Post by: Kat Kid on April 18, 2023, 09:00:25 AM
https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-harlan-crow-real-estate-scotus
I know Spracs has changed his tune quite a bit. sys? dax? anyone?
How can we say with a straight face that we are a nation of laws when no one believes that anything will come of this.
Does anyone even think that Justice Thomas (his title, this is important) will receive so much as a rebuke from Chief Justice Roberts (important title)?
Last heard from Washington, D.C. on the Judiciary Committee was Senator Durbin (those titles again) publicly hoping Chief Justice Roberts would look in to it.
It was hard to hear this whining over the sounds of octogenarian Senator Feinstein being spoon fed and coaxed out of one of her spells of dementia.
What a great and healthy set of institutions!
Post by: wetwillie on April 18, 2023, 09:02:09 AM
Post by: Rage Against the McKee on April 18, 2023, 09:07:45 AM
I’m sure they will use the heart attack gun on him like they did Scalia
I heard they actually got Scalia with good old fashioned prayer.
Post by: Cire on April 18, 2023, 09:12:48 AM
This is as corrupt/unethical as it gets. Regardless if you could prove he was influenced or not, he likely broke rules/laws in not reporting all this.
Gilded Age II
Post by: chum1 on April 18, 2023, 09:17:18 AM
IMO, he broke the law and will never be charged.
Post by: Kat Kid on April 18, 2023, 09:19:22 AM
Post by: Pete on April 18, 2023, 09:46:06 AM
Post by: Kat Kid on April 18, 2023, 10:41:58 AM
I think he is very angry that anyone is questioning him and his motives. His motives cannot be questioned because he is a Supreme Court justice and thus did nothing wrong.
Post by: CNS on April 18, 2023, 10:46:51 AM
I don't know how long people can maintain this level of contradiction and cynicism. How long can you string along the average American saying things are fair and laws are worth following?
“Fair and balanced “ is still going strong, so I assume quite some time longer for many. Others know and are ok with it as long as their team is owning the other.
As far as actual institutions, they only work when convenient for one of the parties, or both. We are in a post consequences era. The people have ceased to matter for the most part.
Post by: sonofdaxjones on April 18, 2023, 10:56:25 AM
Very strange (okay, not really) that #blueanon is all up on CT, but doesn't seem all that interested in the various SARS that have rolled in from Treasury about the Biden's.
Post by: Kat Kid on April 18, 2023, 11:13:29 AM
Clinton syndicate? Lock em up!
Bush family? Lock em up!
Obama? Lock em up!
Trump? Lock em up!
Biden crime family? Sure why not.
Post by: wetwillie on April 18, 2023, 11:16:00 AM
Post by: Spracne on April 18, 2023, 11:19:34 AM
What recourse does the constitution provide to remove a Supreme Court Justice?
Only impeachment.
Post by: Spracne on April 18, 2023, 11:20:38 AM
Sign me up for a the Biden and Thomas impeachment hearings. I also demand that a Hollywood level production company be brought in for both. If there's one thing that keeps #blueanon glued to their TV's and engaged, and that's a solid production.
Very strange (okay, not really) that #blueanon is all up on CT, but doesn't seem all that interested in the various SARS that have rolled in from Treasury about the Biden's.
I would take this trade today, if offered. Harris gets to nominate his replacement. Worth it, to me.
Post by: wetwillie on April 18, 2023, 11:28:42 AM
What recourse does the constitution provide to remove a Supreme Court Justice?
Only impeachment.
So is that simply a majority vote in both houses?
Post by: Spracne on April 18, 2023, 11:30:39 AM
What recourse does the constitution provide to remove a Supreme Court Justice?
Only impeachment.
So is that simply a majority vote in both houses?
simple majority in the house to impeach. Conviction (actually kicking him out) requires 2/3 in the senate.
Post by: wetwillie on April 18, 2023, 11:34:34 AM
Post by: Institutional Control on April 18, 2023, 11:36:30 AM
Not sure even the house piece is feasible
It's not currently.
Post by: Spracne on April 18, 2023, 11:48:05 AM
Not sure even the house piece is feasible
Exactly. That is why there will only be some handwringing on the left but nothing will come of it. And Thomas will only dig in further.
Post by: BIG APPLE CAT on April 18, 2023, 12:23:00 PM
Post by: CNS on April 18, 2023, 12:50:13 PM
Not sure even the house piece is feasible
Exactly. That is why there will only be some handwringing on the left but nothing will come of it. And Thomas will only dig in further.
Thought exercise: What/where is the new red line?
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 01:02:52 PM
It was hard to hear this whining over the sounds of octogenarian Senator Feinstein being spoon fed and coaxed out of one of her spells of dementia.
What a great and healthy set of institutions!
the dishonest and self-serving attacks by some dems on senator feinstein anger me a great deal. i would hope you'd be better than to repeat slander regarding her mental health to further whatever you interpret your partisan ends to be. she's been a very good senator and was elected by the voters of california to represent them until 2024. she owes herr loyalty to those voters, not to the screeching activists salivating to install their preferred alternative.
Post by: Rage Against the McKee on April 18, 2023, 01:07:27 PM
maybe CT will cause some law abiding citizen to reasonably fear for their life and will have no choice but to stand their ground against him.
Yeah, just need to invite him to a bunch of parties and keep giving him the wrong address.
Post by: Spracne on April 18, 2023, 01:21:13 PM
It was hard to hear this whining over the sounds of octogenarian Senator Feinstein being spoon fed and coaxed out of one of her spells of dementia.
What a great and healthy set of institutions!
the dishonest and self-serving attacks by some dems on senator feinstein anger me a great deal. i would hope you'd be better than to repeat slander regarding her mental health to further whatever you interpret your partisan ends to be. she's been a very good senator and was elected by the voters of california to represent them until 2024. she owes herr loyalty to those voters, not to the screeching activists salivating to install their preferred alternative.
Feinstein needs to step down immediately. Her health is failing, and now that Republicans are blocking the Dems from appointing a different Dem to her spot on the Judiciary Committee, Biden can't get any new judges appointed. That's a big deal. Thank you for your service, but please step aside. Don't be RBG2.
@CNS On a separate note, the new red line is, "Yeah, well what are you gonna do about it, huh? HUH?"
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 01:22:22 PM
Feinstein needs to step down immediately.
eff off, you ignorant hack.
Post by: Spracne on April 18, 2023, 01:22:59 PM
Feinstein needs to step down immediately.
eff off, you ignorant hack.
Well, that's one way to structure an argument.
Post by: wetwillie on April 18, 2023, 01:24:25 PM
Post by: Kat Kid on April 18, 2023, 01:26:42 PM
It was hard to hear this whining over the sounds of octogenarian Senator Feinstein being spoon fed and coaxed out of one of her spells of dementia.
What a great and healthy set of institutions!
the dishonest and self-serving attacks by some dems on senator feinstein anger me a great deal. i would hope you'd be better than to repeat slander regarding her mental health to further whatever you interpret your partisan ends to be. she's been a very good senator and was elected by the voters of california to represent them until 2024. she owes herr loyalty to those voters, not to the screeching activists salivating to install their preferred alternative.
lol
I don't think Katie Porter is as great as some on the left do (and apparently she has some Klobuchar tendencies in her personal life) but Feinstein is clearly not able to fulfill her duties. It isn't me saying she isn't mentally fit, it has been repeatedly alleged by her own staff and others that have to try to coach her through her days as one of the two senators representing the biggest state in the nation. I know she is your kind of dem, but come on.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/12/dianne-feinstein-condition-senate-return-00091765
Post by: steve dave on April 18, 2023, 01:38:38 PM
Post by: BIG APPLE CAT on April 18, 2023, 01:48:51 PM
It was hard to hear this whining over the sounds of octogenarian Senator Feinstein being spoon fed and coaxed out of one of her spells of dementia.
What a great and healthy set of institutions!
the dishonest and self-serving attacks by some dems on senator feinstein anger me a great deal. i would hope you'd be better than to repeat slander regarding her mental health to further whatever you interpret your partisan ends to be. she's been a very good senator and was elected by the voters of california to represent them until 2024. she owes herr loyalty to those voters, not to the screeching activists salivating to install their preferred alternative.
hasn't she already missed like 60+ votes this session? That doesn't sound like she is providing much representation to anyone.
Post by: Dugout DickStone on April 18, 2023, 01:49:11 PM
thomas' wife is a qannon crazy person which should be far more than is needed to remove him from whatever it is he does
and she's obese but that may not be enough...
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 01:51:44 PM
Feinstein is clearly not able to fulfill her duties. It isn't me saying she isn't mentally fit, it has been repeatedly alleged by her own staff
neither of those statements is true. all the rumors about her mental health are anon sourced rumors and none of them come from her own staff (instead, her staff denies those rumors on the record).
over the time frame when people have pursued this whisper campaign she's given several public interviews and generally comes off as a fair bit more cogent than biden.
btw, not sure where you get porter's name from. newsom would not appoint porter if feinstein resigned.
