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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNicole Wallace can't believe what Gini Thomas is getting away with.
Neither can I. They have her emails that indicate she was part of the insurrection plans, her testimony that she believes the election was stolen. WTF else do they need to get Roberts to demand that Clarence recuse himself from further decisions on Trump? We must be able to expand this court or at least impeach Thomas. The Court has been on a downward spiral since Kennedy retired to keep his son out of trouble with his banking involvement to favor Trump.
Lovie777
(12,230 posts)jaxexpat
(6,818 posts)Amirite? DU authorities on call?
Effete Snob
(8,387 posts)Wrapped up in the OP are some interesting assumptions.
1. That the law will impute conflicts based on spouses - We long ago dispensed with the assumption in a lot of areas that wives are somehow the controlled property of their husbands. Yes, we know that Virginia Thomas is a supreme nutbar with connections to insurrectionists. But if we are going to go down this path of imputing the opinions and activities of everyone's spouse directly to them, then there are going to be a lot of casualties.
2. That Roberts can "demand" recusal - This makes having a majority on the court pretty much irrelevant, if we are going to go down the path of empowering the Chief Justice to decide what other justices may sit on what cases.
There is a mechanism for removing judges, and it requires Congress to impeach them. The absence of a large enough majority to do that is a reflection of those who have been elected. And, to be clear, "gerrymandering" is not an issue in the Senate, since all Senate elections are statewide. You could argue that the entire country is, in some sense, gerrymandered by the fact that Republican senators tend to represent roughly rectanguloid and sparsely populated states, but changing that would require a collective political will which is unlikely to exist.
So... why are there so many Republican senators, and what can be done about that?
aggiesal
(8,910 posts)Increase the court to 13 members.
6 Conservative, 6 Liberals and Chief Justice.
Then whoever wins the Presidential election, the court would represent the Presidents leanings.
Conservative President, Conservative court.
Liberal President, Liberal court.
Then every case, 9 of the 13 justices are drawn at random with 5-4 majority based on the current leanings.
Conservative President, 5-4 Conservatives court with every case.
Liberal President, 5-4 Liberal court with every case.
This way, neither leanings can dominate the other, and the bench & decisions become more moderate over time.
But that is just my opinion.
Effete Snob
(8,387 posts)How are you determining who is a "Conservative" or "Liberal" justice, and does that tag stay with them for the entirety of their lifetime appointments?
The principal author of Roe v. Wade was Justice Blackmun.
Was he a "liberal" justice? He was appointed by Nixon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Blackmun
A lifelong Republican, Blackmun was expected to adhere to a conservative interpretation of the Constitution. The Court's Chief Justice at the time, Warren Burger, a longtime friend of Blackmun's and best man at his wedding, had recommended Blackmun for the job to Nixon. The two were often called the "Minnesota Twins" (a reference to the baseball team, the Minnesota Twins, in turn named after the "Twin Cities" of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota) because of their common history in Minnesota and because they so often voted together. Indeed, Blackmun voted with Burger in 87.5% of the closely divided cases during his first five terms (1970 to 1975), and with William J. Brennan, the Court's leading liberal, in only 13%.[13] In 1972, Blackmun joined Burger and Nixon's other two appointees in dissenting from Furman v. Georgia, the decision that invalidated all capital punishment laws then in force in the United States, and in 1976, he voted to reinstate the death penalty in Gregg v. Georgia, even the mandatory death penalty statutes. In both instances Blackmun indicated his personal opinion of the death penalty's shortcomings as a policy, but insisted his political opinions should have no bearing on the death penalty's constitutionality.
That began to change, however, between 1975 and 1980, by which time Blackmun was joining Brennan in 54.5% of the divided cases, and Burger in 45.5%.[13] Shortly after Blackmun dissented in Rizzo v. Goode (1976), William Kunstler embraced him and "welcom[ed] him to the company of the 'liberals and the enlightened.'"[14]
---
The arc of Blackmun's judicial career is by no means unusual in that regard.
So, how would your system account for judges whose views evolve, and on what basis would they initially be assigned to "conservative" or "liberal"?
aggiesal
(8,910 posts)a (D) President might have to nominate a conservative judge to the bench and vice versa
If a (D) President has to nominate a conservative justice to replace a conservative justice, the (D)'s in the Senate would have to hold the line on just how conservative a judge is nominated.
Still think it could work.
irisblue
(32,967 posts)SergeStorms
(19,193 posts)and wasn't involved in any decision making or policy processes.
irisblue
(32,967 posts)She made GOP talking points palatable.
