In honor of the Supreme Court hearing process, I will avoid answering any questions asked me today, in case I might have to rule on them in the future as a judge. I will also adopt a baby orangutan and name him Stare Decisis.

2.

I will avoid answering any questions asked me today,

How will Franken know which Perry Mason episode she was talking about? Isn't that an important part of the process?

Isn't that an important part of the process?

Not that bringing in a witness to testify because of a ruling against him makes the repubs look any better.

Roe was there yesterday will Wade show up today?

Roe was there yesterday will Wade show up today?

Someone has to bail Roe out of jail.

"America is bigger than the Bronx, is bigger than South Carolina." -- somebody bought Sen. Lindsay Graham a globe

Graham describes radical as "left of center." Hilarious.

Why is Graham defending the right of lawyers to be advocates without affecting their later work as a judge -- by bringing in Roberts and Alito? Doesn't that just help her case?

who wants to listen to this liar? with the liar in chief we have now, why not confirm her? makes a perfect pair, of nuts.

Turns out that Rush Limbaugh had slammed Graham's first day performance, quoting the SC Sen that she would be approved sans a meltdown.

His tougher approach is as much a Rush ass-kissing and apology as all the others from GOP leaders.

You can't expect to be the Sen from SC without the Dittohead vote.

Graham is a sanatoriums asshole, anyway.

sanctimonious, lol

she is so tedious to listen to... slow, measured, and moronic.

Graham describes radical as "left of center." Hilarious.

Can the Chair reject witnesses brought in to testify? Or can either side bring anyone they want to help their cause?

Corky: Graham's last comment gave his seal of approval to her apology for how the "wise Latina" remark was received. If he was trying to please El Rushbo, he did a really bad job of it.

We'll have to see if Rush "fires" him.

sanctimonious, lol

#12 | Posted by Corky

I liked it better the first way!

Graham is a sanatoriums asshole, anyway.

#11 | Posted by Corky

So much Fruedian stuff goin on there, I wouldn't know where to start commenting

she is so tedious to listen to... slow, measured, and moronic.

I'll agree with the slow and measured part, but it's the way this game is played. Senators have a limited amount of time to question her. If she talks slow and reflectively, she eats up their minutes.

It's interesting to compare the newer senators like Klobuchar and Franken to the older ones. The newbies talk more like real people and do a lot less gasbagging.

"moronic" is in the eye of the beholder.

Cornyn has constituents in Berkeley? Berkeley, California?

"Yesterday you yawned when I was speaking, and today you laughed. Isn't that contradictory?" - John Cornhole(R)

Cornyn states that Sotomayor is respected but then states that the concern is about her being able to rule without bringing personal agendas into her decisions.

How can you respect.someone they believe is capable of doing that??

Klobuchar was about the only one yesterday who actually asked questions that were open-ended enough to get Sotomayor to offer up some extended answers about her views on the law.

And she was one of the only ones who really seemed to be listening to the answers instead of thinking about what she was going to say next.

Sort of what you would imagine a REAL confirmation hearing should look like.

but it's the way this game is played.

RCADE makes a good point ..... and when you are being questioned by the prosecution (or the plaintiff), always pause for a long moment after the question is asked, then point out,( in a way that doesn't make you look stupid)
that the question does not make sense and needs to be put again in a different way.....
lawyers hate that , it frustrates them .... and in the case of hearing like this, as RC said, eats more clock time

#1 | Posted by rcade at 2009-07-16 09:38 AM

FF! and you've got a point about the slow, measured part. i also find liars do the same thing.

at least she isn't saying, "um, uhhh" in between words.

at least she isn't saying, "um, uhhh" in between words.

At least he admits to a bad case of cognitive dissonance, although I suspect that's nothing new.

Sotomayor just knocked Hume Cronyn's question about same-sex marriage (interpreting the law vs. making the law) right out of the park. Muy intelligente.

she sounds drunk. someone should hit her with a breathalyzer. she's an empty suit.

What are you talking about, sounding drunk? She speaks slowly and deliberately as to choose her words wisely or they may be taken out of context.

she's an empty suit.

(yawn)

Cornyn pulls out another Puerto Rican card. The GOP can't leave it alone. Like dipshit (Graham) trying to figure out how Sotomayor didn't vote with the other Puerto Rican.