Post by: steve dave on April 18, 2023, 01:56:28 PM
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 01:59:06 PM
hasn't she already missed like 60+ votes this session? That doesn't sound like she is providing much representation to anyone.
she has shingles and has missed most of march due to that. a disease that has nothing at all to do with mental health and is not directly related to age. my understanding is that shingles is very painful, but not otherwise usually a serious condition.
none of the votes she missed was consequential and i expect that if her vote was needed she would be able to cast it. obviously, if her case is more complicated and she is unable to ever return to the senate floor, that would be a different situation that might require her to take action. but that is not the case or the expectation currently.
incidentally, i believe fetterman and mcconnell have missed more time due to health concerns than feinstein this session.
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 01:59:57 PM
I have zero feinstein opinion but "comes off as a fair bit more cogent than biden" is a lmao'er of a phrase
look, they're all very old.
Post by: CNS on April 18, 2023, 02:13:48 PM
I need to see a doctor's note just like any other employer would for any employee missing a crazy amount of time.
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 02:20:37 PM
It's pretty crazy that elective representatives can miss 60+ days.
60 votes does not equal 60 days.
Post by: steve dave on April 18, 2023, 02:39:39 PM
I have zero feinstein opinion but "comes off as a fair bit more cogent than biden" is a lmao'er of a phrase
look, they're all very old.
that's true
Post by: yoga-like_abana on April 18, 2023, 03:01:05 PM
Post by: Kat Kid on April 18, 2023, 03:01:25 PM
Feinstein is clearly not able to fulfill her duties. It isn't me saying she isn't mentally fit, it has been repeatedly alleged by her own staff
neither of those statements is true. all the rumors about her mental health are anon sourced rumors and none of them come from her own staff (instead, her staff denies those rumors on the record).
over the time frame when people have pursued this whisper campaign she's given several public interviews and generally comes off as a fair bit more cogent than biden.
btw, not sure where you get porter's name from. newsom would not appoint porter if feinstein resigned.
She's running for Feinstein's seat.
Post by: Kat Kid on April 18, 2023, 03:05:10 PM
Feinstein is clearly not able to fulfill her duties. It isn't me saying she isn't mentally fit, it has been repeatedly alleged by her own staff
neither of those statements is true. all the rumors about her mental health are anon sourced rumors and none of them come from her own staff (instead, her staff denies those rumors on the record).
over the time frame when people have pursued this whisper campaign she's given several public interviews and generally comes off as a fair bit more cogent than biden.
btw, not sure where you get porter's name from. newsom would not appoint porter if feinstein resigned.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/dianne-feinstein-senate-17079487.php
"Four U.S. senators, including three Democrats, as well as three former Feinstein staffers and the California Democratic member of Congress told The Chronicle in recent interviews that her memory is rapidly deteriorating. They said it appears she can no longer fulfill her job duties without her staff doing much of the work required to represent the nearly 40 million people of California."
Post by: MakeItRain on April 18, 2023, 03:05:53 PM
I don't know how long people can maintain this level of contradiction and cynicism. How long can you string along the average American saying things are fair and laws are worth following?
Easy when the average American couldn't be bothered to give a crap. I shrug because we can't even get white people to stop hunting women and children.
This is significantly more corrupt than Iran Contra but the country has changed.
Post by: MakeItRain on April 18, 2023, 03:07:08 PM
I wouldn’t assume he is capable of shame.
I think he is very angry that anyone is questioning him and his motives. His motives cannot be questioned because he is a Supreme Court justice and thus did nothing wrong.
To be fair, it appears he had this mindset before he became a supreme court justice.
Post by: Kat Kid on April 18, 2023, 03:08:49 PM
I wouldn’t assume he is capable of shame.
I think he is very angry that anyone is questioning him and his motives. His motives cannot be questioned because he is a Supreme Court justice and thus did nothing wrong.
To be fair, it appears he had this mindset before he became a supreme court justice.
I agree, but it has probably gotten worse and everyone else respects the office so the trick works a lot better.
Post by: MakeItRain on April 18, 2023, 03:09:07 PM
Feinstein needs to step down immediately.
eff off, you ignorant hack.
Wow, dude is actually serious about this
Post by: MakeItRain on April 18, 2023, 03:12:29 PM
hasn't she already missed like 60+ votes this session? That doesn't sound like she is providing much representation to anyone.
she has shingles and has missed most of march due to that. a disease that has nothing at all to do with mental health and is not directly related to age. my understanding is that shingles is very painful, but not otherwise usually a serious condition.
none of the votes she missed was consequential and i expect that if her vote was needed she would be able to cast it. obviously, if her case is more complicated and she is unable to ever return to the senate floor, that would be a different situation that might require her to take action. but that is not the case or the expectation currently.
incidentally, i believe fetterman and mcconnell have missed more time due to health concerns than feinstein this session.
You're arguing that she's serving her constituency so she's fine and you're making that argument by saying she's missed no votes of significance but could vote if she needed to. Am I getting that correct?
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 03:17:42 PM
She's running for Feinstein's seat.
yeah and if feinstein resigned, then newsom would appoint a replacement, which would cut her campaign off at the knees.
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 03:23:12 PM
"Four U.S. senators, including three Democrats, as well as three former Feinstein staffers and the California Democratic member of Congress told The Chronicle in recent interviews that her memory is rapidly deteriorating. They said it appears she can no longer fulfill her job duties without her staff doing much of the work required to represent the nearly 40 million people of California."
like i said, the attacks are all anon and refutations are all on the record.
Post by: kim carnes on April 18, 2023, 03:51:52 PM
Post by: MakeItRain on April 18, 2023, 07:41:02 PM
"Four U.S. senators, including three Democrats, as well as three former Feinstein staffers and the California Democratic member of Congress told The Chronicle in recent interviews that her memory is rapidly deteriorating. They said it appears she can no longer fulfill her job duties without her staff doing much of the work required to represent the nearly 40 million people of California."
like i said, the attacks are all anon and refutations are all on the record.
Are those attacks or observations? You expect someone to go on record with the observation that her memory is slipping?
Maybe you missed it, I'll ask again. Are you contending that Feinstein is serving her constituency by what you claimed as missing votes because they aren't as consequential?
Post by: Kat Kid on April 18, 2023, 07:44:12 PM
kk, you are a fervent supporter of a class of politicians that have espoused some of the dumbest crap anyone has ever heard. you have a lot of gall to come in here and question the mental ability of an accomplished lawmaker such as senator feinstein and truthfully, you look like an a-hole.Heh
Post by: Kat Kid on April 18, 2023, 07:44:43 PM
Ok then."Four U.S. senators, including three Democrats, as well as three former Feinstein staffers and the California Democratic member of Congress told The Chronicle in recent interviews that her memory is rapidly deteriorating. They said it appears she can no longer fulfill her job duties without her staff doing much of the work required to represent the nearly 40 million people of California."
like i said, the attacks are all anon and refutations are all on the record.
Post by: Spracne on April 18, 2023, 07:44:50 PM
Post by: wetwillie on April 18, 2023, 07:46:40 PM
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 07:48:43 PM
Maybe you missed it, I'll ask again. Are you contending that Feinstein is serving her constituency by what you claimed as missing votes because they aren't as consequential?
i think what i've posted is reasonably clearly written and should be comprehensible to most readers without additional clarification.
Post by: sonofdaxjones on April 18, 2023, 07:57:25 PM
What an indictment against the intellectual capacity of the K-State grad.
Goodness gracious
Spracs usual inability to follow along and comprehend noted and accepted.
Post by: MakeItRain on April 18, 2023, 07:58:55 PM
Maybe you missed it, I'll ask again. Are you contending that Feinstein is serving her constituency by what you claimed as missing votes because they aren't as consequential?
i think what i've posted is reasonably clearly written and should be comprehensible to most readers without additional clarification.
So yes, that's what you think.
https://buffalonews.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/why-sen-feinsteins-absence-is-a-big-problem-for-democrats/article_b49f9cee-f203-5f96-8ab9-dce09d5bf6ea.html
Quote
The statement came shortly after a member of California's House delegation, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, called on her to step down, saying it is "unacceptable" for her to miss votes to confirm judges who could be weighing in on abortion rights, a key Democratic priority.
Quote
Since February, Feinstein has missed more than 50 votes. Her absence on the Judiciary Committee means that Democrats can only confirm judges who have some Republican support because Democrats only have a one-seat majority on the panel.Final quote, from known progressive Dick Durbin
Quote
The committee chairman, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has acknowledged that the pace of confirmations has slowed.
"I can't consider nominees in these circumstances because a tie vote is a losing vote in committee," Durbin told CNN.
There are currently 12 federal judge nominees whom Democrats say they have been unable to advance because of Feinstein's absence. It is not clear how many would have Republican support.
Post by: MakeItRain on April 18, 2023, 08:03:57 PM
What the heck is going on here?
