justices are exempt from the Code of Conduct

That is unfathomable......

So, why should they be referred to as 'your honor'!

The obscenity is the way this legislation was passed.

The obscenity is the mere fact that over half the states have to sue the federal government over this legislation.

The obscenity is the fact over half the American people don't want it, yet liberals still try to force it down our throats.

The obscenity was Obama ignoring the economy - the unemployed - and devoting his energies to something that wouldn't take effect for years - at a time America needed economic recovery. The obscenity was Obama ignoring the CBO's report of it costing 800,000 jobs .....

Btw - Did I crap on "your" little porch, Feisty?

justices are exempt from the Code of Conduct

It's known as allowing the fox to guard the hen-house syndrome!

This is just the latest on these two corrupt & immoral SCOTUS's...

Alito & Thomas have also attended all expense paid Koch Brothers's 'super secret get-a-ways'...

Wow, Feisty, the right wing nut jobs are really out in force today. Guess old Newt the Kook has them feeling their Wheaties.

Yup, the unethical, serial adulterer and scam artist Newt!....That's a candidate the TeaPeople can believe in!

Wait there's more...

It’s nothing new: The two justices have been attending Federalist Society events
for years. And it’s nothing that runs afoul of ethics rules. In fact, justices are exempt from the Code of Conduct that governs the actions of lower federal judges.

If they were, they arguably fell under code’s Canon 4C, which states, “A judge may attend fund-raising events of law-related and other organizations although the judge may not be a speaker, a guest of honor, or featured on the program of such an event.“

Nevertheless, the sheer proximity of Scalia and Thomas to two of the law firms in the case, as
well as to a company with a massive financial interest, was enough to alarm ethics-in-government activists.

“This stunning breach of ethics and indifference to the code belies claims by several justices that the court abides by the same rules that apply to all other federal judges,” said Bob Edgar, the president of Common Cause. “The justices were wining and dining at a black-tie
fundraiser with attorneys who have pending cases before the court. Their appearance and assistance in fundraising for this event undercuts any claims of impartiality, and is unacceptable.”

Scalia and Thomas have shown little
regard for critics who say they too readily mix the business of the court with
agenda-driven groups such as the Federalist Society. And Thomas’ wife, Ginni, is
a high-profile conservative activist.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-scalia-thomas-20111114,0,7978224.story

Oh Boy Bob -- You are in a mood today!

Does anyone else become concerned when someone talks about changing the Constitution?

Thanks for that info Feisty, very interesting.

Uh oh, Feisty. Hitting them with facts. The Rebaggers are gonna get ya!

SCOTUS....put themselves above the law...and absolutely disregard whatever codes they don't want to follow.

Thomas and Scalia need to go!...sooner than later!

The Rebaggers are gonna get ya!

Bring it! ;o)

What I don't get is that the people fighting the individual mandate of the ACA all have health insurance.

How can they sue to fight something that doesn't affect them at all. They wouldn't have to pay the fine associated with refusing to get health insurance, therefore, they have no grounds what so ever to fight it.

Can I sue a tobacco company for giving people cancer even though I don't smoke? Or big sugar or Pharma for deseases that someone else could get?

Hang in there, GF, we have your back!

Oh, thank god, my "ignore" button for Booby, Snuffy and others is finally working today!

.

"I'm pro-life, been pro-life all my life." he responded, later adding "I happen to believe in putting justices on the Supreme Court who are pro-life and Roe vs. Wade would be found to be unconstitutional. It would go back to the states until there would be a constitutional amendment in the United States that would clearly defend life and that life be from the time of conception until death."

Asked for clarification, Perry spokesman Mark Miner replied by email: "The governor supports measures that protect life."

There it is right there. The guy is so inarticulate his spokesman has to clarify his remarks. Otherwise no would know what in the hell he's talking about.

And people are still questioning whether Thomas should have been approved.... is it any wonder?

Goodbye Obama.

Obama ranks low among recent incumbents

" 52% saying they disapprove of how Obama is handling his job in the White House ... Obama's 46% approval ranks above only Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford - who both lost their re-election bids - in November of the year before an election"

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/15/cnn-poll-obama-ranks-low-among-recent-incumbents/?hpt=hp_t3

You wish. One only needs to look at the losers on the teapub side to see they are going down in flames. Not one of their candidates can win, either too stupid, morally compromised, or (who?)unknown. Thanks for making it possible for Obama to win, teapubs! Oh, I forgot flip/flop/flip/flop.

