Did Clarence Thomas Do anything Wrong?
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Not sure if it was anything illegal, but as a highly placed government official, he should have known better.
And, even if he wasn't, I would feel pretty weird having a friend of mine pay for all of my vacations for the past 25 years or so.
https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-scotus-undisclosed-luxury-travel-gifts-crow
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That's well dodgy.
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Will most likely come down to something like this:
- Accepting the gifts is not illegal
- Not disclosing those gifts is illegal, a violation of the law (Ethics in Government Act of 1978) that requires such disclosure
Legality aside, as @Doctor-Phibes noted, it's not a good look; and as @taiwan_girl put it, the Justice should have known better.
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Scotus considers itself immune from the ethics in government act on claims of separation of powers, so you get shit like this and there's nothing anyone can do about it short of impeachment.
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Propublica has not been known for total veracity in the past. And Justices are not subject to the same ethic laws as legislators.
It's a hit piece.
Watch for more stuff in the media about how political SCOTUS has become. How awful the conservative justices are. How bad the decisions are. How the Court is denying ____(insert aggrieved class here) their rights.
Basically, anything to focus the country on anything else but the awful job The Resident is doing, sky-rocketing inflation, bank problems and the looming clouds of recession.
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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.
Education is extremely important.
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@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?
If this claim is true, I would genuinely be surprised that a supreme court justice would allow himself to be compromised like this.
Not that any rational person believes Thomas is for sale.
Maybe, but he could certainly be influenced, however sub-consciously.
I'd be fired for doing this in my job, and my job is nowhere near as important as his.
Proud supporter of Plan 2525. Everything you think, do and say will be in the pill you took today.
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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.
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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.
Proud supporter of Plan 2525. Everything you think, do and say will be in the pill you took today.
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@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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@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?
Always remember, Operation Valkyrie was an act of sedition.
Warning: I post things that interest me. Read and comment at your own discretion. -
"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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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.
Always remember, Operation Valkyrie was an act of sedition.
Warning: I post things that interest me. Read and comment at your own discretion. -
@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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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.
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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?
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@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.