A weird and unnecessarily angry deflection from Uncle Clarence using the supreme court bench to get financial favors from political influencers.
Republicans now have lobbyists in all three branches of the federal government. And for some reason we're discussing apparently the one old person in politics who should be exempt from people discussing whether or not she's fit to do her job.
Post by: sonofdaxjones on April 18, 2023, 08:24:25 PM
Wherever you go there’s always tens of millions of foreign based dollars flowing into #blueanon favorites.
Not to mention the Biden Admin is literally the home of Obama Admin Kstreeters
FFS, just a giant hyper partisan derp
Post by: Spracne on April 18, 2023, 08:25:02 PM
Maybe you missed it, I'll ask again. Are you contending that Feinstein is serving her constituency by what you claimed as missing votes because they aren't as consequential?
i think what i've posted is reasonably clearly written and should be comprehensible to most readers without additional clarification.
So yes, that's what you think.
https://buffalonews.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/why-sen-feinsteins-absence-is-a-big-problem-for-democrats/article_b49f9cee-f203-5f96-8ab9-dce09d5bf6ea.htmlQuoteThe statement came shortly after a member of California's House delegation, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, called on her to step down, saying it is "unacceptable" for her to miss votes to confirm judges who could be weighing in on abortion rights, a key Democratic priority.QuoteSince February, Feinstein has missed more than 50 votes. Her absence on the Judiciary Committee means that Democrats can only confirm judges who have some Republican support because Democrats only have a one-seat majority on the panel.Final quote, from known progressive Dick DurbinQuoteThe committee chairman, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has acknowledged that the pace of confirmations has slowed.
"I can't consider nominees in these circumstances because a tie vote is a losing vote in committee," Durbin told CNN.
There are currently 12 federal judge nominees whom Democrats say they have been unable to advance because of Feinstein's absence. It is not clear how many would have Republican support.
Yeah. She's 89, already announced her retirement, and is actively preventing judges from being appointed to the federal judiciary. Trump proved to laymen how pivotal that is. Do the right thing, Ms. Feinstein.
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 08:28:24 PM
QuoteThe statement came shortly after a member of California's House delegation, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, called on her to step down, saying it is "unacceptable" for her to miss votes to confirm judges who could be weighing in on abortion rights, a key Democratic priority.QuoteSince February, Feinstein has missed more than 50 votes. Her absence on the Judiciary Committee means that Democrats can only confirm judges who have some Republican support because Democrats only have a one-seat majority on the panel.Final quote, from known progressive Dick DurbinQuoteThe committee chairman, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has acknowledged that the pace of confirmations has slowed.
"I can't consider nominees in these circumstances because a tie vote is a losing vote in committee," Durbin told CNN.
There are currently 12 federal judge nominees whom Democrats say they have been unable to advance because of Feinstein's absence. It is not clear how many would have Republican support.
1. ro khanna can call missing votes unacceptable if he likes, but there hasn't been a judge that hasn't been confirmed because feinstein didn't vote this year and there aren't likely to be in the near future, because: 1) dems have a two vote advantage in the senate, plus the vp, 2) most judges are confirmed with bipartisan support, and 3) feinstein isn't the only senator to miss many of these votes.
2. there are 19 judges already advanced out of committee, which is enough of a backlog that they won't be done getting them confirmed for at least a couple of months, so the idea that her absence is slowing the pace of confirmations is simply false.
3. durbin's crying to the contrary, the judiciary committee has another 13 or 14 judges on the docket to move through and at least 9 or 10 of them are expected to have bipartisan support, so you can add another month to how long feinstein would have to miss before approvals might slow down due to her attendance.
if she's still unable to vote from the floor by july we can revisit the discussion.
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 08:30:28 PM
Yeah. She's 89, already announced her retirement, and is actively preventing judges from being appointed to the federal judiciary.
consider not commenting on matters of which you do not have accurate information.
Post by: Spracne on April 18, 2023, 08:31:59 PM
Yeah. She's 89, already announced her retirement, and is actively preventing judges from being appointed to the federal judiciary.
consider not commenting on matters of which you do not have accurate information.
Sorry, mr. Feinstein gatekeeper guy. Do you know how many vacancies there are on the federal bench? Do you have a sense of the urgency there is to fill them, and how long it takes? I'll avoid name calling, as I am a gentleman (and a scholar).
Post by: Spracne on April 18, 2023, 08:32:17 PM
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 08:41:41 PM
Do you know how many vacancies there are on the federal bench? Do you have a sense of the urgency there is to fill them, and how long it takes?
i just posted the information that the rate of judicial appointments (extremely fast compared to past senates) hasn't slowed during feinstein's absence and wouldn't for at least another 2-3 months. the people pushing that angle are, quite frankly, lying.
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 08:42:06 PM
Like, sys, you are weirdly emotional about this.
yes, it really pisses me off.
Post by: Pete on April 18, 2023, 08:42:09 PM
Post by: sonofdaxjones on April 18, 2023, 08:49:52 PM
Post by: wetwillie on April 18, 2023, 08:49:59 PM
Post by: MakeItRain on April 18, 2023, 09:55:19 PM
Like, sys, you are weirdly emotional about this.
yes, it really pisses me off.
There's been ongoing commentary, for years, on this board about the the ages of Trump, Biden, Mitch, Pelosi, Schumer, and Grassley. There's been multiple instances of people asking for age limits and you've never said jack crap about any of it. It's tough to take this ragey mcrageface act seriously. You're being extremely inconsistent, at best.
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 10:02:15 PM
There's been ongoing commentary, for years, on this board about the the ages of Trump, Biden, Mitch, Pelosi, Schumer, and Grassley. There's been multiple instances of people asking for age limits and you've never said jack crap about any of it. It's tough to take this ragey mcrageface act seriously. You're being extremely inconsistent, at best.
it's fine to say that such or such is too old. asking them to resign for being old is another story. california voters knew how old she was when they elected her.
and saying someone is old and saying they have dementia is not the same thing.
Post by: MakeItRain on April 18, 2023, 10:26:42 PM
Not that it's relevant to the conversation but I'm curious. Did you vote for her?
Post by: sys on April 18, 2023, 11:41:11 PM
Did you vote for her?
i've voted for her in 1992, 2012 and 2018.
Post by: catastrophe on April 18, 2023, 11:43:52 PM
but there hasn't been a judge that hasn't been confirmed because feinstein didn't vote this year and there aren't likely to be in the near future, because:
I just really liked this clause. Carry on, folks.
Post by: MakeItRain on April 19, 2023, 04:47:57 AM
Did you vote for her?
i've voted for her in 1992, 2012 and 2018.
:thumbs:
Post by: Spracne on April 19, 2023, 09:01:15 AM
Post by: Kat Kid on April 19, 2023, 09:27:52 AM
Find somebody who loves you as much as sys loves DiFi.Lol
Post by: Kat Kid on April 19, 2023, 09:56:23 AM
https://www.wsj.com/articles/collateral-damage-of-a-smear-campaign-harlan-crow-clarence-thomas-texas-real-estate-americana-discourse-interview-75c89213?mod=djemalertNEWS
Post by: steve dave on April 19, 2023, 10:06:51 AM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: MakeItRain on April 19, 2023, 11:44:40 AM
Has anyone stopped to consider how unfair the press is being to little ol' Harlan?
https://www.wsj.com/articles/collateral-damage-of-a-smear-campaign-harlan-crow-clarence-thomas-texas-real-estate-americana-discourse-interview-75c89213?mod=djemalertNEWS
Jesus Christ
Post by: Dugout DickStone on April 19, 2023, 03:15:14 PM
Has anyone stopped to consider how unfair the press is being to little ol' Harlan?
https://www.wsj.com/articles/collateral-damage-of-a-smear-campaign-harlan-crow-clarence-thomas-texas-real-estate-americana-discourse-interview-75c89213?mod=djemalertNEWS
Has there been a bigger victim ethos than current GOP?
Post by: sonofdaxjones on April 19, 2023, 03:54:38 PM
Post by: Dugout DickStone on April 19, 2023, 04:13:43 PM
Yes, it's called the entirety of the perpetually enraged #blueanon movement (millions upon millions strong)
The worlds oldest victim (besides trump)
Post by: sonofdaxjones on April 19, 2023, 04:18:47 PM
Yes, it's called the entirety of the perpetually enraged #blueanon movement (millions upon millions strong)
The worlds oldest victim (besides trump)
#blueanon/#blueanonge - A state of constant rage (shown in thread after thread, page after enraged page)
Post by: sys on April 20, 2023, 02:08:23 PM
these last seven just a couple days after durbin made comments that were interpreted to mean that he couldn't move anyone out of committee with feinstein gone.
https://twitter.com/ringwiss/status/1649059269147230209
https://twitter.com/ringwiss/status/1649060255869947905
Post by: michigancat on April 25, 2023, 07:36:53 AM
Post by: Kat Kid on April 25, 2023, 07:58:11 AM
I just assume that all of these people are crooked, but they don’t even seem to mind their manners any more. We are fully in the crap with the door open part of our relationship with our rotten institutions.
