Supreme Court Corruption (Formerly Clarence Thomas and the Billionaire) (4 Viewers)

[cuddlemonkey]

It seems that a billionaire GOP donor has spent a small fortune on vacations for Ginni and Clarence Thomas.

Clarence Thomas Secretly Accepted Luxury Trips From Major GOP Donor

Island-hopping on a superyacht. Private jet rides around the world. The undisclosed gifts to Thomas have no known precedent in the modern history of the Supreme Court. “It’s incomprehensible to me that someone would do this,” says one former judge.

www.propublica.org

 

[UriUT]

Tribe is a Democratic partisan and he makes idiotic pronouncements. He's not credible.

Laurence H. Tribe - Harvard Law School

Laurence H. Tribe is the Carl M. Loeb University Professor of Constitutional Law Emeritus at Harvard University. The title “University Professor” is Harvard’s highest academic honor, awarded to fewer than 75 professors in the University’s history. Tribe taught at Harvard Law School since 1968...

hls.harvard.edu

Professor of Constitutional Law Emeritus at Harvard University. The title “University Professor” is Harvard’s highest academic honor, awarded to fewer than 75 professors in the University’s history.

Tribe entered Harvard at 16; graduated magna cum laude with a summa cum laude in Mathematics (1962) and magna cum laude in Law (1966); clerked for the California and U.S. Supreme Courts(1966-68); was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1979 and to the American Philosophical Society in 2010; helped write the constitutions of South Africa, the Czech Republic, and the Marshall Islands;

Obviously, he's not as reputable nor accomplished as Michael Tracey.

 

[UriUT]

Lol, a little shade thrown Alito’s way:

Seems like a theme here. They are "originalists" when it fits them. They are morally outraged when it fits them. The ruling isn't law when it doesn't suit them. Smells like.......what is it....no, it's not rule of law....yeah...smells like..... yeah it's definitely authoritarianism.

 

[DaveXA]

Tribe is a Democratic partisan and he makes idiotic pronouncements. He's not credible.

Not that you care, but that's a horrific take.

 

[coldseat]

I'm no fan of his, but is he wrong? I'm not convinced. Is there any Constitutional basis for Congressional oversight of SCOTUS?

If Congress can change the number of judges on the SC, why wouldn't they be able to pass laws on ethics that govern them? It doesn't make any sense that they couldn't. That's just a self-serving opinion by Alito.

 

[SaintForLife]

Laurence H. Tribe - Harvard Law School

Laurence H. Tribe is the Carl M. Loeb University Professor of Constitutional Law Emeritus at Harvard University. The title “University Professor” is Harvard’s highest academic honor, awarded to fewer than 75 professors in the University’s history. Tribe taught at Harvard Law School since 1968...

hls.harvard.edu

Obviously, he's not as reputable nor accomplished as Michael Tracey.

You can read his Tweets and see that he's a far left loon despite his profession.

 

[MT15]

You can read his Tweets and see that he's a far left loon despite his profession.

That’s an opinion. Yes, he has a POV, but he is eminently qualified to comment on this issue.

 

[DaveXA]

If Congress can change the number of judges on the SC, why wouldn't they be able to pass laws on ethics that govern them? It doesn't make any sense that they couldn't. That's just a self-serving opinion my by Alito.

Because each branch has their own ethics offices that adjudicate and enforce ethics rules. The problem with SCOTUS is they don't follow the same ethics rules that other federal courts follow. They need to either make themselves subject to those rules, or Congress needs to step in and codify the ethics rules already in place for other federal courts and require SCOTUS adhere to the ethics rules administered by their ethics offices.

 

[LA - L.A.]

Because each branch has their own ethics offices that adjudicate and enforce ethics rules. The problem with SCOTUS is they don't follow the same ethics rules that other federal courts follow. They need to either make themselves subject to those rules, or Congress needs to step in and codify the ethics rules already in place for other federal courts and require SCOTUS adhere to the ethics rules administered by their ethics offices.

Congress does need to do that and they can do that. Alito is saying Congress can't do that, but Congress can very much do that.

If Congress wanted, they could reduce the Court down to 3 justices in one Congressional session and let the President choose which justices stay on the court. Then in the next Congressional session expand the court back to 9 justices and let the President pick the 6 new justices.

It would be best to avoid that, but something has to be done to check the current Supreme Court because it's currently herding us into fascism.

 

[UriUT]

You can read his Tweets and see that he's a far left loon despite his profession.

You constantly reference Aaron Mate, Greenwald, Tracey, etc and you dare question someone that's as accomplished as Tribe, an expert on Constitutional law? Have you any self awareness?

 

[Optimus Prime]

 

[zztop]

oh look. more non-corruption things

The $267,230 RV Clarence Thomas 'scrimped and saved to afford' was financed by wealthy friend: report

The questions surrounding United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas' financial relationships with wealthy conservative donors sprouted a new tendril over the weekend, this time involving a swankily personalized motor coach that Thomas obtained in 1999."There he is behind the...

www.alternet.org

 

[Optimus Prime]

During his three decades on the Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas has enjoyed steady access to a lifestyle most Americans can only imagine. A cadre of industry titans and ultrawealthy executives have treated him to far-flung vacations aboard their yachts, ushered him into the premium suites at sporting events and sent their private jets to fetch him — including, on more than one occasion, an entire 737. It’s a stream of luxury that is both more extensive and from a wider circle than has been previously understood.

Like clockwork, Thomas’ leisure activities have been underwritten by benefactors who share the ideology that drives his jurisprudence. Their gifts include:

At least 38 destination vacations, including a previously unreported voyage on a yacht around the Bahamas; 26 private jet flights, plus an additional eight by helicopter; a dozen VIP passes to professional and college sporting events, typically perched in the skybox; two stays at luxury resorts in Florida and Jamaica; and one standing invitation to an uber-exclusive golf club overlooking the Atlantic coast.

