i think clarence is a solid vote. the supreme court appointments once on the bench occupied closer to the left and right of the spectrum than did their appointing president. sutter's nomination was the direct result of the lessons. namely, don't appoint a scholar jurist who boasts opinions to his name. especially to the court swing seat. with his credentials and few decisions on hot-button issues on federal litigation, sutter had the stealth nominee. his state court record illustrates the hazards who possesses federal judicial questions. clarence thomas' ideology was conservative. more so than president bush whose republicanism was more lean right. thomas reflects the long american tradition of representing constituencies on the highest court. both to bolster the legitimacy and religious and racial gender groups. the governor has remarked, this is the greatest nightmare or governor has. the politics of names u.s. supreme court justices can derail presidential dreams of finding ideological soul mates on capitol hill. >

fred mcclure explains his view of thomas' response, and i quote, clarence is a very religious guy and i think he reached the point when our conversations then and afterwards he kind of shifted to somebody else's hands and responsibility. somebody much higher than either of us. and it was kind of now that i have the chance, i need to say this. and i need to say this because it's the right thing to do and if i don't do what i believe is the right thing to do now when they're attacking my character, which is an unfounded attack on my character, then i'm not living up to those things that i believe in. and if that costs me being on the supreme court, which i didn't ask for in the first place, then okay. end quote. indeed 11 democrats, 7 from the deep south, joined republicans to confirm the battered candidate 52-48. probably the closest vote in the history of the appointment process. it was certainly the closest vote in the 20th century for a successful candidate. when his wife reported to thomas that he had been confirmed, he replied the disgusted appointee replied whoopty-dee. in reflec

. >> that's clarence and that's john. >> reporter: clarence and john england escaped from alcatraz prisonn the san francisco bay, along with frank morris, the only men ever to escape the rock. some say they drowned in the escape attempt, but marie knows they made it and are still alive. >> we know they're okay. >> reporter: marie has hundreds of photos, paintings, letters and every newspaper article written about her brothers' story. in 1958, brothers clarence and john alfred robbed a bank with a toy gun. they were captured a f days later in cincinnati and given hard time. but john and clarence kept on trying to escape. >> the only reason they put them in alcatraz was because they could not keep them anywhere else they put them. they kept getting away, getting away. >> reporter: marie has many of the items the brothers had in prison and used to mastermind their escape. the subject of many books and movies. >> largest manhunt ever, and i think they're still on the top ten most wanted, so they would love to have them back. but chances of that happening is real slim. >> reporter: marie's son

you want to try this, clarence?l try it, john. >> you are from chicago. >> i am from chicago. >> you write a column for the trib. >> i do. i compared this to the scene in the godfather where he says, you've been a great friend of the family but we need a wartime consigliary. he was brought in as the peace maker, the gay to build bridges to wall street and capitol hill. didn't work. and obama has a more punitive populous tone. it just didn't fit daley. he always had a problem breaking into tinner circle, the old friends of obama. wasn't a great fit. >> why did obama bring him in if obama right now is geared towards fighting wall street rather than, you know -- >> because he wasn't geared that way in the beginning. he only turned to that stance since autumn. before that he was extending the palm frond of peace and he was getting slapped back. daley had a few flaps there, too. >> do you think that she's reinforcing that position taken by her husband? >> she being michelle obama. >> yes. >> michelle obama is just one of

>> well, actually, it's clarence's turn, but i'll snatch a little bit of it.eah, because this is one of the main arguments against romney, that he's not really the job creator that he pretends to be. look, there's a place for venture capital firms and private equity firms in the economy, but for romney to come out and suggest that the sole purpose of this was to create jobs, when it's really to create wealth and to create wealth for the investors, i think he is vulnerable. >> yeah. what do you think? >> that was his mistake, to go and jump on the job creator bandwagon. that is not the job of venture capital companies. their job is to make a profit, and he should just ride with that which is he's learning how to do now, and just talk about the jobs that they help to create, and he's fudging on how many jobs got destroyed in the meantime. >> don't you think -- i think it helps him, though, when he can bring examples, for example, like what they did with staples. when they talk about government supporting industries like sylindra, it hurts the white house. >> thi

