Supreme Court Corruption (Formerly Clarence Thomas and the Billionaire) (1 Viewer)

[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

 

[DaveXA]

The Constitution gives the legislative the right to make laws regarding criminal activity and punishment. I don't know of any part of the Constitution that explicitly states that a president is exempt from laws enacted by the legislative branch. Sure, the legislative branch can't make laws exclusively targeting the president, but they can clearly express in a law that applies to everyone that the president is not exempt. I don't see anything in the Constitution that explicitly forbids that.

The Supreme Court by saying that the president is immune from the laws Congress makes is actually violating the separation of powers by infringing on the power that the Constitution explicitly gives solely to Congress. No one who helped write the Constitution wanted anyone in any branch of government to be immune from the law. In fact, they all wanted just the opposite to avoid tyranny.

I guess we'll have to wait and see how it's litigated. I don't know how those arguments would hold up in court.

 

[LA - L.A.]

I guess we'll have to wait and see how it's litigated. I don't know how those arguments would hold up in court.

That's part of the problem. The Supreme Court has slowly given itself more power than it was intended to have and argues that no one can do anything about it. Impeachment is not a useful check on the Supreme Court. We need to add a better system of checks on the Supreme Court, but of course the Supreme Court will do everything it can to stop that.

Smart dictators looking to stage a non-military coup always start by subverting the highest court in the land.

 

[DaveXA]

That's part of the problem. The Supreme Court has slowly given itself more power than it was intended to have and argues that no one can do anything about it. Impeachment is not a useful check on the Supreme Court. We need to add a better system of checks on the Supreme Court.

I don't disagree there. I guess the question is how do we get there when SCOTUS sure seems reluctant to self-police themselves. You'd have to have a unified Congress to pull off making those changes to SCOTUS accountability.

 

[LA - L.A.]

I don't disagree there. I guess the question is how do we get there when SCOTUS sure seems reluctant to self-police themselves. You'd have to have a unified Congress to pull off making those changes to SCOTUS accountability.

The only way to take it out of the Supreme Court's hands is with Constitutional Amendments which is an uphill battle to say the least. Their disapproval rating is sitting at 52% and slowly rising, so maybe a tipping point is closer than we think.

 

[DaveXA]

The only way to take it out of the Supreme Court's hands is with Constitutional Amendments which is an uphill battle to say the least. Their disapproval rating is sitting at 52% and slowly rising, so maybe a tipping point is closer than we think.

Yeah, it would have to get to 70-80% before Congress gets worried enough to do anything about it. The thing is, they make enough "correct" decisions that it sort of keeps the numbers from getting to bad.

I would say that Roe was always a bit shaky in its core legal reasoning for being the standard for abortion access. I stilk don't think that's a settled issue and the fallout from Roe hasn't been fully worked through yet. I think there will be more in that area coming.

The contours of the Presidenial immunity assertions of the Court are not so clear imo and we'll seem more tinkering in that respect.

I do think SCOTUS has to answer for their lack of accountability though.

 

[MT15]

Gorsuch tells Biden to be “careful” after granting him full immunity for official acts.

 

[LA - L.A.]

Gorsuch tells Biden to be “careful” after granting him full immunity for official acts.

Responding to Gorsuch's deceitful rhetorical question in that interview. Abso-fricking-lutely yes, Gorsuch. We want an independent judiciary that looks out for everyone's rights and protects the disempowered from the most powerful people in society. But brother, you and your Heritage foundation buddies on the Supreme Court are doing the opposite of that.

You're taking away more power from those who don't have much at all and giving it to the people who already have too much power and are abusing their power. You and your Heritage Foundation buddies on the court are the problem, you are not the solution. Right now you get to do whatever the hell you want, that has got to change so that we can get back to actually protecting the disempowered people from the corrupt and abusive powerful people that you are working for.

Gorsuch is the most dangerous and fascist of all of the Heritage Foundation justices on the Supreme Court. I think it's already clear, but it will become undeniably clear over the next few years, especially if we don't find a way to hold them accountable for corruption.

 

[SFIDC3]

Gorsuch tells Biden to be “careful” after granting him full immunity for official acts.

This is exactly why reforms are needed. I'm sorry I find his response utterly disgusting, he actually helps make Biden's case (see what I did here?) for reforms look undeniable....

Embarrassing to have this fascist shill on any court....

 

[Optimus Prime]

Justice Thomas accepted previously undisclosed private jet flight to New Zealand, Senate Democrat says | CNN Politics

Justice Clarence Thomas took a previously undisclosed flight on a private jet owned by GOP megadonor Harlan Crow in 2010, a top Senate Democrat said Monday – the latest in a series of revelations that come as the high court is under pressure to strengthen its ethics practices.

www.cnn.com

 

[GrandAdmiral]

Justice Thomas accepted previously undisclosed private jet flight to New Zealand, Senate Democrat says | CNN Politics

Justice Clarence Thomas took a previously undisclosed flight on a private jet owned by GOP megadonor Harlan Crow in 2010, a top Senate Democrat said Monday – the latest in a series of revelations that come as the high court is under pressure to strengthen its ethics practices.

www.cnn.com

Where's my shocked gif...

 

[GrandAdmiral]

Gorsuch tells Biden to be “careful” after granting him full immunity for official acts.

"I'm not going to get into political talk in an election..." and he keeps talking.

 

[MT15]

"I'm not going to get into political talk in an election..." and he keeps talking.

He’s just as bad as Thomas and Alito, IMO.

 

[LA - L.A.]

He’s just as bad as Thomas and Alito, IMO.

I think Gorsuch is the worst one, because he's much better at hiding in the grass and he's packing a lot more venomous intentions than the others. If Trump wins the election, Gorsuch will be the lead in declaring that the Constitution allows millions of unauthorized immigrants to be detained in force labor camps indefinitely while awaiting deportation. Gorsuch is the secret poster child for the white nationalists, corporate-christo fascists.

 

[GrandAdmiral]

I think Gorsuch is the worst one, because he's much better at hiding in the grass and he's packing a lot more venomous intentions than the others. If Trump wins the election, Gorsuch will be the lead in declaring that the Constitution allows millions of unauthorized immigrants to be detained in force labor camps indefinitely while awaiting deportation. Gorsuch is the secret poster child for the white nationalists, corporate-christo fascists.

If Trump wins, I see Roberts stepping down with Gorsuch replacing him.

 

[DaveXA]

If Trump wins, I see Roberts stepping down with Gorsuch replacing him.

Wouldn't be surprised if Thomas retires also.

 

[LA - L.A.]

If Trump wins, I see Roberts stepping down with Gorsuch replacing him.

That's probably what they'd try. I don't know if Gorsuch can be reappointed as Chief Justice without confirmation by the Senate. It's an appointed position and not just a promotional position.

 

[Sendai]

Wouldn't be surprised if Thomas retires also.

Not if it’s a Democratic Senate.

If Trump wins, I see Roberts stepping down with Gorsuch replacing him.

Depends on the composition of the Senate.

 

[Sendai]

That's probably what they'd try. I don't know if Gorsuch can be reappointed as Chief Justice without confirmation by the Senate. It's an appointed position and not just a promotional position.

Needs senate confirmation