Senate Prepares for the Sotomayor Confirmation Hearings

humorous-060_smallWith the virtual absence of any objective review of Sonia Sotomayor’s opinions or positions by members of Congress, the Senate Judiciary Committee appears to be gearing up for another confirmation process with little substantive content. As noted previously with regard to the Roberts and Alito hearings, confirmation hearings have become little more than extended photo ops for Senators.

On this occasion, it will be the Democrats trying to avoid any difficult questions for the nominee and the Republicans demanding answers. The latter demands will be a bit awkward given the lack of probing questions or substantive answers in the last two hearings for Republican nominees. The “Ginsburg rule” remains the controlling precedent where nominees are allowed to refuse to answer questions in areas where they may render decisions — leaving the discussion at a meaningless level of generality punctuated with discussions of baseball and movies.

86 thoughts on “Senate Prepares for the Sotomayor Confirmation Hearings”

  1. Mespo, Raff and Mike,

    The problem with troll baiting is sometimes the troll baits you.
    That being said, that was entertaining as always.

    Everyone,

    As J.T. pointed out, the Supreme Court nomination process has become just a way for Senators to score points with their base. I just think it’s worth adding that it also has the advantage of being below the radar of the less politically involved segments of the populous so the politicians have little fear of alienating the moderates.

  2. ravin:

    “great video”

    ******************************

    I can’t take credit. It was suggested by that noted internet video critic, my 16 year old son.

  3. jelly:

    I also have a theological question about physician George Tiller who was slain by a ex-con (aren’t they all) wacked out rightie as he passed out bulletins at church. Does the God of Abraham have a special place in Hell for those followers who gleefully kill or cheer the murder of another human being, or does He subscribe to the profound and inerrant words of Jeremiah below?

    “Cursed be he who does the Lords work remissly, cursed he who holds back his sword from blood.” (Jeremiah 48:10 NAB)

  4. Patty C:

    “ie ‘Don’t call me, ‘Shirley’…’”
    ***************

    We picked a bad day to give up drinking!

  5. “Obama’s take Air Force One on Joy Ride for a Date:”

    Did you complain about George W. Bush’s repeated use of Air Force One for his photo-op brush-clearings on his “ranch” in Texas? If not, STFU.

  6. yes mike spindell,

    the republicans have helped empty social security/meidcare and ontop of it in the past twenty years mostly in the past 10 there has been a movement of wealth out of the working class into the upper class which has been put in off shore accounts…

    the idea is to make the GAAP rules work so that they can not take money out of companies or 401k’s for that matter…but that is an in depth subject…

    mitt romeny’s “another testiment of jesus christ” is just that… i recieved a fund raising envelope from a state senator whose district i am not in but was interested in one thing he was doing…he has for the most part asked for 20 bucks or maybe a 50 dinner at a buffet type thing at a hotel in a large city…

    but the fundraiser where mitt romney was the guest speaker it was to honor this state senator…but if u called his campaign he was thinking of running for comptroller of the state…but that wasn’t for sure

    the amounts were:

    Co-chair $5,000 – 2 attend Roundtable, 4 VIP Reception, Recongintion Board, 10 for Evening Reception

    Sponsor $2,500 – 1 attend Roundtable, 2 VIP Reception, Recognition Board, 6 for Evening Reception

    Host $1,000 – 2 VIP Reception, Recognition Board, 4 for Evening Reception

    Supporter $ 500 – Recongintion Board, 2 for Evening Reception

    Evening Reception $100

    I WOULD NOT GIVE MITT ROMNEY A DIME OR 2 PENNIES…IN THE MORMON CHURCH THEY SAY HOW THEY TOLD THEIR FOLLOWERS NOT TO GET IN DEBT BECAUSE THIS ECONOMY WOULD FAIL AND NOT TO SPEND MONEY

    YET, MITT ROMNEY WANTS MONEY TO SHOW UP AND TALK OR LISTEN TO REGULAR PEOPLE BUT AS ONE CAN SEE AFTER $500 THERE IS NO RECONGINTION…THE STATE SENATOR’S CAMPAIGN COULD NOT TELL ME FOR SURE THAT ROMENY WASN’T GETTING SOME OF THE MONEY

    I REST MY CASE ON THE FACT ROMENY DIDN’T FLY OUT HERE ON HIS PRIVATE JET TO MAKE HIS HAIR LOOK GOOD

    BUT IS IT PAY FOR PLAY…ON CHRIS WALLACE TODAY MITT ROMENY SAID HE WAS DOING FUNDRAISING FOR PEOPLE WHO HELPED HIM DURING HIS CAMPAIGN…

    GIVE ME A F’N BREAK…HE IS GETTING MONEY FROM THIS EVENTS AND HE HAS NO INTENTION OF RUNNING AGAIN….HE IS TRYING TO GET BACK HIS MONEY…

    AND PLEASE READ

    http://politicsmoneyreligion.blogspot.com/2009/04/free-tea-bags-for-mitt-romeny.html

    BTW…A MISSIONARY TOLD ME THAT GLEN BECK WAS A MORMON…MORE ON THAT LATER

    HAVE A GOOD NIGHT

  7. Fear not, I am booking the charter on our Turley express Gulfstream G550. I ‘ll send the bill to carl. Viva, Havana!! It holds 14, we just have to figure out who else is going. I have dibs on the seat next to Mike S and Patty C and rafflaw!!!

    mespo,

    Surely, you jest BUT talk about extraordinary renditions
    ie ‘Don’t call me, ‘Shirley’…’

  8. Seamus,

    You are a good guy; however, please, next time give us some warning of the video content. Some of us cannot handle the shock/surprise.

    Thanks.

  9. Mespo,

    Great video. Did the Uniiversity of Tennessee sue this guy for defamation?

  10. Smom,

    What times is dinner served? May I bring anything except my very healthy appetite?

  11. Now, that was funny, a typical government law enforcement/prosecutorial fishin’ expedition.

  12. lone eagle:

    Fishing tip:

    Hold the fat end of the pole. BTW here’s a little video I found of you fishing:

  13. jelly:

    “Worth saying again:
    We hope Dr. Tiller was marched past every late term baby he aborted, for a few thousand bucks each for more sports cars, on his way to Hell.”

    ***********

    Well your wish could come true except:

    1. The dead can’t march
    2. Late term aborted babies aren’t on any road
    3. Hell’s not a real place
    4. You have no idea where Dr. Tiller (presumably his spirit)is and neither does anyone else

    Other than that, truly a great comment! Say it again just one more time, won’t you. It confirms everything I love about you.

  14. Ya gotta love those liberals! They are always willing to munch on fish & animals others kill for them as they live their holier than thou lives.

    Next time try catching, killing, and cleaning your own fish.

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