court rests in electing a critical mass of Democrats committed to doing such. (3) Democrats need to start making the court's unprecedented behavior of eviscerating personal autonomy (even more than it already has) an issue of the next election and clearly present their plan to take action (my point of poking readers to start promoting this—seems to have worked in your case) instead of just screaming "Trummmmp!!!" while preventing any primary debates where this could be breached to an audience broader than Biden's present choir member fan club.
I do assert that the following is not a solution. I hope you aren't trying to promote this to readers as their only choice. If you have other solutions, share.
https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.1354365740.2331/poster,840x830,f8f8f8-pad,1000x1000,f8f8f8.u4.jpg
Thanks, Ed, for the first link. LOL with tears in my eyes for the second one!
Recommended to Ed & everyone interested in the question of removing justices or enlarging the size of the court. Reliable source ....well worth six pages:
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10562#:~:text=Article%20II%20of%20the%20Constitution,not%20to%20acton%20them.
Thanks. It is a good read.
Do you see any chance that something will be done to get Thomas off the supreme court?
What Supreme Court? With at least 3 justices with ethics and legal problems, all their credibility is gone. And, since it appears that the voting rights act case was bought and sold, i bet that and other decisions will be revisited. Like many government functions, many people don't understand how thwy do what they do but as more of these facts come out, I think public outrage wilm build.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse has been working hard for years now to bring "dark money" in the Supreme Court to light. Yes, I understand what you mean by, "What Supreme Court?" It's become a travesty. I think these important cases like Voting Rights need to be revisited, for sure. Thomas's vote certainly impacted those decisions and he was impacted by all those illegal gifts.
Whitehouse is a hero. Thanks for bringing him up, Joanna.
I’m concerned about his reelection, that’d be a huge blow to the dems...and Ben Cardin is retiring.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Been waiting for that public outrage for decades, Rupert always countered with another pile of bull Schitt, no matter the topic
Two thirds of the senate and impeachment.
Impossible with Republicans!Please stop dreaming folks--the onlty way to get him off the court is for criminal tax or other charges to be brought and we don't have any reliable information to support that right now.
The man should have taken himself out of the SC picture before Anita Hill. He obviously feels he’s above suspicion. A guy without a conscience.
Well yes, but the wheels of corruption were already turning. Unfortunately, Biden was on the committee that ended up approving Thomas over Hill. I believe he has been kicking himself ever since over that horrible decision.
'The Supreme Court’s tone-deaf response to the Clarence Thomas corruption scandal'
'The justices unintentionally make the case for more ethics rules that bind the Supreme Court. '(excerpts)
By Ian Millhiser Apr 26, 2023,
'The entire Supreme Court — all nine justices — released a brief document Tuesday night responding to allegations that the Court’s ethical standards are too lax. The document appears to be the Court’s first response to revelations, first published by ProPublica, that Justice Clarence Thomas frequently takes luxurious vacations funded by billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow.'
'It’s the Court’s most robust public statement on its ethical responsibilities in over a decade. But it hardly seems to respond to the Thomas revelations that prompted it.'
'The document spends far more time discussing other ethical issues, such as the rules governing when a justice can be paid to teach at a university, than it does discussing the more salient question of whether a sitting justice should be accepting expensive gifts from a wealthy political activist. And the Court’s brief discussion of such gifts suggests that its approach needs to be tightened down considerably.'
'The Supreme Court is famously clueless about how corruption works'
'The Supreme Court’s devil-may-care response to Thomas’s actions, and to Crow’s apparent influence-buying, is not especially surprising given how the Court has spoken about corruption in its own decisions. Indeed, many of those decisions speak of such influence-buying as if it is both a positive good and an essential aspect of democracy.'
'Consider, for example, the Court’s anti-canonical decision in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), which permitted corporations and unions to spend unlimited sums to influence elections. In reaching that conclusion, the Court spoke of elected officials who are unusually responsive to their donors as pillars of democracy:
'Favoritism and influence are not . . . avoidable in representative politics. It is in the nature of an elected representative to favor certain policies, and, by necessary corollary, to favor the voters and contributors who support those policies. It is well understood that a substantial and legitimate reason, if not the only reason, to cast a vote for, or to make a contribution to, one candidate over another is that the candidate will respond by producing those political outcomes the supporter favors. Democracy is premised on responsiveness.'