Post by: wetwillie on April 25, 2023, 08:06:00 AM
Post by: catastrophe on April 25, 2023, 10:07:48 AM
I don’t think that’s true, I think it’s just easier to expose it.I haven’t been politically aware much since GWB, but there is definitely a different feeling to me in that it seems for literally any “scandal” you can imagine, an overwhelming proportion of a major party will insist the perpetrator is in the right.
That seems like a recent phenomenon. Like we literally now have large swaths of Americans who at one point were terrified their peers might be Communist spies and now are repeating Kremlin talking points word for word and saying they trust Putin more than the US president.
Post by: Spracne on April 25, 2023, 11:04:40 AM
Post by: michigancat on April 25, 2023, 11:10:41 AM
I have to say, these Gorsuch revelations don't really move the needle for me much. The Thomas stuff is much more appalling.Why is that?
Post by: ChiComCat on April 25, 2023, 11:17:15 AM
I have to say, these Gorsuch revelations don't really move the needle for me much. The Thomas stuff is much more appalling.Why is that?
I think they both should be investigated, but Gorsuch is at least selling something of value as opposed to Thomas accepting money for his mom to live rent-free.
Post by: wetwillie on April 25, 2023, 11:19:39 AM
Post by: Spracne on April 25, 2023, 11:23:31 AM
I have to say, these Gorsuch revelations don't really move the needle for me much. The Thomas stuff is much more appalling.Why is that?
The property had been on the market for a long time, and the price kept getting reduced (I don't want to re-read the article, but it dropped some 700K before it sold). Gorsuch was a fractional owner (20%) of the investment vehicle (LLC) that owned the property. The guy who bought it (Duffy) seems to have actually wanted the property as a Colorado resident and fisherman and apparently didn't know Gorsuch had an interest in it until after he was interested in buying it. There's no indication the sale was above FMV. He cleared it through his ethics dept/general counsel before closing. He claims to have never met nor spoken with Gorsuch. I'm also less concerned about Gorsuch's ethics than Thomas's or Alito's. He seems fairly above-board to me. Just my opinions, so take it FWIW. It does seem pretty obvious now that no one is really checking these disclosure forms for compliance. Boxes left unchecked, blanks left unfilled, etc. We should do something about that.
Also, Duffy was/is based in Denver, which is also where Gorsuch sat at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals before being elevated. If Duffy really wanted to cozy up to Gorsuch, he had ample opportunity to do so but didn't. Has still (allegedly) never had any personal interactions with him. I have a hard time believing Gorsuch would give preferential treatment to an entire law firm because of this event.
Full disclosure: one of my former professors is personal friends with Gorsuch and attended his White House ceremony. Said professor also happens to be a biglaw partner. Judges are lawyers and interact almost exclusively with lawyers. It would be difficult or impossible to avoid betraying loyalties given the breadth of their personal networks, so I assume most (but not all!) just stick to the papers in front of them.
I don't mind reporting all of these instances, however, because it might pressure Roberts to actually put emphasis on proper disclosures. Wishful thinking, probably ...
Post by: michigancat on April 25, 2023, 11:38:12 AM
I have to say, these Gorsuch revelations don't really move the needle for me much. The Thomas stuff is much more appalling.Why is that?
The property had been on the market for a long time, and the price kept getting reduced (I don't want to re-read the article, but it dropped some 700K before it sold). Gorsuch was a fractional owner (20%) of the investment vehicle (LLC) that owned the property. The guy who bought it (Duffy) seems to have actually wanted the property as a Colorado resident and fisherman and apparently didn't know Gorsuch had an interest in it until after he was interested in buying it. There's no indication the sale was above FMV. He cleared it through his ethics dept/general counsel before closing. He claims to have never met nor spoken with Gorsuch. I'm also less concerned about Gorsuch's ethics than Thomas's or Alito's. He seems fairly above-board to me. Just my opinions, so take it FWIW. It does seem pretty obvious now that no one is really checking these disclosure forms for compliance. Boxes left unchecked, blanks left unfilled, etc. We should do something about that.
Also, Duffy was/is based in Denver, which is also where Gorsuch sat at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals before being elevated. If Duffy really wanted to cozy up to Gorsuch, he had ample opportunity to do so but didn't. Has still (allegedly) never had any personal interactions with him. I have a hard time believing Gorsuch would give preferential treatment to an entire law firm because of this event.
Full disclosure: one of my former professors is personal friends with Gorsuch and attended his White House ceremony. Said professor also happens to be a biglaw partner. Judges are lawyers and interact almost exclusively with lawyers. It would be difficult or impossible to avoid betraying loyalties given the breadth of their personal networks, so I assume most (but not all!) just stick to the papers in front of them.
I don't mind reporting all of these instances, however, because it might pressure Roberts to actually put emphasis on proper disclosures. Wishful thinking, probably ...
makes a lot of sense, thanks. It still doesn't quite pass the smell test for me.
Post by: ChiComCat on April 25, 2023, 01:50:14 PM
They are both clearly selling something of value. The problem is what they are selling isn’t supposed to be sold.
Selling a house that your mom is still going to live in rent-free until death doesn't strike me as having value to the buyer.
Post by: wetwillie on April 25, 2023, 01:56:33 PM
They are both clearly selling something of value. The problem is what they are selling isn’t supposed to be sold.
Selling a house that your mom is still going to live in rent-free until death doesn't strike me as having value to the buyer.
They are selling influence is what I meant. It just takes different forms. Clarence appears to be worse/doesn’t care about covering his tracks.
Post by: Spracne on April 25, 2023, 02:41:16 PM
They are both clearly selling something of value. The problem is what they are selling isn’t supposed to be sold.
Selling a house that your mom is still going to live in rent-free until death doesn't strike me as having value to the buyer.
They are selling influence is what I meant. It just takes different forms. Clarence appears to be worse/doesn’t care about covering his tracks.
I just see this as entirely different than Thomas's stuff.
Post by: wetwillie on April 25, 2023, 02:47:41 PM
Post by: Dugout DickStone on April 25, 2023, 02:52:07 PM
Just give Neil 20 more years to get to Clarence levels of apathy.
lol right.
Post by: sys on April 25, 2023, 04:07:38 PM
to actually put emphasis on proper disclosures.
this thread argues, convincingly imo, that the disclosure was correct.
https://twitter.com/CrownMaybe/status/1650848856127488008
Post by: Spracne on April 25, 2023, 04:16:57 PM
Post by: sys on April 25, 2023, 04:44:48 PM
I haven't read the Twitter thread, but I did glance at the actual disclosure form and pondered whether it was in fact improper (in Gorsuch's case). I did not read the instructions for the form. The form notes that it was prepared by his accountant, and it occurs to me that an accountant simply reporting receipts would likely view that as a distribution from a LLC.
that's more or less what the thread says.
Post by: Kat Kid on April 27, 2023, 01:37:08 PM
Ok then."Four U.S. senators, including three Democrats, as well as three former Feinstein staffers and the California Democratic member of Congress told The Chronicle in recent interviews that her memory is rapidly deteriorating. They said it appears she can no longer fulfill her job duties without her staff doing much of the work required to represent the nearly 40 million people of California."
like i said, the attacks are all anon and refutations are all on the record.
Chotiner Interviews Sen. Stabenow
I recently spoke by phone with Senator Stabenow. During our conversation, which has been edited for length and clarity, we discussed why she sees double standards at work, her feelings about Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s decision not to retire during Barack Obama’s Presidency, and her sense of Feinstein’s mental capacities.
Why do you think sexism is playing a role in the situation with Senator Feinstein?
Well, first, I really want to back up, Isaac, and just say that Senator Feinstein has been a real icon, a real leader for women in this country. I’ve even admired her since she was mayor of San Francisco. This is somebody who, when I came in, in 2001, was already an incredible leader. We wouldn’t have had a ten-year assault-weapons ban if it had not been for her. There was her effort on the Violence Against Women Act. She has just been a courageous, passionate leader.
To get to your question, she is now eighty-nine, the oldest sitting United States senator. When I came in, Strom Thurmond was in the Senate. He stayed until he was a hundred years old. He wanted to be the first senator to hit a hundred years old, but he literally would lie down in the reading room off of the reception area of the Senate. Then, for voting, they would put him in a wheelchair, and he would come in to vote. I don’t recall people saying that he should step down. I don’t recall it happening to other colleagues of mine who now are also in their late eighties and having various challenges, so I’m sensitive to that.
Do you think your sensitivity arises in part from your own experience of sexism in politics?
I’ve been in the state legislature, the U.S. House, and the U.S. Senate, and certainly I’ve experienced sexism over the years. My antenna goes up when it appears that a woman is being treated differently, when it’s unfair. I’m not saying that Senator Feinstein doesn’t have health challenges, as do male colleagues. I mean, Mr. McConnell was out for how many weeks?
