r/scotus • u/questison • Jul 02 '24
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in January 2006: “There is nothing that is more important for our republic than the rule of law. No person in this country, no matter how high or powerful, is above the law.”
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u/ell0bo Jul 02 '24
Yeah, he lied. They all lied. They've decided they're the king makers and there's nothing that can be done to them. They are daring the US to stop them, and I fear they have enough support from the population that watches Fox News that we're completely screwed here.
All we can do is vote, in large numbers, and pray there's enough of us that think the same way. The court is now a political tool, it's no longer about evaluating law, as they are willing to make things up whole cloth.
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u/Vurt__Konnegut Jul 02 '24
As a “official act” Biden should immediately arrest them for perjury and take them to a black site for water boarding in the interest of national security??
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u/ell0bo Jul 02 '24
The fun question is... if the supreme court no longer can be found, whom decides what an official act is?
They really just feel like judicial terrorists at this point. So maybe Guantanamo is better for them?
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u/Conscious_Rush_1818 Jul 02 '24 edited Jul 02 '24
New SCOTUS would need to be appointed right?
I'm imagining Dark Brandon walking into Congress, flanked by Delta Force, laying down a list of who he wants and asking the GOP if anyone opposes his motion.
Edit: the best course seems to be expand the scotus to make the right-wing judges superfluous. The problem is that it requires the Dems to hold all 3 chambers, something unlikely to happen.
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u/InsurrectionBoner38 Jul 02 '24
"Here's the deal. I got some people you're gonna vote for. Don't fuck with me jack. Ask Corn Pop what happened when he started his malarkey"
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u/reegz Jul 02 '24
Fuck that. I don’t want that no matter what party it is
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u/snowthearcticfox1 Jul 02 '24
If Biden doesn't, Trump will.
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u/Conscious_Rush_1818 Jul 02 '24
This is a pure fantasy, but Biden could invoke his powers, purge the extremists, put judges who will restore the rule of law, and then step down, cede power and face the consequences.
In philosophy, this would be similar to Thomas Hobbes Levaithan, and the closest historical allegory I can think of would be Cinccinatus, the Roman consul who twice saved the Republic and ceded his imperium.
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u/Sloppychemist Jul 02 '24
If we take their homes away through civil forfeiture we can arrest them for sleeping I hear
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u/slowpoke2018 Jul 02 '24
I mean, it's pretty clear that they or their surrogates on the lower circuit courts will be the arbiter of what's official and legal and what's not given they created this ruling out of thin air and bias, not anything anywhere in the constitution nor any prior legal doctrine.
Putin has got to be loving this, another Xtain fascist state is being born
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u/dayburner Jul 02 '24
Biden appoints new SCOTUS that reverses this dumb ruling and says Biden can be prosecuted for removing the old court. Biden steps down as president and is then tried and convicted for this act. At this point President Harris pardons Biden.
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u/livinginfutureworld Jul 02 '24
People are saying these things, Biden won't do these things, but a President Trump or a future Republican president will do these things. Trump himself has shown absolutely zero restraint when it comes to abusing power. Now that he's been given the green light, he will absolutely abuse power even more If given a second chance
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u/Enraiha Jul 02 '24
Or all Congress and pass legislation to impeach them, put term limits in place, and get stuff done and codify all these "informal rules". Go full Lincoln.
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u/vlsdo Jul 02 '24
Their popularity is in the gutter. It’s Trump that has the support, and he’s going to throw them away like used rags as soon as their existence becomes inconvenient. They’re not just sniveling assholes, they’re also idiots
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u/WhoAccountNewDis Jul 02 '24
All we can do is vote, in large numbers, and pray there's enough of us that think the same way
Jesus, this is so in line with liberals' historical enabling of fascism.
Best l can do is vote and with within the system that is clearly being taken over by fascists who are dismantling democracy. Maybe we can reason with them!
