Showing posts with label Clarence Thomas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clarence Thomas. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Blind justice, black gold

A monochromatic editorial illustration depicts a grand neoclassical courthouse whose marble façade has split dramatically from roof to steps, symbolising a profound institutional fracture. Nine ornate judicial chairs line the shattered roof, several tilted precariously and one overturned, while heavy chains coil around towering Corinthian columns. Unbalanced scales of justice hang above a large hourglass standing in the darkened entrance. Thick black liquid seeps from cracks in the stone and pools at the foot of the broken staircase, where gnarled roots creep through fractured masonry. Storm clouds gather overhead, pierced by a single shaft of sunlight, with a distant oil derrick visible on the far horizon.
image generated via ChatGPT

Reportedly holding millions in oil/gas assets, Alito declines recusal from case that could shield US firms from foreign litigation. {The Guardian 11 August}

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/11/samuel-alito-oil-gas-assets-supreme-court-analysis

Constitutional reform of the high court: yet another vitally important matter that the dominant white working-class electorate — the #MAGA hordes and the legions of Christian Nationalists, none too fond of democracy by nature, foremost among them — and their Republican overlords shall never permit to be addressed. For my own part, there is considerable doubt that expansion of the court is the proper remedy; I am, however, wholeheartedly in favour of abolishing lifetime appointments, instituting strict term limits, and putting an end to the practice of judicial infallibility — for if we dug hard enough into the conduct of all nine sitting Justices, we would almost certainly uncover behaviour warranting removal from office in more than one instance. At present, we possess virtually no workable mechanism by which Justices may be held to account; what constitutional mechanisms that do exist are all but impossible to invoke. It is an absurd system in which far too many persons maintain a vested interest, and therefore will never permit its reform.

Little doubt I harbour that had the majority — or indeed the entirety — of the so-called ‘Founding Fathers’ of this American empire been able to foresee the eventual consequences of their structuring of the judiciary, they would have reconsidered entirely. Perhaps they might never have rebelled against the Crown to begin with, had they been afforded (or cursed with) a glimpse of twenty-first-century #Murica; and had they beheld figures such as Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas (though their eighteenth-century sensibilities would absolutely not have approved of a black man serving on the high court — a fact Justice Thomas appears to be wilfully indifferent to — they would nonetheless be legitimately appalled by the conduct in question). Who is to say with any certainty? All that I can assert with confidence is this: the great American experiment hath gone catastrophically awry, and it is time to end it.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Copyright 2026, Arthur Newhook.

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

The long night of a Justice

A highly detailed illustration depicts a frightened blonde woman sitting curled up on a leather sofa in a warmly lit living room. Wearing a black dress with a white Peter Pan collar, she clutches a blanket and presses a thumb nervously to her lips while tears run down her face. Red-and-blue police lights flash through the window behind her, casting an ominous glow into the room. Family photographs, bookshelves, and soft lamplight create a domestic atmosphere that contrasts sharply with her visible fear. A bulletproof vest rests on a nearby armchair, suggesting concerns about personal safety. The composition conveys anxiety, vulnerability, and the intrusion of public threats into private family life.
generated via ChatGPT

Justice Amy Coney Barrett reveals bulletproof vest and swatting threats, as US Supreme Court seeks increased security funding. {The Guardian 14 July}

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/14/supreme-court-justices-security-budget

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Copyright 2026, Arthur Newhook.

Thursday, May 23, 2024

Alito's 'Appeal to Heaven' flag: another Christian nationalist dog whistle

Photo: Michael Perez/AP

AP - The ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag evolves from Revolutionary War symbol to banner of the far right

It is time to call these individuals, from leadership to the rank-and-file supporters, for what they truly are: terrorists. Just as most Muslims came to either embrace or tolerate Jihadist activity and extreme restrictions on their liberties and freedoms, American Christian nationalists are experiencing a similar process of radicalisation in our current era. Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas should not serve upon the Supreme Court; instead, they should await trial on charges of sedition. A shame it is that, by and large, people consider not the all-too-real possibility of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ becoming reality when they vote for president, nor take more seriously the danger these holy rollers represent to us all.

Even the overturning of Roe v. Wade hath failed to kindle a fervent outcry from those sorely beset by this egregious encroachment upon the lives of women. What I discern at this present moment is a country that has given up, and is about to yield unto tyranny in exchange for the fleeting promise of a few extra dollars in their coffers (which will not materialise, of course). I behold a realm of defeated and tired souls, inclined to let the bully, Donald Trump, return to power for he hath cunningly vilified President Biden. Donald Trump should be the most despised man in America, yet it is Joe Biden who bears the brunt of hatred. The propaganda, the brainwashing, and the bullying, combined with the cruel realities of COVID, inflation, climate change, and global turmoil, have reduced the American people to crying for mercy and submitting to the authority of an evil cabal that intends to dictate every facet of their existence.

