Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?
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@Doctor-Phibes said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
@Horace said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
One never knows whether similar pieces could be written about other justices. Is Thomas alone among justices in his appearance of impropriety? I don't know. But indeed there is the appearance of impropriety here. Not that any rational person believes Thomas is for sale.
Are you engaging in hypothetical whataboutism?
I am noting that there is a deep well of hatred for Clarence Thomas within the leftist media, and considering the source. It's ok to consider the source, right?
If this claim is true, I would genuinely be surprised that a supreme court justice would allow himself to be compromised like this.
Accepting gifts from politically aligned organizations? No it wouldn't surprise me, as long as it was legal. But it is stupid for Thomas to do this.
@Horace said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
I am noting that there is a deep well of hatred for Clarence Thomas within the leftist media, and considering the source. It's ok to consider the source, right?
I've been told that I shoot the messenger. Apparently, that's not the same as considering the source? My reaction is fueled by emotion, and a deep-seated hatred of that august institution, the British tabloid press. Conservative dismissal of media is based on hard, cold logic.
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@Horace said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
I am noting that there is a deep well of hatred for Clarence Thomas within the leftist media, and considering the source. It's ok to consider the source, right?
I've been told that I shoot the messenger. Apparently, that's not the same as considering the source? My reaction is fueled by emotion, and a deep-seated hatred of that august institution, the British tabloid press. Conservative dismissal of media is based on hard, cold logic.
@Doctor-Phibes said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
@Horace said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
I am noting that there is a deep well of hatred for Clarence Thomas within the leftist media, and considering the source. It's ok to consider the source, right?
I've been told that I shoot the messenger. Apparently, that's not the same as considering the source?
I was meaning to recall that proclivity of yours. But I wasn't directly shooting the messenger, I was zooming out a bit and wondering about motivation.
This is not a smoking gun story hot off the press. It seems like it could have been rolled out at any time. Thomas has been doing it for a very long time. The current peak hatred of Thomas is probably not coincidental.
But hey if we want to outlaw this stuff or set firm social norms against it, maybe in the form of questions in the nominee hearings, that would be great. Shame on Thomas!
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@Doctor-Phibes said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
@Horace said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
One never knows whether similar pieces could be written about other justices. Is Thomas alone among justices in his appearance of impropriety? I don't know. But indeed there is the appearance of impropriety here. Not that any rational person believes Thomas is for sale.
Are you engaging in hypothetical whataboutism?
I am noting that there is a deep well of hatred for Clarence Thomas within the leftist media, and considering the source. It's ok to consider the source, right?
If this claim is true, I would genuinely be surprised that a supreme court justice would allow himself to be compromised like this.
Accepting gifts from politically aligned organizations? No it wouldn't surprise me, as long as it was legal. But it is stupid for Thomas to do this.
@Horace said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
No it wouldn't surprise me, as long as it was legal. But it is stupid for Thomas to do this.
"Above all avoid the appearance of impropriety."
From what I've read, his friendship with this guy has not affected his rulings or writings, and it seems no cases in which his friend could be affected have come before the court.
But, avoid the appearance.
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OK, maybe this article will carry more weight with you chaps...
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Scalia used to duck hunt about 25 miles from my house, staying at a very nice lodge and using the best guides in the area.
You think he paid for his hunt and lodgings?
You think the Secret Service paid for their lodgings?
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Scalia used to duck hunt about 25 miles from my house, staying at a very nice lodge and using the best guides in the area.
You think he paid for his hunt and lodgings?
You think the Secret Service paid for their lodgings? -
Fact: Senators, Presidents and Justices move in different circles than most of us. They have different friends.
For the Justices, I do worry about influence on rulings, which is why I like strict Constitutionalists. The politicians? You ain't stopping that stuff and access does affect politics.
Welcome to the real world.
“Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”
Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton
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@George-K said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
@Jolly yeah, that might be the case, but he's dead.
True. Can't pick on him anymore.
Although the guys down here still laugh about the Secret Service...Ain't room in a duck blind for anything more than Scalia, his friend, the guide and the dog.
The Secret Service had to stand on the bank, freeze and watch, while they were swinging shotguns in the blind and busting ducks left and right.
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Fact: Senators, Presidents and Justices move in different circles than most of us. They have different friends.
For the Justices, I do worry about influence on rulings, which is why I like strict Constitutionalists. The politicians? You ain't stopping that stuff and access does affect politics.
Welcome to the real world.
They're supposed to work for us, not the other way round.
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He has rich friends. Big deal.
If you can show that it has affected anything judicial, bring it on.
But how far do we take this? What’s the scale? Would you be outraged if he attended a BBQ with Waygu steaks and good liquor? Or is it only that the trips are at a level most of us cannot afford, so it has to be crooked?
I see no reason he should live a spartan life because he’s a public servant.
“I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill
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He has rich friends. Big deal.
If you can show that it has affected anything judicial, bring it on.
But how far do we take this? What’s the scale? Would you be outraged if he attended a BBQ with Waygu steaks and good liquor? Or is it only that the trips are at a level most of us cannot afford, so it has to be crooked?
I see no reason he should live a spartan life because he’s a public servant.
@Mik said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
I see no reason he should live a spartan life because he’s a public servant.
Perhaps a life commensurate with his $300k a year salary (or one commensurate with the spouse's fortune) would be just fine.
After all, a police officer or an industry regulator regularly living a life 10x his salary would likely be investigated, no?
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@Mik said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
I see no reason he should live a spartan life because he’s a public servant.
Perhaps a life commensurate with his $300k a year salary (or one commensurate with the spouse's fortune) would be just fine.
After all, a police officer or an industry regulator regularly living a life 10x his salary would likely be investigated, no?
