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More Tears For Clarence Thomas
An editorial by Daniel Henninger that appeared in the Wall Street Journal November 8, A Medal For Miss Lee, continues the interminable harangue that U.S. Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas was a victim of a high tech lynching over 16 years ago at his confirmation hearings. http://www.opinionjournal.com/forms/printThis.html?id=110010836 Henninger asks his readers to consider this question regarding Atticus Finch, the fictional attorney in Harper Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird: "What would Atticus Finch make of the "high-tech lynching" of Clarence Thomas?" Clearly Mr. Henninger didn't understand the confirmation hearings for Clarence Thomas any more than he understands the message in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird -- that is, if he read it at all. Sixteen years after his confirmation for Supreme Court justice by a Democratic-controlled committee, Thomas is still fuming over his perceived ill-treatment by its members and still carries his seething hatred of all things liberal and all things associated with the Democratic Party. Mr. Henninger comments, "Atticus Finch, I think, would have objected to what was done to Clarence Thomas in that Senate confirmation hearing." Perhaps Mr. Henninger has forgotten one simple truth: Clarence Thomas was confirmed and now sits on the highest court of the land while sixteen years later he is still engaging in ad hominem attacks against Anita Hill, spouting his childish tantrums and calling her his "most traitorous adversary." Rancor, bitterness and vindictiveness exemplified by Clarence Thomas, however, are the hallmarks and the defining principles entrenched in the Republican Party. Nobody should expect Thomas' simmering hatred to become tempered over time -- and it hasn't. On the contrary, Henninger exploits the ceremony honoring Harper Lee who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, magnifying the inveterate, long-standing hatred and contempt that Rupert Murdoch and his confederates have for anyone who dares to criticize or obstruct the conservative agenda hell-bent on installing like-minded, lifetime-appointed, partisan, activist ideologues on every federal court. It matters little to the Rupert Murdoch Wall Street Journal editors, once a revered business journal, that Thomas had only one year of judicial experience before being ensconced on the highest court of the land. This is the standard by which George H. W. Bush chose to confront the Democrat-chaired committee when he decided to play the race card in nominating Clarence Thomas who never balks at an opportunity to advance his partisan, activist right wing ideology that is far outside Americans' mainstream interests. His rulings are as predictable as are the right wing fulminations which are appearing with more and more frequency in the Rupert Murdoch Wall Street Tabloid. I doubt if the fictional Atticus Finch would have any more use for Clarence Thomas' peevish complaints than he would for the distortions of facts produced by a journal that has long since lost its moral compass by abandoning any semblance of truthful reporting. Richard A. Stitt
Austin, TX
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Thomas appointment
was wrong because he lacked experience but the press used the Hill hearings to hide that fact. It should have been both which were considered. He's angry because he doesn't get the respect he "deserves"?
After the stolen election of 2000, he should have been impeached for his lack of knowledge regarding the Constitution (he violated his oath to protect it). The people chose their own representatives. The states control their elections. He should have declined Bush's case before the court. Votes should be counted (Florida ones weren't finished), re-counted as by Florida law, and the fraud investigated (the crime of vote stealing ordered to go forward by the federal election officials). He violated both the Constitution and Florida Voting law. The court was lawless and took powers not theirs under the Constitution.
The Hill hearings were a distraction. She should have been able to bring her case before the court but not at a Congressional hearing.
One after another the Supreme Court has been packed with RW Judges even more right wing than most Americans. It's not just the "liberals" who disliked the appointments but most Americans who protested but were ingored. Roberts wasn't qualified either (it was payoff for election fruad) and Reinquist was a druggie. Scalia was guilty of political cronyism. He also had very conflicted religious beliefs with the Constitution (more extreme than most American Catholics).
Thomas is a black man who keeps his court seat not because he is a "Conservative" but because he negates any ruling for the benefit of his race or of justice period. It was political and one sided.
