Agree. Alito's upside down flag should have been reported in 2021. This story comes out 3 years later, and we cannot let it die. So let's keep beating the drum of reminding everyone: Just like Clarence Thomas, Judge Sammy Alito is married to an insurrectionist.
I'm guessing Alito is A-OK with Project 2025 being implemented after he & the other Justices do their best to help Trump win. No integrity, no ethics, no shame. Just an arrogant, MAGA Justice flying political flags and blatantly ruling on cases he has a vested interest in.
How many “Stop the Steal” flags does Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito need to fly over one of his multiple homes before it’s a problem? 🤦♂️
Anyone notice the oddity of the two Not so Supreme Court “justices,” supposedly “macho” males Thomas and now Alito, hiding behind the skirts of their wifeys? 1st it’s Ginny doing all the outrageous bad stuff, exposing their hypocrisy. He acts all gruff, huffy and “tuff”. Insulted. Full of bluster. Now it’s Alito. Except he goes all wimpy and finger points, wah, wah, like a naughty boy. Caught, he bleats, “she did it not me”.
What is it about Republican’s addiction to emotional immaturity in their politicians? Heading the list is their temptation of a potential rerun of toddler in chief, unable to mature emotional past age 3.
Don’t forget Roberts - Mr. Nice guy - who as chief Justice lets this happen and was cool with gutting the voting rights act because as he said racism is no longer a problem. And the worst one was Citizens United because in Roberts view money is equal to speech, especially in the bubble in which he lives. Way past time for the lazy media to expose him for what he really is.
Roberts has, All His Life, been an opponent of Civil Rights And Voting Rights for the non- white peoples.
Read his voting record.
We need ADAM SCHIFF paired with HAKEEM JEFFERIES, for our "Democratic" angers and actions to come forth ; like the "dem. youngsters" sitting in the118th congress, it's past time to light a heap of 🔥🔥🔥🔥 under the A$$ES of those complacent, forever re-elected dem. Senators.
Are they gonna wait for the" S. O. S. Of 2 Little, 2 Late "......AGAIN 🎱🎱🎱
January 6th is what Democracy *actually* looks like. Worthless, illiterate democrat inyenzi can't read and so don't understand this. If they could read, and read Jefferson, Seiyes, and Lenin, they would know this.
Everyone has been saying it for years, it's not a left or right saying. When the orange turd took office, the left and the right have not worked together, in fact, the people have been split, and you want to make America turn into a wasteland? Because that is the orange turd's plan. The orange turd will be the end of life for all.
I do not think it would be that way. Have you read project 2025? That and the orange turd's actions/words together are signs of some things that are not any good for the people. Unless you are rich, like making 6 figures.
👋Yes Michael, I have read it and found this manifesto horrifying. There are No Things that have any positive outcomes for the strata of Sane, Normal inhabitants of Our Country.
For any people of Color, it's a rush backwards to the 17th Century pre- Civil War era times/mores.
It’s never what’s good for the gander for the 🐘🐘🐘! Oh no, they have an anti democratic playbook, probably edited by the current russian czar. The writing is all over the wall, folks.😫😱
Obviously Alito did his utmost to suppress such information, & I'm sure he had plenty of help from political & media allies & judicial colleagues. I think it was due to the persistence of those neighbors that finally got the news out. Getting the truth out these days requires plenty of persistence from us citizens because the journalists we used to rely on to bring us such information are either not doing their jobs or being squelched by their editors or employers.
The report I heard (I believe it was Alex at MSNBC) was that the neighbors didn't report it, fearing reprisal and revenge from Justice Alito or his friends.
I have not talked to Alito's neighbors so I can't say for sure. But I can imagine, if it was me, feeling finally like the threat to democracy was great enough for me to find some quiet, anonymous way of getting the story to a journalist.
Fear just like that is what stopped any conservative to vote for the first impeachment. America’s first presidential mob boss put the fear of God in them!
Excellent question! It will be interesting to hear some explanation. Don’t expect it from 🐘though, they want the public to quickly forget & 🐘will bring up some lame story about some Dems wearing the wrong shoes or some equally ridiculous non-story, then talk it up like it’s a major story proving unethical behavior of Dems. For crying out loud, I’m so sick of hearing their childish agenda, orchestrated by 🦊news, the billionaires and foreign influencers, and the 🐘party! Selfish bastards who need to be sent to Mars to ruin another
My guess is that everyone ASSUMED that the members of SCOTUS behave true to their oath. The need to investigate SCOTUS seems to have sparked when it became clear that it was very likely Alito himself who "leaked" the RvW decision. Then a quick peek into their finances revealed Thomas' lavish "vacations" and "gifts" from a billionaire, and now it's finally becoming more of a "gloves off" environment.
WaPo just debunked the NYTimes report on this. The flag is by Alito's wife and it has to do with a dispute she's having with a neighbor that has nothing to do with SCOTUS or the judge. WaPo debunked this ridiculous nonsense. Wake up, you are being played.
Mary, you are right. Those are the hearings we need and if Sheldon Whitehouse was in charge of the Judiciary Committee we might have them. But Durbin will never take the actions needed. AS you say, he thinks the Senate of today is the Senate of 1970. Those days are long gone thanks to Moscow Mitch. McConnell, naked partisan, right wing ideologue, and total garbage person first turned to scorched earth obstruction then to abuse of the rules to achieve his ideological goals - a judiciary that would impose a right wing agenda on the nation that he could never achieve legislatively. And so far he has succeeded. It is up to us to reign karma down upon him and make him regret what he has done. And that comes from keeping the Senate and the WH. Killing he filibuster. Expanding the court to neutralize the Christo-fascist 6, and dragging Alito, Thomas, and Kavanaugh thru the mud of their past and present misdeeds to the point that they choose retirement/resignation over ongoing humiliation...or the promise of criminal charges. Criminal charges that a real AG would have already brought.
You have to wonder why Sen. Durbin is taking the look the other way and sweep it under the rug approach. The GOP would be all over this like flies on a manure pile if the justices were Democrats involved with this outrageously blatant corrupt behavior. If Sen. Durbin won't take action then have someone like Sen. Whitehouse as you suggested grab the bull by the horns and make an investigation a top priority. These bought and paid for unethical justices need to be held accountable.
Follow the money... Follow the cowardice. Durbin is a consummate centrist Democrat. If we use our power the Republicans will get mad at us and that cannot happen. We are all friends here. That ship sailed long ago. Durbin (like Biden and Garland) ain't figured it out.
@Peter I agree with you about Durbin, Garland and Biden. All three are good men who have made their careers by not "rocking the boat." To me the most disturbing is Biden. American voters, except MAGAs and wingers, will vote for Trump no matter what. However, there exists a large percentage of voters who are
going to get more serious about the election as it draws closer. The hi-jinks of Alito, the excessive hopefulness of Durbin, who believes Congress an work across the aisle, and the rose-colored glasses perched on Biden's nose--that the majority of American voters support his "ironclad" support of Israel--and his refusal to acknowledge the folly of his unwillingness to empathize with Palestinians. After all, his admired trademark through the years has been the deep and endless empathy he has for human suffering. Where is it now? Biden's empathy with Netanyahu is uncalled for, IMHO. It would be like his having empathy for The Orange Menace. He has alienated a good portion of the youth vote and many, if not most, "bleeding heart" liberals."(Me included.) However, I will vote for him, because I like his programs for the middle class, his student loan forgiveness, and his plan to place higher taxes on the 1%. This is way past due. I don't know if others can be so
forgiving. Anger and resentment are powerful emotions which are difficult to let go.
Our democracy depends on it.
I hope so much that the majority of voters will be able to put them aside and cast their votes for our president!
Yes, but his policy on the Israeli-Palestinian issue is virtually the same as US policy has always been under either party, so this should be no shock to anyone.
I also suspect that Putin is behind the Hamas attack that took place on his birthday, using US intelligence on Israeli military operations that Trump passed onto him. Putin has benefited a lot more than anyone else, diverting the attention by the rest of the world from Russia's brutal attack on Ukraine, which has helped turn the tide of war in his favor, & has provoked civil unrest in the US & opposition to Biden in key Democratic constituencies while enhancing the prospects of Putin's puppet Trump, who is also benefiting.
