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Clarence Thomas is blowing my mind.
Jun. 23rd, 2005 10:27 pmI have held the man in utter contempt for more than a decade and a half.
But in today's SCOTUS ruling permitting the exercise of eminent domain he joined the dissent, declaring that the exercise of eminent domain in behalf of private interests would disproportionately affect poor and minority property owners. Add this to his dissent in the Medical Marijuana case, and I am finding myself surprised to note that he seems to be developing a more humane sensibility as he grows older. There are aspects of his jurisprudence that continue to trouble me, but he has shown himself this year to be far more compassionate than I have ever seen him in the past.
Indeed I am shocked further that this dissent, which is to my mind the correct ruling, was joined as well by O'Connor, Rehnquist and Scalia. Conservatives all, and all upholding the conservative value of keeping government off people's backs. And by people here, we mean natural persons, not corporations.
But in today's SCOTUS ruling permitting the exercise of eminent domain he joined the dissent, declaring that the exercise of eminent domain in behalf of private interests would disproportionately affect poor and minority property owners. Add this to his dissent in the Medical Marijuana case, and I am finding myself surprised to note that he seems to be developing a more humane sensibility as he grows older. There are aspects of his jurisprudence that continue to trouble me, but he has shown himself this year to be far more compassionate than I have ever seen him in the past.
Indeed I am shocked further that this dissent, which is to my mind the correct ruling, was joined as well by O'Connor, Rehnquist and Scalia. Conservatives all, and all upholding the conservative value of keeping government off people's backs. And by people here, we mean natural persons, not corporations.
