Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I like you, you’re my kind of trouble.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

The revolution will be supervised.

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

Republican also-rans: four mules fighting over a turnip.

I was confident that someone would point it out and thought why not me.

How any woman could possibly vote for this smug smarmy piece of misogynistic crap is beyond understanding.

Quote tweet friends, screenshot enemies.

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

When you’re in more danger from the IDF than from Russian shelling, that’s really bad.

Shut up, hissy kitty!

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

The willow is too close to the house.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

Relentless negativity is not a sign that you are more realistic.

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

It’s a new day. Light all those Biden polls of young people on fire and throw away the ashes.

We won’t go back.

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

I am pretty sure Katy Tur wasn’t always such a bootlicking sycophant.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

So many bastards, so little time.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Jane Mayer: Is Ginni Thomas A Threat To SCOTUS?

Jane Mayer: Is Ginni Thomas A Threat To SCOTUS?

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I think this from Jane Mayer needs to get more play, thanks to Leto for plugging it again!

NPR Fresh Air

And let’s have a bonus Mike Pence (normally ugh) telling the former guy to fuck off.  (well, not exactly)

Maybe Pence is slow to anger, and it took him a year to get pissed off at “hang Mike Pence!” ??  Or maybe he smells blood in the water and has presidential hopes for 2024?

Update: 3-minute speech up on the Washington Post.

Reader Interactions

93Comments

  3. 3.

    trollhattan

    @WaterGirl:

    Performing in front of the Federalists I take as a message on two levels. Do I think it will have any desirable results WRT the damage the Federalists continue to inflict upon the country? No, no and no.

  7. 7.

    WaterGirl

    @Leto: Except that I wanted to vomit at the part about how we tried to “nationalize elections” with the voting rights bill, he told the truth at least 2/3 of the time in that 3-minute clip.

  8. 8.

    jonas

    If Pence thinks he’s even remotely viable in the new, even wackier Trumpist GOP, then he’s more deluded than we thought. In the end, Republicans are probably going to reject Trump himself for not being Trumpy enough.

  11. 11.

    WaterGirl

    You can all mock Pence, and god knows Fly boy needs mocking, but can’t we praise him just this one for standing up and telling the truth?

    In public.  In a place that would get attention.

    3 cheers for that.

  12. 12.

    MattF

    @Leto: I agree that Dan Quayle being the hero in this narrative crosses the line separating ‘surreal’ from ‘WTF’. The Simulation is trying to become a stand-up comedian.

  15. 15.

    bbleh

    @WaterGirl: Oh yes, good on him, and more so for actually doing his duty a year ago.  Personally, I put it in blind-pig-finding-acorn territory, but credit where credit is due.

  17. 17.

    MattF

    @WaterGirl: I certainly didn’t expect Pence to stand up and call Trump un-American. I guess Pence (finally) realized you can’t make nice with Donald Fucking Trump.

  20. 20.

    Suzanne

    @jonas:

    If Pence thinks he’s even remotely viable in the new, even wackier Trumpist GOP, then he’s more deluded than we thought. 

    I think he’s trying to avoid dismemberment at this point.

    I hope he’s holding his head in his hands, wondering WTF HAVE I DONE.

  23. 23.

    catclub

    The Terry Gross interview with the guy watching all the GOP state legislatures make virtually any teaching about race into  thought crime was more upsetting to me.

  26. 26.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    Maybe Pence is slow to anger, and it took him a year to get pissed off at “hang Mike Pence!” ??  Or maybe he smells blood in the water and has presidential hopes for 2024?

    Both is quite possible.

    Also, many people who had to deal with Narcissists have commented it takes a while for them to get their head back on straight afterwards.

  28. 28.

    debbie

    @catclub:

    Seconded. It was very disturbing. I still don’t understand how so much of the country has gone so whacky. I feel like Buster Keaton sleeping through a demolition project going on all around him.

  29. 29.

    Hoodie

    If Pence is willing to go here, it shows how some GOPers sense blood in the water with respect to Trump.  Seems that the conflict setting up in the GOP is Big Lie vs. MOVING ON to other issues such as vaccine mandates, mask mandates and inflation.   Trump is somewhat vulnerable on the vax front because he’s endorsed the vaccines, which could undermine him with some of his crazy base.  He’s also considered a loser when it comes to Covid because he didn’t go full DeSantis denialism and agreed to restrictions, and fucked up a lot of other things, like seemingly telling people to inject bleach or stick light bulbs up their asses.   The non-Trump faction will try to neutralize the Big Lie by expelling apostates like Cheney and implementing various election “reforms,” while characterizing Trump’s version of the Big Lie as sour grapes and loser stink.  They probably also think Biden is more vulnerable to some GOP alternative other than he is to Trump.  Things could get quite interesting.

  30. 30.

    WaterGirl

    @Leto: It is surreal.  I still have the Dan Quayle Quiz Book that we used to take on road trips for fun.  He was such a maroon, but he at least believes in democracy, so I’ll give him that.

  31. 31.

    gVOR08

    It’s been reported that Pence believes God wants him to be president. (How odd of God.) He knows Chuckles Koch wants him to be prez. So he needs to keep his name and face out there, hoping Chuckles will give him enough money and God will provide a miracle.