Yet, this shall prove a harsh reckoning; ere long, millions shall awaken to the grievous error they shalt have wrought (this November), and shall pine for the return of Joe Biden. For his own part, Mr. Biden may have to resort to extraordinary measures to save this country from itself whilst there is still time; yet, though I strive to lend my support and will unequivocally vote for him again, I harbour doubts as to whether he possesses the fortitude to endure much longer. Nor doth there dwell within the American masses any remnant of fighting spirit. 'Tis akin to the year 1932, and the fall of the Weimar Republic.

I can feel it in the air; America seems to be losing hope, mirroring the despair that once gripped Germany, and thus, they will endure the hardships the Germans were subjected to following World War II and the collapse of Nazism. However, unlike Germany, America will never recover or regain its global influence: the once mighty empire is in a state of inexorable decline. Ours is an empire plagued by divisions - too vast, too diverse, and too at odds with itself to ever truly be a nation in the sense that Germany, Japan etc. are nations. While this may sound overly pessimistic, remember that my faith in Americans died completely with the 2016 presidential election, and each passing day since has only reinforced the reasons as to why that faith is never coming back to life.

President Biden denounces ICC arrest warrant bid for Netanyahu, reiterates there is no moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas. {BBC 5/20

Слава Україні. Long overdue U.S. artillery shells finally arrive to assist Ukrainian fighters near Kharkiv. {Reuters 5/21}

Of course she is. No backbone, no integrity: Nikki Haley announces she will vote for Donald Trump. {BBC 5/22}

Trump camp to build ‘crypto army’, will begin accepting campaign donations in cryptocurrency. {AP 5/21}

Indian dictator Modi - leader of over 1.4 billion people - claims he is of divine birth, says ‘this energy could not be from my biological body’. {Business Standard 5/22}

Copyright 2024, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED at https://tinyurl.com/ArthurNewhook.

Thursday, May 11, 2023

Justice Clarence Thomas reversed his long-held position on ‘Chevron defense doctrine’ after his wife was bribed by a far-right special interest group

Diego Radzinschi/ALM

Do not let any of this go down the memory hole. Uncle Thomas and his friends on the high court represent at least as serious a threat to liberty as Trump, DeSantis, any Republican congressman, or any of the myriad of assorted nationalist populists compromising #Cult45. {The Lever 5/09}

Copyright 2023, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on TWITTER, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, and POST - @arthurnewhook. 

Thursday, May 4, 2023

‘Way outside the norm.’ Harlan Crow paid for Justice Clarence Thomas to send grandnephew to an exclusive private school

Jemal Countess/UPI/Shutterstock

Way outside the norm,’ says one-time White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter. To that end, there is an interesting tidbit buried deep in this article about the Thomases and Crow taking a lavish yacht trip around the Baltics and renting a helicopter to visit Yusupov Palace in St. Petersburg (the site of Rasputin’s murder.) Nothing about this Justice is of ‘the norm,’ a case study in why Justices should no longer be provided lifetime tenure and ought to be subject to a more robust system of checks and balances. Good luck ever trying to get any constitutional amendment passed in this era of hyper-partisan chaos, though. Clarence Thomas, another fine example of how and why were are f**ked as a nation. {ProPublica 5/04}

Copyright 2023, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on TWITTER, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, and POST - @arthurnewhook.

Friday, April 1, 2022

Ukraine denies it was behind attack on fuel depot on Russian territory, as the Russian military crumbles

Rodrigo Abd/AP

The Ukrainian government denies Russian allegations of attacking a fuel depot in Russia’s Belgorod region - I’m a bit disappointed Ukraine isn’t responsible, or at least isn’t taking credit. But, in seriousness, it is likely the Russians blew it up themselves. These bastards love ‘false flags’ and skewering reality. Ukrainian militias *will* be launching attacks on Russian soil for years to come, and Putin has only himself to blame. (AP 4/01)

‘Russian soldiers short on morale and weapons have refused orders, sabotaged their own equipment and shot down one of their own aircraft, Britain’s spy chief said Thursday.’ (Washington Post 3/31)

Another 134,500 fresh conscripts ordered into the army - Putin’s war machine is coming apart. (Axios 3/31)


Virginia Thomas, embattled wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, spoke of leaving the Lifespring cult in newly unearthed video from 1987 - The woman obviously didn’t learn her lesson about cults. Did she, #Cult45? (Business Insider 4/01)

Lunatic nationalist populists now declare that watching sports (‘sportsball’) is ‘feminine’ - We have entered the Twilight Zone. I have noticed, of late, that the Trumpist rhetoric is growing more extreme, and a big theme is ascribe femininity, homosexuality, and even pedophilic intentions onto anybody who opposes them for any reason. (Raw Story 3/22)

A little bit of good news for a Friday evening: Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid for a new trial has been denied. (The Guardian 4/01)

Copyright 2022, Sunking278. Stay up-to-date: Twitter – @Sunking278 and Facebook – click here. DONATIONS - click here.