'Supreme Court justices are obviously different from members of Congress in that they are not elected. But that suggests that justices should be held to a higher standard than elected officials: A corrupt member of Congress can potentially be cast out of office by their voters, while a justice serves for life unless they are successfully impeached.' (VOX) See link below.
https://www.vox.com/politics/2023/4/26/23698962/supreme-court-clarence-thomas-corruption-ethics-harlan-crown-john-roberts-dick-durbin
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
No.
So now we know that the two SCOTUS decisions most destructive of fairness and transparency in politics and of free and fair elections -- Citizens United and Shelby County v. Holder -- are utterly and completely compromised, and the integrity of the court as a whole beyond those two decisions is stinking like 4-day-old fish. That is how deep the corruption runs in this country, and we don't even know if that is indeed the bottom.
Oligarchic control of politics via limitless and unaccountable dark money and barrier-free voter suppression, which resumed only days after the Shelby decision came down and today is widespread, are two conditions the far-right _has_ to have. They know their goal -- permanent oligarchic, male, white-supremacist, theocratic control of the country -- would be completely rejected by the voting public at large, if all eligible voters were allowed to vote. Therefore, the moneyed interests must be able to control the politicians who run the federal, state, and local systems. And they in turn ensure that only the "right" or "real" people can vote and that no one else can have meaningful representation or significant political power.
And now we know they bought at least one SCOTUS justice to ensure the desired outcomes on the two relevant cases. We really do have the best "democracy" and the best legal system money can buy.
Land of the free. If you're rich, white, straight, male, and Christian, that is.
Very well said, PTS. And as you say, at least one Scotus justice was bought. I thought for a long time that Roberts was a moderating voice on the SC. That has proven not to be true. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse has brought so much to light regarding the SC. We need to continue taking a look at the cases in 5-4 decisions. Whitehouse spoke about this in one of his videos but I'm going to revisit some of his lectures.
... especially Christian! NOT
truth. and well-said.
The Fascists bought us.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
In my 89 years I have witnessed Watergate, Irangate, Cheney-Rumsfeld-Bush in Iraq, Church Committee hearings on CIA assassination plots, our involvement in the overthrow of democratic governments, and many other untoward incidents that made me ashamed of and concerned for the country I love.
I have never encountered a more disturbing single night’s listing of a wrong-directioned America than what Heather has catalogued today:
1) A Supreme Court Justice who seems to be in the pocket of a right-wing billionaire who has a collection of Nazi memorabilia including personal Hitler ‘souvenirs;’
2) The wife of this Supreme Court Justice who was surreptitiously paid countless $$$ from right-wing sources in a manner intended to hide such payoffs;
3) Four insurrectionists convicted of ‘insidious conspiracy’ for events related to the January 6th insurrection with which a former president is being investigated for being the instigator;
4) The attorney general announcing that over 600 individuals have already been convicted for their participation in this insurrection;
5) The prospect that the United States could default on the ‘full faith and credit of the United States’ because a pipsqueak guy is more concerned with retaining his squalid speakership than serving the interests of his country. He is playing Russian roulette with the American and global economy.
6) An ex-president involved in a bevy of criminal and civil indictments, while he proclaims that his re-election in 2024 would ‘restore justice’ in America.
What the hell is happening to your and my country? President Biden is fighting for the soul of our country against the Armageddon reflected in the alternative. Hitler, Stalin, and Togo were no less a threat to America than are Trump and his sycophants.
Jon Meacham, in his THE SOUL OF AMERICA, wrote about the ups, downs, and then ups in America’s nearly 250 years. I believe that he would agree with me that today is America’s greatest crisis since the Civil War.
Then we had Abraham Lincoln, a stalwart warrior for the soul of America. Today we have President Biden, who has succinctly stated the choice: “Do not compare me with the Almighty, but compare me with the alternative.”
Makes me want there to be a Dark State that actually keeps everything going, despite all the mess we hear of in MSM and the other organs of poop. Where has our moral compass gone? Buried in the excrements of our unending demand for entertainment or attention marketed as News? Jon Meacham surly must be roiling in his grave, if he is indeed deceased.