@James We will have to agree to disagree. Yes, Biden's policy is the same the US. has had since 1948 when Israel was installed in what was then Palestine, after WWII and a land grab. The U.S. supported the Nabka whereby Palestinians were driven out of their home and many were killed. It was the wrong policy then, and it is wrong policy now. Obama came to realize that and backed away from Netanyahu, but the U.S. pro-Israel policy was firmly in place. Biden was a supporter and has remained so throughout his career. He still thinks of Israel as the victim, and they certainly were during the Holocaust. However, they have kept Palestine under apartheid all that time, controlling their necessary supply lines for food, water and electricity. Hamas was initially formed as resistance to Israel's domination. Not until Netanyahu came to power did they begin fighting--sending rockets over the border, and throwing stones. They were the "David" to Israel's "Goliath, and Israel was dominant. The attack in 2023 was terrible, and in part because Netanyahu was not paying attention and left open part of the wall, which was in place to allow Palestinians entrance only through strict
security. Israeli settlers had already begun to occupy the West Bank and were forcing Palestinians to leave. Indeed, this was an Israeli occupation, and exists to this day. I suggest you read Ilan Pappe's "Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" if you want to know more of the history. It is no surprise that many European countries have turned on Netanyahu's Israel, and there are more to come. It has become a Pariah. The United States is close behind. This is why so many are critical of Biden and will remain so--jeopardizing his reelection. Sad...especially since Trump is so much worse!
I absolutely agree with everything you say, except for 1 minor point; I do not believe that Biden’s physical embrace of Netanyahu when he 1st landed in Israel after Oct 7 means that he “embraces” the man & his policies. Rather it was a symbolic embrace of the immediately grieving Israeli people.
I am extremely upset & angry at President Biden’s wishy washy behavior toward Netanyahu. He says
“They have the right to defend themselves, but they must, they must protect civilian life” & then, once again, there’s another bombing of a refugee center, a hospital, food aide workers.
Netanyahu basically gets away with saying “oopsies, it was an accident” & Biden doesn’t do anything except repeat that previous statement.
I just voted uncommitted in my primary
Not sure my protest vote will show up much from rural NM, but I felt strongly about doing it. I will still vote for Biden in the general election because I also care VERY MUCH about my rights & all other women’s rights & those of all marginalized people. If Biden loses this election, imo it will be because of his failure to take a stronger stance against what Netanyahu & the IDF is doing in Palestine & the West Bank.
It’s just too much horror.
Just a hint, I think you are transposing the letters k& b, I think it’s Nakba.
Exactly, now that’s the bigger picture while Putin’s Maga pussies! Regroup while Netanyahu blatantly supports Trump, does anyone think they resolve this ongoing hatred after 2600 years? Netanyahu /“Trump of Israel” has to step down & that’s for the Israelies to decide.
That's what is so frustrating. People in power think they can just keep doing what they have been doing for the last 60 years. So many generations since 1950. People evolve. Tactics must evolve to meet the current generations.
Agree. Alito & Thomas should, ar minimum, be indicted for the tax fraud they no doubt did. And Ginnie. She must be indicted right up there w Meadows, Tuberville, Graham and others. Expand the Court!
I spent my working years caring for the public as a firefighter/ paramedic. The profession runs on honesty and giving every ounce of strength and courage when called to help. Even the slightest hint of dishonest behavior would ruin decades of goodwill in our community. My question is, how do politicians and supreme court Justice's trample the constitution and spew hate toward the American people without recourse. Where is the honesty? Where is the courage to do what is right?.
Absolutely true assessment of Mitch McConnell and HIS lifetime work to take southern vengeance to America and it’s audacity to have won the Civil War. How dare we try to remain The UNITED States of America. HOW DARE WE…
Ok, here is the truth about McConnell. Remember those times he froze up? He froze up because the Leo, SuperRich component of the Republicans had a probe inserted into his brain a few years ago. When McConnell starts to get rational they simple pause his synaptic firings while updating his programming.
I am incensed about this. Thomas and Alito have no business on this court with what they have done.
An impeachment or a try to expand the number of justices all have to go through Congress. There are too many of lowercased don’s maga minions. Right now, IMO, it would be futile. That’s why it is so important to VOTE BLUE UP and DOWN the ballot. Until then we are in survivor mode.
As least get them recused from the J6 cases at a minimum. Something. Anything. Where is the outrage?! Why does it seem like WE are the only ones feeling it?! Are they all just so completely numb to all the corruption in Washington now or what?!!!
What a commenter in another Substack pointed out is that someone in the Alito household had to go out and buy that Appeal to Heaven flag. Unlike his very thin explanation blaming his wife for flying the upside down American flag (which I assume they already owned), what is the plausible excuse for buying this one at all, that the pine tree was pretty?
I appreciate that you are calling out Durbin and Schumer for the wimps they have always been. But I am still hoping to see someone call out Chief justice Roberts for deriliction of duty. He has the role and authority to rain down all kinds of hell on these guys. The assumption arrived at because Roberts is not stepping up is that they must be doing his bidding and dirty work so he can appear to keep his hands clean. Someone needs to expose Roberts. I am disappointed that you, also, are giving him a free pass…..
I agree. He doesn’t have much he can do to force the issue, but he can make a public statement about it, he can call a judicial conference and talk to the group together and he can file a recusal motion, which doesn’t force Alito to do so but is made public and would make him look less toothless. The truth is that Roberts can’t enforce anything. We need an expanded court to water down the 6 and we need enforceable ethics laws and rules, all of which can be done by the legislature. So as I believe The Opinionated Ogre Substack says at the close of every column, vote blue like your life depends on it, because it may.
Strong point, that. I have been led to believe that “Chief Justice” means something in the way of leadership and management. But Roberts does not seem to display either skill. Maybe I am misinformed?
A couple of lifetimes ago I was married to a project superintendent at a government shipyard. I seem to remember one of the most unbreakable rules in the code of conduct was no politicking, no showing of one’s personal politics, lest those working lower down the career ladder feel any pressure to agree. There were no showing of one’s personal political leanings of any sort unless one wanted to be called on the carpet and perhaps lose their hard won position.
So how on earth have we come to this? As I’ve said, it’s been several years past, but it raised my family from Reagan through to Clinton and on through the second Bush presidency.
The idea was we worked for the United States not a political party.
So I’m thinking we need to go back to the old system starting now with the Supreme Court. Before it’s too late.
I think there are a lot of things that have gone seriously downhill in this country during my lifetime. One of the major things is education. I'm not sure I learned anything about critical thinking in either high school or college, but a lot of things I was required to learn in school have been dropped as unnecessary or have been banned. I think there has also been a major slide down away from morality. Add to that the large number of people who don't want to get involved, who don't think it's up to them to be active…
In your spouse's position, being seen publicly as neutral was a good thing. In Alito's position, it is an absolute must. In my view, such a display of not only partisanship, but seditious anti-government bias, should be cause for automatic expulsion. That it isn't is just another sign of a deeply flawed judicial system.
The Supreme Court’s justices have never been above the fray & nonpartisan. I was disabused of that notion when I listened to the audiobook “How the South Won the Civil War” by Heather Cox Richardson who also has a Substack.
The Court has made some very obviously corrupt, partisan decisions over our county’s history.
We’ve had terrible corrupt, anti-democratic senators in the past too.
Rachel Maddow just very recently opened her Monday show speaking up for DA Fani Willis & how she is being attacked in attempts to ruin her good name & her career; all to prevent her from proceeding with the prosecutions of people in high places.
Rachel likened it to what happened to the DOJ people who tried to prosecute the Senators back in the 1930s who collaborated with Hitler & the Nazi Party. Powerful people came together to ruin their careers & save the traitorous senators.
So we the people must speak up, call out this traitorous, criminal behavior, make ph calls to ALL our elected officials & demand that they follow the law, support the DOJ, & do the right & moral thing….even if it means they lose an election.
I called Sen. Durbin’s office this afternoon and expressed my displeasure with Alito and Thomas. I demanded an investigation into their conduct, and the man I spoke to said he would bring it to the Senator’s attention.
