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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Clarence Thomas Scandal Is Somehow Looking Even Worse
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/clarence-thomas-scandal-somehow-looks-even-worseNo paywall link
https://archive.li/ycdNp
Before he began receiving expensive gifts and luxury vacations from Harlan Crow and other conservative benefactors, Clarence Thomas reportedly expressed significant concerns about his financial situationeven prompting concerns from a Republican lawmaker more than 20 years ago that he might resign from the Supreme Court if he could not boost his salary.
One or more justices will leave soon if justices arent given a raise, Thomas told then Republican Representative Cliff Stearns in 2000, as they flew home from a conservative conference at a Georgia resort, according to ProPublica.
I intend to look into a bill to raise the salaries of members of The Supreme Court, Stearns wrote to Thomas afterward. As we agreed, it is worth a lot to Americans to have the Constitution properly interpreted.
Congress ultimately did not give justices the major raise Thomas had pushed for, nor did it lift the ban on justices accepting speaking fees, as he had also sought. But a new ProPublica report raises questions as to how and why elite conservatives began lavishing the right-wing justice with gifts soon aftergifts that often went undisclosed by Thomas, in apparent defiance of federal law.
*snip*
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tanyev
(43,240 posts)to have the Constitution properly interpreted.
Fixed.
calimary
(82,753 posts) properly interpreted ??? WTF is THAT supposed to mean? Properly according to whose definition? And befitting whose agenda?
Irish_Dem
(53,281 posts)That is the simple truth.
DENVERPOPS
(9,312 posts)who in the 1700's said: Democracy will last until a person or some people figure out that they can vote themselves money.......
Irish_Dem
(53,281 posts)And it is quite likely you can get away with your crimes.
For example members of congress often become very wealthy.
The are allowed to commit crimes the rest of us cannot do.
Insider training and other crimes.
Irish_Dem
(53,281 posts)When you bribe someone you are paying for something and you usually get it.
The Roux Comes First
(1,352 posts)But I need to understand how this lifetime sinecure compares to, say, Congressional salaries. And tell me more about this "lifestyle" that Thomas was apparently burdened with! And who forced that on him?
Nelson Algren ("The Man with the Golden Arm" or James Cain ("Double Indemnity"
could likely have made some good work out of this tale of a man living beyond his means to the point of desperation.
Old Crank
(4,027 posts)Roberts gets $280,000 and associate justices get $268,000.
Not too shabby. To go along with good pension and healthcare. Pkus a huge staff of clerks.
Irish_Dem
(53,281 posts)Law clerks who do all the heavy lifting.
Doesn't look like they work much to me.... on recess most of the time?
Thomas rarely even speaks.
Can commit any crimes they want, no one will touch them.
Not a bad job for people who are lazy with no moral core.
DENVERPOPS
(9,312 posts)people who are devious, with no moral code whatsoever..........
WhiteTara
(29,841 posts)Old Crank
(4,027 posts)One fifth of that, under $54,000/
eppur_se_muova
(36,673 posts)When I heard the average was $60k, I thought it didn't sound right. The median sounds much more representative.
Kingofalldems
(38,821 posts)Irish_Dem
(53,281 posts)Ms. Toad
(34,882 posts)Payment to stay in office, rather than due a specific decision, in effect. Sorry of like a retainer.
usonian
(11,368 posts)![](https://i.ibb.co/NjqQNd3/20100909-season-premiere-13-640x360.jpg)
Freethinker65
(10,517 posts)What wasn't known is what ended up being done to get Thomas to stay.
Cuthbert Allgood
(5,123 posts)and make all the money he wants.
Kid Berwyn
(16,263 posts)Zero.
Q2: How much would Clarence Thomas make if he was paid what he's worth?
$7.25 / hour.
Response to Nevilledog (Original post)
traitorsgalore This message was self-deleted by its author.
nuxvomica
(12,652 posts)His apologists were saying these weren't bribes because he would've voted just as shitty anyway because that's how he "thinks" but to me the bribery was to keep his reliably pro-right wing self from retiring for a more lucrative gig. However you slice it, it's bribery.
maxsolomon
(33,945 posts)He's no hot-shot legal beagle.