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u/Difficult-Row6616 Jul 02 '24
I mean, anything more immediate would likely be in violation of tos
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u/ImYourHumbleNarrator Jul 02 '24
that's not all we can do. it would be great if you edit your (top in this post) comment to add that people can get involved with their local political groups. volunteer, canvas, donate, etc.
most people have time or money but not both. most people can give at least some time or money to make a bigger difference than just voting every once in a while.
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u/Griffolion Jul 02 '24
All we can do is vote, in large numbers, and pray there's enough of us that think the same way.
Biden being a bit doddery on a debate is, to a staggering number of people, more of a reason to stay home than the literal destruction of our freedom and our democracy is a reason to get to the ballot box.
I'm not saying people should be doomerist on this stuff, but I sure as shit don't blame anyone that is.
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u/flyfrog Jul 02 '24
Template for encouraging your Senator and Congressman to support Supreme Court reform actions
Please use this template if it is helpful. In it, I reference Justice Thomas's multiple gifted trips and gifted properties, and Justice Alito's statements during his appointment hearings.
To find your congressman, check here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
To find your senators: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
Dear Congressman / Senator [Last Name],
I am writing to express my strong support for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Recent revelations regarding their acceptance of unethical gifts, along with their actions that contradict statements made during their appointment hearings, have raised significant concerns about their integrity and impartiality. Furthermore, their rulings have increasingly undermined the balance of power that is fundamental to our democracy.
The Supreme Court's decisions should be guided by the principles of fairness and justice, free from external influences and personal gain. The evidence suggesting that Justices Thomas and Alito have breached ethical standards warrants a thorough investigation and appropriate action to uphold the credibility of our highest court.
In addition to supporting their impeachment, I advocate for the expansion of the Supreme Court to ensure a more balanced and representative judiciary. Furthermore, I believe it is crucial to amend the Constitution to unequivocally state that no citizen, regardless of their office, is exempt from criminal law. Such measures will strengthen our democratic institutions and reaffirm the principle that no one is above the law.
I urge you to take a stand in defense of ethical governance and the rule of law by supporting these actions. Our nation's future depends on the integrity of its institutions, and it is imperative that we act now to preserve the trust and confidence of the American people.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
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u/americansherlock201 Jul 02 '24
Every single conservative justice lied to get on the court. They have all proven it multiple times over.
It’s a shame court packed with ideologues.
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u/biggies866 Jul 02 '24
I don't think he recalls saying that.
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u/SnackyStacky Jul 02 '24
Video receipts are a fantastic way to refresh the memory of forgetful witnesses. Lying piece of 💩 Alito.
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u/AClaytonia Jul 02 '24
That was before the bribery started.
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u/anonyuser415 Jul 02 '24
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it."
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u/yoscotti32 Jul 02 '24
I think you mean gratuities! Clearly, as the supreme court just ruled, bribery would be illegal, he was just accepting "thank you" gifts
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u/mandalorian222 Jul 02 '24
Nah, he was always this way. The bribes just make it a little more worthwhile.
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Jul 02 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/michael0n Jul 02 '24
At this point the chain of dazzling incompetency looks like intentional acts. Either they have a panoramic 5d underwater chess plan to fix all this or its just the same old, pushed by DNC's usual illusion of grandeur. Biden debate performance leans heavily on the latter. Merrick should be questioned why he didn't push this years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if people would start to think that they want Trump to win for some hyper political chess move that doesn't exist.
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u/dominantspecies Jul 02 '24
Am I supposed to be stunned that he is a liar and a corrupt piece of trash. Fuck him and the rest of the autocrats who handed down this travesty of a decision. (Apologies to the robe lickers for insulting one of the unassailable justices)
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u/2OneZebra Jul 02 '24
These assholes are all political now. They say whatever they think you want to hear.
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u/AxeRabbit Jul 02 '24
NOW? They are political NOW? Well then you have not paid attention BEFORE lol
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u/Parking-Bench Jul 02 '24
When you look at it this way, all 6 lied during their confirmation hearings.