Then I called my Democratic Senator and asked him to insist on the investigation.
I have no scientific basis to support gut feelings other than some statistical math known as Bayesian Analysis. However, mathematical reasoning reasoning can lead one to a wasteland of false conclusions. However, my gut always told me Melendez was dishonest scum. I missed it on Sinema most likely because I wanted to believe.
Another example of something we've really, really learned since 2015. Much of our government has worked in the past simply because most people in whatever branch tried to do the "right thing". They had morals, values, aspirations for a better country, blah, blah, blah. But now, we are constantly bombarded with people who just don't care about anything except power, money and greed...especially since they haven't had to deal - and probably won't have to deal in the future - with any consequences. I'm so upset about this because i naively thought "at least we'll be able to count on the Supreme Court regardless of who appointed them".
You know the climactic scene in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" where the Nazis open the ark and all evil and hell (literally) comes out of it? That's what this has felt like. Drumpf opened the ark in 2015 and, for some reason, that gave permission for too many people to turn into corrupt, immoral, horrible creatures.
Billsburg- I am so angry about what the Supreme Court has done over the last 2 ½ years. So many horrible destructive decisions, dragging women & all minorities backward by decades, in some cases centuries.
I despise all 6 of those conservative religious extremists, but especially Alito & Thomas.
We must remind everyone we interact with in person & on SM that if DT were to win this election, Alito & Thomas WILL retire during his presidency & he will appoint 2 younger ones just as right-wing radical as they are. Just imagine Matthew Kacsmyrick & Judge Ho, both of Texas, sitting on the Court for the next 40 years!!??
There would also be the very real risk of Justice Sotomeyor dying or becoming too ill to continue over that time. If trump got to replace her with a very young conservative, like Aileen Canon, then we’d be stuck with a 7-2 court; a total disaster.
I agree with all the points you made in your post, Mary, but, I’m afraid it is wishful thinking to believe anything will be done about corruption on the Supreme Court. Mitch McConnell has done more damage to this country than just about anyone (other than your lying criminal uncle, of course), but the Democrats need their version of McConnell to step forward. Someone intelligent and ruthless who will get done what needs doing. I have yet to see anyone like that among the Democrats in Congress. We have to continue fighting the madness engulfing this country, but we need leaders to rise to the occasion and help us.
I love Jasmine Crockett! Jamie Raskin is also quite strong & fearless. Elizabeth Warren has always stood up to the powers that be. Not a member of Congress, but Gavin Newsom shows no fear nor reticence about attacking Republicans. I'm not so keen on his becoming President because of a certain ethical deficiency, but he makes a good attack dog. I doubt he would run for senator against the man he appointed for that position, although for a California senator, Padilla has hardly been noticeable.
Get involved with orgs like Emily’s List & Run For Something. Emily’s List actively seeks out pro choice women & supports them to run for office. If you look on their website you can see some of the well known names they have assisted to win, such as Gretchen Whitmer.
Run For Something believes we should stop allowing Republicans to run unopposed in so many races.
Please assist these organizations with your time & money as much as you are able.
Well, that would be great, but, with all due respect to Bernie and his many true believers, if he was capable of being the McConnell of the progressives’ side, wouldn’t he have done that by now? I do not believe Bernie Sanders inspires the blind loyalty in his colleagues that Mitch McConnell did when he was younger. McConnell was, and still is, a ruthless, uncaring bastard, who his fellow regressives dared not to cross. It’s only my opinion, but I do not see Bernie Sanders as being that way.
You're right that Bernie doesn't inspire his colleagues. He's a leader of the people, not Congress. Republicans are little automatons who all follow leaders in lockstep. Democrats don't do that. And I really can't see anyone doing that for just that reason. Which may be why we're in this predicament. I'm afraid I don't have a solution to that.
Interestingly enough, Trump supporters say the same about him. Bernie brought us all that evil "SoCialist" label, which Republicans have used very effectively against every democratic norm. Thanks to him, all things liberal are now considered to be "progressive" ideals... including equality and women's rights. The voter's didn't see Bernie as presidential material (as proven by the primary votes), and he never should have run against Clinton on the Democrat ticket.
Someone commenting on another Substack said something to the effect that we Democrats have followed the rules too long, that it was time to change and take charge. I asked him what he meant but so far I haven't been able to get any clarification on that. I do wonder how we fight them without descending to their level. Michelle Obama says to take the high road but look where that's gotten us. OTOH if we start fighting dirty we descend into anarchy. Unfortunately my understanding of history isn't good enough to find answers in past events. Wars are one thing, political struggles another. I'm tempted to think of Mandela and Gandhi but look at South Africa and India now. I really don't know.
The irony is that Republicans & the right-wing machine accuse Democrats of the lowest forms of behavior (that Republicans are guilty of) regardless of what Democrats do.
Look at Germany now & ever since the 1960s, & they were ruled by Hitler. I surely would not want to go through anything like Germany experienced (although there's a good chance of that happening if Trump and/or the GOP get back in power) to get there. And then there's Russia, which has been ruled predominantly by tyrants, & they're about as bad as they've ever been now.
I’m seriously afraid that it may come to that. Brother against brother just like the 1860s. All of my family except 1 nephew & his wife, live in Texas & are religious & trump voters.
The last time my only living sister & I were together, last July, & she was angry about Democrats allowing “those trans people to make us use their pronouns” & insinuating that Democrats were pedophiles, I just interrupted her & said “If that’s what you believe & you hate them so much, even to the point of starting a war; well start with me. I’m a Democrat & I support trans rights, I support BLM, so go get your gun out of your purse & shoot me if I’m so evil”
It has been said that organizing Dems is like trying to herd cats. That comes from more people who are not afraid of nuance and more comfortable with uncertainty. However, there is still a lot of followers in the Dems, just as jack-booted as the Repugs.
On one point we disagree, Mary. You want Senate Hearings, I want the Democrats in the House of Representatives to draw up and publicly announce Articles of Impeachment against (at the very least) Alito and Thomas, but preferably against all 6 justices, including Roberts, Barrett, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh, on the grounds they have all failed to uphold the ONLY duty given them by the Constitution. That is to UPHOLD the CONSTITUTION. It is the only thing none have consistently done.
Not only did the Constitution set three branches of government, it also stipulated the major duties of each branch.
Article One gives us two Houses of Legislature. Their main duty is to write laws in compliance with the Constitution. NO other branch of government is given this duty.
Article Two gives us the Executive Branch. The President's main duty (along with many others specified in the Constitution) is to approve or veto legislation ORIGINATING in Congress and to see to putting such approved legislation into action. The President may NOT write laws, no matter what he/she promises, the President can suggest laws he/she would like to see written.
Article Three gives us the Federal Judiciary. Unfortunately The Constitution is not as clear on how or under what circumstances we appoint these justices. But, the ONE AND ONLY duty specified by the Constitution is to assure that all laws written by the Legislative Branch and approved by the Executive Branch are in absolute compliance with The Constitution of the United States.
So what to you call "Citizens United" or "Roe v Wade"? To me, these are examples of the Supreme Court Justices writing law. [Okay I didn't squawk about Roe v Wade because I consider abortion to be in the purview of Medical Procedure and no business of law], but Citizens United is clearly new law overriding regulations already in practice. This is outside the purview of the Judiciary Branch. The Supreme Court may represent the Supreme Law of the land; it is NOT the Supreme Branch of Government. All Branches were meant to be co-equal.
Senate hearings are meaningless. Impeachment Hearings cannot be brought to the House of Representatives, until after January 20, 2025. BUT if our Democratic legislators would draw up the Articles of Impeachment NOW, it could lead to a much needed trifecta November 5, 2024.
As far as I'm concerned, all appointees of Trump are illegitimate since he got to power fraudulently with the help & solicitation of Russia, despite the distortions & suppression of the Mueller Report by Trump's AG.
James, I’m in complete agreement with you but chose to narrow the scope of my comments so as to not seem too bellicose to the more timid Dems such that the idea was reflexively rejected without being considered.
I would “repost” your statements but I don’t think that is an option here, at least from what I can figure. But your comments deserve reposting!