DENVERPOPS
(9,312 posts)hawking the Auto Accident injury lawsuits.......
leftieNanner
(15,377 posts)Or Medicare Advantage plans?
mercuryblues
(14,646 posts)He would call it supplemental income.
sop
(11,078 posts)In this case the "product" is rightwing extremism.
Meadowoak
(5,860 posts)JHB
(37,194 posts)He's always nursed a grudge against liberals and Democrats for perceived slights. And, like any hateful bastard, doesn't let anything go, not even when higher principles are at stake.
DENVERPOPS
(9,312 posts)There was nothing in the U.S. Constitution that stated they had the right to interfere with a State Election, and to HALT the re-count of the votes. The Recount of votes, which, it has been proven man times over, would have given the Presidency to GORE
shrike3
(5,370 posts)"Fuck us, what're we going to do about it?"
mn9driver
(4,475 posts)This is as clear as day. Her high salary jobs appeared at the same time.
NOT a coincidence.
Attilatheblond
(3,053 posts)And it looks like it paid off.
DENVERPOPS
(9,312 posts)got the idea to start selling pardons for a couple of million a pop ???????????
I tell MAGATS that if Trump truly cared about his cult of extortionists, why didn't he have a blanket pardon for everyone who participated in the Jan 6 sedition????????????
Oopsie Daisy
(3,245 posts)* or something.
not fooled
(5,871 posts)and would have nominated his successor, so Uncle Thomas's threats carried weight.
TeamProg
(6,630 posts)Attilatheblond
(3,053 posts)Others want all the perks but none of the limitations.
Thomas is one of the latter.
Grins
(7,489 posts)And by properly he means his way.
Been said before - What conservatives cant get at the ballot box or in legislation, they will get through the courts!
TSExile
(3,223 posts)This dude would have been swept up in the dustbin of history back in 1991, if only more people had taken Anita Hill seriously!!
JHB
(37,194 posts)Thomas didn't recuse himself from a case where he had a conflict of interest (big surprise now, ain't it?). He was part of a panel ruling on a case between Ralston-Purina and Alpo corporations.
Purina was founded by the grandfather of Senator John Danforth, friend and political mentor to Clarence Thomas. Danforth had relatives on Purina's board (and doubtless had a good chunk of stock himself). A decision in Purina's favor was worth millions to the company and its shareholders.
If you need more than one guess to get which way Thomas voted, slap yourself hard.
But Thomas had reliable but obfuscate-able Conservatively Correct views on things, so Bush wanted him on the court.
LudwigPastorius
(9,849 posts)![](https://i.ibb.co/X42mVGz/1232480534.jpg)
spanone
(136,797 posts)Irish_Dem
(53,281 posts)![](/emoticons/banghead.gif)
no ethics required
Irish_Dem
(53,281 posts)There is absolutely no one who will ever hold them accountable. They answer to no one ever.
We have found out the hard way that many of the customs and norms of our leaders are
entirely self enforced and rely entirely on tradition.
That makes our government ripe for attracting narcissists and sociopaths.
They can go on a crime spree with impunity.
spanone
(136,797 posts)![](/emoticons/rofl.gif)
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Irish_Dem
(53,281 posts)They don't appreciate how special and brilliant he is.
bluesbassman
(19,485 posts)A judge at any level shouldnt be doing it for the money, yet here we are. Sure seems like nobody in the GOP has any inkling to be a public servant, if they even understand the meaning of the term.
Irish_Dem
(53,281 posts)They do not believe the federal or state government should be working for the general welfare of the people.
They believe that the laws should be used to enrich the wealthy and powerful and control and punish everyone else.
bluesbassman
(19,485 posts)I loathe those people.
Hermit-The-Prog
(35,195 posts)Demovictory9
(32,833 posts)republianmushroom
(15,653 posts)gibraltar72
(7,553 posts)because of her influence at centers of power.
Hassler
(3,473 posts)Or a Pavement Princess.
Attilatheblond
(3,053 posts)Gotta figure Thomas & Ginni split the chores. He's the princess.