*** Official Sotomayor confirmation hearing thread 1 ***

[MiniMe]

Starting early today for today's hearing. Today at 9:30 edt.

Today is Day Two of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor. The Senate Judiciary Cmte. begins two days of direct questioning of the nominee, with each senator allowed 30 minutes for their queries.

cspan link: http://www.cspan.org/Supreme-Court-Sotomayor-Senate-Confirmation-Hearings.aspx

The hearing today should be on cspan3, but this link should keep you at wherever the hearing appears.

Will any of the repugs make Sotomayor's mother cry? Or her family cry? After yesterday's opening statements, nothing would be a surprise. However, I really liked Sotomayer's statement yesterday. She is tough. Her philosophy is fidelity to the law, an outstanding statement made yesterday. Come join at 9:30, and keep kicked until the hearing starts if you can.

:hi:

[cali]

1. good morning, mm.

thanks for the thread. wish I could join you today, but I'm off to work shortly. I'll read your threads when I get home.

:hi:

[MiniMe]

2. We'll miss you today Cali. Hope you get some chance to listen in

[MiniMe]

3. OK, I'm confused. The cspan schedule has the hearing scheduled for only 2.5 hours

Makes it look like it ends at noon. There are 19 committee members. If every one gets 30 minutes for questions, and the hearing is only 2.5 hours today, that is only enough time to get in 5 Senators. I suspect that there will be a lunch break at noon and they will be back.

The hearing can also be viewed directly from the Judiciary Committee webpage at http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=3976 The screen image is bigger at the cdspan link.

[tekisui]

4. kick!

I'll be checking in between classes and work.

[MiniMe]

5. 15 minute heads up

Hearing starts in 15 minutes

[MiniMe]

6. Sotomayor now in the hearing room

I love the new views on that cspan link

[MiniMe]

7. Leahy up now, give an introduction

Questioning will be starting

[PCIntern]

8. Even when I like the Senator, I can't stand the

over-the-top verbosity.

It makes my skin crawl.

[MiniMe]

10. That's the Senate for you

[jaxx]

9. Judge Sotomayor is wearing red.......power color.

Excellent!

[Hepburn]

She is, like me, a winter ~~ red is an outstanding color for Winter complextions.

OK, yes, it is a "girl" thing ~~ but color matching has always fascinated me.

:hi:

[KharmaTrain]

11. Get Ready For GOOP Gymnastics...

Listen for the buzzwords and dog whistles to their right wing horde. Today could be the day the GOOP totally loses both Hispanic and women for a generation.

[MiniMe]

12. Absolutely, starting with Sessions

Then Whorin Hatch. Grassley, Cornyn, and Graham will bring it home, slurring her whenever they can. She is very good though from what I have seen already.

[MiniMe]

13. Leahy bringing up the Ricci case now

I think he is heading off some repub spin on it

[MiniMe]

14. Leahy basically says that she was following precedents, so she was damned if she did

and damned if she didn't decide the way they did. Sotomayor is giving a great answer.

[usregimechange]

15. Oooo tell me more

[MiniMe]

16. OK. Sotomayor explained what laws they were applying when they decided

that case. Leahy said that the Supreme Court added a different precedent when they decided that case. Sotomayor agreed, and Leahy asked if that decision would change how future cases would be handled. She said absolutely, because that decision has to be taken into account now, and they have given the court and the employer another way to interpret results.

[MiniMe]

17. Leahy now brings up the Latina comment

Sotomayor explains what she meant by it. And surprise, surprise, it isn't racist or biased or all.

[MiniMe]

18. Now brings up the 2nd amendment

Damn, Leahy is totally cutting off most of the repubs arguments and questions. Go Pat!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

19. Smart move.

[MiniMe]

20. Sessions up now, and is being very nice so far

Leahy made it difficult for Sessions hehe. Oops, of course Sessions starts up with the Latina comment.