Thank you for your reminder of the content of & what so many fought for & many died for, to defend our precious & unique Constitution! It seems more folks need to learn about our system of government. I taught ESL classes for a time & we always had the discussion about the 3 branches & the concept of balanced power. I am not sure that this is taught as a requirement in public education any longer. I hope I am wrong about that.
Thank you for the compliment. And a big thank you for teaching Civics to your DSL students. As far as I know Civics is not taught in most States. And that is a pity. How do you expect people to vote when they don't even know how their government is run and have never read the Constitution? {ps I like your cat]
That’s an excellent idea. It sure would give me more incentive to believe that if we vote them in, that they will actually DO SOMETHING about the horribly corrupt 6 scotus justices.
I don’t remember the appointment hearings of all of them, but I damned sure know that the 3 appointed by trump LIED to the Senate during their hearings.
The only hearing I missed was Alito, Thomas I remember very well. Of all the inequities he was appointed to replace Thurgood Marshall, one of the greatest Supreme Court Justices ever. I vividly remember how angry I was over the way the Senators treated Anita Hill when she explained explicitly how crude and contemptuous Thomas was toward women. She didn't accuse him of rape. She accused him of crude sexual comments and inappropriate touching of her body. To all the male Senators that was just "boys will be boys". They were wrong. That behavior screams contempt of social norms, To me it rang bells of contempt in general.
Yes, after I posted it, I of course remember Thomas’ hearing. It was horrible & I absolutely believed Anita Hill & she was treated despicably.
She gained nothing by telling her experience, other than tons of hate & condemnation from many people.
I only recently learned that there were 2-3 other women who had similar experiences with Thomas, but Biden, as chair of the committee, did not call them to testify. That is a terrible stain on his record. I’ve heard that he has admitted that was a mistake & he regrets doing that. I think he, & perhaps others too, were just so determined to replace Marshall with another black man, & didn’t want to appear racist by rejecting him, that he/they let that cloud their decision. imo it was a terrible mistake & we are living with the consequences.
Once upon a time, as American institutions began crumbling one by one, I had faith that the Supreme Court was the last institution that upheld the rule of law. That was, of course, before Ruth Bader Ginsburg died and Trump put his toadies on the court. I have many friends in Europe who are more worried than most Americans (who are generally asleep at the social media wheel) that fascism is coming here, and the next Civil War. Putin is grinning.
Gotta say--I was a huge RBG fan, but when it was obvious she was losing her fight against pancreatic cancer, she chose to stay on the Court. This paved the way for Trump and his SCOTUS appointments. I wonder if things would have been different had she retired when Obama was still in office and made an intelligent, high level appointment to SCOTUS?
Yes, RBG was great, but her trying to hang on so long was a bad move. Of course, unless she had retired very early in Obama’s 2nd term, Moscow Mitch would have still cheated to prevent Obama being able to fill that vacancy.
That horrible human needs to permanently freeze up. 🤬
Again thank you for responding. In our dog eat dog capitalistic world of greed we the people fell asleep in the comfort of the 20th century. I did not perceive the risk in a timely enough manner to better prepare myself or my children to be the best democracy and earth activists we could be. I’m quite sure I’m not alone.
In the end we can only control our own behavior. John Lewis was prepared. He knew. He tried to warn us.
Leonard Leo may be an evil man swimming in stolen 💵 dollars with which to attempt to influence minds but he only has one vote. Most of us can have agency over our own minds, if only we are grown in an environment that encourages and supports that. We give our power away to change what we can when we lay the blame on others.
It is extremely difficult to win enough of a majority in both Houses of Congress to really enact change, when we are fighting against some very counter-democratic institutions like the Supreme Court, the Electoral College, & the Senate. The anti-democratic power of both of those last 2 institutions gets even worse as our population grows more concentrated in the large cities & metropolitan areas. A senator from ND, WY or ID has disproportionate impact relative to the number of citizens that they represent.
Yes, I admit that I, & many others, got busy with careers, starting families, buying homes & fell asleep at the wheel of participatory democracy. Our elected reps also neglected to pay attention to the gradual power grabs of the Supreme Court.
We are awake, it IS the anti-democratic EC & the Supreme Court & the Senate are also anti democratic bodies. They get more & more anti democratic as the years go by & our population becomes more concentrated in large urban areas.
We, the democracy loving voters have to work 3-4 x as hard & get way more voters to the polls to overcome the built-in disadvantage of those things.
Thank you for your thoughtful response. Here’s more information about my stated viewpoint. Imagine how different our world could be if a few thousand more voters had bothered to go to the polls in FL. to vote for the man who would later write An Inconvenient Truth.
Or if a few thousand more people in a couple of states had held their nose to vote for a woman!! for POTUS 😳
When we the people start taking our responsibility to participate in the democratic process we might actually get ourselves a democracy.
Hard work?? We’re all in it together. We have one ship.
We can’t wait until 6 months before an election to worry about getting out the vote. We need a culture shift.
The entire response by Alito regarding the flag(s) is such an obvious load of bullshit, which doesn't remotely answer the question or justify that behavior. Shame on the lame-ass media for not calling him out and demanding a more sensible response (which of course he can't provide).
I dedicate the following song to the Supremes. The lyrics to the song don't apply to them, but the title sure does (or should), (except for the 3 Democratic Supremes):
Why did it take o er three years to find out about the flag?
Agree. Alito's upside down flag should have been reported in 2021. This story comes out 3 years later, and we cannot let it die. So let's keep beating the drum of reminding everyone: Just like Clarence Thomas, Judge Sammy Alito is married to an insurrectionist.
I'm guessing Alito is A-OK with Project 2025 being implemented after he & the other Justices do their best to help Trump win. No integrity, no ethics, no shame. Just an arrogant, MAGA Justice flying political flags and blatantly ruling on cases he has a vested interest in.
How many “Stop the Steal” flags does Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito need to fly over one of his multiple homes before it’s a problem? 🤦♂️
Hey Samuel: Next time try with this flag 👇
libtees-2.creator-spring.com/listing/wtpmelb
Anyone notice the oddity of the two Not so Supreme Court “justices,” supposedly “macho” males Thomas and now Alito, hiding behind the skirts of their wifeys? 1st it’s Ginny doing all the outrageous bad stuff, exposing their hypocrisy. He acts all gruff, huffy and “tuff”. Insulted. Full of bluster. Now it’s Alito. Except he goes all wimpy and finger points, wah, wah, like a naughty boy. Caught, he bleats, “she did it not me”.
What is it about Republican’s addiction to emotional immaturity in their politicians? Heading the list is their temptation of a potential rerun of toddler in chief, unable to mature emotional past age 3.
Don’t forget Roberts - Mr. Nice guy - who as chief Justice lets this happen and was cool with gutting the voting rights act because as he said racism is no longer a problem. And the worst one was Citizens United because in Roberts view money is equal to speech, especially in the bubble in which he lives. Way past time for the lazy media to expose him for what he really is.
Roberts has, All His Life, been an opponent of Civil Rights And Voting Rights for the non- white peoples.
Read his voting record.
We need ADAM SCHIFF paired with HAKEEM JEFFERIES, for our "Democratic" angers and actions to come forth ; like the "dem. youngsters" sitting in the118th congress, it's past time to light a heap of 🔥🔥🔥🔥 under the A$$ES of those complacent, forever re-elected dem. Senators.
Are they gonna wait for the" S. O. S. Of 2 Little, 2 Late "......AGAIN 🎱🎱🎱
And the Dobbs decision
Kind of reminiscent of Duncan Hunter.
January 6th is what Democracy *actually* looks like. Worthless, illiterate democrat inyenzi can't read and so don't understand this. If they could read, and read Jefferson, Seiyes, and Lenin, they would know this.
I’m glad to see a liberal message attached to the words We the People. Right wingers have co-opted it.
Everyone has been saying it for years, it's not a left or right saying. When the orange turd took office, the left and the right have not worked together, in fact, the people have been split, and you want to make America turn into a wasteland? Because that is the orange turd's plan. The orange turd will be the end of life for all.
It’s absolutely been a right wing trope, more than our side.
Will it be " The Planet Of The Apes or The Planet Of Chernobyl Wolves "?
