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Annapurna1
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NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?...
#13965029 - 02/14/11 11:22 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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did the koch bros lobby the titular justices to rule in their favour in citizens united...they prolly would have done so anyway..nevertheless..this should be grounds for impeachment if its true ..
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/us/politics/15thomas.html?_r=1&hpw
Quote:
Common Cause Asks Court About Thomas Speech By ERIC LICHTBLAU
WASHINGTON — Discrepancies in reports about an appearance by Justice Clarence Thomas at a political retreat for wealthy conservatives three years ago have prompted new questions to the Supreme Court from a group that advocates changing campaign finance laws.
When questions were first raised about the retreat last month, a court spokeswoman said Justice Thomas had made a “brief drop-by” at the event in Palm Springs, Calif., in January 2008 and had given a talk.
In his financial disclosure report for that year, however, Justice Thomas reported that the Federalist Society, a prominent conservative legal group, had reimbursed him an undisclosed amount for four days of “transportation, meals and accommodations” over the weekend of the retreat. The event is organized by Charles and David Koch, brothers who have used millions of dollars from the energy conglomerate they run in Wichita, Kan., to finance conservative causes.
Arn Pearson, a vice president at the advocacy group Common Cause, said the two statements appeared at odds. His group sent a letter to the Supreme Court on Monday asking for “further clarification” as to whether the justice spent four days at the retreat for the entire event or was there only briefly.
“I don’t think the explanation they’ve given is credible,” Mr. Pearson said in an interview. He said that if Justice Thomas’s visit was a “four-day, all-expenses paid trip in sunny Palm Springs,” it should have been reported as a gift under federal law.
The Supreme Court had no comment on the issue Monday. Nor did officials at the Federalist Society or at Koch Industries.
Common Cause maintains that Justice Thomas should have disqualified himself from last year’s landmark campaign finance ruling in the Citizens United case, partly because of his ties to the Koch brothers.
In a petition filed with the Justice Department last month, the advocacy group said past appearances at the Koch brothers’ retreat by Justice Thomas and Justice Antonin Scalia, along with the conservative political work of Justice Thomas’s wife, had created a possible perception of bias in hearing the case.
The Citizens United decision, with Justice Thomas’s support, freed corporations to engage in direct political spending with little public disclosure. The Koch brothers have been among the main beneficiaries, political analysts say.
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"anchor blocks counteract the process of pontiprobation..while omalean globes regulize the pressure"...
Edited by Annapurna1 (02/15/11 11:09 AM)
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ScavengerType


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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: Annapurna1]
#13965227 - 02/14/11 11:57 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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That does definitely sound like a fishy situation. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Does anyone know what the proceedings are for this type of situation? Not only against the two judges but for the citizens united ruling as well.
-------------------- "Have you ever seen what happens when a grenade goes off in a school? Do you really know what you’re doing when you order shock and awe? Are you prepared to kneel beside a dying soldier and tell him why he went to Iraq, or why he went to any war?" "The things that are done in the name of the shareholder are, to me, as terrifying as the things that are done—dare I say it—in the name of God. Montesquieu said, "There have never been so many civil wars as in the Kingdom of God." And I begin to feel that’s true. The shareholder is the excuse for everything." - Author and former M6/M5 agent John le Carré on Democracy Now. Conquer's Club
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johnm214


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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: Annapurna1]
#13965808 - 02/15/11 03:36 AM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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So the court spokesman says he dropped by briefly at an event yet he disclosed reimbursment for a four day lodging and travel to the area of the event.
What is inconsistant here? The quoted text doesn't say anything about the court's representation of where he was when he was not at the event or how long he was in the area, and unless the federalist society rented out the entire Palm Springs area, I see no inconsistency with the suggestion that he only stopped by the federalist society's event despite being in town for the surrounding days.
The requirements for a spokesman's report (none) differ from that of the requirements for a judicial financial disclosure filing, and given that the later is more expansive than the former, I see nothing overtly troubling here.
What exactly is the problem? That the court spokesman neglected to speak about what the Justice was doing in the days surrounding his talk? Were they even asked? From the quoted text there is no indication that they were, and the description of the reply explicitly states that the spokesman was speaking about the brevity of his attendance at the Federalist Society event, saying nothing of how long he was in the area or whether he did anything else while in town.
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zappaisgod
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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: johnm214]
#13966891 - 02/15/11 10:53 AM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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It's crap raised by a sore loser who wants the rest of us to shut the fuck up. I am more concerned by the judges who voted against Citizens United. The should be expelled from the bench for treason. Or dementia.
Also, that had nothing to do with Scalia.
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Annapurna1
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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: johnm214]
#13967164 - 02/15/11 11:59 AM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
johnm214 said: So the court spokesman says he dropped by briefly at an event yet he disclosed reimbursment for a four day lodging and travel to the area of the event.
What is inconsistant here? The quoted text doesn't say anything about the court's representation of where he was when he was not at the event or how long he was in the area, and unless the federalist society rented out the entire Palm Springs area, I see no inconsistency with the suggestion that he only stopped by the federalist society's event despite being in town for the surrounding days.
The requirements for a spokesman's report (none) differ from that of the requirements for a judicial financial disclosure filing, and given that the later is more expansive than the former, I see nothing overtly troubling here.
What exactly is the problem? That the court spokesman neglected to speak about what the Justice was doing in the days surrounding his talk? Were they even asked? From the quoted text there is no indication that they were, and the description of the reply explicitly states that the spokesman was speaking about the brevity of his attendance at the Federalist Society event, saying nothing of how long he was in the area or whether he did anything else while in town.
the mere fact that they were there is suspicious...i dont know exactly how much $$$ the koch bros reimbursed...but ill bet that most ppl prolly would consider that amount of $$$ to be a bribe...
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"anchor blocks counteract the process of pontiprobation..while omalean globes regulize the pressure"...
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zappaisgod
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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: Annapurna1]
#13967361 - 02/15/11 12:48 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Two conservatives in a room grooving with a pict is a conspiracy to you.
Should all men view a female justice speaking at a woman's conference as suspiciously?
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ScavengerType