Sotomayor just knocked Hume Cronyn's question about same-sex marriage (interpreting the law vs. making the law) right out of the park. Muy intelligente.
#31 | Posted by rcade

Can you summarize?

hume cronyn has been dead since 2003. there are dead people interviewing this not-so-wise latina woman?

She speaks slowly and deliberately as to choose her words wisely or they may be taken out of context.

#33 | Posted by Lisa at 2009-07-16 11:00 AM | Reply |

You gotta talk slow when addressing dummies...no quick movements either...or flashy objects.

she is so tedious to listen to... slow, measured, and moronic.
#13 | POSTED BY EDB

If she seems moronic to you, maybe she isn't going slow enough!

Seeing, "Arlen Spector(D)", in print on the screen is just a bit eerie and unsettling. I keep hearing the theme from Twilight Zone in the background.

Can you summarize?

She was asked (paraphrasing) if you ruled there's a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, would that be interpreting the law or making the law?

Sotomayor responded that answering the question as posed would suggest a predisposition to rule one way or the other on the issue if it came before her on the court, discussed how the issue is being fought on all three levels of government at this time, and said that any decision she'd make would be based on the facts as they came before her in a case.

Though part of her answer was the standard dodge a la Roberts and Alito, she turned it into an opportunity to reassert the principle that she takes the cases as they come to her without prejudice.

Notice how her answers sound a lot like OB's in he sense they're always indirect and non-incriminating. Politicians > Lawyers > Lawyers > Politicians. Red, Blue, or commie Red, they are all the same.

(con't #41) ...okay, maybe a little unfair. She is quite mindful of every step, true. I just have concerns as to whether it's only meant to protect her from the onslaught from the wolves or disguising her biases.

Even though being in the SCOTUS is kinda like being the ultimate politician AND lawyer, these hearings are to make sure they dont act like either.

Have Senators always asked nomiees questions they aren't in a position to voice an opinion on? When did that start happening? And have the nominees always dodged?

I just have concerns as to whether it's only meant to protect her from the onslaught from the wolves or disguising her biases.
#42 | Posted by BMECH at 2009-07-16 11:26 AM

Specter seemed to ask her a question that eliminated any worry of bias or further harm. It was about the separation of powers and how important it should be to the Supreme Court. Sounded like a rhetorical question. Yet she dodged and wouldn't answer.

#40 | Posted by rcade

arigato
*bows

Snoofy: The last Supreme Court nominee who will ever answer a direct question on any contentious legal subject was Robert Bork. We got a little more candor than we do today before the Roberts nomination, but he set the new standard for bobbing and weaving and dodging. Every nominee to follow -- for the foreseeable future -- will copy his approach.

Sotomayor's giving us a nice education on past legal decisions and her ability to answer questions in a, ahem, judicious manner. But do I have any idea of how she'd vote on an abortion case or same-sex marriage or torture or anything else? Not in the least.

Tom Coburn of OK may be who Ian Anderson was thinking of when he wrote, "Thick as a Brick".

Coburn's kind of entertaining. I wonder if he's still concerned about teenage lesbians converting their peers in high school bathrooms.

-I wonder if he's still concerned about teenage lesbians converting their peers in high school bathrooms.

I think he settled for it was OK as long as he was allowed to "observe".

Who's the woman over Coburn's left shoulder fighting the urge to make faces?

Coburn doesn't think women should be able to get abortions when their health is in jeopardy.

That'll win some folks over to your side, buddy.

The "health of the woman aspect".... he spit that out with such disgust... I hope it makes the news clips....

80%?

Would you like to name the countries and how they are so much better than America, Coburn?

spat

well at least the republicans have treated her a hell of a lot better than the goddamn democrats on this committee EVER treated ANY republican

and yesterday TURBIN DURBIN made a comment about how its not in a republicans dna to show something or other to a minority or hispanic

oh YEAH you miserable piece of trash........so I guess you and your goddamn democrat buddies didnt either when M estrada was before you...

worthless scum...........

and has she said ANYTHING today to back up her comments or is she just reguritating the same old shit JUST TO GET APPOINTED....as if she has to worry........

Nice interruption, Sen. Coburn! "I've got 30 seconds left and I want to ask another question."

well at least the republicans have treated her a hell of a lot better than the goddamn democrats on this committee EVER treated ANY republican

The Democrats were as fair to Roberts and Alito as the Republicans have been to Sotomayor. They got mostly kid-glove treatment and she has too.