1. The reason they are appointed for life is so they can (or are suppose to) make their decisions without politics entering into the decision.

2. Shows you how little reading Perry has done. Does he realize that under the 18 year term limit he purposes that currently Scalia (Reagan), Thomas (GHW Bush), and Kennedy (Reagan) would all get replaced by Obama? Especially if Obama wins a second term. That would give Obama five court members.

3. Does he realize that there are nine justices? So how can each president get to appoint two while each justice serving 18 year terms?

From 1789 until 1970, justices served an average of 14.9 years. Those who have stepped down since 1970 have served an average of 25.6 years. The retirement age had jumped from an average of 68 pre-1970 to 79 for justices retiring post-1970. Between 1789 and 1970 there was a vacancy on the Court once every 1.91 years. In the next 34 years since the two appointments in 1971, there was a vacancy on average only once every 3.75 years. The typical one-term president has had one appointment opportunity instead of two.

"It would go back to the states until there would be a constitutional amendment in the United States that would clearly defend life and that life be from the time of conception until death."

So why were there so many "death penalties" in Texas while Perry was governor, including several that may have been innocent? How about adequate food and shelter and medical care for the poor to keep death at bay?

Of course! the Republican "Right to Life" only applies to the unborn and the rich. Poor people and those imprisoned, guilty or not, are not to have their lives defended.

Rich folks can afford high powered lawyers to evade conviction, and in the rare event where they do get the "death penalty", they can use their political pull with the Governor to be pardoned.

I am flabbergasted that Perry would be so poorly advised that he would suggest some of these measures. He would have to have to change the constitution for at least one of them and he cannot hope to achieve any of his fantasies. He might as well announce he is going to paint the moon purple.

This guy is getting nuttier by the minute.

I am thoroughly disappointed in some of the posters here. They claim to be patriots, but:

1. They oppose how laws are actually made. I guess that they believing in following the constitution only when it is convient for them.

2. They support Perry's promise to violate the constitution. This country is based on 3 equal branches. One does not have the authority to destroy the others. But Perry wants to appoint himself dictator and throw out the legislature and judges? Don't they have to take an oath of office in Texas? Or did he 'forget' what his oath means? Or did he lie when he took it?

The postings here prove that patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels. At least some of us believe in honoring our oath to defend the constitution against all enemys - foreign and DOMESTIC. If you advocate destroying the constitution - this makes you an enemy in my eyes. If you act on this treason (and Perry is advocating treason) - many of us will take actions to defend this country.

It's going to be fun watching Odumbo lose in the next election. That's something I'm going to thoroughly enjoy. Especially when he stands there, like the shmuck that he is, while the new Republican President is sworn in. You leftist, Obama-zombies better stock up on Prozac and make arrangements for plenty of group therapy and psychiatric help for after election day 2012, cause you're going to need it. Jackasses.

It never fails to amaze me that, when faced with hard facts, people like neversurrender will still cling to their dark, bleak fantasies. He cannot support his predictions with anything resembling the truth even as his party is self-destructing under the crushing weight of the unqualified and under-equipped wannabe candidates the GOP is desperately trying to prop up for the elections next year. No matter how foolish the Republican hopefuls make themselves appear through their blithering statements, no matter how badly they perform in the GOP debates, no matter how embarrassing their scandals are, no matter how irrelevant their bickering about religion is, deluded tea party advocates like neversurrender will still try to convince themselves that one of these pathetic characters will win the election next year.

Obama is has a huge lead in the polls over all of the GOP bottom feeders and that gap widens with every stupid thing they say and with every scandal that is exposed. Obama will win, of course, but I worry about how the self-deceived and willfully ignorant partisans for the GOP/TP will react when that fact is driven home by a truly humiliating defeat for the Republicans at the polls in 2012. It won't be pretty but hopefully it will lead to the GOP making the decision to distance itself from the right wing lunatic fringe...a position that neversurrender has obviously staked out for himself.

