The Soapbox

Joined: 08/13/1998 Posts: 60074
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I believe US Supreme Court justices should decline lavish gifts from people

who became friends after he, or she became a US Supreme Court judge. I believe if they accept a lavish gift, they should disclose it and be prepared to recuse oneself in the event a case associated with the giver comes to court.
And I believe all of those things you mentioned in your opening are lavish gifts, regardless of what mental gymnastics you want to go through to arrive at a value.
I once had one of my largest customers offer me two tickets to the masters with clubhouse privileges. The tickets were free to them as a major vendor for the tournament. I had to get approval from the bank before I could except them, and that approval went all the way to the CEO. Whether I value those two tickets at face value, or what it would cost to actually buy them in the secondhand market, or at the entire cost of the Augusta country club it doesn’t matter.

So save your moronic insults. You missed the entire point as usual.
[Post edited by 111Balz at 08/21/2023 10:52AM]

(In response to this post by Hoodafan)

Posted: 08/21/2023 at 10:51AM

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Current Thread:

Mark Paoletta responds to the latest Pro Publica hit piece on -- JMHoo 08/21/2023 07:02AM

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JM is what Ron Desantis described as a listless vessel. ** -- Blah 08/21/2023 10:39AM

Question: If someone offers a SCOTUS a big benefit -- HoodatB 08/21/2023 09:28AM

In my job I had to disclose anything of value I received over a de minimus -- hoolstoptheheels 08/21/2023 09:40AM

I agree, unless it is clearly an attempt to buy favor. ** -- 111Balz 08/21/2023 09:42AM

Even if it is, if I didn’t accept, am I conflicted? -- hoolstoptheheels 08/21/2023 09:52AM

But is it in the public interest to know if bribes are being offered? What -- HoosWillWin 08/21/2023 10:13AM

Great point. Bribery, attempts should be reported; it’s no longer a matter -- 111Balz 08/21/2023 09:56AM

But a thwarted attempt should not have to be disclosed … -- HoodatB 08/21/2023 09:52AM

I think a clear bribery attempt should be reported to the proper authority ** -- 111Balz 08/21/2023 09:54AM

Who assesses “clear”? ** -- HoodatB 08/21/2023 10:06AM

The authorities to whom I’ve reported the gift offer. ** -- hoolstoptheheels 08/21/2023 10:21AM

Maybe not publicly disclosed. But should it have to reported to -- hoolstoptheheels 08/21/2023 09:54AM

Right but you are putting the onus on the person -- HoodatB 08/21/2023 10:05AM

I think I mean to do the opposite. If I had to disclose it publicly, sure, -- hoolstoptheheels 08/21/2023 10:20AM

But who gets to decide that if disclosure is not required? ** -- Hoo TV 08/21/2023 09:47AM

I guess we have relied on supreme court justices being of high character ** -- 111Balz 08/21/2023 09:49AM

Silly us. Presidents, too. Live and learn ** -- Hoo TV 08/21/2023 10:33AM

Is attempted but unsuccessful bribery a crime, like attempted murder? ** -- Hoo TV 08/21/2023 09:31AM

No, they're all 1A protected speech. A black letter right. Expect SCOTUS -- 81_Hokie 08/21/2023 09:34AM

Bought his mama’s house, upgraded it, she continues to live there for free. -- hooshouse 08/21/2023 09:26AM

Are those facts not in dispute? I need to hear from LA Law before -- HoodatB 08/21/2023 09:30AM

Isn’t the entire issue that Clarence didn’t disclose these things? -- hoolstoptheheels 08/21/2023 09:08AM

Yes, but there’s also the issue of him accepting these lavish gifts -- 111Balz 08/21/2023 09:41AM

This. Sounds way too simple, easy and transparent. -- HoodatB 08/21/2023 09:31AM

No fair! ** -- Hoo TV 08/21/2023 09:23AM

Fake News gonna Fake News. And the ThomasDSers bite down hard. ** -- Hoodafan 08/21/2023 08:04AM

Way to take a stand for ethics and transparency - hat tip ** -- HptHokie 08/21/2023 09:59AM

How can you conclude either way right now? ** -- HoodatB 08/21/2023 09:26AM

It’s like TFG declassifying docs via telepathy. He just knows. It’s 🌲 ** -- WaxHoo 08/21/2023 09:38AM

So you just automatically believe this other friend of his ** -- 111Balz 08/21/2023 08:07AM

I believe you don't try to assign the entire cost of a suite to one ticket -- Hoodafan 08/21/2023 10:29AM

You’re just the type of idiot who wants to believe Joe Biden is corrupt -- WahooRQ 08/21/2023 10:52AM

I believe US Supreme Court justices should decline lavish gifts from people -- 111Balz 08/21/2023 10:51AM

So you're fine with Pro Publica completely overstating the case, to inspire -- Hoodafan 08/21/2023 11:10AM

Interesting that you consider my belief in ethics to be a political -- 111Balz 08/21/2023 11:14AM

I'm sure I just missed all your "outrage" over Sottamayor's book extortion -- Hoodafan 08/21/2023 11:19AM

Outrage? No, she basically charged an additional fee for her services -- 111Balz 08/21/2023 11:54AM

Not even a halfway good waddabout. Her book deal was public and she -- WahooRQ 08/21/2023 11:49AM

I think they just pretend that she HAS been on that private -- 111Balz 08/21/2023 12:14PM

That’s how high quality Trumpistani internet research works. -- hoolstoptheheels 08/21/2023 09:12AM

As if that serves as any kind of validation. -- Chuck Taylor 08/21/2023 09:21AM

Don’t forget about all the “fake news” references about the reporting you -- hoolstoptheheels 08/21/2023 09:26AM

It is the kind of reflexive projection that MUST be the product of the -- Chuck Taylor 08/21/2023 12:08PM

Of course he does. -- BocaHoo91 08/21/2023 08:16AM

Boo hoo ** -- WaxHoo 08/21/2023 07:53AM

Thanks for your input Harry Reid. ** -- Hoodafan 08/21/2023 08:05AM

Yeah. -- WaxHoo 08/21/2023 08:55AM

Doesn’t he admit to being Clarence’s friend early in the -- Tuckahokie 08/21/2023 07:43AM

Then why not disclose them? ** -- HoodatB 08/21/2023 09:32AM

If Clarence disclosed these trips and gifts when they happened, we wouldn’t -- hoolstoptheheels 08/21/2023 09:21AM

I don't disagree...my point is there should be plenty of verifiable -- Tuckahokie 08/21/2023 09:25AM

Well, maybe, if the friend is telling the truth. Who knows? The point here -- 111Balz 08/21/2023 09:36AM

Agree...both Judges and elected officials as well. ** -- Tuckahokie 08/21/2023 09:42AM

If you’re looking to distract from the real, central issue, I agree. -- hoolstoptheheels 08/21/2023 09:31AM

I'm not looking to distract...Thomas was feeding at the trough waaaaaay too -- Tuckahokie 08/21/2023 09:33AM

Meant as a response to Matt05…I need my covefe ** -- Tuckahokie 08/21/2023 07:44AM

Literally the worst source in the world on this specific issue -- WahooMatt05 08/21/2023 07:33AM

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He didn’t have to disclose it, so there’s nothing to amend. -- JMHoo 08/21/2023 08:55AM

Then why did he say he would do it? ** -- Plano Hoo 08/21/2023 10:02AM

He got caught? ** -- Hoo TV 08/21/2023 10:40AM

Well, you are a Trump stooge, so you don’t care about ethics, or honesty, -- 111Balz 08/21/2023 09:38AM