JUSTICE ALITO at a political FUNDRAISER headlined by Michele Bachmann, RNC Chairman

[Segami]

Run time: 00:30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUleZZQ-ohg   Posted on YouTube: November 10, 2010 By YouTube Member: ThinkProgress2 Views on YouTube: 232   Posted on DU: November 10, 2010 By DU Member: Segami Views on DU: 3202

 
ThinkProgress:


Exclusive: Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito Dismisses His Profligate Right-Wing Fundraising As ‘Not Important’


" Last night, the American Spectator — a right-wing magazine known for its role in the “Arkansas Project,” a well-funded effort to invent stories with the goal of eventually impeaching President Clinton — held its annual gala fundraising event. The Spectator is more than merely an ideological outlet. Spectator publisher Al Regnery helps lead a secretive group of conservatives called the “Conservative Action Project,” formed after President Obama’s election, to help lobby for conservative legislative priorities, elect Republicans (the Conservative Action Project helped campaign against Democrat Bill Owens in NY-23), and block President Obama’s judicial appointments. The Spectator’s gala last night, with ticket prices/sponsorship levels ranging from $250 to $25,000, featured prominent Republicans like RNC chairman Michael Steele, hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer (a major donor to Republican campaign committees and attack ad groups), and U.S. Chamber of Commerce board member and former Allied Capital CEO William Walton. Among the attendees toasting Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), the keynote speaker for the event, was Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito.

It’s not the first time Alito has attended the Spectator dinner. In 2008, Alito headlined the Spectator’s annual gala, helping to raise tens of thousands of dollars for the political magazine. According to Jay Homnick, a conservative who attended the 2008 Spectator gala, Alito spent much of his speech ripping then Vice President-elect Joe Biden as a serial plagiarizer.


As Alito entered the event last night, I approached the Justice and asked him why he thought it appropriate to attend a highly political fundraiser with the chairman of the Republican Party, given Alito’s position on the court. Alito appeared baffled, and replied, “it’s not important that I’m here.” “But,” I said, “you also helped headline this same event two years ago, obviously helping to raise political money as the keynote.” Alito replied curtly, “it’s not important,” before walking away from me.


After the gala, I again tried to approach Justice Alito — this time, with a video camera in hand — to ask him about the ethical issues raised by his right-wing political fundraising. Before I could come close to him, his security guards threatened me with arrest.


cont'

<http://thinkprogress.org/2010/11/10/sam-alito-republican-fundraiser/>

[Blue Owl]

1. This moment brought to you by George W. Bu$h

Did I catch a glimpse of Alito's wife gently weeping in the background?

[BigEd7]

34. Impeachment isn't an option....

Just an FYI here....

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_a_US_Supreme_Court_justice_be_impeached_and_removed_from_office

Only one Supreme Court Justice, Samuel Chase (one of the signatories to the Declaration of Independence), has ever been impeached. The House of Representatives accused Chase of letting his Federalist political leanings affect his rulings, and served him with eight articles of impeachment in late 1804. The Senate acquitted him of all charges in 1805, establishing the right of the judiciary to independent opinion. Chase continued on the Court until his death in June 1811.

In 1957, at the height of McCarthyism, the Georgia General Assembly passed a joint resolution calling for "The Impeachment of Certain U.S. Supreme Court Justices" believed to be enabling Communism with their decisions. The resolution targeted Chief Justice Earl Warren and Associate Justices Hugo Black, William O. Douglas, Tom Campbell Clark, Felix Frankfurter, and Stanley Forman Reed (as well as several unnamed deceased Justices) for "... the congressional power to make law in violation of Article I, Sections I and 8, and violated Sections 3 and 5 of the 14th Amendment and nullified the 10th Amendment of the Constitution."

[Liberal_Dog]

39. And Also By Senate Dems

who thought that they should "keep their powder dry" during the Roberts and Alito confirmations.

[polichick]

2. Isn't that grounds for impeachment? nt

[perdita9]

7. If it's not it should be

Damn, but the conservatives are feeling bold lately.

[StandingInLeftField]

3. Obvioulsy Justice Alito is not as crucial to an unbiased judiciary

as KO is to an unbiased fourth estate.
:sarcasm:

[activa8tr]

16. GREAT POINT!!!!!!! n/t

[madmax]

4. Oh will you stop it!!

Rulzzz and ethics only apply to others. Those like Alito, Thomas, Ginny Thomas and the likes are exempt.

Damnit, read the damn Memo.

:sarcasm: as if an emoticon is needed ;)

[StandingInLeftField]

5. I e-mailed this to Rachel

[polichick]

8. Great idea - thanks! nt

[madmax]

12. Excllent - good idea. Wish I thought of it ;) nt

[Segami]

18. Thanks for the effort.

[Plucketeer]

6. How long......

before Roberts and Co. moonlight to star in ads for Wall St. firms???