Mitch McConnell has not had multiple colleagues from his own party call his mental faculties into question though, right?
First of all, how many folks are we talking about?
Well, I know multiple Democratic senators told the San Francisco Chronicle that they were concerned or thought that Feinstein couldn’t really do the job anymore, at least not without extensive help from her staff.
I would say that, first of all, we should look at the fact that there’s a primary happening in California, and different people are supporting different candidates. That brings us a different agenda, I think, depending on who you’re supporting and so on. I’ve been very disheartened to see public calls from California members for her to step down. I’m not saying that there aren’t challenges. I’m not saying that. I’m saying that she should be respected like anyone else is respected. And, yes, there are challenges. We also have male colleagues with challenges.
I don’t know if anyone called for Thurmond to resign. He was certainly a joke by the end of his career, but I don’t think he was serving on an evenly divided Judiciary Committee and therefore keeping his party’s nominees from coming up for a vote.
We could go back and look at the various votes that came up with Senator Thurmond. He had a full-time male nurse with him and was in a very elderly, challenged situation when he was here. But let me go to the Judiciary situation as well. What should be acknowledged is that Senator Feinstein has said she’s not going to run again. She asked Senator Schumer if she could step down while she was gone and he could put someone in. Frankly, Republicans did something unprecedented. Normally, you respect each caucus to make its own decisions on who goes on committees. It could have been very routine.
But we know they’re not going to do that, right? The Republicans are not going to help Democrats.
Well, I know, but that doesn’t mean it’s right.
Of course not.
It’s like we assume that all the bad stuff they do is O.K. You know what I mean? It’s like, well, we know they’re going to be bad. The reason I’m saying that is that if there was someone new who came in and needed committee assignments, do we know if they would be seated? The reality is that we need Senator Feinstein to be back with us, and she wants to be back with us. So, rather than people disrespecting her right now, I would prefer that they were wishing her well and rooting her on to be back with us, which is what she wants.
Offering her thoughts and prayers?
Right, and it doesn’t help her credibility to have that happening.
Her credibility?
Well, I mean in the sense of people in her own party suggesting that she step down or whatever. That’s not helpful. Anybody in elected office—it wouldn’t be helpful to me or anybody. I’m not trying to minimize the situation. It’s a difficult situation.
Let’s say that I’m a Democrat who wants to see my party’s judicial nominees confirmed, and I say, “The most important thing is getting these nominees confirmed, even if Feinstein has had this career.” I don’t totally understand how responding, “Well, when Strom Thurmond two decades ago was a member of another party, people didn’t call for him to resign, so it’s sexist for you to—”
No, no, no. You were asking me how I was reacting in terms of the feelings, and the criticisms, and so on. No, of course. But Senator Feinstein, being responsible, suggested that she be replaced, and Republicans blocked it. The theory is that she resigns and then someone is appointed. It’s not clear if they would even seat that person. We would assume they would have to, but I’m just saying it’s more complicated than people think.
About a decade ago, there was a big debate about whether Ruth Bader Ginsburg should resign. There were a lot of charges of sexism—that this would not have been said about a male Supreme Court Justice. H
ow did you feel about that at the time, and, in hindsight, do you look at that any different?
Well, I thought it was looking forward in terms of the Court. Whether it was a male or female Justice, that was something that people were concerned about. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was . . . there aren’t words to describe how amazing she was and the impact she had. I know some people felt that was sexist. From my perspective, given the fragility of the Court, and the majority, and everything at stake, that was something that I know she looked at and, I think, was certainly something worth discussing. But, again, I would prefer that those kinds of things be private.
What should be private?
I would prefer not to have public calls for people to step down. I don’t think that was helpful with Justice Ginsburg. I would prefer those be conversations—Senator Feinstein is not running again. She resigned. When you asked how I feel about that, for me it’s more about how women are treated publicly, not whether or not it’s legitimate to have that conversation.
You know what I mean? I think it’s very legitimate to have the conversation. I’ve had that conversation with federal judges in Michigan who are eligible for senior status. Me saying, “Hey, right now we’ve got a Democratic President, a Democratic Senate—you should consider that when deciding whether or not to take senior status.”
You’ve actually talked to judges about that?
Well, I just said to consider that as you’re weighing whether or not to take senior status, for people who care about the courts.
You said that you didn’t want public calls, and that it should be more of a private thing. But these are incredibly important public roles. I’m a little wary of saying that holding these jobs is a personal matter. Actually, the most important thing is that you’re one of a hundred or one of nine, and you need to think of yourself that way.
I appreciate what you’re saying. It’s not like somebody owns that seat or should be able to just think of themselves. I understand what you’re saying. But for me, with male colleagues, it’s been private conversations. With Dianne, it’s been very public. That’s all I’m saying. That’s where the antenna goes. It’s not just for me but for other women in the Senate.
You think that’s not because it’s an evenly divided Judiciary Committee with a Democratic President trying to get appointments through?
Well, I wouldn’t say, I mean, I don’t know. I appreciate the evenly divided Senate, of course. I wouldn’t say this is just sexist. I think that obviously there are serious issues here. But how it’s done in terms of public versus private conversations is what causes me to be concerned. With male-colleague concerns raised at various times in either party, because of respect for the colleague, it’s done in private.
When I asked about the three Democratic senators who’d told the Chronicle that they didn’t think Feinstein was mentally up to it, you insinuated that there were primary shenanigans going on. But these are other Democratic senators. Am I right to assume that you don’t think those claims have merit, and that you think she’s fully mentally functional?
I think that she has some challenges, and she is not the only one in the Senate.
I don’t know if that’s the most heartening thing for voters to hear, or a great defense of Dianne Feinstein.
I guess what I would say is that, for me, this is about respecting an iconic woman leader. She’s making choices. She made the choice not to run again, which she decided is in the best interests of her state and of herself. I respect that, and I’m not interested in further analyzing this. Various people have challenges in their lives, various people have various kinds of challenges, and I’m supportive of people handling those how they think they should. That’s enough. ?
Post by: wetwillie on April 27, 2023, 01:46:35 PM
Post by: star seed 7 on April 27, 2023, 01:48:18 PM
Post by: Pete on April 27, 2023, 02:42:41 PM
Kk finally posted the articleI am eating lunch in Jason’s Deli and just LOL’d quite loudly to this.
Post by: sys on April 27, 2023, 04:35:12 PM
i did like that she points out how many of the voices participating in the anti-feinstein whisper campaign have a rooting interest in who will become california's next senator. and right on cue, ro khanna obliges with this inane tweet blaming feinstein's absence for overturning an epa rule. except, of course, biden is president and will veto the bill, rendering feinstein's missing vote meaningless.
so why is khanna tweeting such nonsense? probably not because he has yet to learn of the presidential veto power. more likely because he's endorsed barbara lee's senate candidacy. and unlike porter and schiff, neither of whom have a chance at being selected to replace feinstein if she resigns, lee appears to have a considerably better chance of being appointed to feinstein's seat than she does of being elected to it.
https://twitter.com/RoKhanna/status/1651571775031980032
Post by: Justwin on April 27, 2023, 04:55:41 PM
sen stabenow did a pretty decent job of pushing back, although i wish she'd have pointed the three month backlog of judges already out of committee and the fact that while it might not be exactly what dems' little partisan hearts desire, some republicans have been happy to provide bipartisan support for more moderate judges.
i did like that she points out how many of the voices participating in the anti-feinstein whisper campaign have a rooting interest in who will become california's next senator. and right on cue, ro khanna obliges with this inane tweet blaming feinstein's absence for overturning an epa rule. except, of course, biden is president and will veto the bill, rendering feinstein's missing vote meaningless.
so why is khanna tweeting such nonsense? probably not because he has yet to learn of the presidential veto power. more likely because he's endorsed barbara lee's senate candidacy. and unlike porter and schiff, neither of whom have a chance at being selected to replace feinstein if she resigns, lee appears to have a considerably better chance of being appointed to feinstein's seat than she does of being elected to it.
https://twitter.com/RoKhanna/status/1651571775031980032
So it's ok for Feinstein to be absent if there's a Democratic president, but if a Republican was president, then it would be a problem? Assuming a Republican would not veto the bill.
Post by: sys on April 27, 2023, 05:01:41 PM
So it's ok for Feinstein to be absent if there's a Democratic president, but if a Republican was president, then it would be a problem? Assuming a Republican would not veto the bill.
i would probably still prefer feinstein not resign if there was a republican president, but yes, of course the actual impact of her absence matters.
Post by: Justwin on April 27, 2023, 05:05:55 PM
So it's ok for Feinstein to be absent if there's a Democratic president, but if a Republican was president, then it would be a problem? Assuming a Republican would not veto the bill.
i would probably still prefer feinstein not resign if there was a republican president, but yes, of course the actual impact of her absence matters.
