Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

Nothing says ‘pro-life’ like letting children go hungry.

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

Prediction: the gop will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

“But what about the lurkers?”

“Loving your country does not mean lying about it’s history.”

Come on, man.

Wake up. Grow up. Get in the fight.

Conservatism: there are people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

You cannot love your country only when you win.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

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

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

Innocent people don’t delay justice.

The words do not have to be perfect.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

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

You are here: Home / Jan 6: Insurrection / Repub Venality Open Thread: Ginni Thomas Is An Insurrectionist

Repub Venality Open Thread: Ginni Thomas Is An Insurrectionist

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Maybe it’s the cynic in me, but it’s clear Liz Cheney is not enchanted by the romance of the insurrectionists. The Cheney clan lovingly built up a jewel of a one-stop shoppe for all the best lobbyists and oligarchs’ business needs, intended as a family legacy in the proud tradition of Prescott Bush and his kin. Then this overbearing behema Ginni burst in, surrounded by yawping nutbags and greasy low-rent grifters, and thoroughly trashed the place, just as they trashed the Capital on January 6th. ‘Family friend’ or not, *I* would carry a grudge!

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol has obtained email correspondence between Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and lawyer John Eastman, who played a key role in efforts to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to block the certification of Joe Biden’s victory, according to three people involved in the committee’s investigation…

The committee’s members and staffers are now discussing whether to spend time during their public hearings exploring Ginni Thomas’s role in the attempt to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election, the three people said. The Washington Post previously reported that the committee had not sought an interview with Thomas and was leaning against pursuing her cooperation with its investigation.

The two people said the emails were among documents obtained by the committee and reviewed recently. Last week, a federal judge ordered Eastman to turn more than 100 documents over to the committee. Eastman had tried to block the release of those and other documents by arguing that they were privileged communications and therefore should be protected…

While Thomas has maintained that she and her husband operate in separate professional lanes, her activities as a conservative political activist have long distinguished her from other spouses of Supreme Court justices. Any new revelations about Thomas’s actions after the 2020 presidential election are likely to further intensify questions about whether Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from cases related to the election and attempts to subvert it…

In the weeks after the 2020 election, Ginni Thomas repeatedly pressed Meadows to overturn the outcome, according to text messages obtained by The Post and CBS News. After Jan. 6, she told Meadows in a text that she was “disgusted” with Pence, who had refused to help block the certification of Biden’s electoral college victory. She wrote, “We are living through what feels like the end of America.”

During that same post-election period, Thomas also pressed Republican lawmakers in Arizona to help keep Trump in office by setting aside Biden’s popular-vote win and to “choose” their own electors, The Post has reported, based on documents obtained via a public records request. Thomas sent the emails via FreeRoots, an online platform designed to facilitate sending pre-written messages to multiple elected officials…

Reader Interactions

118Comments

  1. 1.

    JPL

    Clarence Thomas will dig in his heels and stay on the court. There are not the votes to impeach him. In a perfect democracy, the FBI should be on Ginni’s doorstep, asking for an interview

    Roberts is a coward.  Once he rids us of the EPA, he might just step aside.

  2. 2.

    The Moar You Know

    “He came in here and he trashed the place,” says Washington Post columnist David Broder, “and it’s not his place.”

    Wonder when a similar sentiment will be expressed about the Thomas seditionists? I’m betting on “never”. That shit is for Dems only.

  4. 4.

    Tony Jay

    These Jan 6 hearings are throwing up so many expanding plotlines you’d be forgiven for thinking they’re just a pilot miniseries designed to prime the watching public for a long running saga of greed and betrayal amongst the high flying lowlives of America’s Republican Party.

    The could call it ‘(Not) Our Best Wing‘

  5. 5.

    The Moar You Know

    There are not the votes to impeach him.

    @JPL: sadly, this is what it boils down to.  It will not and cannot happen.

    ETA:  however, precisely because of that, I’d sure like the committee to make a BFD of this.  Spread it far and wide.  Make sure every American at least has to hear it multiple times.  Clarence Thomas is corrupt and the Supreme Court is corrupt.  Because by God if we cannot clean it up then we should at least do our level best to allow them no legitimacy.

  6. 6.

    scav

    It’s not a good look. I’d imagine for different reasons for those dedicated to the god-anointed male keeping the little wifey in check or for those dedicated to the purity of the race. Amusing to see these become the current poster couple of ‘mercan greatness reborn.

