November 12, 2010

"Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito Dismisses His Profligate Right-Wing Fundraising As ‘Not Important.'"

Think Progress blogger Lee Fang confronts Justice Alito. Later, recording video, he yells at him and is threatened with arrest.

82 comments:

KCFleming said...

"Justice Alito, Justice Alito, why are you doing the same things the left is doing? Don't you know it's illegal for your side but not ours?
Justice Alito, Justice Alito...!!
"

Chase said...

Is the blogger Lee Fang upset because he feels that NO Supreme Court Justice should have any associations with any political groups of any sort whatsoever?

Or is he upset because a Supreme Court Justice is associating with conservatives?

Mick said...

Projection and "johnny did it too",
the weapons of the empty little children of the Left.

Anonymous said...

From the lead of the article:

Last night, the American Spectator — a right-wing magazine known for its role in the “Arkansas Project,” a well-funded effort to invent stories with the goal of eventually impeaching President Clinton — held its annual gala fundraising event.

You needed to "invent stories" to find a reason to impeach President Clinton?

All you needed was a pretty little whore in a short skirt. Thong optional.

Chase said...

have also attended secret political fundraisers

And yet:

1)this blogger at the top of the page said it was the annual gala fundraising event

2) very prominent people were known ahead of time to be appearing

3) the blogger Lee Fang himself was there

So it doesn't seem to have been much of a secret.

I'm thinking that ThinkProgress may have trouble handling the truth. But we may have to dig further into this blogger and into this story.

Stay tuned. . . .

TWM said...

"All you needed was a pretty little whore in a short skirt. Thong optional."

It was a long skirt . . . she didn't have the thighs for a short one.

This video is really lame, BTW, I thought there would be some real action. For all I know that was a security guy for Alec Baldwin heading into anger management class.

Drew said...

Isn't ThinkProgress one of those George Soros-funded blogs? I've lost count of his many enterprises.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Can't we all agree each of the political parties have more money than God?

Jeez liberals are such pussies! and the name Lee Fang - did he make that name up to try and disguise his pussyness?

AllenS said...

Last night, the American Spectator — a right-wing magazine known for its role...

That's when I quit reading.

AllenS said...

Fang would be a cool first name.

garage mahal said...

It found that a “cohesive” conservative majority of Justices Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Scalia and Kennedy favored the position of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest big business lobby, over 80% of the time.

I'm sure this is all just a coincidence.

AllenS said...

garage is a cool first name, but not as cool as wharehouse.

Anonymous said...

It found that a “cohesive” conservative majority of Justices Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Scalia and Kennedy favored the position of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest big business lobby, over 80% of the time.

I'm sure this is all just a coincidence.

God no, garage! You're onto the Chamber of Commerce thingie!

Next, the Rotary Club! How can they be stopped?

The Dude said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jason said...

The left already hates the Boy Scouts. Why not?

WV: gulog

TWM said...

"garage is a cool first name, but not as cool as wharehouse."

Or Carport. Has a more airy feel to it.

AllenS said...

Sixty Grit, now that's pretty rough.

Fred4Pres said...

You can be a key note speaker. What is the big deal?

Michael said...

Garage said "I'm sure this is all just a coincidence."

Actually, it is surprising that the Chamber of Commerce would have been ruled against as much as 20 percent of the time. What was the point in our investing in all these brown shirts and going to stomping practice night and day if we are not getting better results from our bought and paid for supreme court in cases involving our super secret fund raising apparatus?

Anonymous said...

What this means, of course, is that the U.S Chamber of Commerce is right 80% of the time.

That's no coincidence, but it's not evidence of a conspiracy, either.

Chase said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
I'm Full of Soup said...

Fang would be a good name for martial arts flick villains.

A better name for Garage would be Shed or Shack.

KCFleming said...

Think Progress is another George Soros funded mouthpiece.

What isn't straight propaganda or disinformation comes from useful idiots like Lee Fang.

Little do they realize how culpable they are in crafting exactly the kind of fascist crony capitalist state they think they are preventing.

The Dude said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

In addition to being neurotic and projecting all those neuroses, they're also paranoid - "Spectator publisher Al Regnery helps lead a secretive group of conservatives called the 'Conservative Action Project'".

Oh, yes. A secret cabal, masterminded by ruthless, evil white men, driven by hate, racism, xenophobia, and sexism, with unlimited funds gained off the backs of the suffering poor and the victimized middle class, meeting by the dark of the moon, plotting to bring down Progressivism.

We should live so long.