Obama by default in '12. Read 'em and weep.

bob-1805084

The obscenity is the way this legislation was passed.

The obscenity was the outright blocking and disrupting that went on that forced a meeting of the reasonable to hammer out the bill.. call it locked-door... call it exclusionary... but we all know why the Republicans weren't invited.

The obscenity is the mere fact that over half the states have to sue the federal government over this legislation.

They didn't "have to". Half the states did not sue. Republicans are suing to stop success and for political gain. But it's their right.

The obscenity is the fact over half the American people don't want it, yet liberals still try to force it down our throats.

You need to reread your poll. Issue-by-issue is supported. The polls reflect your success at demonizing rather than lack of support for the bill's provisions. Why would that be?

The obscenity was Obama ignoring the economy - the unemployed - and devoting his energies to something that wouldn't take effect for years - at a time America needed economic recovery. The obscenity was Obama ignoring the CBO's report of it costing 800,000 jobs .....

There was a sh!tload of action already going on regarding jobs and you know it. The stimulus was in process (screwed up by the states) while the health care legislation was being worked... and the CBO said it would reduce the deficit... never that it would cost 800,000 jobs. Wow. How 'bout a non-right-wing link on that one?

Btw - Did I crap on "your" little porch, Feisty?

Maybe a little diarrhea of mouth, that's all.

Just for reference:

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/jun/14/michele-bachmann/michele-bachmann-says-obamacare-will-kill-800000-j/

You know what REALLY sucks? I live in TX and get enews via the STAR TELEGRAM...Fort Worths paper.

I posted a comment there saying that Slick Rick is right that Congress needs to be uprooted but that pay to play Rick isn't the one to do it.

The FORT WORTH STAR TELEGRAM censors their news and comments to a propaganda finesse it baffles the thinking mind. They will not let me post this nor other comments in the past.

If you have a subscription to a local paper understand that they protect their political stance to the point of not giving you the news. Sad story for the American people. Sadder comment on the Republican/TP right.

neversurrender - missed your meds today didn't ya? And, I am always amazed that you people have to call our President names. But, you'll get used to having President Obama in the White House, during his 2nd term. You might as well sit back and relax because the far right has no one with any common sense - much less any true intelligence.

I wonder if Mr. Perry fully realizes the position he's in a race for the GOP nomination for "President"...not "King" or "Emperor".

If he were the President (snicker...chortle), he wouldn't have the power to do anything other than to simply suggest what he proposes. He may be able to run roughshod over the TX legislature, but he'd get a serious come-uppance if he tried it on the national level.

Just one of the myriad of reasons why he won't even win the GOP nomination.

More "OOPS" moments with this guy than there are prairie dog holes in TX.

Thanks Feisty!

There are activist groups that are trying to delve further into Thomas' associations with Far-Right groups. His attendance at these politically biased events are a clear conflict of interest. Thomas then sits on the high court and acts as if he is objectively listening to the legal cases brought before the court.

Now, even more news has leaked out about "Newt."

The Right does not care about "ethics."

If these Reactionaries cared a modicum about ethics and morality - America would not be in the Horrific mess that she is in.

Well said, 25Walker.

I agree with that Bill and would oppose replacing Justices so quickly....and want to keep the status quo. Otherwise, I think the system of checks and balances of the Constitution could be undermined by 'special interests' turning the Justice selection into a circus - similar to what the left is doing now with the Republican candidates!

We have term limits. They are called elections.

I think the clueless one from Texas probably doesn't even understand he's talking about changes that would require constitutional amendments. (or maybe he does and is just hoping his dwindling numbers of followers don't catch on.)

I think conservatives have collectively lost their freakin minds.............while I agree that the uber wealthy do not need nor want government the rest of us do indeed need it.......to protect us from the rich and greedy whom would take everything without any restraints at all from a federal government.

Most Americans??? I think not ...

Bill T,

Who are you (or anyone else for that matter) to speak for "most Americans"? You certainly don't speak for me!

Bill, kinda like the way the constitution (you know that piece of paper ya'all are bragging on all the time) is now. Guess some other Americans feel that way too. See, you don't really speak for us after all.

@Mark from Tahoe You're blaming the left for turning the Republican candidates into an insane clown posse?