  8. 8.

    Roger Moore

    @JPL:

    Roberts is a coward. Once he rids us of the EPA, he might just step aside.

    Only when he’s a Republican president will name his successor. He is many things, but party apparatchik above all else.

  10. 10.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @germy shoemangler:

    The misogyny of that cartoon worries me. Yes, Ginni is evil and depraved, AND there’s no reason to believe that Clarence isn’t an equal partner-in-crime.

  11. 11.

    debbie

    Just once I’d like to get through a day without shaking my head in disbelief at where this country is today.

  12. 12.

    debbie

    @O. Felix Culpa:

    Not picking fights, but she does seem to manipulate Clarence fairly frequently. Clearly, she couldn’t be less interested in her husband’s best interests, like a good conservative helpmate should be. //

  13. 13.

    Steeplejack

    SCOOP: Eastman relayed in previously undisclosed email that he had awareness of a debate among SCOTUS judges about whether to listen to an election case.
    @lukebroadwater and me https://t.co/aI1hXJOvnm

    — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 16, 2022

    This is a full blown constitutional crisis now. Trump’s counsel had inside knowledge of SCOTUS debates and Ginni Thomas appears to be the leaker.
    https://t.co/BtDI44F7iV

    — Scott Stedman (@ScottMStedman) June 16, 2022

  16. 16.

    germy shoemangler

    @debbie:  Just once I’d like to get through a day without shaking my head in disbelief at where this country is today.

    Now we know how conservatives felt during the 8 years of Obama!

  18. 18.

    Immanentize

    Just dropping in to say the obvious play is to not worry about having Ginni show up for public hearings, but rather subpoena all her and her organizations’ emails. Review them, then ask her to volunteer for a sit down. The Cmmt certainly has enough email traffic from/to her to take that first step.

  20. 20.

    Elizabelle

    My favorite is that Ann Telnaes cartoon, with Ginni in the Shaman hat. Fabulous ridicule, and accurate.

    Encapsulates the whole thing.

  21. 21.

    germy shoemangler

    Rep. Mikie Sherrill tells @MSNBC that Republican Barry Loudermilk was not the only member of Congress who gave a tour of the Capitol complex in the lead up to Jan. 6.

    — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 16, 2022

  22. 22.

    JPL

    @Roger Moore:  This is a great comment about Roberts.

    Lauren Windsor
    @lawindsor
    Replying to
    @TheRickWilson
    i don’t know why we give him so much credit. i feel like john roberts might be the susan collins of scotus

  23. 23.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @debbie:

    I wouldn’t let Clarence off the hook unless there’s clear evidence that he’s not a willing partner. It’s too easy to blame the woman for “manipulation.”

  24. 24.

    Baud

    @Steeplejack:

     Eastman relayed in previously undisclosed email that he had awareness of a debate among SCOTUS judges about whether to listen to an election case.

    I’m sure the Marshall of the Supreme Court will get right on that.

  25. 25.

    Immanentize

    I know thoughtful response is difficult in these moments when so much is at stake, but pausing a bit often helps me from getting out over my skis. Check out this short thread:

    Quite a headline coming out of the e-mails Eastman was forced to turn over to the @January6thCmte — that he told folks of a “heated fight” behind the scenes at #SCOTUS over whether to intervene in the 2020 election cases.https://t.co/KGTI6sgSLQ  Here’s why I think he was lying:— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) June 16, 2022

  27. 27.

    Betty Cracker

    Fuck all these calls for Thomas to recuse. His opportunity to do that was in January. Democrats should demand that he either resign or face impeachment hearings. Yes, I know there aren’t enough votes. But that’s the proper remedy, and we shouldn’t be afraid to say it out loud, god damnit!

  29. 29.

    Kropacetic

    @O. Felix Culpa: I wouldn’t let Clarence off the hook unless there’s clear evidence that he’s not a willing partner. It’s too easy to blame the woman for “manipulation.”

    Whether manipulation or willing collusion, they’re both acting to undermine our democracy.

  30. 30.