I do not think it would be that way. Have you read project 2025? That and the orange turd's actions/words together are signs of some things that are not any good for the people. Unless you are rich, like making 6 figures.
👋Yes Michael, I have read it and found this manifesto horrifying. There are No Things that have any positive outcomes for the strata of Sane, Normal inhabitants of Our Country.
For any people of Color, it's a rush backwards to the 17th Century pre- Civil War era times/mores.
We can't let them. Just as they coopted our flag of distress many Dems used the day Hillary conceded.
It’s never what’s good for the gander for the 🐘🐘🐘! Oh no, they have an anti democratic playbook, probably edited by the current russian czar. The writing is all over the wall, folks.😫😱
Another flag flown by the insurrectionists has been flying on another Alito home.
Obviously Alito did his utmost to suppress such information, & I'm sure he had plenty of help from political & media allies & judicial colleagues. I think it was due to the persistence of those neighbors that finally got the news out. Getting the truth out these days requires plenty of persistence from us citizens because the journalists we used to rely on to bring us such information are either not doing their jobs or being squelched by their editors or employers.
I really want to hear the answer to this. 3 years!
The report I heard (I believe it was Alex at MSNBC) was that the neighbors didn't report it, fearing reprisal and revenge from Justice Alito or his friends.
That’s probably more like it really came down. Sounds like a great neighborhood, huh???🥶
But then it came out in 2024. Why?
I have not talked to Alito's neighbors so I can't say for sure. But I can imagine, if it was me, feeling finally like the threat to democracy was great enough for me to find some quiet, anonymous way of getting the story to a journalist.
So disturbing.
yeah, I'm a lot more afraid now than I was in 2021
Me too!!
I wholeheartedly agree, Lucy. It is absolutely stunning that nobody spoke about it.
Thank you, Mary. 💙
I look forward to your TikTok event tonight!
Fear just like that is what stopped any conservative to vote for the first impeachment. America’s first presidential mob boss put the fear of God in them!
Good question. Lucy.
Excellent question! It will be interesting to hear some explanation. Don’t expect it from 🐘though, they want the public to quickly forget & 🐘will bring up some lame story about some Dems wearing the wrong shoes or some equally ridiculous non-story, then talk it up like it’s a major story proving unethical behavior of Dems. For crying out loud, I’m so sick of hearing their childish agenda, orchestrated by 🦊news, the billionaires and foreign influencers, and the 🐘party! Selfish bastards who need to be sent to Mars to ruin another
My guess is that everyone ASSUMED that the members of SCOTUS behave true to their oath. The need to investigate SCOTUS seems to have sparked when it became clear that it was very likely Alito himself who "leaked" the RvW decision. Then a quick peek into their finances revealed Thomas' lavish "vacations" and "gifts" from a billionaire, and now it's finally becoming more of a "gloves off" environment.
Because the lazy media is focused on Trump’s hourly antics - like a handful of glitter tossed in their eyes.
Because the WaPo, or whatever publication the original reported worked for, chose NOT to publish the story!! Why did they choose that? IDK 🤷♀️
I don’t think it did.
It only took this long for the mainstream media to REPORT on it.
So the follow-up question is why they covered it up
WaPo just debunked the NYTimes report on this. The flag is by Alito's wife and it has to do with a dispute she's having with a neighbor that has nothing to do with SCOTUS or the judge. WaPo debunked this ridiculous nonsense. Wake up, you are being played.
As of Thursday 6/6 your take on this is being proved incorrect. The neighbor who was in the dispute with the Alitos has come forward to tell her side.
There is no getting around Alito’s voting record, he consistently votes against freedoms, against expanding democracy, against women.
We can throw that grumpy old black man on the court in that same bucket as Sam Alito. I hate them both & dream of heart attacks.
Mary, you are right. Those are the hearings we need and if Sheldon Whitehouse was in charge of the Judiciary Committee we might have them. But Durbin will never take the actions needed. AS you say, he thinks the Senate of today is the Senate of 1970. Those days are long gone thanks to Moscow Mitch. McConnell, naked partisan, right wing ideologue, and total garbage person first turned to scorched earth obstruction then to abuse of the rules to achieve his ideological goals - a judiciary that would impose a right wing agenda on the nation that he could never achieve legislatively. And so far he has succeeded. It is up to us to reign karma down upon him and make him regret what he has done. And that comes from keeping the Senate and the WH. Killing he filibuster. Expanding the court to neutralize the Christo-fascist 6, and dragging Alito, Thomas, and Kavanaugh thru the mud of their past and present misdeeds to the point that they choose retirement/resignation over ongoing humiliation...or the promise of criminal charges. Criminal charges that a real AG would have already brought.
You have to wonder why Sen. Durbin is taking the look the other way and sweep it under the rug approach. The GOP would be all over this like flies on a manure pile if the justices were Democrats involved with this outrageously blatant corrupt behavior. If Sen. Durbin won't take action then have someone like Sen. Whitehouse as you suggested grab the bull by the horns and make an investigation a top priority. These bought and paid for unethical justices need to be held accountable.
Follow the money... Follow the cowardice. Durbin is a consummate centrist Democrat. If we use our power the Republicans will get mad at us and that cannot happen. We are all friends here. That ship sailed long ago. Durbin (like Biden and Garland) ain't figured it out.
@Peter I agree with you about Durbin, Garland and Biden. All three are good men who have made their careers by not "rocking the boat." To me the most disturbing is Biden. American voters, except MAGAs and wingers, will vote for Trump no matter what. However, there exists a large percentage of voters who are
going to get more serious about the election as it draws closer. The hi-jinks of Alito, the excessive hopefulness of Durbin, who believes Congress an work across the aisle, and the rose-colored glasses perched on Biden's nose--that the majority of American voters support his "ironclad" support of Israel--and his refusal to acknowledge the folly of his unwillingness to empathize with Palestinians. After all, his admired trademark through the years has been the deep and endless empathy he has for human suffering. Where is it now? Biden's empathy with Netanyahu is uncalled for, IMHO. It would be like his having empathy for The Orange Menace. He has alienated a good portion of the youth vote and many, if not most, "bleeding heart" liberals."(Me included.) However, I will vote for him, because I like his programs for the middle class, his student loan forgiveness, and his plan to place higher taxes on the 1%. This is way past due. I don't know if others can be so
forgiving. Anger and resentment are powerful emotions which are difficult to let go.
Our democracy depends on it.
I hope so much that the majority of voters will be able to put them aside and cast their votes for our president!
Yes, but his policy on the Israeli-Palestinian issue is virtually the same as US policy has always been under either party, so this should be no shock to anyone.
I also suspect that Putin is behind the Hamas attack that took place on his birthday, using US intelligence on Israeli military operations that Trump passed onto him. Putin has benefited a lot more than anyone else, diverting the attention by the rest of the world from Russia's brutal attack on Ukraine, which has helped turn the tide of war in his favor, & has provoked civil unrest in the US & opposition to Biden in key Democratic constituencies while enhancing the prospects of Putin's puppet Trump, who is also benefiting.
@James We will have to agree to disagree. Yes, Biden's policy is the same the US. has had since 1948 when Israel was installed in what was then Palestine, after WWII and a land grab. The U.S. supported the Nabka whereby Palestinians were driven out of their home and many were killed. It was the wrong policy then, and it is wrong policy now. Obama came to realize that and backed away from Netanyahu, but the U.S. pro-Israel policy was firmly in place. Biden was a supporter and has remained so throughout his career. He still thinks of Israel as the victim, and they certainly were during the Holocaust. However, they have kept Palestine under apartheid all that time, controlling their necessary supply lines for food, water and electricity. Hamas was initially formed as resistance to Israel's domination. Not until Netanyahu came to power did they begin fighting--sending rockets over the border, and throwing stones. They were the "David" to Israel's "Goliath, and Israel was dominant. The attack in 2023 was terrible, and in part because Netanyahu was not paying attention and left open part of the wall, which was in place to allow Palestinians entrance only through strict
security. Israeli settlers had already begun to occupy the West Bank and were forcing Palestinians to leave. Indeed, this was an Israeli occupation, and exists to this day. I suggest you read Ilan Pappe's "Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" if you want to know more of the history. It is no surprise that many European countries have turned on Netanyahu's Israel, and there are more to come. It has become a Pariah. The United States is close behind. This is why so many are critical of Biden and will remain so--jeopardizing his reelection. Sad...especially since Trump is so much worse!