A third round? NO!!!!!

One would think that Sens would have some idea of how the judicial and congressional branches work.

"I find my speeches are how I really believe"... Coburn is a cheap shot artist, and not a very good one at that.

#56

Drool and babble.

"It's interesting to compare the newer senators like Klobuchar and Franken to the older ones. The newbies talk more like real people and do a lot less gasbagging."

That's because they haven't yet been swept up by the combine of lobbying, posturing, moneywasting and corruption that is DC politics. Give them a few years.

Franken time!

Hello Al!

"Vermont has decided not to have the restrictive (gun) laws you have in Alabama"

Leahy to Sessions.

Great line.

Franken: Why do you want to be a Supreme Court justice?

Nice question.

#56

Go back to bed BL2, you're obviously still dreaming anyway!!

Al got the best personal moments so far out of her.

Ah, back to Jeff Sessions. I didn't know he called a white civil rights attorney a "race traitor" once. You'd think he, of all people, would be inclined to give people a pass on their controversial remarks.

Rethugs want a chance to leave some more doubt in the public's mind by repeating yet again their asinine insinuations about her past statements.

Al got the best personal moments so far out of her.

Yep. If he's a clown, then I say send in the clowns.

Ah, back to Jeff Sessions. I didn't know he called a white civil rights attorney a "race traitor" once. You'd think he, of all people, would be inclined to give people a pass on their controversial remarks.

#69 | Posted by rcade

I believe he was actually denied a federal judgeship for that and some similar issues about 20 years ago.

Yep. If he's a clown, then I say send in the clowns.

#71 | Posted by rcade

Stop channeling Ozzie.

She's an "activist", she has "loose interpretations of the law"... this clown has no sense of fairness at all.

Now that he's thru setting her up, he's going to repeat every GOP talking point against her for the next ten minutes.

I believe he was actually denied a federal judgeship for that and some similar issues about 20 years ago.

I don't like Sessions, but I think it was a smooth move to use the controversy over his rejected judgeship to run for office and win in Alabammy.

but I think it was a smooth move to use the controversy over his rejected judgeship to run for office and win in Alabammy.
#76 | Posted by rcade

Says more about Alabama than about Sessions.

yeah right

Im dreaming..I wish

here is the link that this miserable fuck makes the 'racism is in republicans dna remark.
its in paragraph towards bottom....

and this man is a us senator..but I guess if you elect franken then your idea of a u s senator is pretty fucked to begin with.....

and AS ALWAYS>..JUST IMAGINE if this comment were directed to someone other than a republican..

it would outdo michael jackson coverage...

"Are you really Puerto Rican, or did you just belong to this group?" -Orin Hatch-et Man.

Says more about Alabama than about Sessions.

#77 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine

I KNOW
I KNOW
I KNOW
I KNOW

this is an SAT moment

what do alabama and sesssions have in common with minnesota and al franken..........

who by the way..is a big fat liberal fuck

"Are you really Puerto Rican, or did you just belong to this group?" -Orin Hatch-et Man.
#79 | Posted by Corky

Please tell me he did NOT say that?

#38 | Posted by TN_Independent

Hey, look who's back the DR's resident member of the "intelligencia".

Bibble, you're gonna stroke out if you don't calm down.

#81

It was subliminal.

Orin always likes to act like he's a prosecutor asking yes or no questions that he knows the answer is no, but that allows him to associate her with whatever unpopular policy he likes.

Bibble, you're gonna stroke out if you don't calm down.

#83 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine at

well people around me did look funny when I was jumping up and down yelling I know to you SAT question..

but its okay....IM about to head for lunch and have a cold one

ALTHOUGH we are in the midst of a COLD FRONT;;

only getting to 99 today...

Orin always likes to act like he's a prosecutor asking yes or no questions that he knows the answer is no, but that allows him to associate her with whatever unpopular policy he likes.
#84 | Posted by Corky

I thought Mormon's held themselves to a higher standard.

If you read his history, the standard of a Joseph Smith isn't a reach for most people

If you read his history, the standard of a Joseph Smith isn't a reach for most people
#87 | Posted by Corky

I know, I've read the history and lived with a Mormon family so I know how the rhetoric usually floats a few inches above the pavement.

I was being facetious.