I guess in my world, you're either fit for office or you're not fit for office.
Post by: chum1 on April 27, 2023, 05:41:58 PM
Post by: sonofdaxjones on April 27, 2023, 05:44:25 PM
Post by: Spracne on April 27, 2023, 06:03:57 PM
#blueanon loves their old white fossils, even when they don't know they're resigning and shaking hands with ghosts.
To be clear, it's really just sys who wants to jump DiFi's dusty old bones.
Post by: sys on April 27, 2023, 06:57:30 PM
I guess in my world, you're either fit for office or you're not fit for office.
i guess in my world pulling a trigger is either good or bad, but it sounds like you think it depends on whether it sends the bullet crashing through the soft gelatinous cranium of a newborn babe.
Post by: Kat Kid on April 27, 2023, 07:16:38 PM
So it's ok for Feinstein to be absent if there's a Democratic president, but if a Republican was president, then it would be a problem? Assuming a Republican would not veto the bill.
i would probably still prefer feinstein not resign if there was a republican president, but yes, of course the actual impact of her absence matters.
I guess in my world, you're either fit for office or you're not fit for office.
I know sys hates when I question his motives, but I do think that sometimes his ideology has a pretty strong tip on the scales for when he takes the high road. As sys clearly states above, more moderate judges are a preferable outcome and he likes all of the possible replacements less.
Speaking for myself, I would prefer a robot that voted my exact policy preferences to any flesh and blood human.
Going further, I think even in an extreme case like Roy Moore republicans were 100% correct when they said that they would prefer a monster that voted the right way to a nice dem. The problem was that obviously if you nominate a monster that may lose you power in the short or medium term. I think competency is even less important than bad behavior and usually only applies to the candidate itself and won’t threaten to build much of a narrative unlike say Dobbs or Trump which look likely to prove challenging for Republicans for at least another election cycle across the board.
Post by: CNS on April 27, 2023, 07:37:43 PM
So it's ok for Feinstein to be absent if there's a Democratic president, but if a Republican was president, then it would be a problem? Assuming a Republican would not veto the bill.
i would probably still prefer feinstein not resign if there was a republican president, but yes, of course the actual impact of her absence matters.
I guess in my world, you're either fit for office or you're not fit for office.
Take it to the common ground thread.
Post by: sonofdaxjones on April 27, 2023, 08:57:31 PM
Post by: Justwin on April 28, 2023, 08:35:37 AM
I guess in my world, you're either fit for office or you're not fit for office.
i guess in my world pulling a trigger is either good or bad, but it sounds like you think it depends on whether it sends the bullet crashing through the soft gelatinous cranium of a newborn babe.
We definitely do not agree that pulling a trigger is categorically good or bad.
Post by: Cire on April 28, 2023, 09:08:26 AM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230428/f7fcfcc43d7deed55d34c9d61ba22ea2.jpg)
common ground
Post by: sonofdaxjones on April 28, 2023, 10:19:02 AM
Post by: sys on April 28, 2023, 10:25:49 AM
https://twitter.com/ringwiss/status/1651890151038017540
Post by: sys on April 28, 2023, 10:27:24 AM
Post by: star seed 7 on April 28, 2023, 10:29:44 PM
https://twitter.com/TomCottonAR/status/1652037901524279305
Post by: CNS on May 04, 2023, 11:29:19 AM
Post by: Dugout DickStone on May 04, 2023, 11:33:51 AM
Now being reported that Harlan was paying private school tuition for the kid Clarence was raising. How much more obvious does this need to get?
Apparently gorsuch and sotto presided over cases that their book publisher was directly involved in
these people are so suss
Post by: chum1 on May 04, 2023, 11:46:23 AM
Whatever the case, one of the more irritating aspects is that these people clearly believe in some sense that they are above it all and don't need to be bothered with any of it.
I mean to include all of the justices, too, because all they've ever done is have each other's backs.
Post by: Dugout DickStone on May 04, 2023, 11:50:13 AM
Are these people just completely unfamiliar with fundamental concepts of ethics because they've never had to encounter any before?
Whatever the case, one of the more irritating aspects is that these people clearly believe in some sense that they are above it all and don't need to be bothered with any of it.
I mean to include all of the justices, too, because all they've ever done is have each other's backs.
Thomas absolutely believes: he wouldn't get caught and yes, he is above the rules.
Post by: Dugout DickStone on May 04, 2023, 11:52:44 AM
This actually cost more than his mother'f free rent.
Any case Crow has ANY tangential relationship to that Thomas ruled on is in doubt (not really because eff all of you all you aren't a billionaire or a SC judge so touch grass)
Post by: ChiComCat on May 04, 2023, 12:18:39 PM
Post by: Spracne on May 04, 2023, 12:26:48 PM
Post by: Dugout DickStone on May 04, 2023, 12:39:03 PM
Crow said he was helping at-risk youth :lol:
why make up such an incredibly bullshit and patronizing response? I would just say "oops, you caught us. Glad you didn't find all the other crap. now go eff yourself i'm rich and you are just a taxpayer"
Post by: BIG APPLE CAT on May 04, 2023, 02:24:27 PM
I'd like to see a breakdown of recusals at SCOTUS between conservative and liberal justices.
Ok if I were a judge, my greatest joy would be to stand up and dramatically declare that I must recuse myself from these proceedings. My reason for this is because I watch a lot of law and order SVU and omg when Judith Light must recuse herself boiiinggg
Post by: Dugout DickStone on May 04, 2023, 02:30:58 PM
I'd like to see a breakdown of recusals at SCOTUS between conservative and liberal justices.
Ok if I were a judge, my greatest joy would be to stand up and dramatically declare that I must recuse myself from these proceedings. My reason for this is because I watch a lot of law and order SVU and omg when Judith Light must recuse herself boiiinggg
I bet you could think of several other better things. hammering the gavel and screaming "I will have order" is a goddam treat
Post by: bucket on May 09, 2023, 02:22:01 PM
You should all be ashamed of yourselves!
Post by: steve dave on May 13, 2023, 11:45:52 AM
https://twitter.com/NoahShachtman/status/1657378439253438469
Post by: Spracne on May 13, 2023, 11:51:03 AM
Ope! Sorry. Sys is gonna be pissed at me.
I'm just glad DiFi is back to tackle important issues like ethics regulations regarding emerging technologies like AI.
Post by: Cire on May 15, 2023, 11:23:39 AM
Post by: chum1 on May 15, 2023, 11:28:57 AM
Post by: steve dave on May 16, 2023, 04:29:28 PM
since this is also somehow the feinstein thread I'm posting the weekend at bernies antics story hereHoly crap
https://twitter.com/NoahShachtman/status/1657378439253438469
https://twitter.com/boreskes/status/1658580390053924866
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: BIG APPLE CAT on May 16, 2023, 04:55:25 PM
And then he went on to say that he was on her staff for 5 years and she never bothered to learn his name and didn't treat her staff very well.
Post by: CNS on May 16, 2023, 04:59:32 PM
Post by: wetwillie on May 16, 2023, 05:10:13 PM
Post by: Spracne on May 16, 2023, 06:22:35 PM
Post by: Kat Kid on May 16, 2023, 09:38:52 PM
Post by: chum1 on June 20, 2023, 07:45:10 PM
https://twitter.com/lawrencehurley/status/1671290827245486081
Post by: chum1 on June 21, 2023, 07:05:34 AM
Post by: steve dave on June 21, 2023, 07:58:17 AM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230621/f8b378e9da8c9ec017ab6f0a8ed3ba92.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: wetwillie on June 21, 2023, 08:47:22 AM
Post by: CNS on June 21, 2023, 09:17:20 AM
When I was just a lowly Project Manager I had a subcontractor offer to take me to a cabin in canada that didn't even have electricity, so that we could fish on his 4 guy boat for a few days and my employer said "no". We had a gift policy of nothing exceeding $100 and I didn't even have the power of creating judicial precedence.
Post by: steve dave on June 21, 2023, 09:27:48 AM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: catastrophe on June 21, 2023, 10:07:02 AM
Post by: CNS on June 21, 2023, 10:48:11 AM
Post by: Dugout DickStone on June 21, 2023, 12:50:03 PM
Post by: wetwillie on June 21, 2023, 01:15:51 PM
Post by: Pete on June 21, 2023, 01:41:58 PM
Post by: Dugout DickStone on June 22, 2023, 11:16:36 AM
I'd bet that is not the only trip ol sam has taken.
Well we’ll well
Post by: Dugout DickStone on June 22, 2023, 11:52:11 AM
rumor is that Alito was the leak to prove he was going to do their bidding before they would book his luxury trip to rome
Post by: BIG APPLE CAT on June 22, 2023, 03:09:47 PM
Post by: CNS on June 22, 2023, 03:12:44 PM
Post by: BIG APPLE CAT on June 22, 2023, 03:16:39 PM
Post by: Spracne on June 22, 2023, 03:48:58 PM
They make like $175k or something. They need that extra scratch.