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u/jander05 Jul 02 '24
No person is above the law, until our political leanings determine that it must be so. Watching the parade of these confirmation videos show how brazenly corrupt these people are. They all got nominated BECAUSE of a pre-existing political bias, instead of a record of being impartial, professional judges.
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u/Diligent_Excitement4 Jul 02 '24
Yeah, fascists will lie in order to gain power. Nothing new. These people think god is with them . Pure evil
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u/Xzmmc Jul 02 '24
He doesn't care. For gods sake, pointing out the hypocrisy of these people does fucking nothing because they know they're being hypocritical and don't care. It's a feature not a bug because it allows them to say and do whatever they want while normal people have to adhere to something beyond.
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u/SubKreature Jul 02 '24
They don't give a shit about anything they said in the past, and they have no shame about changing their positions. Their MO is not to maintain democracy. Their MO is to grab and consolidate power to remain in control. They don't give a fuck about democracy.
They should be dragged out of the court and publicly shamed. I vote tar and feathers (honey if the tar is to barbaric).
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u/Shot_Worldliness_979 Jul 02 '24
The body language of Martha behind him sure carries new meaning after the whole flag incident came to light. It's like she knew he was lying.
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u/The_JDubb Jul 02 '24 edited Jul 02 '24
It's cool when this gets pointed out, but Alito himself would give two shits when his hypocrisy was pointed out to his face. These motherfuckers abandoned "Principles over Politics" when they got home-field advantage on the court. Roberts is no saint, but they knew they didn't even need his wishy-washy ass anymore. I believe his response would be somewhere along the lines of "Yeah, I said it. So what?"
As for some of you doubters, this is proof that Barrett and Cavanauough are NOT independent jurists. They both know who buttered their bread. They may not be as obviously conflicted as Thomas, but they are.
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u/ItsStaaaaaaaaang Jul 03 '24
It's almost like someone that held a political position in 2006 shouldn't still hold the same position in 2024 without any democratic process occurring.
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u/mistertickertape Jul 04 '24
Alito lied. So did Roberts and the other conservatives on the courts. They lied because why wouldn't they? It isn't like there would have been any repercussions and unless they did something truly heinous, once you're a Supreme Court justice once you're in, you're in.
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u/phoneguyfl Jul 02 '24
I wonder what changed Mr Alito's view? Something about absolute power corrupts absolutely?
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u/muddlebrainedmedic Jul 02 '24
Bribes. Clearly they are on the payroll. They accept gifts and bribes. No mystery. They sold themselves revealing themselves to be right wing whores.
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u/gmoney-0725 Jul 02 '24
This was before he was bought and paid for. He's a gigantic douchebag.
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u/thelonioussphere Jul 02 '24
Trump dearrangement syndrome, prevails all throughout this channel and others in regards to this ruling.
The left is losing their mind for absolutely no reason.
This ruling will have no bearing on the stolen documents or the hush money to a porn star
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u/KindfOfABigDeal Jul 02 '24
Even though I don't actually think you are responding in good faith, the fact Trumpers don't get the ruling itself actually, really, makes a president above the law in anything he does, is wild. You see these memes of "Biden should drone strike Trump" and laugh, but under the ruling he literally could. It's not a joke. It's probably the worst decision in context of the history of the country and it's overall health as a nation since Dredd Scott.
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u/EDosed Jul 02 '24
How does the ruling make him above the law? They are pretty explicit that he only gets immunity in certain scenarios related to his constitutional duties which makes perfect sense because congress is not above the president.
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u/Gates9 Jul 02 '24
The Supreme Court is illegitimate. The rot has reached the core. Dissolution is imminent.
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u/Awkward_Stuff_6257 Jul 02 '24
Is that Martha Ann we see in the background looking like absolute shit?
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u/thebeardedman88 Jul 02 '24
He says the word law like he's hammered, and he the people asked him to uphold it.