-I was being facetious.

lol, that's my middle name, but I get taken seriously far too often around here

Sotomayor defies Coburn on gun rights argument
35 mins ago

WASHINGTON Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor bluntly told a Republican senator there was no way she would say in the setting of a congressional hearing just how she'd rule on an important constitutional question.

Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma pressed Sotomayor for the second day in a row to say under what circumstances she might accept or rule that there is a "fundamental" right to bear arms, as opposed to an "individual," or less pervasive, right.

As she had earlier, Sotomayor declined to answer the question directly. Instead, she asked Coburn if he would want a justice to agree with him without hearing arguments or listening to the parties to a case. Sotomayor said, "I don't know that that's a justice that I can be."

#82 | POSTED BY TXLIBERTARIAN

Thank you, whoever you are. Good to be back.

I wasn't aware I had left. Just work for a living and have realized that I just dont have the time I used to to argue sense with a bunch of rude fools.

One has to say that the NRA got their money's worth, however much they pay these GNOPers to keep the 2nd amendment on the front burner.

SOUNDS LIKE AN ANTI-WHITE LYNCH-MOB IS FORMING IN WASHINGTON

First we get a President with a Black Nationalist background, now he appoints a Supreme Court nominee with an Hispanic Nationalist background! I don't agree with the establishment of a Whitey-Hating Government in Washington, it makes me fear for the bairn! There are ALOT more Hispanics and African-Americans who would be totally okay in these roles, but not these particular guys! It feels like an anti-white LYNCH-MOB is forming at the highest levels of the government! What am I supposed to think!!!...........

Graham is grandstanding his own opinions on the taxpayer's dime here, wrapping himself in the flag to show how he is more about retribution than the next guy.

#92

Yes, Puerto Rican women have had their foot on the necks of white males in this country for far too long.

Idiot.

"First we get a President with a Black Nationalist background, now he appoints a Supreme Court nominee with an Hispanic Nationalist background!"

Just think how upset you'd be if we had elected that lady who was a member of the Secessionist Party in Alaska....

"People call me simple." -T Coburn

You'd think he'd be used to it by now.

At least Palin doesn't hate Eskimos!!!!!!!!!

The last Supreme Court nominee who will ever answer a direct question on any contentious legal subject was Robert Bork. We got a little more candor than we do today before the Roberts nomination, but he set the new standard for bobbing and weaving and dodging.

Didn't Ginsburg set some kind of new record as to the number of questions she wouldn't answer?

Every nominee to follow -- for the foreseeable future -- will copy his approach.

We can all thank the DNC for that. Every nominee is pretty much a crapshoot nowadays.

-Every nominee is pretty much a crapshoot nowadays.

It's hilarious all the so-called Conservative justices that have been appointed by rightwingers to "straighten out the court", who, when confronted by the Constitution itself, are unable to do so and maintain any judicial integrity.

Of course, judicial integrity may not be such a concern to the last couple of Tighties that have been appointed.

We can all thank the DNC for that.

How can we thank the DNC for the approach taken by Roberts and Alito?

The DNC Borked and it is now a stealth process.

EVERY appointed justice since Bork has taken this approach.

I don't know about this lady's level of intelligence. People say she's so smart but on several different occasions she used the word eminent when it was supposed to be imminent. Seems to me a supreme court judge should at least know how to use the English language.

are we done with her eminence yet? put her before a vote and get this charade over with.

dont forget "providence" and "story of knowledge".

a moron, i say.

Ricci is moving his finger along the paper as he reads from it. I wonder if that's due to dyslexia or nervousness.

I JUST CANNOT TAKE ALL THIS EXCITEMENT!

...not when nazi yard gnome's future is at stake.

Ricci is moving his finger along the paper as he reads from it. I wonder if that's due to dyslexia or nervousness.

#105 | Posted by rcade

Just trying to keep straight which job he got BECAUSE of a discrimination lawsuit, and which he LOST because of one.

Is it just me, or is this thread font slowly growing larger and larger and larger.... ah, kudzu font!

Wait, I think the same thing is happening with Mr Kirsanow's moustache!

Or is that his nose growing with all the hyperbole he's spouting?

What business does Ricci even have at this hearing?

Is it just me, or is this thread font slowly growing larger and larger and larger.... ah, kudzu font!
#108 | Posted by Corky

Your communion wafer was dosed.

"I am here today not as a wise Latina woman ..." -- Linda Chavez's opening

Funny lead in to her slagging Sotomayor as unfit for the court.