[ElsewheresDaughter]

9. IMPEACH!!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

10. THIS IS WHAT "IMPEACHMENT" WAS MEANT FOR>>>JUSTICES not Presidents

[Red Knight]

11. Don't forget

Alito doesn't want to attend State of the Union addresses(at least Obama's) anymore because he thinks they've become too political.

I guess it just depends on whose politics.

It is just another sad statement about our country that Thomas and Alito go to rightwing political functions and Scalia goes duck hunting with Cheney when he's about to make a ruling on a case involving him and no one raises an eyebrow.

The court has been hijacked by extemeists.

[MrMickeysMom]

22. "The court has been hijacked by extremists."

Now, what was that term often used by the conservative right wingers to accuse judges of such behavior?

It's on the tip of my tongue...

[BlueMTexpat]

33. Scalia goes duck hunting with Cheney?!!

The same Dick Cheney who shoots his "friends" - who then must apologize for being shot?

Wow! Just wow!

Sometimes I feel like the policeman in "Life on Mars" who wakes up in the 70s. In my case, I've woken up from the 70s (the last decade that the US even remotely resembled the country I was born and raised in) and found myself fast-forwarded to a truly crazy era.

The terrible thing is that I remember living through each of the phases that moved us incrementally closer and closer to the current insanity. I protested, tried desperately to reason with people - to point out the consequences, was not heeded and indeed called "hysterical," and felt rendered literally powerless - until Howard Dean, when I began to hope again - in addition to continuing to work for what have always I believed in. I wanted to believe in Obama and would still love to.

But now I feel as if I am being slowly but inevitably sucked into the vortex. What is worse is that I am not alone. It's the whole country that's being sucked into the vortex with me. What is ironic is that those who are most headstrongly pulling us into the vortex do not understand that it is indeed ALL Americans - including them - who will lose. We're already being studied as a failed political and economic "experiment" in some international institutions as it is. I would like to hope - very much - that is a premature assessment. But news like this - greeted literally with a ho-hum by a corporate-owned media - makes me realize just how far we've gone since the 70s.

[ezmerelda39]

35. Certainly

you are not alone. Well put. Thanks.

[Roy Rolling]

13. Impeach!

I agree, the line has to be drawn somewhere...how about here? People like him and Thomas keep pushing the envelope expecting someone or something to push back. Someone should at least make them defend their actions so that they can be subject to public scrutiny for political behavior that is prohibited for judges.

[EFerrari]

14. Impeach!

[1monster]

36. Not a freeking chance. The Republicans just took over the House, remember ? An impeachment

originates in the House of Representatvies.

Good luck in a Bill of Impeachment (against a Republican -- I'm sure we will see copious attempts at impeaching Obama) EVER hitting the Floor under the circumstances that will ensue in January.

edit: added disclaimer

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

15. Code of Conduct for United States Judges

Canon 1: A Judge Should Uphold the Integrity and Independence of the Judiciary

Canon 2: A Judge Should Avoid Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety in All Activities

Canon 3: A Judge Should Perform the Duties of the Office Fairly, Impartially and Diligently

Canon 4: A Judge May Engage in Extrajudicial Activities That Are Consistent with the Obligations of Judicial Office

Canon 5: A Judge Should Refrain from Political Activity

link

Unfortunately, this Code applies to United States circuit judges, district judges, Court of International Trade judges, Court of Federal Claims judges, bankruptcy judges, and magistrate judges. No mention of Supreme Court justices.

[activa8tr]

17. No mention of Supreme Court judges. Yeah, figures!

If I were Obama, I would bring him up on charges the day I get back from Korea.

IMPEACH THAT FUCKER!!!

[Segami]

19. Also,..

Can Supreme Court justices be impeached?


" Even though a Supreme Court justice is appointed to serve a lifetime term, he or she can still be impeached if they do not hold the office during "good behavior," as Article III, Section 1of the Constitution says.


Though the Constitution does not specifically define, "good behavior," it does specify the guidelines for invoking impeachment proceedings for a president, vice president, or other civil officer. Since justices are civil officers, these guidelines are often interpreted as one in the same.


"There is no definition of good behavior," said Jonathan R. Siegel, a professor of law at George Washington University Law School. "I think it is generally believed that that standard is somewhat broader than otherwise stated."


Siegel said that the broadness of the term "good behavior" allows for a judge to be removed because of something other than a crime, although to date, none have.


Impeachment guidelines are defined in Article II, Section 4: "The president, vice president and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."


Still, Supreme Court justices (and all federal judges) are different because they do not require a vote by the popular electorate. This was done purposefully, as James Madison — a founding father and the fourth president — famously argued, in order to allow justices to rule without fear of backlash at the polls. Madison's idea was that if justices were appointed, they would rule thoughtful and accurately, as opposed to ruling in a way that would further political agendas.


As in the impeachment process of any president, vice president or other civil officer, to be impeached does not mean that a Supreme Court justice is fired — it simply means that a formal process of investigating the allegations has begun.