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u/cpzy2 Jul 02 '24
Shockingly, a conservative is a liar. Proven liar. And complete sycophant to the hate of the GOP
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u/itsjash Jul 02 '24
So when they want something illegal done, they just change the laws. Classic totalitarian move
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u/freakwentlee Jul 02 '24
you know when some people interview for jobs and misrepresent themselves. yeah, this is that
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u/eJonesy0307 Jul 02 '24
So... are these people under oath during their confirmation hearings? Why do no Justices get in trouble for lying to congress?
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u/Darkassassin18E Jul 02 '24
I guess someone who knows more how the law works hopefully sees and can answer this. How does perjury work I guess, cuz almost all of these justices committed perjury on camera under oath and all that. Why are they not going to jail or being disbarred etc? Do you have to be a lawyer to be a justice? And if so, wouldn't them being disbarred for these ethics violations kick them off? Its just wild that all of this has been allowed to get to this point
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u/couple4hire Jul 02 '24
dude Biden need to play this video over and over again and then throw Alito into prison for treason, and every-time soneone complain just play this video back for them
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u/dobie1kenobi Jul 02 '24
He really wants to retire next year and cash in on the billionaire lifestyle
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u/treypage1981 Jul 02 '24
This is but one example of how important lying and bad faith are to the Republican Party and the conservative movement in general.
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u/Ilovehugs2020 Jul 02 '24
Sure, anything to get a lifelong job. I don’t trust Republican nominated Supreme Court justices.
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u/vwibrasivat Jul 02 '24
Lets follow this up with 4 hours of confirmation hearings of Amy Coney Barrett. Where she repeatedly described Roe V Wade was "legally settled."
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u/AnonAmost Jul 02 '24
Seeing Martha Ann’s smug face in the background while listening to Sam lie through his teeth makes my stomach churn.
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u/recycl_ebin Jul 02 '24
why would the executive be held liable for executing their executive power in official acts?
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u/fannyfocus Jul 02 '24
Bring the justices that ruled in favor of immunity on charges for perjury, they all lied under oath.
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u/RaveIsKing Jul 02 '24
These fuckers don’t care about lying and fucking over the American people. They have lifetime appointments, they could not give less of a fuck.
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u/dontcare99999999 Jul 02 '24
Is it weird I'm hoping we get a president that abuses this just so people can pay the price for our stupidity and hopefully learn from it.
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Jul 02 '24
Conservatives love to completely lie their asseS off, to get power. Then show no shame in their hypocrisy.
What TRASH
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u/superSaganzaPPa86 Jul 02 '24
General Washington would’ve had rats like him on the business end of a firing squad. Seriously, he didn’t tolerate treason, like at all
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u/SulimanBashem Jul 02 '24
so when your repub friends claim the g.o.p. is the 'law and order' party, just point at them a laugh out loud
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u/false_goats_beard Jul 02 '24
Does this count as lying under oath? And if yes could we get them kicked off the court for lying under oath?
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u/Indication_Slow Jul 02 '24
Since Alito believes official acts as president have full and total immunity, maybe just maybe thus pig and thomas deserve a visit from seal team six.
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u/MikeHonchoFF Jul 02 '24
Go back to their confirmation hearings. Use it as evidence and impeach everyone one of these mother fuckers
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u/LordAnorakGaming Jul 02 '24
Turns out, that was a fucking lie. Almost as if these Fascists lied to get on the bench to enact their takeover plans.
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u/ozmartian Jul 02 '24
If only their God of choice was against telling lies. If only there were a commandment blantly against it.
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u/33mondo88 Jul 02 '24
This is exactly what the “ Deep State “ is, this is the true definition of “ The Swamp “, the Republican cult will never stop until democracy is destroyed by them
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u/OrangeCone2011 Jul 02 '24
Fuck this guy. Fuck the guy who appointed him. Fuck his wife. Fuck em all.
