More Ethics Trouble for Clarence Thomas

[ensho]

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/09/clarence-thomas-latest-ethics-trouble


If Clarence Thomas was hoping that liberals might just forget about his cozy ties to a Dallas real estate developer, or his failure for a decade to disclose the hundreds of thousands of dollars his wife earned from a conservative think tank, well, he would be wrong. As President Obama's health care reform bill gets closer and closer to a hearing before the high court, liberal groups are continuing to press for some sort of disciplinary action against Thomas, or at least to force him to recuse himself from hearing the health care case.

-snip-

Unfortunately, thanks the the separation of powers doctrine, there really isn't a higher authority when it comes to the Supreme Court. Some members of Congress are trying to change that. Also this week, the Alliance for Justice has been trying to rally support for congressional hearings on a bill introduced earlier this year that would force Supreme Court justices to be covered by the code of conduct that applies to other federal judges and create new procedures for when a justice may have to recuse from hearing a case. Given that virtually no Republicans have signed on, this law, too, has no hope of going anywhere, at least not any time soon. But the Democrats behind it get points for trying anyway.

*As a completely unrelated side note, Thomas came to mind as I was reading this article earlier this week about how NASCAR has started installing solar panels and recycling and employing flocks of sheep to mow the track lawns. I have to wonder whether Thomas, a former Monsanto employee, might have second thoughts about his anti-environmental positions now that even NASCAR has gone green. A little-known fact about Thomas is that in his spare time, he and Ginny drive their gas-guzzling, 40-foot custom-built bus to NASCAR races, where they hang out with ordinary Americans who often don't even recognize the Supreme Court's most bitter member. Perhaps some of NASCAR's new-found environmental consciousness will rub off.
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who knew!

[malaise]

1. ReTHUGS didn't appoint him to the court without expecting

to cash in big time. 52-48 - I will never forget that.
I hope he ends up in prison.

[opihimoimoi]

3. Anita was right.... the dude is a PIG.....poor choice for the slot..

A waste of food...mo bettah make' baby time....

KnR #4

[searchingforlight]

7. Anita was robbed.

She was a victim of the prejudice of the times. White men supporting their token black man and party, fearing discovery that they too might be exposed for the same piggish behavior. Look at the era. Look at the attitudes toward women and especially accomplished, black women. She sat there day after day - calm, collected, intelligent responses given to each question. Then she went back to anonymity without a book or movie or TV career ambitions.

[UTUSN]

2. K&R measly #2 for, I learned how to spell "measly" n/t

[Oceansaway]

4. K&R...n/t

[fasttense]

5. Actually there is a lot Congress can do.

They can Impeach the little man and try him for failing to disclose his wife's salary for years and years.

But of course there is this not looking back and always ignoring the crimes of the rich and powerful tradition in the federal government that keeps getting in the way.

[ThomCat]

11. He should be impeached.

He has shown that he doesn't have the integrity to sit on the high court. Scalia, Alito and Roberts should also get impeached for their blatant political activities, and their efforts to transform rights and privileges in this country so that they benefit corporate entities above real people.

[leveymg]

16. No need to impeach him. Clarence is prima facie indictable. Indict Clarence Thomas.

[rhett o rick]

14. LOL, they cant even rescind the Patriot Act. nm

[bobbieinok]

6. Thomas and Scalia in 2000 FL vote case

Each one should have recused self.

Scalia had one son working for firm that argued Bush side in FL, one for firm arguing Bush side at Supreme Court.

Thomas' wife was working for Heritage Foundation to make list of possible people for Bush administration.

But who ever thought GOP and their hitmen believe in their self-righteously touted "rule of law."

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. Sometimes I wonder if America was overpowered from within.

And if I were to write the plot to the story, what a perfect crime if the new conquerors are convinced they're American.

[Quantess]

17. That's close to what is really happening / has happened.

You or someone could write a bestseller about it.

[Botany]

8. maybe he could be linked to a failed solar biz?

n/t

[Coexist]

9. knr

[xchrom]

10. every effort should be made by any one or group to humiliate & discredit this wretched Supreme. nt

[rhett o rick]

13. I dont think Thomas is worried. He knows the left is helpless and the admin is conservative. nm

[Quantess]

15. Slimy bastard.