Obama nominates Sonia Sotomayor for SCOTUS

[madbrian]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 8:30am

Updated
Who will it be?

Updated On: 5/26/09 at 08:30 AM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 8:33am

and how does the prop 8 ruling affect that person's confirmation process?

with no knowledge of who it will be i am guessing that this person is as moderate as obama will go and if they get shot down in the senate he will go hard-left and say damn the torpedos.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 8:34am

My guess is Sonia Sotomayor who, after a brutal hearing, will not be approved.

[madbrian]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 8:39am

Several sources are reporting that it will be Sotomayor.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 8:48am

i don't think so, taz. she would be who i see him going to 2nd. his "eff you, gop" pick.

the gop is under pressure from the right to filibuster anybody he nominates and he knows it. the problem for them is, you can do that and get away with it with the american people only one time before you start to pay big time politically. if they just filibuster whoever, then they get a second one who will be worse and they won't be able to maintain the pressure.

but the far right doesn't care. they want the senate to take a stand no matter what but they don't understand that obama is not reagan who will see bork shot down and send up a kennedy. he'll send them sotomayor after seeing a more reasonable pick shot down. the idealogues on the far right don't care though. they actually welcome it because they will be able to use her as a talking point for her entire time on the court. and when i say idealogues, i do mean morons.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 8:51am

there is, of course, the other side: obama knows that this pick will be filibustered and is planning to use it to placate the left, "see, i nominated a female minority lesbian and look what happened."

[tazber]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 8:53am

I read (either on CNN.com or yahoo - I forget) yesterday that conservative activists are "itching for a fight". They may need to come out swinging just to prove that they're not a powerless minority.

But the article also said that they would need a lot of democratic
defections to prevent a nominee from going through.

Let me see if I can find a link.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 8:55am

It's Sotomayor
Link

[tazber]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 8:59am

Here's the link I was referring to in my earlier post
Trouble's brewin'

[madbrian]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 8:59am

Filibustering a female, Hispanic nominee would be a HUGE risk for the already dwindling GOP. The growing Hispanic demographic is already swinging toward the Dems. But their recent track record hasn't been one of tremendous wisdom, so who knows?

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 9:11am

they'll go after her as a lesbian and a moron, mb. what have they got to lose? it's not like they are going to gain votes by supporting a woman who goes against everything their base believes. it would be like saying, "well, the democrats better not filibuster john roberts because they'll lose the white guy vote."

i don't agree that blocking a supreme court nominee will cost them in the long run (note i said "a")...unless he comes back with an even more objectionable choice. but even then they are still in the same boat they are now, eff you see kay'd.

Updated On: 5/26/09 at 09:11 AM

[tazber]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 9:21am

They're gonna fight it to show their base that they still have claws. It's going to become a rallying cry.

The GOP (as we all know) has decided to cater to the right wing constituency in order to revive the party. This is the first opportunity they've had to really get their ideas out in an official forum.
They don't have the votes to block her, but it does give them an excellent pulpit to get their message out.

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 9:23am

Where are you getting the lesbian label? Because she never remarried after her divorce? Though I think it's high time for someone from the LBGT community (at least someone who's out) to wear the robes, I don't think Sotomayor is that person.

[madbrian]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 9:24am

As far as I've read, which isn't that much, she doesn't have any record of 'legislating from the bench' or 'judicial activism'. Her track record tends to be rather moderate. If the GOP does try to filibuster her, it will be interesting to see how KB Hutchinson votes, since she's poised to run for governor of Texas, which has a Hispanic population of over 30%.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 9:25am

filibuster, taz. did the democrats get to 60 recently?

i love that she is being portrayed as too "moderate" for the left wing. in what world is that?

[tazber]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 9:26am

They could filibuster, but do you really think they will?

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 9:41am

not saying it's true, blue, i'm saying how they will fight her nomination.

why not, taz? in their monds, he will have to give them someone less controversial, but the fact is there is no one less controversial on his short list. they do indeed get worse from here.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 9:52am

Besides all the political football, the question is: is she any good?
There's very little controversy I'm able to find on her.

Also, from the AP:

"Democrats hold a large majority in the Senate, and barring the unexpected, Sotomayor's confirmation should be assured.

Given Sotomayor's selection, any decision to filibuster would presumably carry political risks ? Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment of the population and an increasingly important one politically.

As a judge, she has a bipartisan pedigree. She was first appointed by a Republican, President George H.W. Bush, then named an appeals judge by President Bill Clinton in 1997."

The GOP is going to really have to dig to win this.


There are no significant rulings regarding abortion or gay rights in her past so I do have some concerns about where she stands.


AP

Updated On: 5/26/09 at 09:52 AM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 9:55am

some democrats think she's
dumb and obnoxious

[Q]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 10:35am

So far, most of the news sources I'm seeing are referencing the 'Newyorican' label - which pretty much encapsulizes how she's being viewed.

Posted: 5/26/09 at 10:37am

Well if she is dumb & obnoxious, won't the Republicans accept her as one of their own?

[tazber]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 10:40am

there is plenty of "dumb and obnoxious" on both sides of the aisle to go around.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 10:41am

Papa, nice to bring up the whisper campaign started by those who wanted the appointment.

She is qualified to serve.

Elections have consequences. It may be a fight, but she will be confirmed, especially after the whisper campaigns of those who wanted the nomination are seen for what they are.

I am a bit surprised he picked her, but I have no problem with the nomination. She has actual, real world experience on the bench. Her rulings can be hailed and attacked from both the right and the left, as she appears more inclined to respect stare decises and legislative intent. She is suspicious of large government, but has ruled in favor of cities being able to have religious monuments. But, she has been on the bench long enough to provide fodder for either side.

Go ahead and filibuster a qualified pick. It will further marginalize the GOP. (Filibuster a Bush pick that gets elevated to the Supreme Court - show just how far to the right the GOP has moved).


Go ahead and attack her
Updated On: 5/26/09 at 10:41 AM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 10:42am

f*** you you f****** s*** eating b********* c********* of a s*** weasel!

i mean joe, not you, taz.

Posted: 5/26/09 at 10:53am

Oh you sweet talker you!