    Scout211

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    Ginni Thomas seems like someone who is and has been drunk on her own power. I am skeptical that there really even was a “fight” inside the SCOTUS.  She seems to me like someone who is very much skilled at manipulating people and twisting the facts for her own political gain. Even if Clarence did leak this to her, my guess is that it would be difficult to prove.  (IANAL)

    If this type of exposure of Ginni Thomas’ part in the planning of the insurrection and back door manipulation of public figures reduces her political power  at the very least, it would still be welcomed, if not the most satisfying outcome.  I would like her charged with a crime but making her a pariah and reducing her power in political  circles would be a welcome change.

  31. 31.

    Mike in NC

    Was it possible for this country to puke up a worse white woman? Empty Greene? Loony Boebert?

  32. 32.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @Kropacetic:

    Agreed. I just find the power implications of that particular cartoon disturbing, because it diminishes Clarence’s agency.

    Ginni is an awful person in her own right, no doubt about that.

  34. 34.

    Steeplejack

    @Immanentize:

    It’s possible that Eastman is lying or distorting things. Or could the arguments have been about potential cases not yet filed?

    In any case, while being open to new information, I am quite content to see the drip of daily revelations—mostly backed up by hard evidence—and media uproar bedeviling the GQP, for a change.

    And, regardless of this particular Eastman thing, the January 6 committee should definitely be investigating Ginni Thomas. Your suggestion to start with the emails is a good one.

  35. 35.

    Tony Jay

    @WaterGirl:

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    Well, there’s a topic for a late-night thread.

    Dudfellas – A young man grows up in the mob and works as little as possible to advance himself through the ranks. He enjoys his life of money and luxury, but is oblivious to the horror that he causes. A complicit media and a few racist insults ultimately pave his climb to the top. Based on the book “Shit-Midas” by Habbie Malbermann.

  36. 36.

    Kropacetic

    @O. Felix Culpa: Agreed. I just find the power implications of that particular cartoon disturbing, because it diminishes Clarence’s agency.

    They found each other for a reason.

  38. 38.

    Dangerman

    Thankfully, Clarence and Ginni never procreated. That Child would have grown to be either a famous lawyer or serial killer.

  39. 39.

    Edmund Dantes

    Eastman and the other stop the steal people were planning terrorism. No one in respectable media will ever call it that, but it was exactly what they were trying to do. To create an environment of chaos/wild that would achieve political gains.

  40. 40.

    Paul in KY

    @Scout211: Any way she can be humbled and/or ridiculed is A-OK with me. I would love for her to have to testify under oath. See all the cray cray emanating from her.

  42. 42.

    Betty Cracker

    In February of this year, Ginni Thomas apologized on a listserv for former Thomas clerks for pushing her political activism on them. Via WaPo:

    “I owe you all an apology. I have likely imposed on you my lifetime passions,” Thomas, who goes by Ginni, recently wrote to a private Thomas Clerk World email list of her husband’s staff over his three decades on the bench.

    “My passions and beliefs are likely shared with the bulk of you, but certainly not all. And sometimes the smallest matters can divide loved ones for too long. Let’s pledge to not let politics divide THIS family, and learn to speak more gently and knowingly across the divide.”

    Among the “passions” expressed to this powerful group was bullshit about election fraud and an endorsement of the January 6 mob. We’re supposed to believe she “stays in her lane” when she’s haranguing conservative Thomas clerks to the point where even they complained?

  43. 43.

    scav

    @O. Felix Culpa: I’d agree more if it was an anonymous black man with a similar wife.  In this specific case, I’m not sure observed overt agency (distinct from criminal liability)  is a hallmark of the man.

  44. 44.

    Paul in KY

    @Dangerman: Could you imagine having those 2 creepos as your parents?! especially if the kid was not warped to begin with (due to be a genetic combo of those 2). Thank God they did not!

  45. 45.

    Leto

    For all the lawyers in the room: The Leader of Trump’s Favorite 2020 Election “Audit” May Be Disbarred After Courtroom Meltdown

    On Wednesday, Republicans’ fake investigation into Wisconsin’s 2020 election fell apart in the most spectacular manner possible. This implosion took the form of a stunning 25-page ruling that marks the end of this particular road for the state’s election deniers. After undergoing a full-on meltdown in open court, the man in charge of the partisan probe—former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman—is now at risk of losing his law license. His office faces fines of $2,000 a day. And the records surrounding his conspiracy-fueled 2020 election “investigation” that he has fought so hard to conceal from the public will soon see the light of day.

