Stop Doubting [Clarence] Thomas

Los Angeles Times ^ | December 27, 2004 | Jonathan Turley

[RWR8189]

Chief Justice William Rehnquist must loathe opening the morning paper these days. Every day, there is fresh speculation on his impending death or resignation. Pundits have opined on whether his agreement to administer the inaugural oath in January is a sign that he is staying or that he is bidding farewell. Every public appearance of associate justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia is scrutinized for clues as to who is leading in the chief- justice sweeps.

President Bush has long identified Thomas and Scalia as his two favorite jurists, and make no mistake about it, both are seeking the court's top seat. The very concept of justices campaigning for a position may seem out of character for the staid and insular Supreme Court, but the court has its own brand of politics.

The intrigue escalated suddenly a couple of weeks ago when White House officials intentionally leaked that the president was leaning toward Thomas for chief justice. Liberals went into a frenzy, and the dust-up may have served to help Scalia's chances. Incoming Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) responded to the rumors by saying on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he would oppose Thomas, whom he described as "an embarrassment to the Supreme Court." Then, in a surprising concession, he said he could support Scalia as an alternative.

[sinkspur]

Reid revealed himself as a racist in that little dust-up.

Scalia would be my preference, but a jurist by the name of Michael McConnell was mentioned by Bill Kristol yesterday.

Anybody know anything about him, other than that Ralph Neas and the PFAW oppose him, and that he specializes in religon clauses of the First Amendment?

[AM2000]

... never speaking in oral arguments and rarely speaking publicly.

I've always wanted to know -- why IS that???

[TexasTransplant]

Chief Justice William Rehnquist doesn't have a single worry or even the slightest desire to find out what this left coast losers opinion is or even who he is, I doubt it seriously if the Chief Justice has a problem with any successor, the Press is Power Hungry and they assume that everyone else is as well, ignore them and they have to go away, they will have no choice.

TT

[Torie]

This may help a little bit.

[GVnana]

I saw a rare interview with Clarence Thomas a few years back. He said when he was a child, his family spoke only the Gullah dialect, so he made a habit of communicating by reading and writing in school and seldom spoke. He said he continued this habit through his life, taking voluminous notes and reflecting on issues through writing.

He was quite eloquent in the interview, BTW. I don't still have a copy, although it was posted on FR following the 2000 election -- a speech he once gave to the Heritage Foundation (I believe) on the future of conservatism. One of the best I have ever read.

[Bruce Buckley]

When Clarence Thomas does speak, he does so eloquently.

I am privileged to attend Awakening, which is essentially a conservative counterpart to the Renaissance weekend which Clinton used to frequent. All of the conservative spectrum is represented from economics, politics, law, the military, to social and religious conservativism. Ken Star, Marine Commandant Krulak, Steve Forbes, Ed Meese, Larry Kudlow and people of their stature are annual speakers.

5 or 6 years ago, Justice Thomas spoke. He had just adopted his nephew from his drug addicted sister. He was completely riveting, as he conveyed that he was content with his lot; he could handle the slings and arrows directed at him. But what he insisted was intolerable was the blackballing of his law clerks from recognized academic and professional positions. And if we, as ostensible conservatives, allowed the devouring of those who associated with him, then we would deserve our ultimate fate of capitulating to blacklisting.

His remarks were very well received, and a welcome wake up call.

[Clintonfatigued]

Clarence Thomas is as deserving of the post of Chief Justice as any of the other likely candidates. However, he doesn't want the position. Reid's near-endorsement of Antion Scalia is a surprise, however. Maybe Scalia will get the post.

[GVnana]

"Be Not Afraid" speech by Clarence Thomas here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/699635/posts

[AM2000]

However, he doesn't want the position.

How do you know?

[Cicero]

I genuinely think Thomas would be better than Scalia. But either would be fine.

Thomas has had a bad rap. He's extremely intelligent, has a sound moral judgment, really knows the law, and can be relied upon not to be easily subjected to the usual pressures from the MSM.

The other conservative judges prefer not to go out on a limb when the MSM threatens to crucify them. Thomas has already been crucified, and he doesn't seem to fear the threat any longer.

[guitarist]

Scalia, Thomas, McConnell, Rogers Brown of Cal., Estrada, etc. are all likely to be excellent choices, and not to be repeats of Souter or even Sandra Day. But, then again, you never know!

[RockAgainsttheLeft04]

Calm, dignified, brilliant, *YOUNG*, and a strict constructionalist, Clarence Thomas is my ideal choice for Chief Justice should Rehnquist retire or die.

Harry Reid was projecting his own faults when he said that Thomas wasn't qualified for his job (and a bias against blacks who dare to think for themselves is also one of Reid's faults).