WV "jihoe" Terrorist's fun date.

Sprezzatura said...

He's “open[ing] the floodgates for special interests, [not] including foreign corporations, to spend without limit in our elections.”

See, he wants folks to know that he's only opening the domestic floodgates. And, it's not like he's very influential on our lives, i.e. he's no Soros, aka spooky dude. So, back to the uber-powerful Soros....

MadisonMan said...

Presumably, if Congress thought this was important, they would pass a law against it.

garage mahal said...

This is sort odd though. Many new groups were formed after the Citizens United case, like Ginni Thomas Liberty Central, a "grassroots non-profit". Fair enough, it's a "free speech" thingy.

But why are Supreme Court justices attend secret meetings held by the Koch Brothers? Why would right media types like the National Review attend if their role wasn't to report anything?

Like this meeting with industrialists, right wing media types, US Chamber of Commerce reps, and Supreme Court justices with such stated goals including "review strategies for combating the multitude of public policies that threaten to destroy America as we know it" and "change the balance of power in Congress this November."

I'm sure this just looks bad, but is really just another coincidence. It could be Clarence Thomas wife’s goals exactly match the Koch agenda. Her husband’s Supreme Court ruling prevents us from actually knowing of course.

If you had your tin foil hat on, one could argue the Citizens United case wasn't about making Hillary films at all, that it was all about subverting campaign finance laws altogether knowing they had Supreme Court Justices already in the bag. Nahhhh!

Opus One Media said...

I too have examined my personal life and supposed transgressions and have concluded that I am perfect.

The Dude said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

If you had your tin foil hat on, one could argue the Citizens United case wasn't about making Hillary films at all, that it was all about subverting campaign finance laws altogether knowing they had Supreme Court Justices already in the bag. Nahhhh!

But, what about the Illuminati , garage!!

Not to mention Freemasons!

Worst of all is the Cub Scouts!

And, you haven't answered me about The Rotary Club.

I'll bet you're too scared of those bastards to even mention them.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Hobo Village is a good one.

Unknown said...

It's ironic that these anti-corporation activists always want to replace dastardly corporations with the biggest corporation of all--State, Inc.

The Dude said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Opus One Media said...

@60grit

told you i was perfect. I'm very much in Alito's mold; self examined and fining myself worthy!

Anonymous said...

Those familiar with Garbage's methods will not be the tiniest bit surprised to see that "this meeting with industrialists, right wing media types, US Chamber of Commerce reps, and Supreme Court justices" did not in fact include any Supreme Court justices.

The Dude said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The article was written by a Lee Fang..

Did they send the long fangs after Alito?

(why do i find this funny?)

The Dude said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
garage mahal said...

You are correct Paul, not this one. According to this invite, they have attended previous meetings. I stand corrected. And this is no where near the magnitude of liberal bloggers emailing each other.

If you walked into a meeting with Scalia, Thomas, Krauhammer, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, John Stossel, and yelled "Hey Asshole!", think they would all look?

holdfast said...

"All you needed was a pretty little whore in a short skirt. Thong optional."

The word "little" did not apply to Ms. Lewinsky.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Patca said:

"It's ironic that these anti-corporation activists always want to replace dastardly corporations with the biggest corporation of all--State, Inc."

It is a mystery of life. A few libs I know don't pay taxes for years but want tax rates increased. I think they see it as revenge on people who have more than they do.

Here is another mystery. Libs scoff when the CIA says Saddam has WMD. But if the CIA says Bush is a liar, libs believe it.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Its an interesting question.. How much of a Supreme's first amendment rights are curtailed by the nature of being a Supreme..

Lets look up the word Supreme..

–adjective
1. highest in rank or authority; paramount; sovereign; chief.
2. of the highest quality, degree, character, importance, etc.: supreme courage.
3. greatest, utmost, or extreme: supreme disgust.
4. last or final; ultimate.

I say a supreme judge is a good judge ;)

And another thing.. For those of you not paying attention.. some of the biggest losers in this election were also the biggest spenders..

Linda McMahon and Meg Whitman spent a fortune and lost.

This idea that money buys elections is not borne out by the facts.

Quaestor said...

garage mahal wrote: ...a “cohesive” conservative majority of Justices Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Scalia and Kennedy favored the position of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest big business lobby, over 80% of the time.

Since the Chamber of Commerce is legal and correct in its dealings 98.5% of the time, then it stands to reason a bias claim can be made about that 18.5% shortfall

traditionalguy said...