    It is difficult to imagine a more humiliating conclusion to this sad chapter in Wisconsin history for those in the state pushing Trump’s Big Lie. The lawyers who were supposed to find evidence of fraud have destroyed their professional careers. The GOP politicians who supported this bogus audit are in contempt of court. And no one has produced an iota of evidence to suggest that Democrats stole the election. While attempting to discredit Joe Biden’s victory, Wisconsin Republicans have only bolstered its legitimacy.

    And yes, there’s video at the link of the meltdown. Also his other courtroom antics are even more insane considering he’s a former judge.

  47. 47.

    Lacuna Synecdoche

    Tommy Vietor via Anne Laurie @ Top:

    At this point, Ginni and Clarence Thomas are asking us to believe that she lobbied everyone she could possibly think of to overturn the results of the election except her powerful husband. It’s an obvious lie and he has to recuse himself.

    Why does anyone think it would even matter, for the purpose of recusal, whether or not Ginni Thomas lobbied her husband in support of overthrowing the government?

    Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas knows now that his wife is/was involved in a conspiracy to overthrow the government and install the losing candidate as president.

    Going forward, Clarence Thomas cannot sit on any cases involving Congress and/or the presidency, especially any cases involving the 2020/2021 presidential election and transition, and simultaneously maintain any appearance of impartiality.

    Justice Thomas clearly has an interest in protecting his wife, protecting any politician or gov’t employee who could serve to protect her, and, with equal clarity, Justice Thomas has an interest in damaging any politician or gov’t employee who could incriminate his wife, or play a role in questioning, charging, or prosecuting her.

    At this point, whether or not Ginni Thomas personally lobbied her husband to support the conspiracy’s goals is completely irrelevant to his argument against recusal, now that everyone knows of her involvement in the 2020-2021 Conspiracy to Obstruct Congress and Corruptly Interfere with a Presidential Election.

    By any standard of ethical judicial conduct, Clarence Thomas should resign his position on the Supreme Court of the United States of America, because he can no longer maintain an appearance, or even any semblance, of impartiality with respect to either Congress or the Presidency.

    And, if Thomas refuses to resign, he should be impeached and removed from the Supreme Court.

  48. 48.

    Kropacetic

    @Leto: While attempting to discredit Joe Biden’s victory, Wisconsin Republicans have only bolstered its legitimacy.

    Typical…

  49. 49.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @Paul in KY:

    To clarify, with misogyny? I mean, it’s possible to affirm that Ginni is BAD BAD BAD without being cool with depictions that portray her Supreme Court husband as a slavering pet and her as his master/mistress. Also a whiff of racism in that depiction: black man not being his own person. Images matter.

    With that, I’m heading out to tend to my parched plants. Climate change sucks.

  52. 52.

    Baud

    @Dangerman: 

    Thankfully, Clarence and Ginni never procreated. That Child would have grown to be either a famous lawyer or serial killer.

    Or both!

  55. 55.

    debbie

    @O. Felix Culpa:

    He’s no victim, but she’s no peach. Reading of her tireless efforts, it’s hard to believe she wasn’t manipulating everyone around her, including her husband, to get to her goals.

  57. 57.

    TriassicSands

    @O. Felix Culpa:

    Is it misogyny to show a strong woman dominating a weaker husband?

    What would it be if Clarence were shown to be manipulating a hapless wife?

    This is a complicated relationship and its inner workings are unknown to the general public.

  58. 58.

    Jeffro

    @Betty Cracker: 

    Agreed. Bring the charges, make him testify.

    Dems need to get over “that’ll never work” or “ there aren’t enough votes to convict”, etc etc. It’s the visible, public fight that matters.

  59. 59.

    Steeplejack

    @Leto:

    Heh. Someone on Twitter (Popehat?) said that if Samuel Alito or Clarence Thomas had to appear in court as an ordinary attorney a similar outcome would be quite plausible.

  62. 62.

    Leto

    @Steeplejack:  they’re the same type of asshole who shouts, “DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!?!” at the airport attendant who’s announcing boarding for the plane. Or… Ted Cruz.

  64. 64.

    Bruce K in ATH-GR

    @JPL: I forget, does the January 6th Committee have subpoena power? I know they can get people to testify under oath on penalty of perjury…

  67. 67.

    Immanentize

    @JPL: ok — I see that now . Good!

    NEW: Jan. 6 Select Committee Chair Bennie Thompson says they will request testimony from Ginni Thomas in light of the Eastman emails.