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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: johnm214]
#13967362 - 02/15/11 12:48 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Koch donates massive sums to Citizens United annually and I'm pretty sure he actually had something to do with it's founding (not sure if I'm confusing it with many of the other similar organizations he's started from scratch). How could you be OK with this? Even if it's not bribery (umbrella bribery), the closeness of the judge to the individual and organizations in question does mean that he should have recused himself from weighing an opinion.
-------------------- "Have you ever seen what happens when a grenade goes off in a school? Do you really know what you’re doing when you order shock and awe? Are you prepared to kneel beside a dying soldier and tell him why he went to Iraq, or why he went to any war?" "The things that are done in the name of the shareholder are, to me, as terrifying as the things that are done—dare I say it—in the name of God. Montesquieu said, "There have never been so many civil wars as in the Kingdom of God." And I begin to feel that’s true. The shareholder is the excuse for everything." - Author and former M6/M5 agent John le Carré on Democracy Now. Conquer's Club
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Annapurna1
liberal pussy


Registered: 05/21/02
Posts: 5,646
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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: zappaisgod]
#13967569 - 02/15/11 01:23 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
zappaisgod said: Two conservatives in a room grooving with a pict is a conspiracy to you.
if one of them is a justice on the SCOTUS..and the other is charles or david koch (etc..etc).. then yes..i do smell a rat...
Quote:
Should all men view a female justice speaking at a woman's conference as suspiciously?
why only the men??...if their wining & dining or otherwise butterating her up ahead of a ruling which is relevant to their political agenda.. then it shouldnt be just the men who should be concerned...although i cant see that happening with the current calculus on the SCOTUS...
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"anchor blocks counteract the process of pontiprobation..while omalean globes regulize the pressure"...
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zappaisgod
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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: Annapurna1]
#13967677 - 02/15/11 01:42 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Annapurna1 said:
Quote:
zappaisgod said: Two conservatives in a room grooving with a pict is a conspiracy to you.
if one of them is a justice on the SCOTUS..and the other is charles or david koch (etc..etc).. then yes..i do smell a rat...
ToughQuote:
Quote:
Should all men view a female justice speaking at a woman's conference as suspiciously?
why only the men??...if their wining & dining or otherwise butterating her up ahead of a ruling which is relevant to their political agenda.. then it shouldnt be just the men who should be concerned...although i cant see that happening with the current calculus on the SCOTUS...
Why only men? Because by your calculus they would be the party that would expect to lose out due to improper influence.
These Common Cause fucks are only interested in one thing. Influencing the Court.
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Annapurna1
liberal pussy


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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: zappaisgod]
#13968416 - 02/15/11 03:38 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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ooohh..now i get it...its OK for the koch bros to influence the SCOTUS via wholesale bribery and conspiracy.. but not for common cause to do so by calling them out...i totally forgot that the right thinks in terms of double standards...
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zappaisgod
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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: Annapurna1]
#13968447 - 02/15/11 03:42 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Annapurna1 said: ooohh..now i get it...its OK for the koch bros to influence the SCOTUS via wholesale bribery and conspiracy.. but not for common cause to do so by calling them out...i totally forgot that the right thinks in terms of double standards...
What bribery? I can, however, cite attempted intimidation.......
Do you think Ruth Bader Ginsburg never had her travel expenses paid?
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JohnnyUtah
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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: zappaisgod]
#14009622 - 02/22/11 08:02 PM (13 years, 2 months ago) |
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Justice Thomas knowingly and intentionally violated tax law and legally mandated reporting requirements of his office. Any other Attorney doing so would face jail time and disbarment. There is a clear violation of his Constitutionally defined duties in the form of enacting high crimes and misdemeanors. This is the definition of actions required to initiate and find for his Impeachment by Congress and Removal by the Senate.
Frankly I find it disgusting that some of you would try to excuse this type of behavior.
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zappaisgod
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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: JohnnyUtah]
#14012353 - 02/23/11 08:40 AM (13 years, 2 months ago) |
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No attorney or politician (or private individual for that matter) would face jail time for that minor an infraction. See Tim Geithner and Charlie Rangel, both of whom did much worse.
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johnm214


