David Souter Retiring, Obama gets to make first SCOTUS pick

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Wait, wait, wait.

In the context of confirmation of a Supreme Court nominee, media focus on her background =/= "scrutinized."

Every SCOTUS nominee is heavily scrutinized, both before the nomination is announced and after.

Plus, Roberts was POUNDED for a "lack of experience" during the initial part of the process.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Plus, Roberts was POUNDED for a "lack of experience" during the initial part of the process.

NPR was all over that isht. Now they treat Sotomayor's nomination like the Second Coming--if they hadn't already blown their load like that over President Obama.

Even batisht Michael Steele's telling the GOP to bacdafucup:

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/re...-on-sotomayor/

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Even batisht Michael Steele's telling the GOP to bacdafucup:

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/re...-on-sotomayor/

Interestingly, Michael Steele actually presented this using the music from Onyx's 1990s classic album, "Bacdafuccup"

[a.e.B.O.T.]

My opinion of Sotomayor will lie within in her response in defending her comment that a latino woman is more fit to make judgement than a white male. This comment baffles me, and if a white male had made the comment their nod for the Supreme Court would seem like a long shot. I think race will be the big issue here, as it already is coming to the foreground of discussion. I am not in the mind that Sotomayor is a racist, and I applaud use of empathy to a certain degree as the Supreme Court is to be the protector of the underdogs, but I am weary to the degree in which Sotomayor practices it. The Republicans who approach this angle as part of the defense against the nomination should tread likely. It is difficult for rich white republicans to discuss race in this country, and it could easily come off as smear and spectacle that will wash back in their face... If they approach the issue fairly with cool headed debate, it could be their only way of overturning the nomination. With that said, I am an avid supporter of Obama and her record itself looks great, so unless Sotomayor produces a satisfying reason for her comment, I am in favor of her nomination.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by a.e.B.O.T.

My opinion of Sotomayor will lie within in her response in defending her comment that a latino woman is more fit to make judgement than a white male. This comment baffles me, and if a white male had made the comment their nod for the Supreme Court would seem like a long shot. I think race will be the big issue here, as it already is coming to the foreground of discussion. I am not in the mind that Sotomayor is a racist, and I applaud use of empathy to a certain degree as the Supreme Court is to be the protector of the underdogs, but I am weary to the degree in which Sotomayor practices it. The Republicans who approach this angle as part of the defense against the nomination should tread likely. It is difficult for rich white republicans to discuss race in this country, and it could easily come off as smear and spectacle that will wash back in their face... If they approach the issue fairly with cool headed debate, it could be their only way of overturning the nomination. With that said, I am an avid supporter of Obama and her record itself looks great, so unless Sotomayor produces a satisfying reason for her comment, I am in favor of her nomination.

Did you read the excerpt that MysticCat posted? If you read it in the context of the rest of her speech, she's not really saying that Latino woman is "more fit." As MC pointed out, it almost looks like she was trying to be humorous with the statement. As I said earlier, she probably should have chosen her words a bit more carefully, but I think the statement is harmless.

Unless it comes out that she's a child molester or something like that, there's no way the Republicans are overturning this nomination. As a Republican, I don't really think it's worth the fight anyway - she's smart and qualified, and her judicial philosophy overall seems pretty solid.

I'll leave the empathy thing alone...I'll just say that empathy/sympathy/etc. are really only considerations on the trial level (where the judges are dealing with probation, sentencing, etc.), and on the appellate level it doesn't (and really shouldn't) play a part.

[a.e.B.O.T.]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Did you read the excerpt that MysticCat posted? If you read it in the context of the rest of her speech, she's not really saying that Latino woman is "more fit." As MC pointed out, it almost looks like she was trying to be humorous with the statement. As I said earlier, she probably should have chosen her words a bit more carefully, but I think the statement is harmless.

Unless it comes out that she's a child molester or something like that, there's no way the Republicans are overturning this nomination. As a Republican, I don't really think it's worth the fight anyway - she's smart and qualified, and her judicial philosophy overall seems pretty solid.

I'll leave the empathy thing alone...I'll just say that empathy/sympathy/etc. are really only considerations on the trial level (where the judges are dealing with probation, sentencing, etc.), and on the appellate level it doesn't (and really shouldn't) play a part.

Yes, I read the entire speech. What I am interested in is how it will be explained, because you know it will not be let go. Today, she actually said she misspoke, and Obama backed that up in an interview. I don't find what she said to be in a means of humor, but I was not there and do not find it as her declaration against the white race. I also am not using this as a stone to throw at her. The fact remains that if a white man said that, joke or no joke, his nomination would be highly unlikely. She did, indeed, misspeak. To error is to be human. I am just curious how it will be handled. Some conservatives are crying racism, how the republican party handles those claims are key. They need to separate themselves from those conservatives, while convincing the American public that Sotomayor's comment was unethical and a judge of her character. I don't think it will work, but it is indeed a window. I am pretty confident Sotomayor will be confirmed, and from what I know about her, I support it. I just want to see how it will all be handled, and how Sotomayor will address it when directly asked about it in trial...

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by a.e.B.O.T.

My opinion of Sotomayor will lie within in her response in defending her comment that a latino woman is more fit to make judgement than a white male. .

I don't recall her actually saying that. It seems to me as if you are taking her words out of context and twisting them.

At any rate, I'm kind of tired of how people are acting as though this woman is "racist" simply because she was in support of affirmative action and made some of the comments she has made. That's not a reason to delay or prevent her confirmation. If people would hire on the basis of qualifications, we wouldn't need affirmative action in the first place. We only need it because people are often refused acceptance on the basis of a handicap, race, or sex or some other issue.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

NPR was all over that isht. Now they treat Sotomayor's nomination like the Second Coming--if they hadn't already blown their load like that over President Obama.

Sometimes I wonder if we hear what we want to hear. As I've listend to NPR, I wouldn't say that they're all over it like it was the Second Coming. On more than one show, I've heard some real discussion about her, and it hasn't all been rosy by any means.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Sometimes I wonder if we hear what we want to hear. As I've listend to NPR, I wouldn't say that they're all over it like it was the Second Coming. On more than one show, I've heard some real discussion about her, and it hasn't all been rosy by any means.

Don't forget--I'm listening to NPR's NYC affiliate, who really is extremely excited about this, being that she's a) the liberal dream--high achieving minority female from a humble background and b) a native New Yorker. Both of those are understandable, I've noticed that the national shows tend to be a little more tempered in their praise.

So, I do know exactly what I'm hearing. But thanks!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Don't forget--I'm listening to NPR's NYC affiliate, who really is extremely excited about this, being that she's a) the liberal dream--high achieving minority female from a humble background and b) a native New Yorker. Both of those are understandable, I've noticed that the national shows tend to be a little more tempered in their praise.

So, I do know exactly what I'm hearing. But thanks!

I didn't forget that because I didn't know it to begin with.

You said NPR, which one would reasonable assume means "National," not just NYC shows.

So maybe it's not that you're hearing what you want to hear, and you do know exactly what you're hearing. But not everyone else in the country listening to NPR is hearing what you're hearing.