    “We think it’s time that we, at some point, invite her to come talk to the committee.”

  68. 68.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @TriassicSands:

    Given that the inner workings of their marriage are, as you say, “unknown,” then it is misogyny and potentially racism too. Some here have suggested that the cartoon shows Clarence using Ginni as cover, which is a reasonable interpretation and could change my reading of the images.

    I’m a little weary of folks reminding me, disregarding my very own words to the same effect, that Ginni is a bad person. I know that and said so, repeatedly. My quibble is with the coding of the images in that cartoon, not the assignation of evil to that woman. Walking and chewing gum simultaneously, we can do it.

  70. 70.

    TriassicSands

    @Lacuna Synecdoche: Going forward, Clarence Thomas cannot sit on any cases involving Congress and/or the presidency…

    But he will and there is no way to stop him.

    By any standard of ethical judicial conduct, Clarence Thomas should resign his position on the Supreme Court of the United States of America…

    That would be any standard except the one actually in place.

    And, if Thomas refuses to resign, he should be impeached and removed from the Supreme Court.

    Shoulda, woulda, coulda, but can’t be forced to resign and won’t be impeached, and if impeached, won’t be convicted.

    I understand and agree with the outrage and it would be wonderful if there were a way to get from here to there. But it might have to start with getting the media on board. Can you even imagine that happening?

  74. 74.

    Eunicecycle

    @Jeffro: exactly. And remember Hillary’s email “scandal” was a result of the Benghazi hearings that all concluded she did nothing wrong. Republicans throw lots of shit against the wall to see what will stick. We can’t be afraid to do the same. I know we’re supposed to go high, but in this media environment we’re going to have to fight fire with fire.  I used to think “but we’re the good guys!” but I have gotten over it.

  76. 76.

    Josie

    @Jeffro: 
    I agree with those who favor investigation, followed by resignation or impeachment. Refraining from doing the right thing because of the possibility of failure shows weakness. These people should have to answer for what they have done, whether or not Republicans will vote as they should. Each public servant should have to take a stand and register a vote.

  78. 78.

    Ken

    @Tony Jay:

    Tales from the Darkerside — Supernatural horror anthology. Episodes include: “Meltdown”, about a lawyer who dissolves into black goo; “Redcaps”, about goblins in red hats who destroy human lives; and “Everything He Touches Dies”, about a man under a terrible curse.

  80. 80.

    TriassicSands

    @O. Felix Culpa:

    I think given what we do know of both Clarence and Ginni, but not the inner workings of their marriage, and the licence that political cartoonists have, it is fair to depict her as dominant, him as an equal partner, but harder to show him as running the show. Public statements he’s made have him fawning all over her.

    In Clarence’s case, there isn’t any evidence that “still water runs deep.” Further, he’s Black, she’s White, he’s a man, she’s a woman. How do you deal with that and avoid accusations of racism and/ or sexism from any of a myriad of valid and invalid perspectives?

  84. 84.

    TriassicSands

    @Paul in KY:

    Speculation:

    No. Through pressure? Maybe, though that wouldn’t be seen as “collegial.” The only real power the Chief has is to assign an opinion when s/he is on the majority. That is not inconsequential, but it’s very limited.

    If, somehow, every other member of the Court felt that Thomas were damaging the Court irreparably, they might, but it would seem like a huge stretch, prevail upon him to step aside. But the fascists would only ever consider that if they were assured his recusal wouldn’t change the outcome. I still couldn’t imagine that happening.

  86. 86.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @TriassicSands:

    The cartoon in the OP is on point AND avoids misogyny and racism, so it can be done.

    Perhaps I’m misreading your comment, but “dominant” and “equal partners” seem contradictory to me, and are not what I’m seeing in the offending cartoon. YMMV.

  88. 88.

    Barbara

    @TriassicSands:  The most he could do was automatically neutralize however Thomas votes on questions where Thomas should have recused himself is to vote voting the opposite, and assigning decisions to someone other than Thomas. He could also publicly call out in dissents that Thomas should have recused himself. Those are not things he wants to do. So what.

  90. 90.