justice clarence thomas is one of our models. >> has he been targeted unfairly? >> i think he has been. >> that answer would prove to the prophetic as well. shortly after his appearance on the program, his campaign was confronted with reports of sexual harassment allegations from the past. cain maintained they were false and the public's focus turned to his relationship with his wife. let me ask you about your family, your wife of 43 years. we haven't seen her campaigning, is she a reluctant candidate's spouse. >> no. she supports me 100%. i run a different kind chasm

clarence thomas was a great nomination. he'll have a longer lasting impact, i think, upon the domestic policy agenda of the president of the united states than anyone left behind despite the great efforts that we made during our time there. i'm done. thank you. >> was i right or not? these are the people that make representation work in this country. if you were president, wouldn't you hire them first? we actually started late. and so there is some time for questions. yes? it's not really a question. it's a comment. you said there were four for the nomination, thomas, starr, jones, and then souter. i think it's clear that president bush wanted thomas then. does he sort of intuitively understood that maybe the next opening would be -- would be marshal and he didn't want to do what might look like he was opposed to quotas. but we told a lot of people he wasn't ready. it was the right choice. i turned out after another year or 18 months, he was very seasoned. but a couple points out of that. still there is the question, what h

[applause] >> host: would you tell us your opinion regarding the judicial opinions of clarence thomas? [laughter] i will tell you a little bit. clarence thomas opinions i can only talk about the narrow range there are so many of his jurists prudence on a number of levels but particularly those involving the strong who libertarians of malcolm x and the same opinion that very often, for instance, with the affirmative-action cases to say it is insulting someone would think the only way blacks could get an equal education is to be in the same room with whites. almost pulled directly broke the same time one of the most strident free-market conservatives on the course, that's the did some things that characterizes most of the clarence thomas discussion about race. it will not surprise you to hear of the jurisprudence of that race and i don't agree with the consistent thought it is impossible to tell the difference between the nine discrimination they're all forms of racial classification and should be treated with equal contempt. the view that i plush throughout the book is possible to tell

clarence, mitt said it himself.ree with romney that as florida goes, so goes the nomination? >> i agree. i think florida is such a crucial swing state. it's so big. it's diverse. it's really three or four states depending on how you want to slice it up between north florida, south florida and mid florida along that corridor where orlando is. that's where the real swing voters are right in the center of the state. romney can now wage the aggressive campaign that he's begun to wage. i think we will see a really brutal blood bath between the two of them. that's what it's going to take because he has to undercut gingrich now. republicans are looking for a fighter. they are looking for somebody on their side as all voters do. right now, romney has not portrayed himself as being that much on the side of the ordinary voter as much as gingrich has. gingrich is still vulnerable. >> indeed. we're looking forward to the latest edition of this caged fight. jon, romney gave us a preview saying gingrich should give back the money

. >> with terry's future possibly hanging in the balance, terry and clarence will have to wait to findut if their request to live together is granted. >>> coming up on "lockup: extended stay" -- will these potential cellmates become soul mates? >> when you see somebody acting just like a woman, there's always going to be some type of temptation. >>> plus, officers give these inmates a surprise wake-up call. . >>> happy new year, everyone. i'm lynn berry. here's what's happening. >>> hundreds of thousands of people welcomed 2012 in new york's times square. lady gaga joined mayor michael bloomberg for the countdown. >>> three days before the iowa caucuses, the latest "des moines register" poll shows mitt romney leading the candidates, ron paul close behind but over the last few days rick santorum's numbers have been climbing. >>> now we'll send you back to "lockup "ow. >>> got to have some kind of hustle while you're in here. like this here, we in jail but we want to look as presentable as possible. >> you know what i mean. we want to get business-like here. a lot of times you don't know