That's three judges appointed to the Supreme Court who weren't qualified to represent ALL the American people and fair justice. It had little to do with the "liberals" who disliked them but more to do with "justice for all".
re:Thomas Appointment
Dove, yes, you are right on all counts. But there's the big difference between the weak-spined Democrats who are all too willing to cave, even when someone is as unqualified as Clarence Thomas and recently the confirmation of Michael Mukasey for Attorney General. Seems to me when a judge has been around as long as Mukasey and still can't have an opinion or definition on what constitutes torture he ought not to be the head of the Justice Department. But this is the fault of the Democrats, especially the two, Feinstein and Schumer, who decided he probably won't be any worse than a recess appointment by Bush. Even though they may have a weak point there, I would rather see Bush make a recess appointment without Senate confirmation than watching the Democrats grovel and capitulate -- again!
Of course, Democrats have always been willing to compromise in the past because that's exactly where they're living now -- in the past. Republicans treat politics as war and they will pull out all the stops to win because they long ago abandoned such traits as honesty, integrity and principled leadership, qualifications that they think only the chumps still believe.
Sorry as this is, that's what it takes to win. Democrats, instead of playing hardball, are still playing wiffle ball. The trashing and Swift Boating of Hillary Clinton, the presumed Democratic Party preidential nominee, hasn't even begun in earnest yet. But when it does she better be ready to fight back tooth and nail.
RE: Mukasey for Attorney General
This Reagan appointed judge was sitting there waiting to be appointed recess or not.
Bush's recess appointments are unconsitutional. Most appointments were not OK'd by the Senate (and most the people). We were better off without a Bush Attorney General period.
All of Bush appointments (recess or not) have been Fascists. That's why he should be impeached Schumer! Imagine discussing torture in our seat of democracy? It's for fear.
Continued: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/110807H.shtml
Truthout article about Justice Thomas.
I just found this article from Truthout about "Injustice Thomas". What a horrible thing to be educated and promoted because of ones race or poverty!
It would have been great if I had been able to go to Yale and become a Supreme Court judge because of my life situation. No college scholorships for me even with my high marks. I had to go to state univeristy at night and work during the day. Even then there wasn't a good job for my education success when I finished. Good jobs were mostly gone in my NY state town (1980).
I do understand that Clarence suffered from his family's "religious insanity" as a young person. We as a country should know that he wasn't the only Black (or white,etc.) person to suffer such extremism and hate in his youth. Tavis Smiley commentator on PBS in a book told about how he run away from home when falsely accussed of something by his minister. His father beat him and his parents rejected him. He ran away and some college admissions man gave him needed funds to attend college.
Thomas hates the elite when he has become one of them?
Thomas was a good student like Smiley. Both men were given a chance in our society to succeed. They had to do much of it themselves by studying and working hard. It was not a "given" to them nor should they think it was a punishment of some sort for their situation in life. Many Americans find themselves without help for college.
If it weren't for these minority grants for race, poverty, etc.very few would get ahead in our society. Many returning military after WWII also had grants for university. The "Greatest Generation" was also given benefits many Vets today don't see. It is the reason for our large upper middle class and success as a society (Congressmen such as Bob Dole, etc. went to college on Vet grants).
Today Vets get very few grants let alone health care for their injuries.
There should be college scholorships available for all who desire to better themselves in our society. It gives them a better life plus helps us as a society. It also evens out the class level (prior to that only the elite went to college) which is why RWer Governor Reagan was against it. Public education was one of our success stories which they are out to destroy.
Both RWer Mukasey and Thomas went to Yale. Does Bush only like his Yale "Skull & Bones" college graduates for jobs in our government?
Republicans go the mile to win?
This is not a new concept with Conservatives. They win by any means to become powerful. Empires are built by them. They are liars, selfish, and don't obey the laws. Some even commit muderer and genocide. They are the bullies of the world. They think of themselves as "special" and born to lead. It's the arrogance of power and wealth.
I sometimes think the "Cons" do as they do because they can. Democrats are the "enablers" today by not holding them to the fire. They too want that bag of plunder after they walk away from "public service".
It matters little to me what type of government (or party) they call themselves if the people live under tyranny and poverty...fear. It's just plain corruption and treason.