Fred Jon Meacham, a Pulitzer winner, is a healthy 53. My good friend (and classmate) David McCullough, with two Pulitzers, died last year.
In light of your lifelong affair with the well-being of the American dream and your experiences of keeping the “torch” burning, what is the must reading list you recommend?
Pat In 2014 I wrote an eighteen page annotated bibliography of those books that had been especially important to me. Nine years later, let me simply mention a few that strike my fancy at this moment:
1) MIRACLE AT PHILADELPHIA by Catherine Drinker Bowen Essential and delightful read on the compromises that resulted in the Constitution. I am tempted to take this and shove it up the ‘originalists’ anatomy
2) BRAVE COMPANIONS by David McCullough. I have read all but one of David’s books. He had been a close friend and colleague. As for a whacking good mystery, his BETWEEN TWO SEAS is my choice. I find the essence of David’s personal story telling in BRAVE COMPANIONS. His biographical essays focus on soul, substance, and personal perseverance. When I am at a family/personal road block, I re-read portions of BC.
3) THE SOUL OF AMERICA by Jon Meacham. This is an excellent primer on the ups, downs, and then ups of America over nearly 250 years. [It would be banned in Florida]. The core message is that, so far, our trajectory has been begrudgingly up. I’d like to believe that such is still true. At present I am not sure.
4) MYTH AMERICA: HISTORIANS TAKE ON THE BIGGEST LEGENDS AND LIES ABOUT OUR PAST. Heather constantly puts today’s events into an historical context. MYTH AMERICA, essays by a number of notable American historians, provides the reader factual myth busting on some of the false images of the past and present.
I find myself re-rereading a number of favorites as well as re-watching a diverse range of DVDs/VHS. For reflection/contemplation I recommend THE POWER OF MYTH: Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers.
So much to read and watch—so little time!
I will get started. Thank you so much.
So well said, Keith. And of course there are even more examples of how things have gone so terribly wrong.
I'm amazed at the Epstein situation. Info about it has been so limited. It's bad enough about his serious abuse of the girls and handing them out to the powerful slugs like door prizes. I'm thinking of those power and high-finance connections who were compromised by him. I'll bet there was a bi-partisan agreement about not pursuing more info on Epstein's network and his "suicide". A journalist named Whitney Webb has pursued the network issue. She has a book published about it all, titled "One Nation Under Blackmail." I heard her on a couple podcasts, and she knows her business. She's calm and collected and says she's not afraid about retribution for the material she has exposed. She's worth listening to.
Heydon I recall, in earlier days, when the story that Ike was having an affair with Kay Summersby and wanted to divorce Mamie and marry Kay would have smashed Ike’s smiling image. As for Jack and Jackie—the ‘Camelot’ family in the White House—the Secret Service was shoveling Jack’s paramours in and out of the White House like laundry. ‘Everyone’ knew.
As for Epstein, he was providing upper class whoring services to the high and mighty in America, England, and elsewhere. While I am inclined to believe that he committed suicide, there were lots of folks who would be delighted with his death.
Why has it taken so long for the story of Corruptible Clarance and Give-but-don’t-tell Ginni to ooze onto the media? Why do I think that there will be more Thomas skeletons by Halloween?
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
"...it appears a key vote on the court that decided those cases was compromised."
"Compromised" is appropriate usage for this excellent summary and commentary of today's major news. But is there any reason to doubt that Justice Thomas' votes were bought?
Bribery is defined as "the offering, giving, soliciting, or receiving of any item of value as a means of influencing the actions of an individual holding a public or legal duty."
It's time for a Justice Department investigation.
And we need to take a long look at what constitutes a conflict of interest even without demonstrated abuse of authority. I know of people fired from private sector jobs for that. Part of the core protocols of the scientific method are intended to reduce the effect of unconscious bias, which is very possible with no deliberate attempt to improperly influence findings.
JL ‘conflict of interest’ reminds me of “If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and smells like a duck, most likely it is a duck.” As a former SC justice said about defining pornography: ‘when you see it, you know.’
Same thing goes for crime
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
“appears”???? Really? smh...