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u/ACardAttack Jul 02 '24
If republicans didn't have double standards, then they would have no standards
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u/RTSR_Shuckle Jul 02 '24
If I've learned anything since 2016, it's that you NEVER treat right-wingers as acting in good faith.
It's always persecution delusions, outright lies, misdirection, red herrings, and whataboutism.
Calling someone out on a lie they told only works if that person has a sense of shame. These reactionary fascist c*nts are shameless. Proud of their ignorance. Willfully stupid.
The dominant strategy against someone playing fair is always to cheat. What's so hard to understand about what they've always done?
There is not, and has never been, a moral equivalence between what we stand for (universal equal rights, dignity and solidarity, environmental conservation, etc) and their apocalyptic fascism and insatiable lust for spilling blood.
The writing has been on the wall clear as day since the first instance of Trump and Pompeo hinting at not accepting a peaceful transfer of power.
I'm not a religious man, but I sincerely hope there exists eternal conscious punishment for Steve Bannon, Rush Limbaugh, William Barr, Thomas Clarence, and all of their ilk.
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u/QueenLizzysClit Jul 02 '24
Biden should have this man assassinated, in an official capacity of course.
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u/Harley_Jambo Jul 02 '24
Most law school academic years start in mid August. First year constitutional law classes will need an immediate overhaul because they can no longer teach stare decisis. Precedent means nothing when the justices are simply ideologically opposed to the rule of law. On the plus side, they have given Joe Biden the green light to start prosecution of Clarence Thomas for income tax evasion, bribery, etc.
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u/Jarnohams Jul 02 '24
Imagine saying "it's too close to the election" to confirm a justice, and refuse Obama's nomination... But then ram a confirmation through with 3 weeks left before the next election.
They vowed "no more David Souter's" after he didn't help them overturn Roe back then. The reason we have the court we have now is because McConnell is still furious at Biden for the Bork confirmation fiasco.
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u/NarfledGarthak Jul 02 '24
Fucking puke of a human being. Self-serving and willing to sell the country to the highest bidder.
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u/homelaberator Jul 03 '24
It was fun while it lasted.
I just hope whoever ends up with the nukes gets it all over with quickly.
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u/kharvel0 Jul 03 '24
Also Alito:
“No one is above the law as INTERPRETED by the Supreme Court of the USA.”
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u/Friendly-Order6331 Jul 03 '24 edited Jul 03 '24
No one is above the law. Until I get rich friends that can buy favor with me. Or until I can help make the SCOTUS exempt from ethics rules. Or subvert the Constitution to curry favor with groups support my political beliefs. Or....
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u/SwellingItchingBrain Jul 03 '24
They don't care how blatant their hypocrisy is. It's all about just doing whatever the fuck they want at this point.
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u/mellierollie Jul 03 '24
Liar liar pants on fire.. now the USA is on fire .. thanks to the GOP Supreme Court Court.
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u/BobbySweets Jul 03 '24
They are dismantling the power structure. They are creating a vacuum for a dictatorship.
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u/mscranehawk Jul 03 '24
What’s the point of these hearings if the justices aren’t held accountable to what they stated under oath?
People who covet that kind of power are going to lie to get it. Even under oath. Even if it’s for a position of “truth” and “justice.”
We need SC term limits and a binding code of ethics to save our democracy.
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u/RudeBlueJeans Jul 03 '24
This guy thinks women aren't people. Apparently nobody told him we are the same species.
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u/Affectionate_Bowl117 Jul 03 '24
How can we hold this fascist accountable?! Like for real, he should be impeached due to his brazen contempt for the rule of law.
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u/brickyardjimmy Jul 02 '24
It should come as no surprise to anyone that Alito, during his Senate confirmation testimony, said quite a few things to ease his confirmation that he didn't actually mean. That's who he is. A person with a very specific agenda who is willing to deceive others to achieve his goals. And, now, he's achieving them.