dollar for dollar, nobody protects you like allstate. >>> let's bring back our panel, clarence page,iz. we left the break playing a clip of chris christie saying romney should get his tax returns out sooner rather than later. should he heed the advice of his possible running mate? >> he should. he needs to be as open as possible. he has not shown comfort talking about his wealth. it's like he has a mind set that is different from that of the average voter and he needs to be as candid about this and to show empathy with folks struggling out there. >> i want to get to sarah palin, who is talking regards to newt gingrich and his performance in south carolina. let's run that. >> i do think that newt is the one that won the debate if you will because newt came out just like smokin' joe frazier. if i had to vote, i'd vote for newt and i'd want to this continue more debates, more vetting of candidates. >> there is a time when an endorsement would be a huge game changer in the race. >> as soon as she said she wasn't going to be in the race, i think the entire political class went okay, let's

and clarence page columnist for the "chicago tribune".athleen, national view ann coulter, drudge, all unloading on newt within a couple of days. was there a secret meeting here? >> i didn't get the memo. you know, it's interesting, i want to clarify something right out of the gate, which is that when we talk about the media or commentators, pundits, et cetera, coming after someone in an orchestrated way, these are conservative operatives, republican party operatives essentially. they're not journalists, and they're not representing any institutional entity, i don't think. i think they're representing their own political views, but they have access to media. they are media creatures. >> that include "national review? >>". >> it's obviously a magazine, but it was created from an idealogical point of view. right? as opposed to, for example, the "chicago tribune" or the washington post. it's more traditional what we call mainstream, and i call old school journalism entities. >> isn't this the kind of thing conservatives usually accuse the lib

i characterize most of clarence thomas's discussions about race. i don't feel -- i don't agree with his jurisprudence about race and his consistent assertion that it is impossible to tell the difference between b 9 and malign forces of discrimination, they're all forms of racial classification that should be treated with equal contempt and suspicion. my view that are put through this book is it is possible to tell the difference between b 9 and maligned discrimination that is the job of judgment to evaluate these conflicts in the context in a new lens away. they're called judges for a reason. they're supposed to exercise judgment. judgments may be hard to exercise, if it were as simple as the people -- if it were that simple then it could be through a computer doing the job. my strongest point of disagreement, though there are -- [laughter] >> authors -- a little hard to read the handwriting -- argue that racial discrimination is so severe that we need the longest laws, such as racial say that we should determine affirmative-action on the base of d

likewise, i am not surprised by any of the votes that clarence thomas has cast during that time. one of the biggest hurdles we had were the words the president used to describe clarence thomas when he sort of announced him. my view would have been like he's my guy and that's the way it is. but it kind of set a standard which was alluded to earlier, thomas was a great e more aren nomination by this president, and he will have a longer lasting impact, i think, upon the domestic policy agenda of the president of the united states than any one else left behind despite the great efforts that we made during our time there. i'm done. thank you. >> was i right or not? these are the people who make representation work in this country. and if you were president wouldn't you hire them first. we actually started late, so there is some time for questions. yes. >> it isn't really a question, as much as it is a comment. i can't remember which of you pointed out at the beginning there were four for the first nomination, thomas, star, jones, and then suitor. i think we were all agreed, i think it

we're talking about a failure to disclose a financial interest with clarence thomas which is not allegedne else on the court. am i correct? >> you're right about that. and it's a deeply disturbing connection. the fact is, clarence thomas has a financial steakake in an issu that is coming before the supreme court. it's a violation of his duty and he has refused to do so. this is something that all americans need to know more about. i think americans should raise their voices and we have ways to do that. you can go to keithellison.org but the fact is that people need to raise this thing and we need to get more public attention on how difficult this is for all americans. >> especially on the eve of the iowa caucus when in the republican debates many of the candidates named thomas as among the jurists that they add mire and they don't seem to have a problem and their word and anthony ska lea and john roberts. >> across the board, thomas is an example of the top that they respect and admire and would appoint on the eve of the first voting i think americans need to know this. >> well, i think

