33 Comments

Today’s is a roller coaster of thoughts and emotions! I can’t help but think that Clarence Thomas could’ve been in The Troggs (“Wild Thing”). 😏 The stories about their lifestyle and sessions were insane. Not that Moby Grape didn’t have “stories,” or even Buddy Rich. Right on re Alito. ☹️ As we have this three-legged separation of powers, the Court reflects, even comprises, what and who, America is-- and becomes. It is the model for corruption. Today’s commentary is moving and cogent.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks, Steven. I know, it's all so much. Too much.

Expand full comment

It has come to the point that anyone who seeks high office, needs to have complete psychiatric evaluation..These fellows and their spouses have long history of UNREASONABLE behavior..Some people deeply qualified as Dr.BandyX Lee..I am not a professional,2 years of Psyche in my minor, and years of follow up.But reading Bowlby would show anyone these are disturbed people,and it starts very young.No coincidence Ginni found Clare..and Roberts always a Strange Ranger.Holy Cross University is the Crossroads..no pun intended 👩‍🎓😞

Expand full comment
author

Thanks, Katie. I think that it's the job of the media to vet the candidates and the job of the electorate to choose to elect or not elect them based on that information. A psych review is something that would be way too easy to corrupt, I fear. We need the media to do its job, and people to stop getting their information from dubious sources.

Expand full comment

Zephyr Teachout,

"Corruption in America: From Benjamin Franklin’s Snuff Box to Citizens United" 2014

Expand full comment
author

Thanks, Tracy. She ran in my district. I still have the sign, I think, in my garage.

Expand full comment

This is so good, I want to share the whole column. But it would be the 3rd time I did it this week! Thanks for your eloquence with exasperating realities.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you!

Expand full comment
Jul 7, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

“It has become a disturbing feature of some recent opinions to criticize the decisions with which they disagree as going beyond the proper role of the judiciary...”

Roberts actually committed THAT to paper and the forever record of SCOTUS decisions? OF COURSE that's what SCOTUS has been doing! And I remember a time when Republicans had the gall to charge "liberal" judges with being "activists on the bench." The fact that the "Chief Justice" felt he had to write that, while it has nothing to do with the actual shitty decision, proves that what they've been doing with their stolen power is "going beyond the proper role of the judiciary." The lady (and he is NO lady!) doth protest too much.

Also, I've decided over the past few weeks, putting all of the circumstantial evidence together, that there is a 99.99% chance that Leonard Leo PERSONALLY paid off Kavanaugh's debts, and probably threw in a beer keg (or two, or six) for good measure. Kavanaugh strikes me as a worrier, especially about what he (and Leo) would think of as the petty worries of money. And here comes St. Leo, telling Brett NOT to worry because he will be taken care of, just like he knows Brett will take care of them. And I'm sure that all those credit card debts were for "food, lodging, and entertainment," so no harm, no foul, amirite?? And the down payment on his house (if in fact it was a down payment and not just a full cash purchase) is definitely lodging, so everything is just fine. No corruption to see here. Move along now. Thanks for playing!

Roman Roy would call all of these people the "fuckity fuck fucks," and he would be right.

Expand full comment
Jul 8, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

I am sure it was a full cash purchase with a nice monthly stipend. You pegged it with the Kavanaugh “worrier” description. I keep getting a picture of him completely freaking out that he’s the next one to be exposed. The stock price of beer companies just went up (ha ha).

Expand full comment
Jul 8, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

I'll bet he secretly drinks Bud Light in a beer koozie so no one can see.

Expand full comment
author

Bud Light is too fancy. He seems like a Beast Lite kinda guy.

Expand full comment

Ha ha! I can totally picture that!

Expand full comment
author

Worriers should avoid betting on sporting events. Not to suggest that Brett ever did that...

Expand full comment

Yes, the black hole of gambling would definitely result in lots of worrying!

Expand full comment
author

I mean, Brett won't tell us who paid off his debts, so we are free to speculate. If he wants us not to, he should just fucking tell us the truth.

I like when Alex calls Roberts "a reactionary" in the interview. That was perfect. He's also a gaslighter. Roberts, not Alex.

Expand full comment
Jul 7, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

Perhaps it's time we ordinary mortals start pressuring our prez about expansion. He seems stuck in a mode of wishful thinking with no inclination to address what is a HUGE problem for our democracy.

Expand full comment

You are so right! I am going to start writing to President Biden and others who are in a position to help persuade him. It is critical that we get this done and I hope he will realize this before it's too late.

Expand full comment
author

It's Congress that does it. Joe would not veto such a thing, methinks.

Expand full comment
Jul 7, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

I'd rather put at least 4 in orange jump suits.

Expand full comment
author

We can do both!

Expand full comment
author

Agreed!

Expand full comment
Jul 7, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

Could not agree more. I have lived long enough to say that there is so much more that could stand a little investigation. For example, the case of Justice Kennedy’s son and whatever happened at Deutsche Bank.

Expand full comment
Jul 8, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

I agree. This one definitely needs to be investigated. https://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/donald-trump-supreme-court-236925

Expand full comment
author

NOTHING TO SEE HERE BURISMA LAPTOP HUNTER BIDEN FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Sorry, was pretending to be MAGA.

Expand full comment
Jul 8, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

The enemy is within. From social media to the Supreme Court, culminating in the J6 failed coup.

Vote Blue for democracy. Red for autocracy 🌊

Expand full comment
author

Vote red and we'll be dead,

Vote blue or to hell with you.

Expand full comment

Sounds better than the old slogans 🫣

“Better red than dead" and "better dead than red" were dueling Cold War slogans which first gained currency in the United States during the late 1950s, amid debates about anti-communism and nuclear disarmament.

Expand full comment
Jul 8, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

Per the old saying “I smell a rat,” we all have an innate ability to sense when something doesn’t feel right. And it’s obviously widespread enough to erode public opinion about the Court’s credibility. Then when we realize there are actual laws on the books being broken, it further weakens public trust in the DOJ. Thanks for all the research you’ve done to bring awareness of how far-reaching this corruption is. To all the America-number-one flag wavers out there, this country is great in many ways, potentially great in many more, and definitely worth fixing as a fully functioning democracy! Let’s roll up our sleeves and get rid of the corruption, starting at the ballot box!

Expand full comment
author

Vote all the Republicans out, that would be a great start!

Expand full comment

Oh, Greg, you're bringing out the snark in me. Joe is the leader of the Democratic Party and his voice on this issue is critical. Just as LBJ's voice was on civil rights. He twisted arms and signed the legislation written by Congress. I'm 82 years old and have seen a lot. Lately, more than I've wanted to see.

Expand full comment

Same here

Expand full comment