This accounting of Thomas’ travel, revealed for the first time here from an array of previously unavailable information, is the fullest to date of the generosity that has regularly afforded Thomas a lifestyle far beyond what his income could provide. And it is almost certainly an undercount.

While some of the hospitality, such as stays in personal homes, may not have required disclosure, Thomas appears to have violated the law by failing to disclose flights, yacht cruises and expensive sports tickets, according to ethics experts.

Perhaps even more significant, the pattern exposes consistent violations of judicial norms, experts, including seven current and former federal judges appointed by both parties, told ProPublica.

“In my career I don’t remember ever seeing this degree of largesse given to anybody,” said Jeremy Fogel, a former federal judge who served for years on the judicial committee that reviews judges’ financial disclosures. “I think it’s unprecedented.”……

Clarence Thomas’ 38 Vacations: The Other Billionaires Who Have Treated the Supreme Court Justice to Luxury Travel

The fullest accounting yet shows how Thomas has secretly reaped the benefits from a network of wealthy and well-connected patrons that is far more extensive than previously understood.

www.propublica.org

 

[superchuck500]

It wasn’t just Harlan Crow.

 

[MT15]

If only the GOP cared about integrity any longer we could replace this guy. But they have officially given up on having integrity so they will be silent. They will look the other way, while the Supreme Court is compromised. Nothing will happen unless Democrats get real power.

 

[coldseat]

During his three decades on the Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas has enjoyed steady access to a lifestyle most Americans can only imagine. A cadre of industry titans and ultrawealthy executives have treated him to far-flung vacations aboard their yachts, ushered him into the premium suites at sporting events and sent their private jets to fetch him — including, on more than one occasion, an entire 737. It’s a stream of luxury that is both more extensive and from a wider circle than has been previously understood.

Like clockwork, Thomas’ leisure activities have been underwritten by benefactors who share the ideology that drives his jurisprudence. Their gifts include:

At least 38 destination vacations, including a previously unreported voyage on a yacht around the Bahamas; 26 private jet flights, plus an additional eight by helicopter; a dozen VIP passes to professional and college sporting events, typically perched in the skybox; two stays at luxury resorts in Florida and Jamaica; and one standing invitation to an uber-exclusive golf club overlooking the Atlantic coast.

This accounting of Thomas’ travel, revealed for the first time here from an array of previously unavailable information, is the fullest to date of the generosity that has regularly afforded Thomas a lifestyle far beyond what his income could provide. And it is almost certainly an undercount.

While some of the hospitality, such as stays in personal homes, may not have required disclosure, Thomas appears to have violated the law by failing to disclose flights, yacht cruises and expensive sports tickets, according to ethics experts.

Perhaps even more significant, the pattern exposes consistent violations of judicial norms, experts, including seven current and former federal judges appointed by both parties, told ProPublica.

“In my career I don’t remember ever seeing this degree of largesse given to anybody,” said Jeremy Fogel, a former federal judge who served for years on the judicial committee that reviews judges’ financial disclosures. “I think it’s unprecedented.”……

Clarence Thomas’ 38 Vacations: The Other Billionaires Who Have Treated the Supreme Court Justice to Luxury Travel

The fullest accounting yet shows how Thomas has secretly reaped the benefits from a network of wealthy and well-connected patrons that is far more extensive than previously understood.

www.propublica.org

Thomas' whole judical career can be accurately discribed as "The Grifter". It's apparent that's the only reason he became a judge.

 

[UriUT]

Thomas' whole judical career can be accurately discribed as "The Grifter". It's apparent that's the only reason he became a judge.

He also used his sister as a doormat to political prominence.

THOMAS` SISTER`S LIFE GIVES LIE TO HIS WELFARE FABLE

Everyone remembers Janet Cooke, the Washington Post reporter who won a Pulitzer Prize for a story about a 7-year-old heroin addict. It was a poignant, terrifying tear-jerker of a story. Unfortunate…

www.chicagotribune.com

''She gets mad when the mailman is late with her welfare check. That`s how dependent she is.
''What`s worse is that now her kids feel entitled to the check too. They have no motivation for doing better or getting out of that situation.''

She's like many Americans who are working hard to get by. Her son was in the navy.

The thing that really bugs me is how he shirts on the very system that helps him elevate his status. He actively tries to destroy it.

There is a Netflix show call ugly delicious. David chang interviews a Vietnamese man who immigrated in the 70/80s and the topic of immigration comes up. The guy says he wants more restrictive immigration because he views immigrants today to be lazy. Wtf....

 

[UriUT]

It wasn’t just Harlan Crow.

But the man loves to park his RV in Walmart parking lots when he travels.....

 

[cuddlemonkey]

He also used his sister as a doormat to political prominence.

THOMAS` SISTER`S LIFE GIVES LIE TO HIS WELFARE FABLE

Everyone remembers Janet Cooke, the Washington Post reporter who won a Pulitzer Prize for a story about a 7-year-old heroin addict. It was a poignant, terrifying tear-jerker of a story. Unfortunate…

www.chicagotribune.com

She's like many Americans who are working hard to get by. Her son was in the navy.

The thing that really bugs me is how he shirts on the very system that helps him elevate his status. He actively tries to destroy it.

There is a Netflix show call ugly delicious. David chang interviews a Vietnamese man who immigrated in the 70/80s and the topic of immigration comes up. The guy says he wants more restrictive immigration because he views immigrants today to be lazy. Wtf....

Everyone should watch Ugly Delicious. It's fascinating.