. >> it will not be the same clarence clemens his partner, member of the e street band since the beginningo longer with us, he was a big part of the band, the soul of that band really a big part of the show and i don't know how they are going to address that they haven't said how they will address it but here is a question i like bruce springsteen i am not sure i want to see him without clarence. >> is that right? >> yeah, i want to keep it as it was. what do you think? >> i think rock bands have been around for decades in the states, they are going to lose members if the grateful dead can kind of go on without gerry garcia. >> well, that is a good point. >> counter point? >> you know there is going to be some sort of huge tribute you know and acknowledge it see that is the problem when you don't acknowledge when some body is not here any more. >> he will be here april 1st. >> mm-hmm. >> all right. >> want to get right into the weather before i do i want to remind everybody about our fox 5 weather ap you have probably heard about it by now i highly recommend you download it >> it is how i

the sioux were clarence says it is based on an old project, and would you show this again?en they did the last stuart of valuation, there was going to be a small airline -- when you did the last evaluation, there was going to be a small airline that went down to holiday. that is the sewer line they say is going to be felt. of the projects that are here are a 11, 10, and nine. there are two ways to get there, this way or a property they did not own or this way. they did not have anything in here that shows how they are going to be build on these three lots without using other property in construction or development or for sewer and access. you cannot have a story line that starts up here and jobs through thin air through a sewer line. these are not inconsiderable issues. for this site, there has been repeated issues. the neighbors are going to give you more detail, but you have of project you do not have the entirety of how it is going to be built. there is no longer a proposal to build about at the rear of 5 lots connecting gf. staff does not think it is a problem, but they

it will offer discounts on select items each month and clarence deals on the first and third fridays>> on the storm watch tonight some nasty weather could interrupt the lone star state. this is the scene in san antonio. a lot of people had to be rescued from their flooded cars. more than 3 inches of rain fell in just a few hours this morning. >> nothing like that coming around here. >> by the time the storm center gets up here, it will lose a lot of energy. we are going to get rain but that is about it. rain and not is this time as well. this is ljamsville. ec cloudiness all across the area. this is our official high and low at a reagan national airport. you can see the record is 75 and 3 above. we are safely enter the middle. temperatures looking good. mid to upper 40's. this prevents us from having any i stories tonight. just some light rain at times. overnight a few showers. probably not much as to birchers will be in the mid 30's. for the drive from tomorrow it could be a different story. 34 in pittsburgh. 30's on our side of the front and mountains. temperatures in the 50's and

it's the first tour and the e street band since 2009 and the first performance since clarence clemons died in june. >>> facebook users be forced to change to a new timeline t is a scrapbook of a facebook user's life. the profile page was move of a snapshot how you may be today. >>> coming up in "good morning maryland," we have new stories for you to check out. >>> that's amazing video. and this started as and exciting day and ice turns to horror. look at this group of kids that were barely able to escape. what happened when we come back in a bit. >>> what a burglar stole from this man that can never be replaced. >>> a boy being dubbed a hero after he mimicked a tv program to save his younger brother's life. >>> "good morning maryland" continues in minutes.

i asked clarence, do you know "tell mama?"e started laughing because he wrote the song. >> she has influenced you, obviously. what about the music industry? she made a big impact, didn't she? >> oh, yes. the movie "cadillac records" everyone got a chance to see what our life was like. she had a very very hard life. she has some really bad habits that she wished and everyone else wished she could have dropped those. when all is said and done, i think the hard times that we have adds to the soul and our voices. we had been through a lot and it shows when we sing a song. >> some of those songs marked those times personally, particularly the country. how do you think she would like to be remembered right now? >> i think she would like to be remembered as a soul singer. a person that paved the way for so many other singers to come behind her. i think that that is how she would like to be remembered, as a woman that stood on her own. a woman that was not ashamed. she did not take anything. she was a strong woman. she went through th