Maybe like 20+ years ago. In 2022 it was $274,200.
Post by: catastrophe on June 22, 2023, 04:01:04 PM
Are SC Justices not compensated handsomely? Like dude you make a lot of money quit being such a thirsty bitch for a tripThey make like all their money from appearances and book deals.
Post by: wetwillie on June 22, 2023, 04:21:45 PM
Post by: OB_Won on June 22, 2023, 04:26:27 PM
I'm surprised it's not a lot more than that.They make like $175k or something. They need that extra scratch.
Maybe like 20+ years ago. In 2022 it was $274,200.
Post by: chum1 on June 22, 2023, 04:27:53 PM
https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/22/politics/alito-barrett-supreme-court-ethics-travel/index.html
rumor is that Alito was the leak to prove he was going to do their bidding before they would book his luxury trip to rome
In spite of all the finger pointing at dems by pubs over the leak, I definitely remember some convincing arguments that pubs had more to gain from the leak than dems.
Post by: Dugout DickStone on June 22, 2023, 05:14:37 PM
Post by: MakeItRain on June 23, 2023, 12:34:24 AM
I'm surprised it's not a lot more than that.They make like $175k or something. They need that extra scratch.
Maybe like 20+ years ago. In 2022 it was $274,200.
The president makes $400,000 and like cat said, they make a ton of money from speaking appearances
Post by: OB_Won on June 23, 2023, 02:27:41 PM
Maybe they wouldn't be so apt to take bribes if they made a realistic salary? Probably not since most people of power can never have enough money. I just find it interesting that 9 of the most powerful people in the world are making the salary of a commercial airline pilot or CFO/COO at a small-medium business.I'm surprised it's not a lot more than that.They make like $175k or something. They need that extra scratch.
Maybe like 20+ years ago. In 2022 it was $274,200.
The president makes $400,000 and like cat said, they make a ton of money from speaking appearances
Post by: catastrophe on June 23, 2023, 03:00:08 PM
Post by: OB_Won on June 23, 2023, 03:19:11 PM
I don’t think there’s any amount the taxpayers could compensate them that would make them less likely to take a bribe.Without a doubt. Regardless, it's probably not realistic to expect the average tax payer to agree they should be making well over $1M per year. They're making that anyway with book deals, speeches, appearances, etc. Just seems odd they're expected to have side hustles. Side note, I didn't realize they get paid for life, which is niiiice.
Post by: Rage Against the McKee on June 23, 2023, 03:32:40 PM
I don’t think there’s any amount the taxpayers could compensate them that would make them less likely to take a bribe.Without a doubt. Regardless, it's probably not realistic to expect the average tax payer to agree they should be making well over $1M per year. They're making that anyway with book deals, speeches, appearances, etc. Just seems odd they're expected to have side hustles. Side note, I didn't realize they get paid for life, which is niiiice.
Yeah, but most of them choose to work until they are dead, anyway. They definitely aren't our brightest.
Post by: mocat on June 23, 2023, 03:45:26 PM
I don’t think there’s any amount the taxpayers could compensate them that would make them less likely to take a bribe.Without a doubt. Regardless, it's probably not realistic to expect the average tax payer to agree they should be making well over $1M per year. They're making that anyway with book deals, speeches, appearances, etc. Just seems odd they're expected to have side hustles. Side note, I didn't realize they get paid for life, which is niiiice.
Yeah, but most of them choose to work until they are dead, anyway. They definitely aren't our brightest.
you don't get free vacations when you're retired, though
Post by: catastrophe on June 23, 2023, 04:23:34 PM
Post by: Pete on June 23, 2023, 10:33:03 PM
Post by: MakeItRain on June 24, 2023, 11:45:32 AM
I have to tell you, in hind sight, maybe Anita Hill was right?!?!
There's a current podcast about Thomas, not about the stuff now, but his upbringing and it concludes with the confirmation hearings. America of the early 90s was really mumped up. It's pretty amazing how differently women and minorites were treated back then. There were so few women and black voices in Washington back then that Thomas was allowed to lie and bully without being checked all because whites, led by Joe Biden didn't feel like they could challenge him in fear of backlash from black voters. 30 years later and Joe Biden still only knows how to identify with black people by thinking about what southern black voters want.
Anyway, the podcast is really good and the federal government, starting with Joe Biden, owes Anita Hill a formal apology.
https://slate.com/podcasts/slow-burn/s8/becoming-justice-thomas
Post by: BIG APPLE CAT on June 24, 2023, 12:54:42 PM
I have to tell you, in hind sight, maybe Anita Hill was right?!?!
There's a current podcast about Thomas, not about the stuff now, but his upbringing and it concludes with the confirmation hearings. America of the early 90s was really mumped up. It's pretty amazing how differently women and minorites were treated back then. There were so few women and black voices in Washington back then that Thomas was allowed to lie and bully without being checked all because whites, led by Joe Biden didn't feel like they could challenge him in fear of backlash from black voters. 30 years later and Joe Biden still only knows how to identify with black people by thinking about what southern black voters want.
Anyway, the podcast is really good and the federal government, starting with Joe Biden, owes Anita Hill a formal apology.
https://slate.com/podcasts/slow-burn/s8/becoming-justice-thomas
I think even at the time of his confirmation most if not all people in the room believed Anita Hill’s accusations were credible. But Thomas got some good coaching…get out in front, say this whole confirmation hearing has been a modern day lynching, and nobody was going to dare being on the opposite side of that.
Post by: MakeItRain on June 24, 2023, 03:23:11 PM
I have to tell you, in hind sight, maybe Anita Hill was right?!?!
There's a current podcast about Thomas, not about the stuff now, but his upbringing and it concludes with the confirmation hearings. America of the early 90s was really mumped up. It's pretty amazing how differently women and minorites were treated back then. There were so few women and black voices in Washington back then that Thomas was allowed to lie and bully without being checked all because whites, led by Joe Biden didn't feel like they could challenge him in fear of backlash from black voters. 30 years later and Joe Biden still only knows how to identify with black people by thinking about what southern black voters want.
Anyway, the podcast is really good and the federal government, starting with Joe Biden, owes Anita Hill a formal apology.
https://slate.com/podcasts/slow-burn/s8/becoming-justice-thomas
I think even at the time of his confirmation most if not all people in the room believed Anita Hill’s accusations were credible. But Thomas got some good coaching…get out in front, say this whole confirmation hearing has been a modern day lynching, and nobody was going to dare being on the opposite side of that.
Right, because there were no women or black people to challenge that bullshit
Post by: chum1 on August 10, 2023, 03:30:22 PM
Post by: steve dave on September 29, 2023, 07:52:06 AM
since this is also somehow the feinstein thread I'm posting the weekend at bernies antics story hereHoly crap
https://twitter.com/NoahShachtman/status/1657378439253438469
https://twitter.com/boreskes/status/1658580390053924866
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
they were almost literally rolling her corpse out there
Post by: Sandstone Outcropping on September 29, 2023, 08:28:32 AM
Post by: CNS on September 29, 2023, 08:35:49 AM
Post by: Spracne on September 29, 2023, 11:50:03 AM
Elder woman held hostage by her employees for last period of life so coworkers could prosper.
Ehhh, she could have stepped aside. She chose not to. Newsome better appoint an interim quick so we can avoid a (prolonged) shutdown. Wouldn't be surprised if he already has a list ready, given this foreseeable event.
Post by: catastrophe on September 29, 2023, 12:28:00 PM
Post by: wetwillie on September 29, 2023, 12:47:37 PM
Post by: Spracne on September 29, 2023, 12:49:57 PM
That's assuming she had the mental capacity to make that self-assessment and determination. Something I would not take for granted in this case.
She apparently had the mental capacity to assign powers of attorney to her daughter a month or two ago. If we're assuming she was just completely senile, I think it would be her family's responsibility more so than her staffer's to tell her it's time to step down.
Post by: CNS on September 29, 2023, 12:51:27 PM
Elder woman held hostage by her employees for last period of life so coworkers could prosper.
Ehhh, she could have stepped aside. She chose not to. Newsome better appoint an interim quick so we can avoid a (prolonged) shutdown. Wouldn't be surprised if he already has a list ready, given this foreseeable event.
Supposedly, Newsome’s list is why she did t step down. Apparently, there is a difference of opinion between him and other party members in who should be set up to take her place.
Post by: Spracne on September 29, 2023, 01:02:48 PM
Elder woman held hostage by her employees for last period of life so coworkers could prosper.
Ehhh, she could have stepped aside. She chose not to. Newsome better appoint an interim quick so we can avoid a (prolonged) shutdown. Wouldn't be surprised if he already has a list ready, given this foreseeable event.
Supposedly, Newsome’s list is why she did t step down. Apparently, there is a difference of opinion between him and other party members in who should be set up to take her place.
But this is just an interim. There will be an election in a year. A warm body is better than ... this.