Where do liberals they get their demand for equality of Court decisions favoring private rights and private property with an equal number of Court decisions favoring an end to the evils of private rights and private property? Answer: In the Communist Manifesto.

garage mahal said...

Maybe Scalia and Thomas just both like gondola rides. I'm sure they attend meetings with liberal activists too.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Scalia and Thomas just both like gondola rides. I'm sure they attend meetings with liberal activists too.

OK. Let's repeat the very accurate statement of another poster this morning.

Both political parties have boatloads of money.

And, both political parties have partisans on the Supreme Court.

Now, are you happy, garage.

I once work for one of the richest corporate law firms in the world. Their per-partner profit and salary was the highest in the world.

That firm is a stalwart financial supporter of every imaginable Democratic candidate and cause. In fact, one of the firm's former partners played a key role in managing algore's presidential campaign and in the litigation over the results.

So, there's big money on both sides, garage.

Are you trying to say this isn't true?

traditionalguy said...

The ChiTown thug occupying our White House on behalf of George Soros has been sending dead horse heads to the SCOTUS for over a year now. His next trick will be to fight the evil Congress. That Pot of Gold they want is still the energy/CO2 stranglehold Obama wants us to buy back out of the jail Obama and his Czars have put it into.

dbp said...

garage mahal said...

Maybe Scalia and Thomas just both like gondola rides. I'm sure they attend meetings with liberal activists too.

Sure. Whenever the Supreme Court is in session.

Sprezzatura said...

Republican math:

Soros throws around a couple million a year = bad/evil
But
Fox throws around a couple million a year = yawn

Soros throws around a couple million a year = bad/evil
But
Corporations throw around tens (hundreds?) of millions = yawn

Soros throws around a couple million a year = bad/evil
But
Justices and/or their spouses raise money to influence the other two branches of government = yawn


So obviously, it would be best -- from the con perspective -- to have Soros replace Alito, and then provide Alito w/ a couple million a year to throw around, since doing so has an extraordinary impact on our country.

I'm guessing that you could find some libs who would fund this deal, even though they'd be foolish to do so, if you believe the Republican math. Maybe Soros would make you Rs happy by paying two million a year to put himself on the court. Then Alito will be free to really influence our country. And, Soros will be safely contained on the Supreme Court.



Republican Math = Fail

Jim said...

God no, garage! You're onto the Chamber of Commerce thingie!

He already uncovered the big secret about the trade representatives, the Illuminati and the Bilderbergers. Which, of course, led to the inevitable revealing of the existence of Pod People everywhere.

It was only a matter of time before he drew the obvious Chamber of Commerce/Pentumvirate/Free Masons connections too.

CURSES! FOILED AGAIN!

Joe said...

Liberal and conservative need to understand that freedom of speech is not freedom of assault.

garage mahal said...

It was only a matter of time before he drew the obvious Chamber of Commerce/Pentumvirate/Free Masons connections too.

Actually I was drawing the obvious Clarence Thomas/Citizens United/Ginni Thomas 501c/Koch Brothers connection. They all seem to be on the same exact page. And the same locations! Any opinion on that?

Anonymous said...

Soros throws around a couple million a year = bad/evil
But
Fox throws around a couple million a year = yawn


It's not Soros' money that's evil - it's the man himself. I mean, I'm pretty sure at least Fox News is embarrassed, apologetic, and remorseful about their past as a Nazi informer in the Judenrat. Oh, wait - Fox News wasn't in the Judenrat! Nevermind.

Roger Sweeny said...

I would love to see somebody go through several decades of Supreme Court opinions and see how much the decisions agree with the stated preferences of the Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO, ADA, ACA, NAACP, etc. It might be fascinating. Alas, one data point doesn't tell you much.

I wonder if Lee Fang has ever heard of William O. Douglas.

AlphaLiberal said...

We expect some impartiality from Justices and that their decisions are based on a rational reading of the law.

We do not expect them to be actively engaged partisan fighters. however, that is exactly what we have from the Republican Supreme Court Justices:

* Alito fundraises for numerous hard line conservative outfits.

* Scalia and Thomas speak at meetings organized by billionaire conservative oilmen (Koch Brothers) who fund the Tea Party and the Federalist Society, which is working to reshape our courts to serve conservative dogma.

* Thomas' wife is raising funds for her new Tea Party group, even as she makes public arguments about, for example, the constitutionality of the health care law.

If these activities are not in violation of an ethics standard, they should be. This is outrageous behavior and you conservatives would be gnashing your teeth if the situation were reversed (as you should).