  37. 37.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @gVOR08:

    (How odd of God.)

    Oh my! I had forgotten all about that poem and the various ripostes to it. Here’s a sample:

    How odd Of God To choose The Jews — Dorothy Parker

    This is actually by William Norman Ewer (1885-1976) in Week-End Book (1924); this has sometimes been misattributed to Parker, who was herself of Jewish heritage, in the form: How odd of God
    To choose the Jews

    Similar sayings have also been attributed to Ogden Nash (1902-1971):
    It wasn’t odd;
    The Jews chose God

    Cecil Brown:
    But not so odd
    As those who choose
    A Jewish God,
    But spurn the Jews

    Leo Rosten:
    Not odd
    Of God
    The goyim
    Annoy ‘im.

    (Misattributed)

    Source: https://quotepark.com/quotes/1891929/history/

  39. 39.

    mrmoshpotato

    And let’s have a bonus Mike Pence (normally ugh) telling the former guy to fuck off. (well, not exactly)

    Bad move, Mike.  Now all of the Dump-humping, fascist shitstains are going to hang you in effigy in their prison cells!

    No way you could Nazi this coming!

  40. 40.

    Dopey-o

    Trump called for the Jan 6 committee to investigate Pence’s refusal to de-certify the election. I second.

    Provided that Pence and Trump testify, side by side. On TV, with the Hillary rules: 11 hours, no breaks. Under oath.

    Trump said he would debate anyone about the crime of the century.

  41. 41.

    Yarrow

    In entertaining news from across the pond, apparently the current UK government hired a photographer at taxpayer expense. Said photographer took pictures of what was going on at No. 10, including taking pictures of Boris Johnson holding a beer at his against-the-rules birthday party during lockdown.

    The best part? Because the photographer was hired at public expense the photos are government property and are not allowed to be deleted.

  43. 43.

    artem1s

    Pence does what he’s told. Not for one minute do I believe he stood up the in front of the Federalist Society wallpaper and gave an unvetted speech. He has no idea what the FS’s long game is. He just wants to keep his well paying gig and access to his safe house. No way would he say anything that might result in being disavowed. He knows TFG would think nothing of calling a white MAGAt jihad on his ass. He will say and do anything to stay in the good graces of his new bosses and damn straight isn’t going to do anything to piss off Mother again. The FS bosses are done with fiddling around with TFG. They are busy tying to undo the Supremacy Clause and turn back 200+ years of SCOTUS rulings that give the Federal Government the ability to govern nationally. TFG served his purpose and tilted the courts back to fascism and christian nationalism. They don’t want that guy hanging around their country clubs anymore trashing up the place. Pence is acceptable because he’ll read anything they give him and otherwise is basically a lawn jockey.

  44. 44.

    Yarrow

    @Enhanced Voting Techniques:

    &nbspAlso, many people who had to deal with Narcissists have commented it takes a while for them to get their head back on straight afterwards.

    The other thing is, once they “wake up” they can be furious at the narcissist they previously worshipped. It’s possible Pence is doing some retaliation.

  46. 46.

    mrmoshpotato

    @jonas:

    In the end, Republicans are probably going to reject Trump himself for not being Trumpy enough. 

    For those who are still alive in 2024.  (Not sorry one bit.)

    “You once told us to get vaccinated!  You libtard!”

  49. 49.

    Yarrow

    Also, too, let us not forget that Paul Manafort hand picked Mike Pence for VP. Why? Who owns Pence? What do they have on him?

  50. 50.

    Baud

    @artem1s:

    Pence does what he’s told. Not for one minute do I believe he stood up the in front of the Federalist Society wallpaper and gave an unvetted speech

     
    I’m not big on distraction theories, but it’s possible this speech was designed to distract from the RNC action in Utah today.

  52. 52.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Suzanne:

    I hope he’s holding his head in his hands, wondering WTF HAVE I DONE. 

    And I’m the Queen of England.  Helloooooo!

  54. 54.

    trollhattan

    Damn, I hope they had a lot of jigsaw puzzles, and the puzzles weren’t missing pieces. Worst. Vacation. Ever.

    Two people and their dog were rescued from their Northern California cabin after being stranded due to snow for 58 days. The California Highway Patrol assisted the Sierra County Sheriff’s office with the rescue on Feb. 1, using a helicopter to airlift the pair to a safe location. They had been stranded in the cabin since Dec. 6. Several powerful storms swept through the Sierra Mountains in December and January leading to record snowfall.

    https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article258067618.html#storylink=cpy

  57. 57.

    Dopey-o

    I read the New Yorker piece by Jane Mayer, and the recent Rolling Stone discussion of Clarence Thomas’ talks with DeSantis.

    Has anyone compiled a tally of how often Clarence’s decisions have concurred with Ginni’s paychecks? Do they live in a community property state where Ginni’s income is considered Clarence’s income?

    Is bribery of a federal judge grounds for impeachment and removal? Of course, Thomas would not be convicted by a 50-50 Senate.

  59. 59.