Michael I was brought up to believe that you shouldn’t do anything that would embarrass you were it on the front page of a newspaper. It seems that Crooked Clarence was brought up with ‘Take the Money and Run.’ As for Give & Take Ginni, she embodies an ‘originalist’ without scruples—or is this an oxymoron?
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
The 'little' guys are getting convicted, and jailed, one after the other, and the big kahuna who incited them to storm the Capitol is still freewheeling, flitting unhindered to Scotland for a round of golf, opining freely on all kinds of matters, just not admitting guilt in any of his indictments and is now getting the stage at a CNN-hosted townhall? What a disgrace that MSM is giving him that center stage even now!
I stopped watching Rachel Maddow more than a year ago. I couldn't stomach the amount of Trump coverage. I don't miss it. I recommend that you read Joyce Vance's article today about going up the chain after the conviction of the Proud Boys. The work of the Justice Department continues.
Yes!
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
I used to watch only Maddow because she was the only pundit who refused to put tffg on the air. She always said we will watch what he DOES not what he says. Plus it’s been over a year now that she has moved to just Monday nights only, so your comment is confusing. I also value Vance’s commentary.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
My friends and i share a profound bond that some say is as deep as the ocean, and yet recent news still leaves me troubled.
Of my many fine friends, none has offered to pay my nephew's private school tuition, as did Harlan Crow for his dear friend Clarence Thomas.
Not one has selflessly bought the home of my mother and refurbished it while allowing her to live there rent-free.
I suppose it goes then without saying that none of my friends has bothered to send their private jets to whisk me to the yacht for a jaunt around Indonesia.
This beautiful friendship of Harlan Crow and Clarence Thomas makes my own friends look kind of shabby by comparison.
I've made this comment before, but it bears repeating: consider the influential relationship between Justice Thomas and Harlan Crow. Now change the names to Justice Sotomayor and George Soros. The collective gasp on the Right would leave no air left to breathe for the rest of us (and there'd be plenty among us who would be equally apoplectic.)
This is a tack I have tried several times with some of my MAGAt friends/family. Once, with my Father-in-Law (this was in about 2016, before the election) what his opinion would be if the same allegations regarding Russia were made about H. Clinton rather that tfg. He went apoplectic and threw faux talking points at me while never answering the question I had posed.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
"Caesar's wife must be above suspicion".
Kevin And none of your friends are likely to be indicted or wear orange suits.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Are these radical R's that evil? They really eschew democracy. The corruption of Clarence Thomas abetted by none other than Leonard Leo is truly eye opening. This Leo who professes to be a man of deep Catholic faith, pro life, is in fact dishonest and lacking any modicum of compassion that his faith teaches. Who does he think he's looking at when he looks in the mirror? A magic mirror could show a twisted, ugly soul.
As I replied to a similar post yesterday: they are not radical, they are FASCIST.
Yes.
Agreed!
Some things are self-evident.
Chief Pharisee
Yes indeed they are!
Welcome, sadly, to the Catholic Church.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
Is there a mechanism whereby all rulings made by the SC in which Thomas was demonstrably corrupt can be revisited by the SC without Thomas?
i was thinking the same thing, but then realized that with the current composition of the SC, even without Thomas, those cases would likely come out the same as before ...
Unfortunately, that will never happen.
Seems to me that bribing a justice is illegal, and for a justice to accept a bribe is illegal. This looks like a job for AG Garland. If we want to have more appointments to the Supreme Court, then maybe We should remove the criminal element from the court to make room for people that will actually follow the law. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 1 states, "The Judicial Power or the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts, shall hold their offices during "good behavior". Accepting bribes is certainly not "good behavior".
Then there is the fact that five justices of the Supreme Court violated the rights of every woman in this country by turning a woman rights over to the decisions of fifty very different states, and they did it in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. How can Michigan assure the rights of the women in their state, while Texas violates the rights of every woman in that state. That is not equal protection under the law. Either you have a right or you do not. It cannot be both ways depending on what state you live in..
The justices that overthrew Roe broke the law by violating the rights of every woman in the country and they did it in violation of not just the Fourteenth Amendment, they also violated Title 18, U.S. Code 242, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
I fail to understand why no one seems to understand this. We are leaving criminals in charge of Law Enforcement.
We have become a world leader in corruption, so much so, that the public has learned to accept it.