Imagine attending college from freshmen year through senior year without asking a single question in class.
It is unfathomable that one could graduate after four years of such an elongated stretch of conspicuous silence. Obviously, professors and peers would lose respect for this student’s cognitive abilities and think this individual was concealing a basic lack of knowledge.
At best, they would consider the pupil intellectually incurious, and at worst, they would label him or her mentally deficient.
To the point, I was reading the newspaper this morning and stumbled upon this startling fact: Justice Clarence Thomas has not asked a question from the bench since February 2006.
This is absolutely outrageous and speaks to the man’s ignorance and arrogance. Imagine the chutzpah he has thinking that he does not have to participate in the process. If each SCOTUS member behaved in such an irresponsible manner, the court could not function.
Justice Thomas is a disgrace to the Supreme Court and it is insulting that he has a say in the most important decisions that affect our nation. It is time he starts joining the discussion or he should step down before he degrades the court any further. If he does not have the wherewithal to ask pertinent questions, we ought to question his fitness to serve on the Supreme Court.
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Comment by Evan Hurst — March 9, 2010 @ 2:17 pm
Evan, I’m afraid many people do not know this information. They might know that Thomas is derelict in duty, refusing to ask questions on a regular basis.
But, I bet less than one percent Americans know that it has been nearly four years since he opened his mouth for an inquiry.
I was even shocked by that.
I thought at least once a year Tomas would make a peep, just so people would know he was still there and so he could justify his paycheck.
Apparently, even the bare minimum is too much for Justice Thomas.
Comment by Wayne Besen — March 9, 2010 @ 2:44 pm
No, I didn’t know that tidbit of information either.
It’s sort of part of his pattern. He’s always basically been Scalia’s puppet.
Comment by Evan Hurst — March 9, 2010 @ 2:50 pm
The truth is that it is probably best for Mr. Thomas and the Court that he keep his mouth shut. He is after all the least qualified member of the Court.
I have thought over the years that it would make more sense to just give Scalia two votes. After all, the only contribution that Thomas makes is as an extra vote for whatever position Scalia is taking.
Comment by John — March 9, 2010 @ 3:07 pm
And why should a Bush appointee be considered the least bit qualified for the bench? Scalia has him by the balls and Thomas’s legal scholarship SHOULD be in question.
I think his skin color WAS the only thing that got him on that bench, and the fact that he goes along to get along. He might as well NOT be black for all the lack of empathy and intellectual dishonesty he has.
Indeed, I wish he weren’t.
Comment by Regan DuCasse — March 9, 2010 @ 11:53 pm
I’ve never had much respect for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. We all know he’s guilty of sexual harrassment as per the evidence in his confirmation hearing. I’m not sure why he doesn’t contribute to the court but one thing for is it is not because he’s not qualified to speak. Unlike former President Bush or other Ivy League graduates you can rest assure he didn’t graduate from Yale University Law School because of his family background, money or color. I feel confident he earned every grade and struggled to get where he is today. Now, with that said, … that’s the only positive thing I can say most respectfully about Justice Thomas. I agree, however, that baggering lawyers in “oral argument” and not allowing them to speak is not only unprofessional conduct on the part of “any” Justice … in any court! But this is a “time old tradition.” Justices forget their “basic manners” and, unfortunately hold themselves “above everyone.” They don’t think they’re accountable for their actions. Most times they forget how must “time and effort” an attorney puts in presenting not just his written legal arguments but the time and preparation the attorney puts in preparing for oral argument. Most courts, in terms of giving “basic respect to lawyers” is governed by politics and money. What the ordinary person doesn’t realize is that there is a “hidden accountability” built into the system of Judges. For example, if an attorney gets known for being aggressive and, God forbid it’s a women … they get “label” and discussed in private chambers of other Justice’s. In that instance the attorney is always fighting a “losing battle” even if he or she has never appear before in a particular Justice’s court. For the sake of brevity … it’s time the ordinary citizen woke up and realized that the only thing in this country that speaks is “money, power and respect.” Competence is way down of the scale. Most of our more competent lawyers wouldn’t even consider being appointed as a Judge in that the “pay scale is too low.” That is, unless they accept the appointment towards the end of their career, i.e., at least ten years because there is a requirement that you’re in a position to serve ten (10) years. Now, the Chief Justice … I forget his name … but he wasn’t qualified to be “Chief Justice” … it was Bush Politics and a deal was cut. Justice Thomas can continue to be silent … it really doesn’t make any difference because non of the Justices are contributing much to the ordinary person’s life. They’ve long forgotten from whence they come … or, if they were rich to begin with … they’re not even worth thinking about. Just try to be the best you can and be held accountable for who you are and what you gave to society … to your Creator. Zoe.
Comment by Zoe — March 16, 2010 @ 11:02 pm