Irish_Dem
(46,911 posts)And was responsible for taking care of Palin and making her presentable during the election with McCain.
SergeStorms
(19,193 posts)It's not worth arguing about.
irisblue
(32,967 posts)soldierant
(6,846 posts)Or at least trying to.
Irish_Dem
(46,911 posts)soldierant
(6,846 posts)That's a character trait which is all too rare.
And it can also be moe powerful thatn someone who never slipped. They know all the aortst about the enemy already. Consider Mchael Cohen. Also the Lincoln Project.
Effete Snob
(8,387 posts)Is to make the money first, and make the amends later.
Irish_Dem
(46,911 posts)And also the GOPers have inside info as you point out.
gab13by13
(21,303 posts)I pretty much only watch her show. I see she spent a lot of time on her show going after Trump and his traitorous cronies.
Any other anchor cover the traitors like she did today?
irisblue
(32,967 posts)Hekate
(90,642 posts)she joined MSNBC. I would suggest you (and others whove never actually seen her work in 2022 or prior) get a TV and watch for yourselves or take our word for it. Because I and a lot of others here actually do follow Nicolle.
irisblue
(32,967 posts)"Any other anchor cover the traitors like she did today" I have not watched her clips today
Hekate, Wallace has a history of actions that were very pro Republican and anti Democratic, those actions cannot be denied.
Evolve Dammit
(16,723 posts)SouthernDem4ever
(6,617 posts)Other than Chuck Tool that is.
LuvLoogie
(6,991 posts)Voter apathy and a neglect of state legislatures. A delayed and underwhelming counter to the scorched earth politics ushered in by Lee Atwater and Newt Gingrich. Bill Clinton's charisma and talent kept the Democratic party alive. Barack Obama likewise kept our heads above water. He and Nancy were the leaders we needed. She and Joe are as well.
Nicole Wallace may have been a partisan advisor at one time, but she was no Federalist Society, No ALEC. She wasn't a legislator or a judge. The volume of her commentary since trump has probably outweighed anything she ever did for Bush or McCain.
White Nationalist christo-fascism is not a new thing in this country.
Samrob
(4,298 posts)young_at_heart
(3,767 posts)It's like a mask or something!
gab13by13
(21,303 posts)She does her job better than any other cable news anchor.
young_at_heart
(3,767 posts)Nicole is absolutely great...I saw Ginni in that clip that Nicole showed and she never stopped "grinning" and the look on her face showed utter contempt. I wanted to throw up!
NoMoreRepugs
(9,410 posts)but I vote smile every time.
young_at_heart
(3,767 posts)My excuse is that I had the Moderna booster yesterday and probably shouldn't have tried to communicate. Nicole has a genuine, beautiful smile!!
NoMoreRepugs
(9,410 posts)2naSalit
(86,534 posts)I think her grimace looks a lot like her smile.
One of my many nieces, a beautiful young lady, has a parent who often puts her in uncomfortable situations where she has no power to do anything to help the situation other than smile and say nothing. So she has adopted a "smile" for such occasions that is still her lovely smile but also illustrates her predicament without betraying her thoughts to the parent. It's a defense mechanism, that's how I see Nicole's smile sometimes.
young_at_heart
(3,767 posts)I LOVE Nicole. I was talking about Ginni Thomas, as she was walking to testify. She had a "plastic" smile the entire time that I found nauseating!
2naSalit
(86,534 posts)Fuck yeah, I despise that, that individual with every fiber of my being.
Her elated yet smug smile, I would love to to see that wiped off her face when she's handed her new orange jumpsuit.
Heather MC
(8,084 posts)🤣🤣🤣🤣
gab13by13
(21,303 posts)blueinredohio
(6,797 posts)Everyone of these "elites" are going to get away with whatever they have done.
uponit7771
(90,335 posts)... when it comes to the DOJ erroring on the side of not prosecuting white GQP politicians to the level they do DNC ones.
There is no probable cause to investigate Hunter Biden AT ALL but they are and doing such publically
Stinky The Clown
(67,786 posts)I agree with you that hers is somehow politically motivated.
She pissed in someone's cornflakes when she was quick to indict the cops who killed Freddie Gray. She's been on a powerful shit list since.
Stinky Prediction ---> She will wind up as part of The Innocence Project or similar organization.
uponit7771
(90,335 posts)homegirl
(1,428 posts)Martha Stewart and that Helmsly woman?