AlphaLiberal said...

And, on George Soros, your boy Glenn Beck is now busted as an open anti-semite:

Glenn Beck's description of George Soros' actions during the Holocaust is completely inappropriate, offensive and over the top. For a political commentator or entertainer to have the audacity to say – inaccurately – that there's a Jewish boy sending Jews to death camps, as part of a broader assault on Mr. Soros, that's horrific.

While I, too, may disagree with many of Soros' views and analysis on the issues, to bring in this kind of innuendo about his past is unacceptable. To hold a young boy responsible for what was going on around him during the Holocaust as part of a larger effort to denigrate the man is repugnant.

The Holocaust was a horrific time, and many people had to make excruciating choices to ensure their survival. George Soros has been forthright about his childhood experiences and his family's history, and there the matter should rest.


It is definitely creepy how the US right wing demonizes a fellow who is a) Jewish, b) a banker/financier and c) international (I'll leave it to you guys to add "hook nosed"). George Soros is an American and he has the right to speak out as he sees fit.

Oclarki said...

George Soros is no American. He is a communist who has learned to manipulate free markets to try and destroy capitalism. Seriously, all the innocent jews who were killed and suffered under the Nazis and this scum made it through alive. How much better would the planet be if Anne Frank had survived World War II instead?

garage mahal said...

Why didn't George "Puppet Master" Soros manipulate our markets to save Democrats?

AlphaLiberal said...

George Soros has been a naturalized citizen since 1961. George Soros is an American.

He's also a capitalist, as demonstrated by his wealth that he has earned in the capitalist system.

Meanwhile, we have Republican Justices openly and secretly demonstrating they are not impartial in the slightest and you guys cannot defend them.

Seeing this open partisanship from the Republican Justices puts their decisions, such as the activist Citizens United decision, in a whole new light.

They have an agenda and they are carrying it out, the law and Constitution be damned.

AlphaLiberal said...

Here is an interesting-looking article laying out just how hyper-activist this Republican Supreme Court truly is.

They're more legislators than jurists.

the Court's conservative bloc has shown little respect for precedent, whether long-standing or recent, with some decisions reversed for no apparent reason other than a change in the composition of the Court.



"Judicial activism" is often in the eye of the beholder. If, as I have suggested here, we can identify red flags for judicial activism, the conservative bloc on the current Supreme Court is flying all of those flags. Let's hope that this term sees a renewal of the best traditions of the Court, not merely the imposition on our Republic of the ideological or political will of a determined, but bare, majority of the justices.

This Supreme Court is a corrupt sham. Fundraising for right wing attack groups and magazines is an open rejection of judicial restraint and ethics.

They should be impeached.

hombre said...

George Soros has been a naturalized citizen since 1961. George Soros is an American.

He's also a convicted criminal; an inside trader whose conviction has been affirmed by France's highest court.

AlphaLiberal said...

Lem:

This idea that money buys elections is not borne out by the facts.

Real bad and faulty logic on your part. It is possible to spend loads of money and lose an election as your examples demonstrate. That can be done by saying stupid things, doing stupid things and using your money to demonstrate that you are nothing like the average voters.

Which is exactly what Whiteman and McMahon did. They were bad candidates who only won as many votes as they did due to their wealth.

Meanwhile, you have self-financed Ron Johnson who refused most media interviews and knocked off a popular Senator. The guy is an empty suit with no ideas.

See, also, the Republican takeover of the House, made possible by the flood of money opened up by the very Republican Supreme Court Justices in that 5-4 decision.

More basic Lem, if advertising doesn't work, why do corporations spend billions on it? (Because it works - most of the time!)

hombre said...

It is definitely creepy how the US right wing demonizes a fellow ....

Is Glenn Beck "the US right wing?"

Who knew?

And is it the right, rather than the left, that is notoriously anti-Semitic?

Who knew?

hombre said...

See, also, the Republican takeover of the House, made possible by the flood of money opened up by the very Republican Supreme Court Justices in that 5-4 decision.

Where did the "flood of money" that made it possible for the Democrats to outspend the Republicans in the waning days of the 2010 campaign come from, cookie jars and piggy banks?

Alpha, you are more hypocritical, or dumber, with each post.

AlphaLiberal said...

Hombre:

Is Glenn Beck "the US right wing?"

Who knew?


I never said that, jackass. I said that the right wing demonizes George Soros.

Are you claiming otherwise? Just read this fracking page.

That's a real casual dishonesty you have there.