I absolutely agree with everything you say, except for 1 minor point; I do not believe that Biden’s physical embrace of Netanyahu when he 1st landed in Israel after Oct 7 means that he “embraces” the man & his policies. Rather it was a symbolic embrace of the immediately grieving Israeli people.
I am extremely upset & angry at President Biden’s wishy washy behavior toward Netanyahu. He says
“They have the right to defend themselves, but they must, they must protect civilian life” & then, once again, there’s another bombing of a refugee center, a hospital, food aide workers.
Netanyahu basically gets away with saying “oopsies, it was an accident” & Biden doesn’t do anything except repeat that previous statement.
I just voted uncommitted in my primary
Not sure my protest vote will show up much from rural NM, but I felt strongly about doing it. I will still vote for Biden in the general election because I also care VERY MUCH about my rights & all other women’s rights & those of all marginalized people. If Biden loses this election, imo it will be because of his failure to take a stronger stance against what Netanyahu & the IDF is doing in Palestine & the West Bank.
It’s just too much horror.
Just a hint, I think you are transposing the letters k& b, I think it’s Nakba.
There is nothing you post here with which I disagree.
Absolutely!!! The old divide and concur.
Exactly, now that’s the bigger picture while Putin’s Maga pussies! Regroup while Netanyahu blatantly supports Trump, does anyone think they resolve this ongoing hatred after 2600 years? Netanyahu /“Trump of Israel” has to step down & that’s for the Israelies to decide.
And impeached!!!!
It's like they are the frogs in the pot.
That's what is so frustrating. People in power think they can just keep doing what they have been doing for the last 60 years. So many generations since 1950. People evolve. Tactics must evolve to meet the current generations.
Agree. Alito & Thomas should, ar minimum, be indicted for the tax fraud they no doubt did. And Ginnie. She must be indicted right up there w Meadows, Tuberville, Graham and others. Expand the Court!
Look at what Ginnie did during the COVID-19 crisis. People died because of her paying a doctor to lie. Is she above the law?
I spent my working years caring for the public as a firefighter/ paramedic. The profession runs on honesty and giving every ounce of strength and courage when called to help. Even the slightest hint of dishonest behavior would ruin decades of goodwill in our community. My question is, how do politicians and supreme court Justice's trample the constitution and spew hate toward the American people without recourse. Where is the honesty? Where is the courage to do what is right?.
Great question.
Absolutely true assessment of Mitch McConnell and HIS lifetime work to take southern vengeance to America and it’s audacity to have won the Civil War. How dare we try to remain The UNITED States of America. HOW DARE WE…
Ok, here is the truth about McConnell. Remember those times he froze up? He froze up because the Leo, SuperRich component of the Republicans had a probe inserted into his brain a few years ago. When McConnell starts to get rational they simple pause his synaptic firings while updating his programming.
I thought Elon Muskkkovitz trialed his brain inserted neuroprobe on him.
You are correct. This Leo guy is in league with him. This brings up another problem. Why do so many good Dems still have X accounts?
IKR, wish they’d all move to Threads
I am incensed about this. Thomas and Alito have no business on this court with what they have done.
An impeachment or a try to expand the number of justices all have to go through Congress. There are too many of lowercased don’s maga minions. Right now, IMO, it would be futile. That’s why it is so important to VOTE BLUE UP and DOWN the ballot. Until then we are in survivor mode.
The lack of action, let alone any sense of urgency, (Durbin) and squishy statements calling for apologies (Jeffries) is mind boggling.
As least get them recused from the J6 cases at a minimum. Something. Anything. Where is the outrage?! Why does it seem like WE are the only ones feeling it?! Are they all just so completely numb to all the corruption in Washington now or what?!!!
What a commenter in another Substack pointed out is that someone in the Alito household had to go out and buy that Appeal to Heaven flag. Unlike his very thin explanation blaming his wife for flying the upside down American flag (which I assume they already owned), what is the plausible excuse for buying this one at all, that the pine tree was pretty?
I appreciate that you are calling out Durbin and Schumer for the wimps they have always been. But I am still hoping to see someone call out Chief justice Roberts for deriliction of duty. He has the role and authority to rain down all kinds of hell on these guys. The assumption arrived at because Roberts is not stepping up is that they must be doing his bidding and dirty work so he can appear to keep his hands clean. Someone needs to expose Roberts. I am disappointed that you, also, are giving him a free pass…..
I agree. He doesn’t have much he can do to force the issue, but he can make a public statement about it, he can call a judicial conference and talk to the group together and he can file a recusal motion, which doesn’t force Alito to do so but is made public and would make him look less toothless. The truth is that Roberts can’t enforce anything. We need an expanded court to water down the 6 and we need enforceable ethics laws and rules, all of which can be done by the legislature. So as I believe The Opinionated Ogre Substack says at the close of every column, vote blue like your life depends on it, because it may.
I’m not sure if Roberts actually has any real power.
Strong point, that. I have been led to believe that “Chief Justice” means something in the way of leadership and management. But Roberts does not seem to display either skill. Maybe I am misinformed?
A couple of lifetimes ago I was married to a project superintendent at a government shipyard. I seem to remember one of the most unbreakable rules in the code of conduct was no politicking, no showing of one’s personal politics, lest those working lower down the career ladder feel any pressure to agree. There were no showing of one’s personal political leanings of any sort unless one wanted to be called on the carpet and perhaps lose their hard won position.
So how on earth have we come to this? As I’ve said, it’s been several years past, but it raised my family from Reagan through to Clinton and on through the second Bush presidency.
The idea was we worked for the United States not a political party.
So I’m thinking we need to go back to the old system starting now with the Supreme Court. Before it’s too late.
I think there are a lot of things that have gone seriously downhill in this country during my lifetime. One of the major things is education. I'm not sure I learned anything about critical thinking in either high school or college, but a lot of things I was required to learn in school have been dropped as unnecessary or have been banned. I think there has also been a major slide down away from morality. Add to that the large number of people who don't want to get involved, who don't think it's up to them to be active…
In your spouse's position, being seen publicly as neutral was a good thing. In Alito's position, it is an absolute must. In my view, such a display of not only partisanship, but seditious anti-government bias, should be cause for automatic expulsion. That it isn't is just another sign of a deeply flawed judicial system.
We all need to contact our senators and encourage other to do the same informing them we are mad as hell.
The Supreme Court’s justices have never been above the fray & nonpartisan. I was disabused of that notion when I listened to the audiobook “How the South Won the Civil War” by Heather Cox Richardson who also has a Substack.
The Court has made some very obviously corrupt, partisan decisions over our county’s history.
We’ve had terrible corrupt, anti-democratic senators in the past too.
Rachel Maddow just very recently opened her Monday show speaking up for DA Fani Willis & how she is being attacked in attempts to ruin her good name & her career; all to prevent her from proceeding with the prosecutions of people in high places.
Rachel likened it to what happened to the DOJ people who tried to prosecute the Senators back in the 1930s who collaborated with Hitler & the Nazi Party. Powerful people came together to ruin their careers & save the traitorous senators.
So we the people must speak up, call out this traitorous, criminal behavior, make ph calls to ALL our elected officials & demand that they follow the law, support the DOJ, & do the right & moral thing….even if it means they lose an election.
I called Sen. Durbin’s office this afternoon and expressed my displeasure with Alito and Thomas. I demanded an investigation into their conduct, and the man I spoke to said he would bring it to the Senator’s attention.
Then I called my Democratic Senator and asked him to insist on the investigation.
I also called, & emailed all his offices!😡
As did I for my Democratic Senator Mark Kelley but ignored Senator Sinema as a lost cause.
My other Senator is Menendez, another lost cause.
I have no scientific basis to support gut feelings other than some statistical math known as Bayesian Analysis. However, mathematical reasoning reasoning can lead one to a wasteland of false conclusions. However, my gut always told me Melendez was dishonest scum. I missed it on Sinema most likely because I wanted to believe.
How easy to deceive even ourselves.