LisaM
(27,801 posts)Clarence Thomas had a glaring conflict of interest in Bush v. Gore. It's how Bush became president, and how we got the Supreme Court we have now. I think this indirectly led to Trump's election (through Citizens United).
Nicolle Wallace may be making amends now, but I think she also needs to address how we got here. Maybe it was a small part, but she had a part in this. She was obviously willing to overlook Ginni Thomas's role in the whole shambles of 2000.
gab13by13
(21,303 posts)She tore Ginni and Clarence new assholes today. She pushed Andrew Weissman to explain why Ginni was a witness and not a target.
Cosmocat
(14,563 posts)Was on the wrong side of things.
LisaM
(27,801 posts)Does she ever acknowledge that Bush's presidency was probably illegitimate? That's when the Supreme Court started losing its credibility.
I only watch her if she's on a panel. Bush v. Gore was one of the most awful events I can remember and it traumatized me. It took a lot of the joy from me. I think of Bush every time I see her.
As bad as Trump was, Bush helped create him. Americans have short memories and sometimes that is a good thing, but in this case, I do not want Trump's awfulness to erase Bush's wickedness.
PatrickforB
(14,570 posts)These dominionists are a cancer on our republic.
kentuck
(111,078 posts)...they will use the information they get from her to uncover the rest of the conspiracy.
OMGWTF
(3,951 posts)Response to Samrob (Original post)
traitorsgalore This message was self-deleted by its author.
Rhiannon12866
(205,161 posts)https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017771589
Former Congressman and former advisor to the Jan. 6 committee Denver Riggleman reacts to the committee interviewing Ginni Thomas and discusses his new book The Breach: The Untold Story of the Investigations into January 6th. - Aired on 09/29/2022.
calimary
(81,210 posts)niyad
(113,257 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(145,126 posts)Patton French
(754 posts)I mean.
Irish_Dem
(46,911 posts)Effete Snob
(8,387 posts)Stupidity and madness are something else.
I don't mind mere corruption. Those sorts of people can be bargained with.
It's the crazy ones who scare me.
Irish_Dem
(46,911 posts)Putin also wants US democracy to look foolish and weak.
The GOP leaders know these politicians will do their bidding.
Effete Snob
(8,387 posts)We need to stop offshoring our corruption industries.
Irish_Dem
(46,911 posts)They bought off the GOP lock stock and barrel.
GOP leaders don't even hide their trips to Moscow.
And they spout Putin's talking points every day.
maxsolomon
(33,305 posts)I see this stated on DU quite frequently, but I'm skeptical. IMHO, Government servants by and large are not corrupt and do their jobs. Certainly the US Fedrul Gubmint is not riddled with Russia-type graft or African dictator-type bribery corruption.
Can you give me specific examples of where you think there is corruption riddling the US Government - other than GQP Pols?
Irish_Dem
(46,911 posts)The GOP politicians and the many people they have planted in our gov't.
The many GOP leaders who were involved in the insurrection.
The many people who aid and abet the criminal Donald Trump.
The many judges who are corrupt and no longer interested in justice.
The majority of the Supreme Court who is corrupt to its core.
FBI agents who clearly damaged Hillary Clinton before the election.
When Trump was in the WH all three branches of government consisted of many corrupt leaders and
workers.
A corrupt government who does not care if our children are shot to ribbons in school.
These are just a few examples but I could go on an on.
maxsolomon
(33,305 posts)and "corruption" is a nebulous term - you define it more broadly than I do.
I disagree with your last example, for instance. It's a broad brush, and it's only the GQP that stands in the way of rational Federal Gun Control laws (not to mention our stupid Constitution written by rich slaveowners). Everyone "cares" about School Shootings; they just have no way to prevent it from happening - too many guns and too much crazy isn't corruption per se. The failures at Uvalde were cowardice and incompetence, not corruption.
The US ranks pretty low on this Perceived Govt Corruption index: https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2021?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxfKDz_i8-gIVVyWtBh0vXQEmEAAYAiAAEgLKQvD_BwE
Brainfodder
(6,423 posts)Just a reminder....
Sick of hearing about their shitty activities to OWN THE LIBS!
Sick of hearing about ANY shitty activities to OWN THE LIBS!
But these 2 super creeps, it's their plan, FUCK IT THE HELL UP please?
Scottie Mom
(5,812 posts)Then, maybe, Clarence will sit the fuck out on J-6 issues. But...at least Ginni will get her due if charged and that is something worthy of praise even if spouse Clarence does not do the honorable thing and recuse.