    TriassicSands

    @Betty Cracker:

    Agreed. Impeaching Trump twice was the right thing to do even though there was no chance of conviction. The final vote was, in fact, proof of the charges in the second impeachment.¹

    Impeaching Thomas would also be the right thing to do. Lay out his corruption for the world to see (and 70% of the country to ignore?). Taint that dishonest political operative with his own stench and let history have him.

    ¹ Ditto for the one vote in the first trial. Romney’s vote was historic and will make historians look even harder at the first impeachment. Maybe, someday, it will help in the movement to restore democracy to the U.S.

  91. 91.

    Ken

    @Leto:  Gableman refused to answer questions, instead accusing the judge of acting “as an advocate” for American Oversight.

    And he was a Wisconsin supreme court justice. I have to wonder whether he perceives this “advocacy” because that’s what how he conducted himself?

  94. 94.

    TriassicSands

    @Barbara: He could also publicly call out in dissents that Thomas should have recused himself.

    I can’t imagine Roberts ever doing that. First and foremost, tied with being a Republican operative, Roberts is Chief Justice and an institutionalist. Calling out a justice like that? Unthinkable? Probably.

    And he can only assign opinions when he is in the majority. The radical five still hold sway and if Roberts votes other than how Thomas votes, it doesn’t cancel anything. Plus, that would almost certainly put Roberts in the minority. And guess who assigns the opinion then? Yep, the senior justice in the majority…Thomas.

    Roberts could control the opinion by voting with Thomas, but that results in a 6-3, rather than a 5-4 decision, making it a bit harder for a more modest future court to overturn.

    Options? Nothing I can see that is likely to make a difference now.

    One other thing to keep in mind about Roberts. He occasionally dissents from the radicals, but not when Republican electoral prospects are truly at stake.

  97. 97.

    TriassicSands

    @O. Felix Culpa:

    I think the problem is there are a number of ways to interpret the cartoon and none of them are definitely right or wrong.

    I can easily see very different interpretations.

    What the cartoon definitely is — is provocative. And political cartoonists probably like nothing better than that.

    Please, don’t let your plants die.

  98. 98.

    Burnspbesq

    @Dangerman:

    Thankfully, Clarence and Ginni never procreated. That Child would have grown to be either a famous lawyer or serial killer.

    Those aren’t mutually exclusive.

  101. 101.

    TriassicSands

    @Barbara: Which is to say, there is no reason to sympathize with his predicament.

    Of course not. I hope every day is one endlessly miserable ordeal for Roberts. The best that can be said of him is that he isn’t the worst current justice.

    Thomas

    Alito

    Gorsuch

    Kavanaugh

    Barrett

    The competition is horrifying. Roberts can’t even win “Most Hypocritical.” On this court, anyway.

  102. 102.

    topclimber

    @Elizabelle: Don’t forget the holy water chaser. Guaranteed to keep  witches from harming a God-fearin’ man. Sorry but I can’t find the footnote in Alito’s abortion of an abortion draft.

  105. 105.

    TriassicSands

    @Burnspbesq:  @Dangerman: Thankfully, Clarence and Ginni never procreated. That Child would have grown to be either a famous lawyer or serial killer.

    Would he have made to adulthood? Remember who his parents would be.

  106. 106.

    Scout211

    Remember that insurrectionist who told the judge to call her “doctor?”

    She was sentenced today to 60 days in jail.

    When Simone Gold was making her meteoric rise in the right-wing ecosphere, she never failed to mention in public appearances that she was both an emergency room doctor and a Stanford-educated lawyer. The credentials made her popular among anti-vaxxers, evangelicals, and others who supported her nonprofit, America’s Frontline Doctors (AFLDS), which she launched in opposition to pandemic lockdowns in 2020. Even after she pushed her way into the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, she yelled in the Rotunda, “I am a Stanford-educated attorney!” before giving speeches to passing rioters complaining about vaccine mandates and urging the use of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine for Covid treatment. She spent an hour in the Capitol that day, pushing her way to the door of the House chamber as members of Congress fled the violent mob.

    In March this year, even as Gold pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor for illegally entering a restricted building during the insurrection, she demanded that the judge refer to her as “doctor.”And now, as she awaits sentencing this week, she’s arguing that her elite professional credentials should keep her out of jail. The Justice Department disagrees. A sentencing memo filed by the government in the US District Court for the District of Columbia last week indicates that prosecutors are asking the judge to sentence Gold to 90 days in jail because of, not in spite of, her gold-plated resume. “The Court should reject any contention by Gold that her previous career as a doctor and her legal education are mitigating factors,” prosecutors wrote. “They are not.”

