The New York Times story today that Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas hasn’t asked a question or opened his mouth on any case other than to read a prepared statement in five years shouldn’t be shocking, or even surprising, given his reputation for never writing an opinion. But five years with no questions?!

According to the Times Thomas doesn’t feel comfortable asking questions.  He doesn’t like the sound of his voice.  And he’s on the court to listen.   Besides that, there’s all those  excruciating  issues–”enough to being a man to his knees.” Thomas claims.  Good thing he’s sitting.  While Thomas is “listening” and trying to bear up, his colleagues are firing away.  Over a 130 questions an hour on average.

So I wonder: what the hell is this guy doing during all this questioning, year in and year out?  I guess he likes to look at the ceiling a lot, too.  Maybe that dicey politically conservative deal  his wife is into is taking up quite a bit of his mind time these days.  I’m sure there’s plenty to think about.

Thomas is 62.  Unless he drops dead soon, or if the reality of his incompetence finally becomes too much for him and he jumps into the Potomac River,  he could sit around listening and feeling the pain from  all those cases for another twenty, twenty-five years.

And we have George HW Bush to thank.