    Geminid

    @WaterGirl: You’ll have a small Republican civil war in a congressional district near you. Your fave, Representative Rodney Davis, will fight it out with Representative Mary Miller in a redrawn red district running from the Mississippi to Indiana. Davis has been endorsed by almost all the county chairmen, while Miller was endorsed by Trump. It will be an interesting contest.

  60. 60.

    J R in WV

    @Steeplejack (phone): ​
     

    Ginni Thomas invited DeSantis to join her weekly “cone of silence” Groundswell meetings, saying Justice Thomas had been in touch with the governor too

    Perhaps Justice Thomas should be encouraged to resign, or recuse himself from all pending cases, or face arrest for political skullduggery? /s

    I don’t expect Justice Thomas to ever do the right thing, so I’m not holding my breath for any of these eventualities. Would he speak to the FBI if they were investigating Ginni regarding her activities? probably not… Never do the ethical thing, C Thomas. That would spoil my impression of you.

  65. 65.

    VOR

    @Yarrow: Yes, yes, yes. And IIRC Pence was polling in the teens for favorability at the end of his term as Indiana Governor. His political future was doubtful before TFG tapped him for VP. Now he’ll lose the crazies and I just don’t think Pence has the charisma to attract any (purely theoretical) non-Trump Republicans or independents.

  66. 66.

    J R in WV

    @Dopey-o:

    Is bribery of a federal judge grounds for impeachment and removal? Of course, Thomas would not be convicted by a 50-50 Senate.

    Well, actually, if he was indicted, tried, and convicted of accepting a bribe, he would find it difficult to sit on the court from his cell… maybe…

  67. 67.

    JPL

    Just curious did Pence actually say they lost.      Until he admits that the election was fair, he doesn’t gain my respect.

  69. 69.

    debbie

    @Suzanne:

    Hey, I just listened to an NPR promo for their Saturday morning news show which will include a report about vaccinations for very young children. The announcer referred to an interview with a woman who said she would crawl through glass to get her three-year-old vaccinated.

    Was that you?!?

  74. 74.

    Pennsylvanian

    You all are killing me in this thread. I needed it too. I was surly after taking 45 minutes to walk home one mile in the snow.

    Thanks for the laughs.

  77. 77.

    Pennsylvanian

    @Baud: Ha! Yep!

    It did suck though! I keep forgetting I need to change my name to Mainer. They all said, “ we don’t get near as much snow as we used to.” Then we moved here.

    Don’t really miss the ‘burgh in PA but damn, the snow was over the tops of my boots here in some spots. Must investigate snowshoes and crampons if it keeps up!

  79. 79.

    Pennsylvanian

    @Leto: Nope. A bit south of Augusta. Upstate is getting totally pounded with feet of snow and clocked -22 the other night. We are in the mid-coast, comparatively balmy part at +17!

  83. 83.

    WaterGirl

    @Geminid: As you can imagine, I so hoped we would get rid of Rodney Davis with redistricting.  He’s in the 13th, the other person you mention is the 15th.  I wonder how they redrew those for both of them to be in the same district.

    If one of them takes the other out, that’s a positive for Dems and Illinois, but it will suck if I keep Davis or get her.

    Now I wonder what district I will be in re: the new district maps.

  84. 84.

    Seanly

    Not gonna listen to a 45 minute NPR report on Ginnie Thomas. That’s gotta be worse than when they spend 10 minutes on some shitty musician’s shitty latest album and never play any music.

  85. 85.

    Dopey-o

    @debbie: The announcer referred to an interview with a woman who said she would crawl through glass to get her three-year-old vaccinated.

    Was that you?!?

    That would be me. And I’m not a woman. And I don’t have a 3 year old. But I would. And pay good money for the privilege.

    But I’m not a crazy person.

    YMMV, but I doubt it.

  86. 86.

    Steeplejack

    @zhena gogolia:

    Straight from Ginni Thomas’s e-mail:

    This was a group he [DeSantis] might have known as “Groundswell.” It is a cone of silence coalition that Mark Meadows attends and has presented at as well as many other allies he would know.

  87. 87.

    Geminid

    @WaterGirl: I hope you are in a Democratic district. I think Mary Miller lives putside the new district. She might move, but she doesn’t have to.

    Representative Abigail Spanberger (VA-7) was drawn out of the new Virginia 7th District. She’s running to represent it, and will probably move once school is out, as she has kids in school

    I lucked out when redistricters made Greene County the southwestern corner of the 7th. My current 5th District congressman is as bad as M.T. Greene, just not as loud.

  88. 88.

    WaterGirl

    @Geminid: I wonder if there’s a  website where you can type in your address and it tells you what district you will be in.

    The last map drew the line right down the middle of my street and split me off from my previous district.  Bastards.

  92. 92.

    Pennsylvanian

    @MomSense: Don’t miss that. We were on the bus line and a corner, so 150 ft of sidewalk + driveway. That wet snow is brutal. Be careful.

  93. 93.

    Denali

    I will admit that I thought W was too stupid to be President. Do the Republicans have some one like Dick Cheney to operate the strings behind the office door?

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