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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsClarence Thomas
I rarely write off any individual, although a few are deserving of it. Clarence Thomas is rather interesting.
His self-imposed silence on the bench is unique, at least in my view of the court's history. No comments, no questions, rarely showing emotion. Mostly, I thought it was anger at the process and the confirmation hearing he went through. The merest mention of Anita Hill, cans of coke, or pubic hairs, must still boil his blood. (Let's ignore the justifiable outrage that she must have suffered, too)
But two things happened this week, and I suspect that both will have a/some/minimal/discrete impact on his psyche.
First, the Texas license plate ruling was a shocker. He actually joined the majority banning the use of the Confederate flag on Texas license plates. Perhaps he finally realizes just how fragile our race relations are, and how this simple reminder of war, racism, slavery and torture simply is unacceptable in this day and age.
Second, the horror in South Carolina, in the oldest, most respected church in that city, where 9 blacks, including six women, were gunned down in cold blood.
That has to send a message, even to someone who is so conservative, protected from the masses, and convinced of his absolute correctness on the matters of policy, procedure, law, and constitutional history.
I am a fat, middle aged, white liberal who believes in no god at all. And yet, my heart is breaking at what happened there. I simply find it impossible that Thomas would or could remain unaffected to his very core at this bloodbath.
Perhaps this will open his eyes just enough to realize that our society needs a lot of help, a lot of healing and a lot of investment. In schools, roads, jobs, middle class, and race relations. Perhaps it will lead to an epiphany which would change how the USSC deals with reality and our nation's future.
Perhaps. Or perhaps, his law clerk made a mistake and registered the wrong vote on the Confederate Flag issue.
daleanime
(17,796 posts)bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)Like a slacker student who doesn't come to class or do the assigned readings.
former9thward
(32,028 posts)And there is no "testimony" in SC hearings. Thomas has long said that no minds are ever changed in oral arguments before the court. The Justices have already made up their minds on how they are going to vote. That is why he does not comment because it is theater.
qwlauren35
(6,148 posts)NOTHING will turn Thomas around.
White terrorists could shoot his mother and he would not be swayed.
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)And Scalia is probably punishing that law clerk now.
Gothmog
(145,345 posts)Thomas is ranked as one of the five worst SCOTUS justices in history http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/03/24/3636905/five-worst-supreme-court-justices-american-history-ranked/
Gothmog
(145,345 posts)Thomas is writing some really bad opinions lately http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2015/06/clarence_thomas_opinion_in_brumfield_v_cain_has_he_forgotten_he_s_a_supreme.html
Gothmog
(145,345 posts)WOW Thomas is more unhinged than normal http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/06/clarence-thomas-brumfield-v-cain