Clarence Thomas on the leak
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This is the HuffPo version, but despite the whiny rhetoric, Thomas's point is valid.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Friday complained about having to “look over” his shoulder since the leak of the controversial draft opinion that would gut Roe v. Wade.
He called the disclosure of the opinion, which was written by Justice Samuel Alito and is not yet final, “kind of an infidelity” that weakens trust in the court, and has made justices regard one another with suspicion.
“What happened in the court is tremendously bad,” Thomas declared in Dallas at a conference organized by the conservative American Enterprise Institute, the Manhattan Institute and the Hoover Institution.
“Look where we are, where now that trust or that belief is gone forever,” he said.
“When you lose that trust, especially in the institution that I’m in, it changes the institution fundamentally. You begin to look over your shoulder. It’s like kind of an infidelity that you can explain ... but you can’t undo it.”Yeah, if you can't trust the staff of your colleagues, or your own, that's kind of a BFD.
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It’s not one leak it’s at least three
The day after the draft dropped three separate sources were referenced as having confirmed and/or provided more details. Assuming none were the original leaker that’s four. If one was, that’s three.
“Don’t make me repeat myself”
- history
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@jon-nyc said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
It’s not one leak it’s at least three
The day after the draft dropped three separate sources were referenced as having confirmed and/or provided more details. Assuming none were the original leaker that’s four. If one was, that’s three.
More evidence this was left-leaning righteous folk. That's the culture that feels that rules are unimportant, when virtue is in play. One does not need to play fair, when doing battle with evil.
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Actually the three that came out the second day were all identified as conservative.
Unclear whether which side the original leaker came from, there are plausible theories for either side but I think on balance it was likely a left leaning person.
“Don’t make me repeat myself”
- history
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@jon-nyc said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
It’s not one leak it’s at least three
Those could have been from the same person.
But that doesn't diminish Thomas's point. Perhaps it even amplifies it.
Actually the three that came out the second day were all identified as conservative.
By whom?
"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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@George-K said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
@jon-nyc said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
It’s not one leak it’s at least three
Those could have been from the same person.
But that doesn't diminish Thomas's point. Perhaps it even amplifies it.
Actually the three that came out the second day were all identified as conservative.
By whom?
The journalists they leaked to, both politico and WaPo
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@jon-nyc said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
Actually the three that came out the second day were all identified as conservative.
Unclear whether which side the original leaker came from, there are plausible theories for either side but I think on balance it was likely a left leaning person.
Let's talk motivation then. What do you suppose the motivation was for the original leaker (conditional on either side if you please), and what do you suppose the motivation was for the next day's leakers?
I suspect those who confirmed on the next day were only trying to give the public clarity on the gravity of the leak. In any case, calling them "leakers" on par with the first leaker is a tricky turn of phrase, and probably not fair.
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The original leaker, if conservative, would likely have been trying to put pressure on someone wavering on the Alito opinion.
Roberts has been trying to thread the needle and allow the Mississippi law to stand without overturning Roe. If he picked off Kavanaugh (say) he’d get to 5 with concurring opinions by the three liberal justices.
The subsequent conservative leaks (1) confirmed Roberts approach (which was obvious from orals) and (2) have told us none of the Alito 5 have wavered. (Though obviously that could be an attempt to apply pressure also).
The idea of a left leaning employee leaking it is less pragmatic in the sense that it’s hard to imagine it having any impact on the outcome. But it’s historic and that’s probably enough. Add to that the general lack of respect for institutions by the younger set and it’s not hard to imagine.
“Don’t make me repeat myself”
- history
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@jon-nyc said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
Add to that the general lack of respect for institutions by the younger set and it’s not hard to imagine.
Which is, basically, Thomas's point.
"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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@jon-nyc said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
The original leaker, if conservative, would likely have been trying to put pressure on someone wavering on the Alito opinion.
Roberts has been trying to thread the needle and allow the Mississippi law to stand without overturning Roe. If he picked off Kavanaugh (say) he’d get to 5 with concurring opinions by the three liberal justices.
The subsequent conservative leaks (1) confirmed Roberts approach (which was obvious from orals) and (2) have told us none of the Alito 5 have wavered. (Though obviously that could be an attempt to apply pressure also).
That doesn't speak to motivation. Again, if the motivation for those "leaks" was to provide clarity that yes, a real draft opinion was leaked, then it's not fair to call them "leaks", even if it suits a whataboutism framework meant to minimize fault for a certain political side.
The idea of a left leaning employee leaking it is less pragmatic in the sense that it’s hard to imagine it having any impact on the outcome. But it’s historic and that’s probably enough. Add to that the general lack of respect for institutions by the younger set and it’s not hard to imagine.
Outrage at the Supreme Court being on the wrong side of history is my guess.
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@jon-nyc said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
Add to that the general lack of respect for institutions by the younger set and it’s not hard to imagine.
All the more reason to elect a geriatric President in 2024.
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Virtue is probably too simple.
Hatred and money probably play a role.
The leaker had to know they would be in trouble.
Unless the leaker is a total loser they would set up a scapegoat.
The scapegoat might do it for virtue. I would look for a virtuous scapegoat.
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@George-K said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
@jon-nyc said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
Add to that the general lack of respect for institutions by the younger set and it’s not hard to imagine.
Which is, basically, Thomas's point.
Thomas’
#WinningPedantrySaturday
Education is extremely important.
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@Horace said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
@George-K said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
@jon-nyc said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
Add to that the general lack of respect for institutions by the younger set and it’s not hard to imagine.
Which is, basically, Thomas's point.
Thomas’
#WinningPedantrySaturday
Not really an error. Put your game face on here, for shit's sake.
Please love yourself.
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@Aqua-Letifer said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
@Horace said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
@George-K said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
@jon-nyc said in Clarence Thomas on the leak:
Add to that the general lack of respect for institutions by the younger set and it’s not hard to imagine.
Which is, basically, Thomas's point.
Thomas’
#WinningPedantrySaturday
Not really an error. Put your game face on here, for shit's sake.
I’ve gone from POTY winner to Pedantry Saturday loser. That’s like Michael Jordan losing a pickup game at the YMCA. Whatever. I’m man enough to admit when I’ve lost. Which I never have, and never will. Cue the Rocky montage with Strunk and White.
#EyeOfTheTiger