Bwaaaahaaaahaaaaaa!

If members of Congress started working part time that would require them to work more than they do now.

Read your posts phine.... you are the one that really hasn't read the Constitution yet.... give it a try sometime! It'll make you think twice about posting some of your nonsense.... hopefully!

baloney Bill T. Lets see some facts backing your statement.

If members of Congress started working part time that would require them to work more than they do now.

Excellent point, dirp101!

We need our representatives and senators to represent ALL of the people, not just the extremists. And they need to actually accomplish something.

Instead of "uprooting" the whole system, let's start by revising some rules in Congress. No more filibustering or using other stalling techniques - VOTE, so we have indisputable documentation of how luch (or how little) you're doing. And one topic per bill - stop all the gamesmanship involved in trying to add non-related amendments to everything.

Kathryn Sullivan

...the rest of us do indeed need it.......to protect us from the rich and greedy whom would take everything without any restraints at all from a federal government.

Kathryn,

If we were left with a straw bed to sleep on - we would be fortunate.

Can we please end this mindless discussion about term limits, Bill T? As AP so succinctly put it, we have "term limits" and they are called "elections." My representative and senators are doing a good job and I'd like to keep them in office as long as possible. If yours are not working in your interests, go to work and vote them out.

If you actually cannot tell whether your representatives are any good or not, please stay away from the polling place.

dbo, you are not a real American unless you agree to kowtow to the right nutcases.

...OR unless GOD appoints ME the bestest one out of the batch?

LOL

I am thinking that God must have some sense of humor if he really told all the republicans to run for president as they were each the chosen one.

When Cain announced the other day that he was chosen by God to run, did he realize that God had several chosen candidates in the race already?

He had to hit all the right-wing talking points!...Trying to salvage what's left of his campaign! Maybe he hadn't heard about 'activist judges'......but then again, that only applies to judges who don't support the right-wing ideology!

DBO - Rick Perry isn't a judge. He can not determine the validity of law.

But he can have an opinion.

Hey have you got that validation from Feisty that you were begging for over on the last thread yet?

WCA, I can also have an opinion on how ridiculous the right wing has become. You guys are trying to turn the country into the American Taliban.

Perry isn't saying he'd be the judge...he's saying vote for me and I'll pack the Supreme court to put my Texas boot on the scales of justice. Hey, he's going down, might as well throw women under the bus with him...might keep his name alive for the far right wing nut brigade (Romney really hates him so VP is out, but maybe he'll promise him Energy Czar so he can have the pleasure of dismantling the agency he can't name?) As entertaining as it is to watch this not ready for prime time hick, it'll be far more interesting to watch the real campaign begin after New Hampshire and Iowa succeed in beginning the dropouts of the uber lightweights.

Thats right phancy. We are all terrorists.

Don't forget idiot, stupid, clowns, nazis, teabaggers, etc.

If that is all true, why in the world are you so afraid?

Wouldn't stop abortions anyway........women have always gotten them, legal or not.

WCA, just can't stand the idea of whack jobs trying to destroy the American people.

Well lookie here, Yellow-streak collar auto is at it again. Hey bud no one is afraid of the like of you. Especially since y'all like to hide behind your guns and bibles and try to engage the rest of us in your right wing apocalyptic fantasies. Perry is on the right track but needs to focus on the culture of institutionalized corruption that is now Washington DC as it relates to lobbyists and Congress...Transparency will solve the problems. Consider:

1. Making all Congressional meeting logs public.

2. Stop the revolving door between congress their bloated staffs and lobbyists...We have non- compete clauses in business. If you are a congressman or work for one, you cannot work for a lobbying firm or anyone who has lobbied the congress for 5 years.

3. Cut congressional salaries and their staffs by 30%.

Thats right phancy. We are all terrorists.

Don't forget idiot, stupid, clowns, nazis, teabaggers, etc.

Hey, WCA. You said it, not us. You get 10 points for honesty.

TorpedoYou,

Better yet, how about public financing of elections to all federal offices?

1. Making all Congressional meeting logs public.

They already are. It's called the "Congressional Record", it records all the bills considered, all the debate, all the amendments proposed, and all the votes on said bills. It's even online, if you want to look.