We’ll contact Andy Kim; he’s going to have Menendez’s seat after Roevember. 🥰 💙💙💙💙💙💙
That’s the spirit!!!! 💙💙💙💙💙💙
Comment on their SM pages too, we need a full court press.
Excellent!!! Thank you. I will do the same. I have called several times about the slaughter in Gaza. Have called the WH 3 times about that.
We must let them know how we feel, what we expect of them.
It also helps to contact them on all their SM pages; X, FB, Threads, Blue Sky, etc. I’ve also commented on the 2nd Gentleman’s sm, the VP’s too
Another example of something we've really, really learned since 2015. Much of our government has worked in the past simply because most people in whatever branch tried to do the "right thing". They had morals, values, aspirations for a better country, blah, blah, blah. But now, we are constantly bombarded with people who just don't care about anything except power, money and greed...especially since they haven't had to deal - and probably won't have to deal in the future - with any consequences. I'm so upset about this because i naively thought "at least we'll be able to count on the Supreme Court regardless of who appointed them".
You know the climactic scene in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" where the Nazis open the ark and all evil and hell (literally) comes out of it? That's what this has felt like. Drumpf opened the ark in 2015 and, for some reason, that gave permission for too many people to turn into corrupt, immoral, horrible creatures.
Billsburg- I am so angry about what the Supreme Court has done over the last 2 ½ years. So many horrible destructive decisions, dragging women & all minorities backward by decades, in some cases centuries.
I despise all 6 of those conservative religious extremists, but especially Alito & Thomas.
We must remind everyone we interact with in person & on SM that if DT were to win this election, Alito & Thomas WILL retire during his presidency & he will appoint 2 younger ones just as right-wing radical as they are. Just imagine Matthew Kacsmyrick & Judge Ho, both of Texas, sitting on the Court for the next 40 years!!??
There would also be the very real risk of Justice Sotomeyor dying or becoming too ill to continue over that time. If trump got to replace her with a very young conservative, like Aileen Canon, then we’d be stuck with a 7-2 court; a total disaster.
I agree with all the points you made in your post, Mary, but, I’m afraid it is wishful thinking to believe anything will be done about corruption on the Supreme Court. Mitch McConnell has done more damage to this country than just about anyone (other than your lying criminal uncle, of course), but the Democrats need their version of McConnell to step forward. Someone intelligent and ruthless who will get done what needs doing. I have yet to see anyone like that among the Democrats in Congress. We have to continue fighting the madness engulfing this country, but we need leaders to rise to the occasion and help us.
Jasmine Crockett!
Good call, Susan. Jasmine Crockett is someone I hope to vote for someday.
I love Jasmine Crockett! Jamie Raskin is also quite strong & fearless. Elizabeth Warren has always stood up to the powers that be. Not a member of Congress, but Gavin Newsom shows no fear nor reticence about attacking Republicans. I'm not so keen on his becoming President because of a certain ethical deficiency, but he makes a good attack dog. I doubt he would run for senator against the man he appointed for that position, although for a California senator, Padilla has hardly been noticeable.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida shows some spunk, as well.
Jared Moskowitz is absolutely great!!
I’ve never been to Florida, however, I would bet Jared Moskowitz is one of the best things about that state.
Likewise!
We the people need to find candidates to primary these feckless Dems.
Get involved with orgs like Emily’s List & Run For Something. Emily’s List actively seeks out pro choice women & supports them to run for office. If you look on their website you can see some of the well known names they have assisted to win, such as Gretchen Whitmer.
Run For Something believes we should stop allowing Republicans to run unopposed in so many races.
Please assist these organizations with your time & money as much as you are able.
Bernie.
Well, that would be great, but, with all due respect to Bernie and his many true believers, if he was capable of being the McConnell of the progressives’ side, wouldn’t he have done that by now? I do not believe Bernie Sanders inspires the blind loyalty in his colleagues that Mitch McConnell did when he was younger. McConnell was, and still is, a ruthless, uncaring bastard, who his fellow regressives dared not to cross. It’s only my opinion, but I do not see Bernie Sanders as being that way.
You're right that Bernie doesn't inspire his colleagues. He's a leader of the people, not Congress. Republicans are little automatons who all follow leaders in lockstep. Democrats don't do that. And I really can't see anyone doing that for just that reason. Which may be why we're in this predicament. I'm afraid I don't have a solution to that.
A shame that Bernie is not our president! If he were, this craziness would not be happening.
Interestingly enough, Trump supporters say the same about him. Bernie brought us all that evil "SoCialist" label, which Republicans have used very effectively against every democratic norm. Thanks to him, all things liberal are now considered to be "progressive" ideals... including equality and women's rights. The voter's didn't see Bernie as presidential material (as proven by the primary votes), and he never should have run against Clinton on the Democrat ticket.
I don’t have a solution either, Paula. It would suck to have to become what they are. Has it come to that? Maybe it has . . .
Someone commenting on another Substack said something to the effect that we Democrats have followed the rules too long, that it was time to change and take charge. I asked him what he meant but so far I haven't been able to get any clarification on that. I do wonder how we fight them without descending to their level. Michelle Obama says to take the high road but look where that's gotten us. OTOH if we start fighting dirty we descend into anarchy. Unfortunately my understanding of history isn't good enough to find answers in past events. Wars are one thing, political struggles another. I'm tempted to think of Mandela and Gandhi but look at South Africa and India now. I really don't know.
The irony is that Republicans & the right-wing machine accuse Democrats of the lowest forms of behavior (that Republicans are guilty of) regardless of what Democrats do.
Look at Germany now & ever since the 1960s, & they were ruled by Hitler. I surely would not want to go through anything like Germany experienced (although there's a good chance of that happening if Trump and/or the GOP get back in power) to get there. And then there's Russia, which has been ruled predominantly by tyrants, & they're about as bad as they've ever been now.
Would there not be a civil war before we all become like them?
I don't know the answer to that, but it's a sobering question, for sure. It shows how deep into the Orange quicksand our society has fallen.
I’m seriously afraid that it may come to that. Brother against brother just like the 1860s. All of my family except 1 nephew & his wife, live in Texas & are religious & trump voters.
The last time my only living sister & I were together, last July, & she was angry about Democrats allowing “those trans people to make us use their pronouns” & insinuating that Democrats were pedophiles, I just interrupted her & said “If that’s what you believe & you hate them so much, even to the point of starting a war; well start with me. I’m a Democrat & I support trans rights, I support BLM, so go get your gun out of your purse & shoot me if I’m so evil”
Republicans are just afraid of their base voters. Therefore they all eventually embrace Donald.
It has been said that organizing Dems is like trying to herd cats. That comes from more people who are not afraid of nuance and more comfortable with uncertainty. However, there is still a lot of followers in the Dems, just as jack-booted as the Repugs.
On one point we disagree, Mary. You want Senate Hearings, I want the Democrats in the House of Representatives to draw up and publicly announce Articles of Impeachment against (at the very least) Alito and Thomas, but preferably against all 6 justices, including Roberts, Barrett, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh, on the grounds they have all failed to uphold the ONLY duty given them by the Constitution. That is to UPHOLD the CONSTITUTION. It is the only thing none have consistently done.
Not only did the Constitution set three branches of government, it also stipulated the major duties of each branch.
Article One gives us two Houses of Legislature. Their main duty is to write laws in compliance with the Constitution. NO other branch of government is given this duty.
Article Two gives us the Executive Branch. The President's main duty (along with many others specified in the Constitution) is to approve or veto legislation ORIGINATING in Congress and to see to putting such approved legislation into action. The President may NOT write laws, no matter what he/she promises, the President can suggest laws he/she would like to see written.
Article Three gives us the Federal Judiciary. Unfortunately The Constitution is not as clear on how or under what circumstances we appoint these justices. But, the ONE AND ONLY duty specified by the Constitution is to assure that all laws written by the Legislative Branch and approved by the Executive Branch are in absolute compliance with The Constitution of the United States.