Where did the "flood of money" that made it possible for the Democrats to outspend the Republicans in the waning days of the 2010 campaign come from, cookie jars and piggy banks?

It's all been reported and regulated. You can see it here: Opensecrets.org

Unlike the flood of corporate money under Citizens United used to attack Democrats and help elect Republicans.

Chennaul said...

AJ

Jeez liberals are such pussies! and the name Lee Fang - did he make that name up to try and disguise his pussyness?

Well I guess he couldn't even get that right-

he should have called himself-

Lee Dong.

Sprezzatura said...

Someone call Glenn Beck's red phone! Statim!!!!1!!1!

Anonymous said...

They should be impeached.

The veins stand out in Omega's temples!

His face turns blue!

His eyes are popping out!

He's going to impeach the entire Supreme Court!

Yet another huff and puff spectacular from America's future heart attack survivor, Omega.

garage mahal said...

Oh my. Not Sarah too!

AlphaLiberal said...

By the way, whatever happened to all of that hullabaloo over the proposed Muslim community center?

Gee, you don’t think that was an election season ploy to fire up the rubes, do ya?

garage mahal said...

Or whatever happened to RAMPANT VOTER FRAUD concerns the week before the election?

Sprezzatura said...

"Or whatever happened to RAMPANT VOTER FRAUD concerns the week before the election?"


That was real. In Alaska. But don't worry, Joe Miller is on the case .

He's fighting for the voters by challenging folks who used overly loop "u"s, or a cursive "r" while the rest of the name was printed. And, thankfully he's fighting to disqualify voters who added ", Republican" after Murkowski's name. We need more papa-grizzlies like Miller to suss out this voter fraud, so we can take back America.

You betcha.

Revenant said...

Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Scalia and Kennedy favored the position of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest big business lobby, over 80% of the time.

I'm sure this is all just a coincidence.

What would the correct percentage be? I'm assuming 0%?

TS said...

I guess you only look at the Open Secret stats you want, Alpha. Take a look at the corporate donors, dems vs repubs:

http://www.opensecrets.org/overview/topcontribs.php

Think it's in the neighborhood of 52 dems vs 13 repubs. Keep exploring and you'll see it's not as simple as you claim it to be.

Revenant said...

He's also a capitalist, as demonstrated by his wealth that he has earned in the capitalist system.

That's like saying that anyone whose survival depends on the environment is an environmentalist.

garage mahal said...

What would the correct percentage be? I'm assuming 0%?

I'm surprised its not more than 80%, given they take mini vacations together with the Chamber of Commerce to discuss policies the Chamber of Commerce would like to see enacted.

Unknown said...

I know, A.J., they never get past the slogan!

jeff said...

"If you walked into a meeting with Scalia, Thomas, Krauhammer, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, John Stossel, and yelled "Hey Asshole!", think they would all look around for AlphaLiberal?"

Fixed that for you. And yes.

Opus One Media said...

jeff said...
"..and yelled "Hey Asshole!", think they would all ..."

Point toward the other guy or simply deny it after a few seconds of self reflection.

"I'm not so therefore I am."

BJM said...

Fang's going for a trifeca.

Wonder when the updates will begin?

BJM said...

@AL
He's also a capitalist, as demonstrated by his wealth that he has earned in the capitalist system.

Earned it, eh? As a currency speculator Soros has made a fortune breaking currencies. Perhaps you don't recall Black Wednesday? Soros walked away with a Billion and the UK financial system in tatters. Soros is far from a numbers-only speculator. He looks in-depth at a country and tries to spot errors in valuation; political policies in particular draw his interest. Active in philanthropy focused on bringing about political change, Soros also uses his currency positions to "punish" countries where his favored policies are ignored, see Georgia.

His Quantum Fund is the largest hedge fund - which specializes in highly leveraged,* high-risk, short-term speculation that fuels market instability. Soros is a member of Bilderberg Group and invests with Carlyle Group, a private global investment firm that originates, structures and acts as lead equity investor in management-led buyouts, strategic minority equity investments, equity private placements, consolidations and buildups, and growth capital financings. Carlyle Capital invested $6.6 billion in Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae paper.

So tell me how he differs from "greedy Wall Streeters and American banksters?

Soros Fund Management LLC, opened Hong Kong headquarters this month. What a co-winky-dink now that a second round of quantitative easing and low interest rates in the U.S. will inevitably drive up local currencies and asset prices.

Get it yet?

Soros is playing the American left for a fool and you sold out for what amounts to chump change for Soros.