2. Stop the revolving door between congress their bloated staffs and lobbyists...We have non- compete clauses in business. If you are a congressman or work for one, you cannot work for a lobbying firm or anyone who has lobbied the congress for 5 years.

Basically saying "you can't issue political opinions if you work for Congress". Nice idea, but not really workable as long as they've still got free speech rights.

3. Cut congressional salaries and their staffs by 30%.

As if that would ever happen. It is very rare that anyone agrees to a pay cut, and a 30% pay cut is practically unheard of. But maybe they might consider it, if the CEOs of the Fortune 500 would also agree to a 30% pay cut. Mind you, each of those Fortune 500 CEOs would still be making more than the entire Congress after such a pay cut.

I think the system of checks and balances of the Constitution could be undermined by 'special interests' turning the Justice selection into a circus - similar to what the left is doing now with the Republican candidates!

I wasn't aware that any leftwinger was speaking for or acting on behalf of any Republican candidate. These candidates are simply being confronted with the absurdity of their claim as being prepared to serve as POTUS. Each has made his/her own gaffe with no assistance from the left and each has waffled in a vain attempt to either clarify themselves or rescue themselves from their own missteps. It is not unthinkable that GOP outsiders will take note of a Forrest Gump moment ~ and exploit it.

Guess we can throw that old constitution out the window. Who needs it anyways when the right nutcases are in charge.

Gotta keep the part about 'guns'.......the rest, not so much!

oh terrific...let's politicize the US Supreme Court even further and really tear this nation apart...and who would be absurd enough to think a president can get anything done in 4 years? Look at the states with one 4 year term--NOTHING gets done. In Congress it takes them 2 years just to find out where the bathrooms are and figure out how to write legislation...ALl you will accomplish is giving those who stay (the STAFFS) unbelievable power because no one else knows how the hell to do anything. No, we have enough idiots who have no idea what they hell they're doing up there, without making them leave after 2 or 4 years.

PP 425, One I am an independant not a right wing nut case. Two the Constitution was written by people with different standards, morals and ethics than we have now. Most of the Constitution still applies to our society such as seperation of church and state among others, but it is clear the longer a person serves in government the more their ethics and values change to big money. Not sure but I think it was Ben Franklin that stated you need to change government at least every 12 years to prevent coruption in government. Three Perry only has a start on an idea with regards to term limits but goes off course after that. We need less government in our personal choices such as gay marriage and abortion, nothing about these effects anyone elses life. Four don't be so quick to judge someone else you don't know. We still need the Constitution but it must reflect the society we want to become and not just the one we were. To much has changed since it was written, we have changed, the planet has changed, all things evolve including Constitutions.

AP I think you mis read my post I stated a 10 year term but only one term not 2 years or 4 for just the reasons you stated, but I do not see how electing judges is more political than appointing them by party. And who says the Staffs can not change, open you mind not just your mouth.

well there's a whole lot of babes in the woods who don't even remember Newt's time in Congress...they think he was a SUCCESS for heaven's sake..(he TOLD them so!)

During his time in Congress, Gingrich earned a reputation for being one of the dirtiest most dishonest politicians to shame the halls of government in this country. Neither his colleagues nor his wife trusted him and he climbed the ladder of politics in Washington by doing shady deals, dirty tricks, and selling out to the highest bidder.

He has a lot of skeletons in his closet and old scores waiting to be settled from his heyday, so if he starts to ascend we should expect to hear plenty about his checkered past from a number of knowledgeable sources. This could be fun, actually!

KS-

Mebbe since Trick gets to have ultimate power as President of Texas in determining who lives and who dies -- Oops! They all die otherwise they wudna been on Death Row -- he thinks that ultimateness carries through if he gets to be in charge of the other 49 of us. He must believe he can be that powerful to propose such sweeping changes.

If he did get elected, he'd be President Richard II. It took the English three Richards to figure out that maybe that was a cursed name for a leader. Hopefully Nixon (notice, community collapsers, that anothermick has avoid that grauitous cheap shot of using President Richard I's nickname) is enough to convince us to avoid another Richard.

Exactly. Perry is either poorly advised or he thinks the US electorate are as stupid as he is. Either way, this is not going to end well for Perry.

