Clarence Thomas, Liberal

[eyer]

In the strange world of the Supreme Court, sometimes being an archconservative can turn you into a liberal.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is frequently accused of being a partisan hack, a conservative lackey serving only the interests of the Republican Party. His votes are often portrayed as products of political ideology rather than constitutional philosophy, a practice he only encourages with his forays into political commentary. But as his recent opinions in Alleyne v. United States and the Myriad gene-patenting case illustrate, Thomas is much more than a Tea Party mouthpiece. That his views skew conservative is a product not of partisanship but rather of his deep, occasionally confounding dedication to originalist theory. And sometimes that dedication leads this already idiosyncratic justice to cast votes that would please Earl Warren.

...More than any justice in history, Thomas is an originalist, ruling exclusively by the letter of what he views as the Founders’ original intent in writing the Constitution.

...On the whole, of course, Thomas remains a rock-ribbed conservative, and the surprise that greeted his opinion in Alleyne and last week’s DNA-patenting case is entirely understandable. But just because Thomas’ votes track a generally right-wing pattern does not mean they are preordained by party politics, or even predictable. The principles Thomas follows—unwavering dedication to his own interpretation of the ideas of dead men—may not make much sense to most. But they are principles nonetheless. And Thomas remains dedicated to them, no matter how far left they take him.

Entire piece @

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_..._the_supreme_court_justice_s_originalism.html

It is so refreshing to read the political tag "Liberal" applied correctly for a change...

 

[eyer]

Clarence Thomas: Society is overly sensitive about race

My sadness is that we are probably today more race and difference-conscious than I was in the 1960s when I went to school. To my knowledge, I was the first black kid in Savannah, Georgia, to go to a white school. Rarely did the issue of race come up. Now, name a day it doesn’t come up. Differences in race, differences in sex, somebody doesn’t look at you right, somebody says something. Everybody is sensitive. If I had been as sensitive as that in the 1960s, I’d still be in Savannah. Every person in this room has endured a slight. Every person. Somebody has said something that has hurt their feelings or did something to them — left them out. That’s a part of the deal.

"In his 2007 memoir, "My Grandfather's Son," he described his experience growing up as an African-American Catholic in Georgia during the Jim Crow era":

I was a two-fer for the Klan.

The worst I have been treated was by northern liberal elites. The absolute worst I have ever been treated. The worst things that have been done to me, the worst things that have been said about me, by northern liberal elites, not by the people of Savannah, Georgia.

I quite frankly don’t know how you do these hard jobs without some faith. I don’t know. Other people can come to you and explain it to you. I have no idea. I don’t know how an oath becomes meaningful unless you have faith. Because at the end you say, ‘So help me God.’ And a promise to God is different from a promise to anyone else.

Quotes excerpted from a report by Chris Moody on Clarence Thomas' remarks to an audience at Palm Beach Atlantic University today.

 

[renard_ruse]

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is frequently accused of being a partisan hack, a conservative lackey serving only the interests of the Republican Party. His votes are often portrayed as products of political ideology rather than constitutional philosophy, a practice he only encourages with his forays into political commentary. But as his recent opinions in Alleyne v. United States and the Myriad gene-patenting case illustrate, Thomas is much more than a Tea Party mouthpiece

These people just never stop, do they? What is a "Tea Party mouthpiece"?

The Tea Party was started by ordinary people, many of them older people who had never even been politically active before, as well as being supported by a myriad of groups. The American Free Press was a major part of bringing the movement together. I mean, what the flippin hell are these people talking about???

 

[KingOrfeo]

The Tea Party was started by ordinary people . . .

Not really.

 

[RobDownSouth]

At its core, the Tea Party is the party of belligerent, whiny "victimhood".

As such, Clarence Thomas stands tall as their role model.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Entire piece @

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_..._the_supreme_court_justice_s_originalism.html

It is so refreshing to read the political tag "Liberal" applied correctly for a change...

You don't get conservatism at all. The GOP isn't conservative. Not even close.

 

[eyer]

You don't get conservatism at all.

I've always viewed "conservatism" as a character trait...

...not as anything contagious.

The GOP isn't conservative. Not even close.

The GOP, like the Democrat Party - as I've always maintained on this Board - are nothing but statists in their political hearts...

...the only diff is the GOP prefers to bleed individual liberty slowing to death, while the Dems favor going straight for its heart.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I've always viewed "conservatism" as a character trait...

...not as anything contagious.



The GOP, like the Democrat Party - as I've always maintained on this Board - are nothing but statists in their political hearts...

...the only diff is the GOP prefers to bleed individual liberty slowing to death, while the Dems favor going straight for its heart.

Yep, that's it.

 

[Busybody]

At its core, the Tea Party is the party of belligerent, whiny "victimhood".

As such, Clarence Thomas stands tall as their role model.

I have to give you KOO DOZE

That you, the echo lite of the PERPETUAL VICTIM party can say what you say

Its BRILLIANT!