by combining original artwork with elements from the previous series, clarence lee's intricate paper cutter and calligraphy, the art director has created a culturally rich stamp that celebrates the diversity of the american experience. you did such a great job on the stamp. please stand. [applause] we hope the year will bring the best to all of us, no matter what sign we were born under a. the year of the dragon begins today and ends on february 9, 2013. if you purchase the stamps today, they will be good for first class mail postage forever. they'll be good anytime from today forward and no matter the price in the future. on behalf of the united states postal service and all of its employees, and like to invite mayor lee and the program participants to join me in dedicating the year of the dragon stand as we unveil the design, i would like to receive to view -- wish each of you good health and happiness in the year of the dragon. ♪ [applause] >> thank you for that dedication. it is a beautiful stamp. [applause] now we are in for a special treat. we have with us a beautiful performer

i immediately recognized it as being clarence. it turned out that he had created a number of just amazing sculptures of trial lawyers. and he went on to do one of clara fults, the first woman attorney in california and became the leader of the public defender movement. and just by happenstance, he called me and had this idea of encapsulating one of the greatest trial attorneys of our times. so, bill? is he here? this is not a magistrate. [laughing] -- not a magic trick. >> i've never met tony serra, so i have to make use of the internet to get a sense of who he was and the imagery. what clearly came over was his passion for justice. and in some cases almost a rage for justice. and initially when i started the imagery with the clay, i tried to show this passion for justice, this rage. but then i had a conversation with jeff about tony serra. and another element came out, his great heart, his deep generosity, and his respect for those he defended. so i've tried to incorporate both of these things in this piece. and i depicted him as

democratic lawmakers and organizations called for justice clarence thomas to step down from the healthcareing his wife worked for group opposing the healthcare law to create undeniable conflict of interest. earlier in week, the court denied a motion by the group freedom watch calling her the recusal. he is did not participate in that decision. chief justice roberts acknowledge the call by outside group and says he has complete confidence in the capability of his colleagues to make their own decision. bret? >> bret: we'll follow it. thank you. >>> the country's top intelligence official says it will take five years to prevent another massive leak of classified information like the one that ended up on the wikileaks website. national intelligence director james clapper says officials are working to tag information to track it back to its source. a former marine has pleaded guilty to firing shots at the pentagon and other military related targets in the washington area. jonathan malaku agreed to a 25-year sentence in a plea hearing today in alexandria, virginia. next up in the grapevine, does

happen with clarence thomas in a certain way, right, you know? in a more evil way, many of us have gotten comfortable because rock is in the white house, but he cannot be most effective unless we are on his ass, right? we voted, so i will go home now, and see you in four years. the republicans, the tea party, all these folks, they are on his ass, so if you believe that all that there is power in that position, and there are folks that make convincing arguments about a black face on white supremacy, so there is complications, but can progress be made? can progress be made with that position? absolutely. but while we honor and acknowledge that, we have to look at the masses of folks, and i think jamal represents the conditions of the masses that we need to be focused on. >> did you want to say something? it looked as though you were starting to say something. >> i will say, he said the same thing i was thinking. people ask me how i feel about having an african-american president. i said i had ambivalent feelings. on the one hand, i know that he is

in this area as well you gave these suburbs you can see bullet holes in the walls it's not really clarence so much of the country now who exactly has control of the fact that this is now happening in a suburb just fifteen minutes will say from the city center here in damascus where he goes to show you just how much the situation here is now deteriorating or russia has made its position extremely clear that they're not going to back the western resolution whilst it doesn't rule out of the sanctions the military intervention they've put their own proposal forward and you've had this sort of back and forth with neither sides really being able to come to some form of agreement i mean the big sticking point here really is the military intervention because so many different factions in the country it is even more still here in the country very very hard to really understand who exactly is in charge where he was the voice of the people because this is a originally a peaceful protest movement even now got increasingly armed opposition groups and there's reports today that saudi arabia that could t