Kind of like the Citizens United v. Fed Election Commission? Thanks to that great ruling, the people of this country have very little representation left.

As defeatist as it makes me sound, I have very little hope of any significant changes made in our government. It makes very little difference which party is in power because the excesses will continue until the creditors say "No more.". The corruption is so blatant that no one pays it any mind anymore. It seems we are all numb to it. Just look at the FR boards. The partisan bickering, name calling and blind support for whom ever your party is can be down right depressing.

To my own shame, I didn't start paying attention to politics and how our nation was governed until 2008. Since then I have devoured as much information as I could and I have come to the conclusion that we are almost certainly doomed. Our greed will be our downfall.

I hold out hope, because for the first time in my life, I found a poitician I actually believe in. I don't agree with every word out of his mouth, but by and large he speaks sense.

Everyone should do themselves a favor and research Ron Paul. Given 90 seconds to speak in an hour long debate is an injustice and makes it impossible for the masses to understand his positions and why he has them. One of the last true 'Statesmen' of our time.

Ron Paul 2012

Ron Paul is nothing more than a republican wolf in sheep's clothing. His plans destroy America just like the rest of the republicans.

Hate your social security or ever want to retire one day, vote for a republican any republican for anything and you can kiss you a&& good-bye.

Remember Ron Paul cares so much for the people that he voted to keep you poorer. He voted against raising the minimum wage just like any good republican would do.

Ron also never saw a tax cut for the rich that he wasn't for. If your main concern is keeping the 1% happy, then Ron is your man.

Saying Republicans have some nefarious plan to 'destroy America' is nonsense. I get that you're angry, as am I, but let's not take extremes to absurdity.

Disappointed - I'm with you, too long I have been writing my Reps stating to them the same problems and how out of touch with us they are. I have received too many standard replies back from them espousing their talking points but not really saying anything of merit. As far as I am concerned I will be voting all incumbents out with my voice and hoping many others feel the same for 2012 and future elections as well. None of them are worth $ the are making off of us. They should be paying us for the priviledge of working for us.

No, the current president does have similar features to Alfred E. Think about it.

Perry is no going to be the selected Republican candidate to replace Obama, he just doesn't know it yet. But I do like the proposal to place term limits on these professional politicians. Limiting terms can help reduce the need for constant special interest funding, political back scratching, and perhaps legislation that benefits us all.

What do we have in D.C. tody, people who have forgotten for whom they work - they seem to know more than the population of the needs of the population today.

pjam09,,,, is this all you know?

That is the scary part. They want to eliminate departments that they have no clue as to what they do. It is a talking point to get rid of them and that is about all they know. I want a smart president, why do republicans discourage intellect as if being smart and knowing about the world is a bad thing?

From the look of these current candidates, you have to be dumb as a stump to even get noticed by the republican tea party. Just when you thought they could not get any lower ethically, they now cheer for torture.

Can you imagine Cain or Perry or Gingrich with that 3 a.m. call. Cain would have to wake up his adviser because Cain doesn't follow current events. Perry wouldn't be able to remember what it is that he wanted to do, oops. Gingrich would tell them the answer is in his book or video for $9.99.

No wonder republicans are attacking education. You have to be pretty dumb to vote for one of them.

Obama/Biden 2012

Too bad the Consitution, not to mention the intent of the Founders, stands in your way. Good luck with that.

With term limits in place, the professional bureaucrats, and unelected "staff members" effectively will be in control.

Fortunately, our constitution is built to be changed as needed. If enough people stood up and spoke about the lack of reality in the minds of our most Senior reps, something can and will be done. The American public has finally woken up and see how corrupt our "representatives" are. As far as professional bureaucrats and staff member are concerned, why not limit their tenures as well?

Changed as needed suddenly means eliminating checks and balances and putting the judiciary at the mercy of the lobbists? Cause that is what you're advocating by trying to elect federal judges. May as well burn the whole Constitution since you would be evicerating the government that the Founders created, the last thing they wanted was a judiciary that was at the mercy of elected officials. All the SCOTUS would become is another race like that for the presidency or congress. That is the LAST thing this country needs.

Perhaps not, but they have taken it to an all time high; or should that be an all time low?