@Axtremus said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
After all, a police officer or an industry regulator regularly living a life 10x his salary would likely be investigated, no?
It's how they, ultimately, got Aldrich Ames.
Now, do Pelosi, McCOnnell, Scott, Schumer, and a host of others.
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He has rich friends. Big deal.
If you can show that it has affected anything judicial, bring it on.
But how far do we take this? What’s the scale? Would you be outraged if he attended a BBQ with Waygu steaks and good liquor? Or is it only that the trips are at a level most of us cannot afford, so it has to be crooked?
I see no reason he should live a spartan life because he’s a public servant.
@Mik said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
I see no reason he should live a spartan life because he’s a public servant.
I'm not expecting him to cut all his hair off and walk naked on hot coals.
Like I said, if I accepted this from one of my customers, I'd be fired. Obviously, I'm just one of the little people, but if the rules apply to me, why shouldn't they apply to everybody?
The very least he could, and indeed should, have done was disclose the gift.
I was only joking
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I read all this avoid all appearance, but what I hear is eat the rich.
Ginny Thomas’ net worth is around 78 million. These are the circles they run in. Class envy does not change that.
“I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill
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New guidelines for judicial conduct came into place last month.
It seems like under the new rules, judge Thomas would be in violation for accepting travel and accommodations - but entertainment (food, etc.) is permitted without disclosure.
Some journalists probably applied the new rules retroactively to make hay. Just guessing.
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I read all this avoid all appearance, but what I hear is eat the rich.
Ginny Thomas’ net worth is around 78 million. These are the circles they run in. Class envy does not change that.
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I read all this avoid all appearance, but what I hear is eat the rich.
Ginny Thomas’ net worth is around 78 million. These are the circles they run in. Class envy does not change that.
@Mik said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
I read all this avoid all appearance, but what I hear is eat the rich.
Ginny Thomas’ net worth is around 78 million. These are the circles they run in.
Right, it's my jealousy, not his lack of openness that's the problem.
I'm not saying he should be tarred and feathered. But he should have disclosed the gift.
Class envy does not change that.
You Americans always confuse money with class. It's very vulgar.
Link to video -
Phibes, the guy’s a top lawyer and judge. He knows when he has to report something and when he doesn’t.
Let’s see the actual rules when these things took place. If he was required to report them that stands on its own merit. But I’m willing to bet that either it was not required or it is an open secret that no one does.
As Jolly said, ProPublica is not an unbiased organization.
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@Mik said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
I see no reason he should live a spartan life because he’s a public servant.
I'm not expecting him to cut all his hair off and walk naked on hot coals.
Like I said, if I accepted this from one of my customers, I'd be fired. Obviously, I'm just one of the little people, but if the rules apply to me, why shouldn't they apply to everybody?
The very least he could, and indeed should, have done was disclose the gift.
@Doctor-Phibes said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
@Mik said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
I see no reason he should live a spartan life because he’s a public servant.
I'm not expecting him to cut all his hair off and walk naked on hot coals.
Like I said, if I accepted this from one of my customers, I'd be fired. Obviously, I'm just one of the little people, but if the rules apply to me, why shouldn't they apply to everybody?
The very least he could, and indeed should, have done was disclose the gift.
Chances are, you wouldn't.
I used to think like that, and then I had a chance to run around a bit with several of the docs at MCLNO. Ho-lee Shit! When two companies rent out an entire New Orleans restaurant, with an open free bar...Well, you're living the high life, my friend.
Those guys didn't even think diddle about it. You need to get up in more rarified air.
I bet if Jon had a chance to take a couple of influential congress critters to dinner in Washington, he wouldn't bat an eyelash at a $500 supper for the three of them (I'm probably on the low side).
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@Doctor-Phibes said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
@Mik said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
I see no reason he should live a spartan life because he’s a public servant.
I'm not expecting him to cut all his hair off and walk naked on hot coals.
Like I said, if I accepted this from one of my customers, I'd be fired. Obviously, I'm just one of the little people, but if the rules apply to me, why shouldn't they apply to everybody?
The very least he could, and indeed should, have done was disclose the gift.
Chances are, you wouldn't.
I used to think like that, and then I had a chance to run around a bit with several of the docs at MCLNO. Ho-lee Shit! When two companies rent out an entire New Orleans restaurant, with an open free bar...Well, you're living the high life, my friend.
Those guys didn't even think diddle about it. You need to get up in more rarified air.
I bet if Jon had a chance to take a couple of influential congress critters to dinner in Washington, he wouldn't bat an eyelash at a $500 supper for the three of them (I'm probably on the low side).
@Jolly said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
@Doctor-Phibes said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
@Mik said in Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?:
I see no reason he should live a spartan life because he’s a public servant.
I'm not expecting him to cut all his hair off and walk naked on hot coals.
Like I said, if I accepted this from one of my customers, I'd be fired. Obviously, I'm just one of the little people, but if the rules apply to me, why shouldn't they apply to everybody?
The very least he could, and indeed should, have done was disclose the gift.
Chances are, you wouldn't.
I used to think like that, and then I had a chance to run around a bit with several of the docs at MCLNO. Ho-lee Shit! When two companies rent out an entire New Orleans restaurant, with an open free bar...Well, you're living the high life, my friend.
Those guys didn't even think diddle about it. You need to get up in more rarified air.
I bet if Jon had a chance to take a couple of influential congress critters to dinner in Washington, he wouldn't bat an eyelash at a $500 supper for the three of them (I'm probably on the low side).
I'd be willing to bet that I've partied considerably harder on the company dime than most people here. In fact, I'm going to Boca Raton just next week. But there are rules. Accepting free personal stuff from potential customers is a real no-no for us.
And we always need to disclose everything. Once again, that's the point.
