Clarence Thomas: Goes entire term without uttering a SINGLE word

[democrat2thecore]

This may have already been posted somewhere, but I couldn't find it....

I got my new edition of THE WEEK (great magazine) and it has an interesting tidbit. Based on a tally by McClatchy Newspapers, Justice Clarence Thomas sat through an astonishing 68 hours of oral arguments and never uttered a single word. Not one. In fact, McClatchy (Knight-Ridder), reported that Thomas has spoken a total of 281 words since 2004. Let that one sink in. In contrast, in the same time frame, Justice Stephen Breyer spoke nearly 35,000 words.

Gulp.

+D2TC+

[MNDemNY]

1. He actually died some time in '05.

[SammyWinstonJack]

26. No he didn't. That was Rehnquist.

[RaleighNCDUer]

28. No, Rehnquist was just the one they buried.

The undead cannot die.

[Squatch]

31. Ba-dump-bump.

[WI_DEM]

2. That's deplorable. But he gets his cues from Fat Tony anyway

I'm actually surprised that they only have had 68 hours of oral arguements in a term--I thought it would be more.

[LynneSin]

6. A Republican is the Chief Justice and we know how they don't like to work

When the republicans controlled the House & Senate they barely did 3 day work weeks and worked the least amount of hours in the history of our government

[judaspriestess]

3. I'm sure he just grunts

that seems to be the understood language of the pukes

[Reverend_Smitty]

4. It's pretty sad but not surprising at all...

it's a shame that he was the guy to fill Thurgood Marshall's seat

[Betty]

5. he doesn't think for himself

so why should he say anything? He just votes the way Scalia tells him to.

[democrat2thecore]

9. I agree

Have they ever dissented on a case? I honestly don't think so.

But you would think the man would at least ask a question or two just for appearances sake. Then again, with a lifetime appointment, maybe he doesn't care. Well.....obviously he doesn't.

[butterfly77]

29. That is the way I have always seen it...

[MistressOverdone]

7. You say this like it is a bad thing...

[democrat2thecore]

10. That's funny!!! Sad, but true -nt

[baldguy]

8. Isn't non-feasance an impeachable offense?

Isn't SPEAKING - making statements, asking questions - part of the job description?

[Oak2004]

21. It could be construed as one, yes

If we had a Democratic majority with a spine we could be rid of him, someday.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. tis better to keep ones words to oneself and be thought a fool, rather than

to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.

[AndyA]

12. I have been there while the Supreme Court was in session.

At times, Thomas looked like he had fallen asleep sitting in his chair.

This ain't justice.

[LiberalFighter]

13. He's too busy thinking about the pubic hair on the coke can

[KansDem]

17. What did Clarence Thomas say when someone spilled a soft drink in his lap?

"Hey! Who put the Coke in my pubic hair!"

[Bozita]

14. I'm betting clerks write his opinions. Fat Tony's clerks.

[The Stranger]

15. If he speaks, he will reveal himself as the imbecile he is.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. See also

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1039828

[madrchsod]

18. he flipped flopped on the discrimination case

from an early case involving discrimination

[jobycom]

19. Weekend at Tony's?

Seriously, though, he's supposed to speak more behind the scenes. I've heard two theories on his silence on the bench. One, he doesn't like to be challenged, so he prefers to speak behind the scenes mostly with people who agree with him. Two, he grew up speaking Gullah more than English, and learned at an early age that he should listen more than speak because it took him longer than others to understand what was being said, and because his speaking English was a bit weak.

Both, obviously, point to a weak self image that hates to be challenged, and that might account for his ideology, which seems to me to include a bit of self-loathing.

[Kurovski]

20. When it comes to being a Supreme Court Justice,

he's in way over his head.

That seemed clear during the broadcast of Bush v Gore.

[chimpymustgo]

32. I'll never forgive Joe Biden for the way he botched the confirmation hearings. SCREWED Anita Hill.

Biden can debate forcefully and sound like he knows what he's talking about, but he proved then, definitively - that he's dumb as a bag of rocks.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

22. Busy contemplating his long dong silver.

[madinmaryland]

23. Does he ever write any opinions?

I assume if there are any, they are written by his clerks. What does he do then?

:shrug:

[rasputin1952]

24. Do you actually want to hear this moron speak? His positions

in writing are barely comprehensible. The man is a true idiot, but he is smart enough to realize that if he opens his mouth, he will prove to the nation just how stupid he truly is.

I can't recall the judge's name, but when Thomas finally got approval for the USSC, a black judge, of obviously great education and experience, wrote an article describing Clarence Thomas, it was not pretty to say the least this judge said this was one of the most pathetic individuals to ever be nominated and hold a post as a Supreme Court Justice. Now, we all know just what he was talking about...x(

[louis-t]

25. Incurious bunch, ain't they?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

27. Why doesn't he at least read the text messages Fat Tony sends him on his cellphone?

Of course, it is possible he's actually dead, a la Weekend at Bernie's.

[proud patriot]

30. that seems pretty odd to me

x(

[leftofthedial]

33. we're probably better off for it

he's grotesquely unqualified

[Solo_in_MD]

34. What are the stats for *all* the other judges

[Ilsa]

35. I guess he heeds the old saying, "Better to keep your mouth closed

and be thought an idiot, than to speak and remove all doubt." or however it goes.