  107. 107.

    Chief Oshkosh

    @Betty Cracker: What a shitty person she is. Here she’s saying “now that you’ve all heard my shit for years, and had to put up with it, and it’s causing you professional problems, I’ve decided that none of us should do this shitty thing going forward because if some of YOU did it now, it would hurt ME.”

    Fuck her. I hope the handful of non-wackos in that circle stick the knives in deep, privately and publicly.

  109. 109.

    Lacuna Synecdoche

    @TriassicSands:

    @Lacuna Synecdoche : Going forward, Clarence Thomas cannot sit on any cases involving Congress and/or the presidency…

    But he will and there is no way to stop him.

    You changed the meaning of what I wrote, by taking it out of context, when you elided the latter third of my statement:

    … and simultaneously maintain any appearance of impartiality.

    In other words, Thomas can’t do both at the same time.

    @TriassicSands:

    By any standard of ethical judicial conduct, Clarence Thomas should resign his position on the Supreme Court of the United States of America…

    That would be any standard except the one actually in place.

    The lack of an official written standard for recusal doesn not mean an ethical standard for what requires recusal does not exist. SCOTUS Justices have recused themselves to maintain an appearance of impartiality in the past, and are expected to do so.

    The standard exists, it is simply left to the discretion of the Justice as to when it’s appropriate. And there really is no clearer example of being party to a cause (i.e., not impartial) before the court than the participation of one’s spouse.

    We do not require spouse’s to testify against one another in court (spousal privilege). So how can we accept the judgement of a Justice whose spouse has an interest in a case before the court?

    @TriassicSands:
    I understand and agree with the outrage and it would be wonderful if there were a way to get from here to there. But it might have to start with getting the media on board. Can you even imagine that happening?

    I don’t even have to imagine it: I’m old enough to remember Watergate. That doesn’t mean the media will get on board now, but it does mean:

    A) It’s happened before, and
    B) I can imagine it happening again.

    Optimism isn’t just an outlook on life – it’s an ethical, and political, obligation. We can’t form more perfect governments if we cannot imagine the they’re possible. And I say this despite being a nearly life-long pessimist.

  110. 110.

    Lacuna Synecdoche

    @Lacuna Synecdoche:

    Sigh. Ran out of time to clean up all the typos in the previous comment before the editing window ran out. I’ve said this before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again – I really wish we’d extend that window to ten or fifteen minutes. Five minutes is not enough time to review and edit a long comment.

  111. 111.

    Paul in KY

    @The Lodger: Why not? He’s got a law degree and managed to get himself on the Supreme Court. His wife seems a bit ‘flighty’ to me.

  113. 113.

    Geminid

    @Lacuna Synecdoche: I sometimes buy time to edit by dropping in an extra period at the end of a comment and hitting “update.” It often takes me two revisions just to correct bad spelling. It’s not hard to get 10 or more minutes that way.

  114. 114.

    Lacuna Synecdoche

    Slate via @Leto: 

    While attempting to discredit Joe Biden’s victory, Wisconsin Republicans have only bolstered its legitimacy.

    Now, now, let’s not underestimate the achievements of WI Republicans here.

    After all, they didn’t only bolster President Biden’s legitimacy – they also discredited themselves.

  115. 115.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @Lacuna Synecdoche:  You can easily finesse that: Make one (or a very few) editing change(s) and save the result. This resets the time window for further editing to the full 5 minutes. Lather, rinse, repeat.​ (H/t to Geminid @113 for getting there foist.)

  116. 116.

    J R in WV

    @Dangerman: 

    Thankfully, Clarence and Ginni never procreated. That Child would have grown to be either a famous lawyer or serial killer.

    But — why not both?

  117. 117.

    J R in WV

    @Lacuna Synecdoche: ​
     

    Ran out of time to clean up all the typos in the previous comment before the editing window ran out. I’ve said this before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again – I really wish we’d extend that window to ten or fifteen minutes. Five minutes is not enough time to review and edit a long comment.

    Actually, if you do an update each time you find a typo or want to make a correction, the 5 minute update timer resets. In theory you could spend an hour editing a long comment, if you do an update every 3 or 4 minutes. In practice that would be pretty hard, the timer creeps up on you, ask how I know.

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