So what to you call "Citizens United" or "Roe v Wade"? To me, these are examples of the Supreme Court Justices writing law. [Okay I didn't squawk about Roe v Wade because I consider abortion to be in the purview of Medical Procedure and no business of law], but Citizens United is clearly new law overriding regulations already in practice. This is outside the purview of the Judiciary Branch. The Supreme Court may represent the Supreme Law of the land; it is NOT the Supreme Branch of Government. All Branches were meant to be co-equal.
Senate hearings are meaningless. Impeachment Hearings cannot be brought to the House of Representatives, until after January 20, 2025. BUT if our Democratic legislators would draw up the Articles of Impeachment NOW, it could lead to a much needed trifecta November 5, 2024.
We all know Trump is corrupt. Since this is obvious, the three justices he put on the court should be forced out by any means possible.
As far as I'm concerned, all appointees of Trump are illegitimate since he got to power fraudulently with the help & solicitation of Russia, despite the distortions & suppression of the Mueller Report by Trump's AG.
James, I’m in complete agreement with you but chose to narrow the scope of my comments so as to not seem too bellicose to the more timid Dems such that the idea was reflexively rejected without being considered.
I would “repost” your statements but I don’t think that is an option here, at least from what I can figure. But your comments deserve reposting!
Thank you for your reminder of the content of & what so many fought for & many died for, to defend our precious & unique Constitution! It seems more folks need to learn about our system of government. I taught ESL classes for a time & we always had the discussion about the 3 branches & the concept of balanced power. I am not sure that this is taught as a requirement in public education any longer. I hope I am wrong about that.
Thank you for the compliment. And a big thank you for teaching Civics to your DSL students. As far as I know Civics is not taught in most States. And that is a pity. How do you expect people to vote when they don't even know how their government is run and have never read the Constitution? {ps I like your cat]
That’s an excellent idea. It sure would give me more incentive to believe that if we vote them in, that they will actually DO SOMETHING about the horribly corrupt 6 scotus justices.
I don’t remember the appointment hearings of all of them, but I damned sure know that the 3 appointed by trump LIED to the Senate during their hearings.
Yes, impeach Alito & Thomas!!
The only hearing I missed was Alito, Thomas I remember very well. Of all the inequities he was appointed to replace Thurgood Marshall, one of the greatest Supreme Court Justices ever. I vividly remember how angry I was over the way the Senators treated Anita Hill when she explained explicitly how crude and contemptuous Thomas was toward women. She didn't accuse him of rape. She accused him of crude sexual comments and inappropriate touching of her body. To all the male Senators that was just "boys will be boys". They were wrong. That behavior screams contempt of social norms, To me it rang bells of contempt in general.
Yes, after I posted it, I of course remember Thomas’ hearing. It was horrible & I absolutely believed Anita Hill & she was treated despicably.
She gained nothing by telling her experience, other than tons of hate & condemnation from many people.
I only recently learned that there were 2-3 other women who had similar experiences with Thomas, but Biden, as chair of the committee, did not call them to testify. That is a terrible stain on his record. I’ve heard that he has admitted that was a mistake & he regrets doing that. I think he, & perhaps others too, were just so determined to replace Marshall with another black man, & didn’t want to appear racist by rejecting him, that he/they let that cloud their decision. imo it was a terrible mistake & we are living with the consequences.
Agreed on all points
Mary, etc. - Does Anyone know when Steve Bannon IS Going To Jail????
Great question!! It was supposed to be yesterday!
I’m hoping Alcatraz
Or Guantanamo, although he might like it there.
It’s today 6/6 or tomorrow 6/7
YAY 😁
Oh phooey, the judge gave him 3 weeks to report to prison, so late June I guess. 🤬🤬
Thanks, Mary.
Once upon a time, as American institutions began crumbling one by one, I had faith that the Supreme Court was the last institution that upheld the rule of law. That was, of course, before Ruth Bader Ginsburg died and Trump put his toadies on the court. I have many friends in Europe who are more worried than most Americans (who are generally asleep at the social media wheel) that fascism is coming here, and the next Civil War. Putin is grinning.
As Joyce Vance says, we're in this together.
love and thanks again
Gotta say--I was a huge RBG fan, but when it was obvious she was losing her fight against pancreatic cancer, she chose to stay on the Court. This paved the way for Trump and his SCOTUS appointments. I wonder if things would have been different had she retired when Obama was still in office and made an intelligent, high level appointment to SCOTUS?
Rbg ego, same with the other 9, nothing should be labeled “Supreme” specially in the court system, in my opinion.
Except for "The Supremes..."🎶🎵🎼🎤🎤🎤
I love the musical Supremes!
Yes, RBG was great, but her trying to hang on so long was a bad move. Of course, unless she had retired very early in Obama’s 2nd term, Moscow Mitch would have still cheated to prevent Obama being able to fill that vacancy.
That horrible human needs to permanently freeze up. 🤬
@P.J. You and I see the world the same way! (-:
Who put Trump in the Oval Office? Who gave him the power to seat three activist Supreme Court Justices?
My answer is: Leonard Leo & all the other oligarchs who have purchased our govt.
Leo & The Federalist Society, The Heritage Foundation, Alliance Defending Freedom, Koch Inc, etc gave us this shit
Again thank you for responding. In our dog eat dog capitalistic world of greed we the people fell asleep in the comfort of the 20th century. I did not perceive the risk in a timely enough manner to better prepare myself or my children to be the best democracy and earth activists we could be. I’m quite sure I’m not alone.
In the end we can only control our own behavior. John Lewis was prepared. He knew. He tried to warn us.
Leonard Leo may be an evil man swimming in stolen 💵 dollars with which to attempt to influence minds but he only has one vote. Most of us can have agency over our own minds, if only we are grown in an environment that encourages and supports that. We give our power away to change what we can when we lay the blame on others.
It is extremely difficult to win enough of a majority in both Houses of Congress to really enact change, when we are fighting against some very counter-democratic institutions like the Supreme Court, the Electoral College, & the Senate. The anti-democratic power of both of those last 2 institutions gets even worse as our population grows more concentrated in the large cities & metropolitan areas. A senator from ND, WY or ID has disproportionate impact relative to the number of citizens that they represent.
Yes, I admit that I, & many others, got busy with careers, starting families, buying homes & fell asleep at the wheel of participatory democracy. Our elected reps also neglected to pay attention to the gradual power grabs of the Supreme Court.
Moscow Mitch! Who is as ugly a person as is the yellow-man!
Nope!! We did!! VOTERS!!!
Voters can change it. Just have to wake the eff up!!!
We are awake, it IS the anti-democratic EC & the Supreme Court & the Senate are also anti democratic bodies. They get more & more anti democratic as the years go by & our population becomes more concentrated in large urban areas.
We, the democracy loving voters have to work 3-4 x as hard & get way more voters to the polls to overcome the built-in disadvantage of those things.
That’s just fact
Thank you for your thoughtful response. Here’s more information about my stated viewpoint. Imagine how different our world could be if a few thousand more voters had bothered to go to the polls in FL. to vote for the man who would later write An Inconvenient Truth.
Or if a few thousand more people in a couple of states had held their nose to vote for a woman!! for POTUS 😳
When we the people start taking our responsibility to participate in the democratic process we might actually get ourselves a democracy.
Hard work?? We’re all in it together. We have one ship.
We can’t wait until 6 months before an election to worry about getting out the vote. We need a culture shift.
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2018/08/09/an-examination-of-the-2016-electorate-based-on-validated-voters/
https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2002/demo/p20-542.pdf
Well, he did not get the popular vote. He received the slave era vote ... which is the electoral college vote. There is no "We" in that, I do believe.
That is the faulty thinking that gets us here.
Over 74 million of us voted for this https://youtu.be/PX9reO3QnUA?si=UV7gD0Cad5fW6HVi
we have one earth to call home. We’re all in this together. We better figure it out soon. The Golden Rule should rule.
The entire response by Alito regarding the flag(s) is such an obvious load of bullshit, which doesn't remotely answer the question or justify that behavior. Shame on the lame-ass media for not calling him out and demanding a more sensible response (which of course he can't provide).
I dedicate the following song to the Supremes. The lyrics to the song don't apply to them, but the title sure does (or should), (except for the 3 Democratic Supremes):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-M7X8xglEI
There’s a funny, sarcasm song called
“It’s Time For Guillotines”