Post by: wetwillie on September 29, 2023, 01:04:32 PM
Post by: Spracne on September 29, 2023, 01:15:39 PM
He should choose himself
Inspired by the TexAgs thread, if he were really playing the game of thrones, he'd appoint Kamala, then become VP, then supplant Biden.
Post by: OB_Won on September 29, 2023, 01:25:27 PM
Maybe he'll feed him to Commander?He should choose himself
Inspired by the TexAgs thread, if he were really playing the game of thrones, he'd appoint Kamala, then become VP, then supplant Biden.
Post by: Kat Kid on September 29, 2023, 03:36:08 PM
I know this is based on texags and you are smart, but wouldn’t Kamala just say no? Which would be the right call for her.He should choose himself
Inspired by the TexAgs thread, if he were really playing the game of thrones, he'd appoint Kamala, then become VP, then supplant Biden.
Post by: mocat on September 29, 2023, 04:05:04 PM
Maybe he'll feed him to Commander?He should choose himself
Inspired by the TexAgs thread, if he were really playing the game of thrones, he'd appoint Kamala, then become VP, then supplant Biden.
just like GoT, the Hound is one of the best characters. Wish we had a Commander POV chapter
Post by: steve dave on October 04, 2023, 08:26:27 PM
Honestly, folks, nobody fuckin’ knows how long they bernie’d her corpsesince this is also somehow the feinstein thread I'm posting the weekend at bernies antics story hereHoly crap
https://twitter.com/NoahShachtman/status/1657378439253438469
https://twitter.com/boreskes/status/1658580390053924866
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
they were almost literally rolling her corpse out there
https://twitter.com/ap/status/1709740739553329275?s=46&t=odWzhuZU7P443NcVwlC1iQ
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Kat Kid on October 30, 2023, 11:52:25 AM
oops, just forgot to report my friend bought me a $250,000 RV and then I made a few interest payments to my friend maybe and then my friend at UnitedHealth Group said "no worries, keep on truckin!"
Post by: sonofdaxjones on October 30, 2023, 01:29:22 PM
Post by: Kat Kid on October 30, 2023, 04:43:30 PM
Reads like a page out of the Biden-Americore playbook.I’m glad we all agree that this is egregious ethical behavior worthy of impeachment and removal from office.
Post by: kim carnes on October 30, 2023, 06:01:36 PM
Post by: Pete on October 30, 2023, 07:04:42 PM
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/clarence-thomas-rv-loan-senate-inquiry.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/clarence-thomas-rv-loan-senate-inquiry.html)I don’t know about you guys, but I would totally suck someone’s dick for a $250K RV.
oops, just forgot to report my friend bought me a $250,000 RV and then I made a few interest payments to my friend maybe and then my friend at UnitedHealth Group said "no worries, keep on truckin!"
Post by: IPA4Me on October 30, 2023, 07:25:34 PM
Could I take the cash option?https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/clarence-thomas-rv-loan-senate-inquiry.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/clarence-thomas-rv-loan-senate-inquiry.html)I don’t know about you guys, but I would totally suck someone’s dick for a $250K RV.
oops, just forgot to report my friend bought me a $250,000 RV and then I made a few interest payments to my friend maybe and then my friend at UnitedHealth Group said "no worries, keep on truckin!"
Post by: Spracne on October 30, 2023, 07:50:38 PM
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/clarence-thomas-rv-loan-senate-inquiry.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/clarence-thomas-rv-loan-senate-inquiry.html)I don’t know about you guys, but I would totally suck someone’s dick for a $250K RV.
oops, just forgot to report my friend bought me a $250,000 RV and then I made a few interest payments to my friend maybe and then my friend at UnitedHealth Group said "no worries, keep on truckin!"
Those Marathon conversion buses (like the one Clarence was gifted) are badass. I went down a rabbit hole after I read this news last week and determined it sadly is not in the cards for me. Check 'em out, though: https://www.marathoncoach.com
Post by: sonofdaxjones on October 30, 2023, 10:18:36 PM
Outstanding. The Biden (Pedo Pete) -Thomas impeachment (co) hearings will be must see TVReads like a page out of the Biden-Americore playbook.I’m glad we all agree that this is egregious ethical behavior worthy of impeachment and removal from office.
I expect #blueanon congressional leadership to be fully on board for both
Post by: BIG APPLE CAT on October 31, 2023, 07:08:24 AM
Outstanding. The Biden (Pedo Pete) -Thomas impeachment (co) hearings will be must see TVReads like a page out of the Biden-Americore playbook.I’m glad we all agree that this is egregious ethical behavior worthy of impeachment and removal from office.
I expect #blueanon congressional leadership to be fully on board for both
Dax I'm no historian but I think your heroes already tried - really hard by maga standards - to impeach Pedro Joe and it got about as much movement as their dongs when they attempt to participate in sexual congress with the opposite sex (which is to say - no movement whatsoever)
Post by: sonofdaxjones on October 31, 2023, 08:44:43 AM
Not much of a historian, not much of anything when it comes to thinking.
Post by: Dugout DickStone on October 31, 2023, 09:03:01 AM
This process is just getting started BAC.
Not much of a historian, not much of anything when it comes to thinking.
How long will it take?
Post by: sonofdaxjones on October 31, 2023, 09:05:26 AM
Otherwise, you'd think that as a member of a movement that had 3 :lol: :lol: :lol: impeachment attempts on the dude you are completely fixated with, you'd understand how long this can take.
Your boy has got multiple government agencies slow rolling, and now we're learning that at one time up to 40 FBI agents were looking into The Grifters Biden, only to get stonewalled and slow rolled.
Post by: Dugout DickStone on October 31, 2023, 09:19:16 AM
Post by: sonofdaxjones on October 31, 2023, 09:20:49 AM
There's no need to keep telling us that you're going to meltdown repeatedly about all of this, dug. As you and the rest of #blueanongE affirm again and again that you're riding herd with your boy Pedo Pete and The Grifters Biden
Post by: Dugout DickStone on October 31, 2023, 10:03:56 AM
I don't know, the new speaker says the impeachment proceedings are going to continue.
There's no need to keep telling us that you're going to meltdown repeatedly about all of this, dug. As you and the rest of #blueanongE affirm again and again that you're riding herd with your boy Pedo Pete and The Grifters Biden
Dang. This is why the world calls maga impotent/fat/old/scared. It is the whole Q thing all over. free beer tomorrow
Post by: sonofdaxjones on October 31, 2023, 10:32:31 AM
Robert Mueller bobble head dolls are pretty cheap these days, tho
Post by: BIG APPLE CAT on October 31, 2023, 11:33:14 AM
We were and are currently being (repeatedly) assured that #blueanon had/has Don Trump dead to rights . . . and he's still out polling Pedo Pete in many states.
Robert Mueller bobble head dolls are pretty cheap these days, tho
he's out doing what to pedo pete now?!?!
Post by: sonofdaxjones on October 31, 2023, 11:40:39 AM
Post by: star seed 7 on October 31, 2023, 11:59:42 AM
Post by: BIG APPLE CAT on October 31, 2023, 12:40:34 PM
Post by: sonofdaxjones on October 31, 2023, 01:43:38 PM
Post by: BIG APPLE CAT on October 31, 2023, 04:31:18 PM
The last several posts from the usuals are taking derp to unforeseen levels
i hindsee that someone couldn't think of the word "unprecedented" but said eff it who cares
Post by: sonofdaxjones on October 31, 2023, 04:52:19 PM
At least you recognize your derptitudeThe last several posts from the usuals are taking derp to unforeseen levels
i hindsee that someone couldn't think of the word "unprecedented" but said eff it who cares
Post by: Pete on December 17, 2023, 09:07:07 PM
AND, do you think the answer to the above influences decisions on court cases going forward?
Was doing it for the money and clout, or is he a truce hard core conservative in his heart?
Post by: BIG APPLE CAT on December 17, 2023, 09:17:35 PM
You guys think the new non-binding Supreme Court code of conduct will influence Thomas to have fewer, more, or same unethical choices?
AND, do you think the answer to the above influences decisions on court cases going forward?
Was doing it for the money and clout, or is he a truce hard core conservative in his heart?
He is absolutely a true believer hardcore conservative down to his rotten core. If one were to read his opinions, you would see there is a career's worth of jars of prune dips proving it. He's actually been very consistent
Post by: michigancat on December 18, 2023, 07:13:00 AM
https://twitter.com/eisingerj/status/1736730240661991779
Post by: Pete on December 18, 2023, 08:48:35 AM
Post by: Dugout DickStone on December 18, 2023, 11:25:35 AM
He really is a gigantic piece of crap, whose legacy as a piece of crap will remain etched in stone for future generations to gaze upon.
His wife too
Post by: Cire on December 18, 2023, 11:26:57 AM
This will be a Unit in a future US History course.
"The Second Gilded Age"
Post by: chum1 on September 05, 2024, 12:12:50 PM