Registered: 05/31/07
Posts: 17,582
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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: JohnnyUtah]
#14012392 - 02/23/11 08:53 AM (13 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
JohnnyUtah said: Justice Thomas knowingly and intentionally violated tax law and legally mandated reporting requirements of his office. Any other Attorney doing so would face jail time and disbarment. There is a clear violation of his Constitutionally defined duties in the form of enacting high crimes and misdemeanors. This is the definition of actions required to initiate and find for his Impeachment by Congress and Removal by the Senate.
Frankly I find it disgusting that some of you would try to excuse this type of behavior.
What law did he violate? I wasn't aware of that. If this is true, then this is more serious.
Either way, I'm not familiar with the decision in question, but the campaign finance laws and similar restraints on public advocacy are clearly treading on first amendment ground, and Thomas is pretty much one of the most predictable and solid thinkers on the court. Even those things I disagree with him on are pretty easy to identify and use to predict how he'll come out on a case. I personally have no thought that he actually could be influenced in such a manner on such a case. Some of the more wishy washy Justices that search out the law in the stars, however.... I don't know how you'd tell.
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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: johnm214]
#14012564 - 02/23/11 09:36 AM (13 years, 2 months ago) |
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He had to report the gift because of the amount of reimbursement he received from Koch's organization Johnm. This is the law he broke. The amount of money that he received in reimbursement from them was enough that it was legally required to be reported that was the "law" and he did not report the income which was how he "broke" it. Is that sound clearer?
-------------------- "Have you ever seen what happens when a grenade goes off in a school? Do you really know what you’re doing when you order shock and awe? Are you prepared to kneel beside a dying soldier and tell him why he went to Iraq, or why he went to any war?" "The things that are done in the name of the shareholder are, to me, as terrifying as the things that are done—dare I say it—in the name of God. Montesquieu said, "There have never been so many civil wars as in the Kingdom of God." And I begin to feel that’s true. The shareholder is the excuse for everything." - Author and former M6/M5 agent John le Carré on Democracy Now. Conquer's Club
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jimbotron
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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: ScavengerType]
#14012647 - 02/23/11 09:55 AM (13 years, 2 months ago) |
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There's never a bad time to bring up the fact that Thomas has not spoken a single word during oral arguments in 5 years.
FIVE YEARS.
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johnm214


Registered: 05/31/07
Posts: 17,582
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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: jimbotron]
#14013075 - 02/23/11 11:44 AM (13 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
ScavengerType said: He had to report the gift because of the amount of reimbursement he received from Koch's organization Johnm. This is the law he broke. The amount of money that he received in reimbursement from them was enough that it was legally required to be reported that was the "law" and he did not report the income which was how he "broke" it. Is that sound clearer?
Do you have a citation to this law and evidence that he violated it- exceeded whatever level of gratuity requires whatever type of disclosure?
The original article seems much ado about nothing, but if he intentionally didn't disclose compensation, I do regard that as a serious matter he should be investigated for or perhaps prosecuted for. From what it sounds like, he did not report the value of the compensation which was allegedly required to be reported, yes?
Quote:
jimbotron said: There's never a bad time to bring up the fact that Thomas has not spoken a single word during oral arguments in 5 years.
FIVE YEARS.
What's that got to do with anything? Have you listened to those arguments? A lot of it is surprisingly stupid and consists of speculation and grandstanding. I wish they'd also make the damn lawyers answer the questions when they finally get around to asking one.
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zappaisgod
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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: jimbotron]
#14013080 - 02/23/11 11:45 AM (13 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
jimbotron said: There's never a bad time to bring up the fact that Thomas has not spoken a single word during oral arguments in 5 years.
FIVE YEARS.
So? They're mostly theater.
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ScavengerType


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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: johnm214]
#14013192 - 02/23/11 12:10 PM (13 years, 2 months ago) |
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That's at minimum a 4 if not 5 figure trip. Give me a break man, he tried to file that as if he was being reimbursed to speak there then spent the whole 4 days there. It was a gift and if he filed it as such he would have to recuse himself. This is why he lied.
-------------------- "Have you ever seen what happens when a grenade goes off in a school? Do you really know what you’re doing when you order shock and awe? Are you prepared to kneel beside a dying soldier and tell him why he went to Iraq, or why he went to any war?" "The things that are done in the name of the shareholder are, to me, as terrifying as the things that are done—dare I say it—in the name of God. Montesquieu said, "There have never been so many civil wars as in the Kingdom of God." And I begin to feel that’s true. The shareholder is the excuse for everything." - Author and former M6/M5 agent John le Carré on Democracy Now. Conquer's Club
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Tri High
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Re: NYTIMES ..did koch bros lobby thomas & scalia?... [Re: ScavengerType]
#14013345 - 02/23/11 12:45 PM (13 years, 2 months ago) |
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NY times said today that the justice department will no longer be pursuing the federal law banning gay marriage.
So, without a law being repealed, the justice dept. can decide to no longer mess with people over the laws on the books.
What kind of shit is this, I ask?
-------------------- you just need money to get laid - starfire_xes
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