If Chavez had trouble getting a maid before ...

"Your communion wafer was dosed."

A little drop'll do ya!

Sandoz!
Sandoz!
Ha! Ha! Ha!

You heard what Stephen Colbert said about the GOP going after Sotomayor for not paying herself enough or reporting herself for not paying taxes on housework she did for herself?

Chavez is the Hispanic equivalent of an Oreo, whatever that may be.

-Your communion wafer was dosed.

Whew!

I'm OK with that.

(although technically a round wafer is a hold-over from Babylonian mystery religions, a symbol of the sun used in the worship of Semiramis which was adopted by Christians in Rome. Earlier Christians broke bread. I know, more than you wanted to know.)

I'm OK with that.
at 2009-07-16 03:11 PM | Reply | Flag: wants to see god before he sees god.

"I know, more than you wanted to know."

Nah, I knew that already.

God- I played golf with her once while digesting some mushrooms found under a large East Texas cow paddy. I lost, but I think she cheated.

-Nah, I knew that already.

See? You are smarter than Rogers looks.

Chavez is such a shill. Don't try taking a drink every time she says, 'wise Latino woman".

See? You are smarter than Rogers looks.
#120 | Posted by Corky

Gee, thanks... uhm, hey, wait just one second.... I've seen a picture of rcade doing a jonah goldberg impersonation.

Rcade is one of the few we have ever seen a pic of here, so I kid him.

Ha! Lindsey Graham is kicking some Chavez ass!

He may be defending his vote already.

Rcade is one of the few we have ever seen a pic of here, so I kid him.
#123 | Posted by Corky

Speaking of pics of folks here that we've seen, feel like reminiscing about a certain absent posters wedding pics again?

Just kidding. I don't have the heart for it.

-certain absent posters wedding pics again?

I don't think I remember that one.

See? You are smarter than Rogers looks.

Heh. Better watch what you say about my looks, considering how much I resemble Falling Down guy.

lmao! There are reasons the rest of us don't post our pic here. Well, for most except me and Hagbard.... we just don't want everyone else to feel bad.....

roflmao. that's awesome Rcade ;)

-certain absent posters wedding pics again?

I don't think I remember that one.

#126 | Posted by Corky

The dude was pretty awful-looking. His bride wasn't much better. A few posters called her 'lovely' in a politically-correct Michelle Obama is 'lovely' kinda way.

Well, for most except me and Hagbard.... we just don't want everyone else to feel bad.....
#128 | Posted by Corky

What I was thinking. Especially since I've been swimming laps lately.

#131 Now I remember. How embarrassing.

-Michelle Obama is 'lovely' kinda way.

I think she's attractive. More from the front than the rear, but....

More from the front than the rear, but....
#133 | Posted by Corky at 2009-07-16 03:59 PM | Reply | Flag: lapsing into primaries mode

I was thinking the exact opposite.

Shame on you though. You're supposed to be better than that. Me, I'm out in the wilderness so I get a pass.

I think she's attractive.
Posted by Corky

Just remember you're good buddy Wisgod signed his donor card if your ever receive that retina transplant.

you're=your....sorry in advance, Danforth

What kind of question is that, Sen. Kyl? "How did you feel when you got the Supreme Court decision in your favor?" Sheesh. What does he expect them to say -- "Eh, I could take it or leave it"?

"sorry in advance, Danforth"

No need. Who gives a fuck, unless you're insulting someone else's intelligence? We all make mistakes. It's the 'ignore the pole in my eye while I concentrate on the speck in yours" attitude that gets razzed.

"I hope all of you will have confidence in our legal system in the future." -- Sen. Kyl to Frank Ricci

Since Ricci filed two suits and threatened another in his career already, I think he's not lacking confidence in that area.

-You're supposed to be better than that

I don't know why.

What a freak show. The GNOPers on this committee brought in these firefighters so they could be seen shmoozing with them in public.

Did I mention that Chavez is a slut?

The funniest part of the hearings so far:

"I don't know about this lady's level of intelligence. People say she's so smart but on several different occasions she used the word eminent when it was supposed to be imminent."

I would like to know what people think about this. I believe that it is somewhat important for a SC justice to know proper grammar. Does it not bother any of you that she did this not just once but several times?

And then there was Mayor Bloomberg, who kept calling her "Santomayor..."