Best conspiracy theory I've heard today

[SCantiGOP]

Just suppose that Clarence Thomas knows that what has already come out, and what is still not public info about his and Ginni’s dalliances with the hardcore right wingers, will make it impossible for him to stay on the Court.

What could be more noble than a health issue prompting him to announce his retirement so the great institution of the SCOTUS can have 9 full-time justices? What a great gesture to establish the legacy of this much-maligned man.

Like the conspiracy theories on the other side, there’s not one shred of evidence that this is true, but damn it would sure be sweet.

[RockRaven]

1. Why does anyone think Thomas and his wife are capable of being shamed or embarrassed?

They've never been so before. Expecting that sort of consideration to guide his behavior now is laughable, and contrary to decades of evidence.

[SCantiGOP]

7. I should have put "noble" in quotes

I meant, what if her misdeeds are so egregious that he will have to be removed. The other 8 justices would demand it, and even the Repubs would know that he had to go.
I’m saying he could take the chickenshit escape that we see so often where someone resigns to “spend more time with their family” or some other crap to get out of the public spotlight and avoid the scandal and eventual removal.

[bottrott]

8. Why? They don't think they did anything wrong, not one of em. NT

[Claustrum]

12. Like how they would have removed Trump with his egregious criminals acts?

Sorry, I am not buying that any republican feels they are in danger for doing anything illegal at this point.

[RockRaven]

13. "...have to be removed. The other 8 justices would demand it..." People can demand all they like,

until they are blue, or red, in the face and it matters fuck-all. He doesn't have to leave just people are yelling that he should. Even people he works with, even people he likes.

Nobody can force him to leave except by one mechanism -- impeachment by the House followed by conviction and removal by the Senate. There is literally nothing that Thomas or his wife could do that would get Repuke Senators to vote for his removal while a Democrat is POTUS and capable of nominating the replacement. He could murder someone on live television and Senate Repukes wouldn't vote for his removal. So unless someone's got a plan for getting to 70 Dem Senators, he's gonna be on the bench until he croaks.

I've seen lots of people speculate that this stuff with his wife is going to be a reason why he retires, and I find it utterly baffling that people believe that. The track record all points to the exact opposite conclusion. Thomas consistently fails to recuse himself from cases where there are apparent conflicts of interest, where ethical standards dictate that he should. Why does anyone think he's gonna start doing the right thing now of all times?

[Irish_Dem]

2. He doesn't care at all what people think about him.

None of the GOP seems to have any conscience or shame.

[CincyDem]

3. That requires a sense of shame that he lacks.

They’ll carry him out of that seat feet first.

IMHO.

[Sneederbunk]

4. He would die before allowing a Dem to appoint his replacement.

[leftieNanner]

10. Correct. Nt

[Comfortably_Numb]

18. Sounds good. I despise that worthless, corrupt, despicable bag of dog shit.

[viva la]

5. There is so little consequence to SCOTUS justices

They can be impeached (almost never happens) by Congress. But otherwise, is there any penalty for corruption that isn't quite indictable?

But maybe he is worried about his wife's culpability, especially in funding the insurrection. Maybe he's looking to make a deal in secret-- his "retirement" in return for letting the execrable Ginni go unpunished?

[SoCalDavidS]

16. Same Standard For Corrupt Presidents

Seems like some people are simply ABOVE THE LAW.

Not you or I of course, but some people.

[OAITW r.2.0]

6. How much would Clarence and Ginny have made if he vacated during Trump's Presidency?

Could have avoided this situation altogether. The buyout ain't coming and his legacy is getting destroyed everyday....well played Thomas...you POS.

I remember when you were a big man on campus at HC in 1971, living in Hanselman Hall, but I have no idea why.

[BlueIdaho]

9. There is not an honorable bone in that man's body.

He has sat on his fat ass for decades and contributed nothing to the Supreme Court. They will have to cart his dead body out of his office.

[SCantiGOP]

11. You people quit crapping on my daydream

I’m trying to figure out some way that in the very near future Thomas, Putin and Trump are all either dead, in jail or hiding in an abandoned shack somewhere.

[BigmanPigman]

14. He is like every other GQP asshole...no shame!

He will stay a justice because that is what they do, whether or not they are obviously guilty of corruption. They are sociopaths. You must remember they are not like the rest of us who may have feelings of guilt or shame. That is how they got where they are and they will never let that power go.

[Mz Pip]

15. Wishful thinking

Even if it’s all true, Thomas won’t resign.

Why would anyone expect ethical behavior from someone without ethics?