Clarence Thomas Can Breathe a Sigh of Relief with Weiner Downfall

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Clarence-Thomas-Can-Breath-by-earl-ofari-hutchin-110616-550.html

Every Democrat from the White House down screamed loudly for New York Representative Anthony Weiner to resign, and he finally did. But it's not a Democrat that's breathing the biggest sigh of relief at Weiner's downfall. It's Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. There was much talk a year ago that Weiner would be the point man on the House Judiciary Committee if it decided to go after Thomas for his long trail of financial manipulations, abuse, and duplicity. Weiner gave some hope that he'd be the go to guy against Thomas because he had been hammering him publicly on his dealings and demanding that he recuse himself from any high court deliberations and ruling on the constitutionality of the health care reform law that conservative's loathe.



Weiner certainly had a lot of ammunition to make Thomas's misdoings a prima facie legal and political embarrassment for the GOP. This stemmed from Thomas's wife Ginni's mini-king ransom earnings she received from assorted right wing foundations and think tanks. The Heritage Foundation, was a prominent funder of Ginni as well as the ultraconservative Koch brothers, the Coors family and Richard Mellon Scaife, all of which have a major interest in any number of Supreme Court rulings.


Thomas did disclose her earnings. He did not disclose speaking fees and perks he got from a bevy of the same conservative groups that his wife worked for and had close political ties to. And then he refused to acknowledge her involvement with Liberty Central.
Then there was the strong hint that Thomas perjured himself in his testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee during his court confirmation hearings in 1991 and that he compounded that by lying under oath to Congress during the hearings.



Thomas was asked directly by Utah senator Orin Hatch during his confirmation hearings about Anita Hill's allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct and whether he used sexually suggestive language. Thomas answered: "I deny each and every single allegation against me today that suggested in any way that I had conversations of a sexual nature or about pornographic material with Anita Hill, that I ever attempted to date her, that I ever had any personal sexual interest in her, or that I in any way ever harassed her. "

More at the link --

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[HelenWheels]

2. Resignatiion big mistake

Wiener was about the only attack dog the Dems had. He had a spine that is missing from most Dems. I am ashamed but not surprised at how the Dems did not defend Wiener and folded like a cheap deck of cards. The Repukes back their offenders (most a lot worse than Weiner) and they stay in office. Doesn't bode well for the Dems.

[leveymg]

3. Article is ok, except it's ambiguous about Thomas' criminal offenses. Clarence can be Indicted

Indict Clarence Thomas. What the House of Reps does now is almost irrelevant to the outcome. Here's why. Also, see, related, http://journals.democraticunderground.com/leveymg

The reason Weiner has become a cause celebre and dragged on as long as it has is because the GOP Right want him destroyed.

They want him branded as a pervert. They want to make an example of the guy, hang him upside down and let his rotting carcass serve as a warning to others who might dare to defy the rule that has, so far, protected Clarence Thomas from his day of reckoning. They aren't the only people who are really angry at Weiner. The Democratic leadership, who have calculated that they don't have the votes to impeach Thomas in the House, have burned Anthony as an apostate.

So, everyone on both sides, don't even bring Clarence Thomas up, or else. Look at what happened to Rep. Anthony Weiner.

There is no denying the fact, though, Clarence Thomas has not merely committed an impeachable offense, he has violated criminal laws. 5 USC App. 104, False Statement, imposes a year in prison and a $50,000 fine. Each count. Clarence and Virginia did it five years running. There are some other felony charges that can be leveled, as well, if the AG wanted to do it. For that, Thomas can be Indicted, arrested, tried, convicted, and sent to Club Fed. It really doesn't matter if he's impeached or not. Judicial Immunity doesn't extend to non-judicial acts, like filling out false federal reports. He's already one foot in jail, and could never hear another case in the Supreme Court if they just indicted and arrested him. Do it on camera as he walks to his car. The others will never let him back in the side door of the Supreme Court Building and sit on the same bench with him if Clarence is arrested for a federal crime.

There is no rule that says they can't indict, arrest, and try sitting federal judges.

So, it really boils down to the political will to just get on with it. Indict Clarence Thomas. Arrest Clarence Thomas. The rest will follow.

[Cal33]

5. Most likely Pelosi would put Clarence Thomas' Indictment for his crimes off the table

also. She seems to be too afraid of Repubs to do it.

Just imagine the amount of good would result, if Thomas were out of the Supreme
Court now. Obama is not going to appoint another Republican Justice, and the Repubs.
will no longer have a strangle hold in the SCOTUS.

Too good to be true.

[leveymg]

6. It's up to Eric Holder to convene a Grand Jury. Nancy Pelosi can't do that.

That's the point I'm making. Thomas is gone if he's indicted - it really doesn't matter if he's impeached or not.

[Cal33]

7. Thanks for the info. I wonder if we should start a write in to Eric Holder. What a golden

opportunity for true justice to finally prevail, as well a beneficial political move for the
Dems. It's killing two birds with one stone.

[leveymg]

8. That's where Rep. Weiner was headed when he was railroaded

[Cal33]

9. I don't see the connection. Weiner was dumb enough to do what he did, and on

the Internet, no less. Roughly two out of three Dems. don't think he ought to resign
because of it. But one out of three do.

Pelosi is one of those who want him to resign, the consequence of which is that
Clarence Thomas' indictment on criminal charges will be delayed, if not "forgotten."
The Republicans will benefit, of course. Does this mean that Pelosi is deliberately
doing her best to keep the Repubs. in power, and helping them to destroy democracy in
America as we know it?

What Weiner did was immoral, and at best, questionably criminal. What Clarence
Thomas has been doing for the past ten years is definitely criminal -- and certainly
the worse case of the two. So, she prefers to help the greater offender -- and to the
detriment of our whole nation?

If so, does anyone know anymore, who is our friend and who is our enemy?

[leveymg]

12. Good questions. Not sure we'll like the answers.

Having a conservative majority on SCOTUS is integral to the ability of corporations to continue ruling the United States, as the Citizens United case shows. Clarence Thomas is integral to that outcome. It seems to me, that they'll protect Clarence at any cost, even if it means the elimination or neutralization of half the Democrats in the House of Representatives.

By delaying and dragging this out past November there may be a GOP majority in the Senate, which will not confirm a replacement for Thomas who will disturb the status quo on key issues of importance to global banks and business.

I've concluded that most of the Democratic leadership has been compromised. The game is rigged, and they'll throw elections and self-destruct the Party, if need be, in order to maintain the power of corporations.

[Springer9]

4. I doubt that Thomas was in any way worried about Rep Weiner

He can play the "race card" with the best of them.

"It's a high-tech lynching for uppity blacks" C. Thomas, 1991.

[Cal33]

10. If Eric Holder decides to have him indicted, the "race card" won't even come into play.

[Springer9]

13. So you're saying he has nothing to worry about then.

n/t

[SoCalDem]

11. true.. one boisterous congressman yapping at his heels is no threat

Clarence is secure in his life-long gig...and he knows it.. If he would not recuse himself during the GW fiasco while his WIFE was working behind the scenes to make sure GW won, nothing will unseat him...short of a myocardial infarction or a massive stroke in his sleep....or maybe a drunk guy on a runaway steamroller:)