On Thursday the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach federal Judge G. Thomas Porteous Jr. of Louisiana. Though Porteous is not a member of the Supreme Court, his situation is a good example of what could happen to a justice were he or she to be served an impeachment.


The House approved articles of impeachment contained in a resolution, charging that Porteous received money in a case he oversaw, accepted valuable items from a bail bondsman in exchange for making official actions, made false statements about his personal bankruptcy filing, and made false statements during his confirmation hearing process.


From here, Porteous could be tried in the Senate on the four articles of impeachment. If two-thirds of the Senate votes that based off of the trial proceedings, they find these articles to be true, they will convict Porteous and remove him from office.


Impeachment trials can be very long, drawn out processes and happen rarely . Of all of the Supreme Court justices who have served, only one, Justice Samuel Chase, has ever been served with an impeachment. In 1805, Chase was found not guilty, and continued to serve on the court until his death in 1811.


Including Chase, the House has only impeached 14 judges in its history. Seven were found guilty and removed from office, 4 were found not guilty, and 3 resigned before the Senate could rule.

Siegel said that few impeachment trials have taken place because most justices behave well. "It's a great gig, you wouldn't want to lose it once you've got it."

-- Leah Carliner, Congress.org

<http://www.congress.org/news/2010/03/12/can_supreme_court_justices_be_impeached>




United States Constitution

Article III

<http://topics.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articleiii>


.

[Generic Other]

20. Violation of 2 and 5

Impeach

[avaistheone1]

21. IMPEACH

the bastard.

[defendandprotect]

23. And this isn't fascism .... Reminds me of Germany and Nuremberg Laws enforced by judges...!!

[Bjorn Against]

24. I never want to hear another word from the right-wing about judicial activism again.

[axollot]

26. Trust when the RW says crap like that it's exactly what they are doing. n/t

[Scruffy1]

25. Thanks to Ben Nelson, Kent Conrad, Robert Byrd,and

Tim Johnson. With dems like these who needs Republicans.

[pattmarty]

27. Let's see, Kieth Olbermann suspended w/o pay for 4 days for...............

............OPENLY donating 2400 a piece to 3 Dem candidates and a SUPPOSEDLY IMPARTIAL fucking Supreme court justice gets to do bullshit like this. In the goddamn galaxy of fairness, this fucking stinks.

[The Wizard]

28. And if impeached

conviction in the Senate requires a simple majority because Judges are appointed, not elected.
Disbarment should also be on the table. And this goes for the rest of the felonious five who sent this country into the bowels of political corruption.
And if we get Democrats with spines, maybe a stint in the federal prison at Marion Illinois.
And for some, a blindfold and cigarette after a fair trial. Treason has its consequences.

[tanyev]

29. So he not only helped open the floodgates, he's pulling even more water through.

What's "Not true" about that, Mr. Alito?

[olegramps]

30. No one should be have an appointment for life .

The Constitution should be changed and terms limited. The selection of Bush by the Supreme Court revealed the inherent danger of lifetime appointments in which the rights of the citizens of Florida were totally abandoned. Our government has become so damn corrupted by special interest that I don't see how it can actually continue to serve the needs of the citizens.

Granting person-hood to corporations could very well be what will eventually bring down the government. The government's sole purpose has been transformed into a system determined to protect and expand the dominion of the country by corporations rather than serving the needs of it citizens. Their control of the media has resulted in a continuous diatribe of propaganda the has destroyed the unity of the nation and has led to irreversible polarization. I don't see any force in the near future that could reverse this rush to complete destruction. This aptly demonstrated by Obama's dilemma. Obama's dream of uniting those in power to solve the massive problems confronting our nation has been crushed by partisanship that would rather destroy the Republic than work together for a brighter future for it citizens. I can only imagine what will transpire, if indeed I am even alive, in 2012 if the corporationists succeed in ousting President Obama and replace him with another of their brainless fools.

[truth2power]

31. Funny thing...a member of the media gets sanctioned

for contributing a few thousand dollars to several candidates for office, but a justice on the highest court in the land can support any partisan cause he likes.

Hell, even local judgeships are non-partisan. You can't tell, on the ballot, what their party affiliation is, you just have to know beforehand.

[progressoid]

32. makes me want to lose my breakfast

:puke:

[Zambero]

37. The justice visits the asylum

I wonder if we can possibly look forward to a 5-4 SCOTUS ruling that addresses Bachman's allegations of "Un-American" thinking on the part of liberal legislators? Alito's mere presence at this event would render any future actions on his part as being somewhat anticlimactic.

[Gamey]

38. Scalia went hunting with Cheney

These are some nutty people. They are not qualified to be sitting on the highest court in the land. Thomas anointed Ashcroft in oil in a King James manner.

http://www.buzzflash.com/farrell/04/03/far04007.html