[Mist]

21. Sessions has this fiction going that judges, ANY judges, never use their life

experiences and backgrounds when judging. But Sessions, you mealy-mouthed pissant, white male judges have been applying their own specific standards for eons!

[MiniMe]

22. Damn, Sotomayor tells him that what the comment about setting policy,

when taken in context, means.....and she explains. And what she says makes sense. And the asshole Sessions says that he isn't sure that is what she meant at all. Argh

[oviedodem]

23. What do you expect? the man is a Moron and MUST play politics

[KharmaTrain]

25. Gene Robinson Nailed This One...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/13/AR2009071302605.html

Republicans' outrage, both real and feigned, at Sotomayor's musings about how her identity as a "wise Latina" might affect her judicial decisions is based on a flawed assumption: that whiteness and maleness are not themselves facets of a distinct identity. Being white and male is seen instead as a neutral condition, the natural order of things. Any "identity" -- black, brown, female, gay, whatever -- has to be judged against this supposedly "objective" standard.

Judge Sotomayor is ramming up this weasel's behind...what a racist, ignorant douchenozzle.

[Hepburn]

28. Excellent analysis, IMO. Thanks for posting this. n/t

[Mist]

48. Gene Robinson is more trenchent than I've been in saying this, about the

automatic default "norm" being white and male.

[madokie]

24. sessions is a fool

Sotomayor is tearing him a new one if you ask me

[MiniMe]

26. I agree. I wonder what she is writing on her notepad?

Sessions is an ignorant asshole
Sessions is an ignorant asshole
Sessions is an ignorant asshole

[Catshrink]

29. And doing it very eloquently.

And not taking any crap either. I like her even more now that we can see and hear from her.

[madokie]

31. I'm loving her

She will be an asset to our CC

[MiniMe]

27. Sessions is very "troubled"

I would agree with Sessions about that, he is a very troubled person. Asshole.

[cal04]

30. can someone please end his time already

he's such an ass
how many times is he going to ask the same question

[MiniMe]

32. Agreed

I looked at the clock just before you posted this to see how much more time he has. I'll go move it ahead by 5 minutes. LOL.

[Hepburn]

33. Until he gets the answer he wants....this could be forever.

Asshole, bitgot POS that he is.

[MiniMe]

35. He has a 30 minute questioning period thankfully

She isn't going to give Sessions a thing. She needs a way to get her frustration out after the repub questioning.

[Hepburn]

39. Listening to him...this is what crosses my mind:

[MiniMe]

41. His time is up. Leahy needs to cut him off!

[Hepburn]

52. I am tellin' ya....my TV screens and monitor are at risk everytime....

....I hear one of those bigoted assholes.

[Arkana]

34. Go fuck yourself Jeff Sessions.

Preferably with a dildo the size of your damn thigh.

Also I think Patrick Leahy is trying not to laugh at him.

[Hepburn]

36. What a horse's complete and total ass is Jeff Sessions.

He was after SS for something he believe Leahy said. Making a statement to slam her by using what he thought another said.

Sessions has a law degree and practiced law??? OMFG....:puke:

What an embarassment to the profession!

[Mist]

49. A racist, sexist, mediocre little, little man. Yeah, I hate him. nt

[Hepburn]

60. +1....n/t

[cyberswede]

37. Unfortunately...

...we're going to hear these same issues over and over from every Republican on the committee.
I'm sick of it already.

[Arkana]

38. What Republicans are on it besides Asshole Jeff and Big John?

[cyberswede]

42. Chuck Grassley, Lindsey Graham...

I know they're both going to piss me off. :)

Grassley is particularly embarrassing, since he's one og my senators.

[MiniMe]

44. Jefrfie, Whorin Hatch, Chuck Grassley, John Cornyn, Lindey Graham

And I'm missing 2.

[Hepburn]

40. It is sooooooooo stupid....

....and sooooo irrelevant!

:mad:

[TheCoxwain]

43. Sessions is belaboring his point ad infinitum .... Go on ..

we all know you have nothing substantial to ask

[MiniMe]

45. Finally Sessions is done

Is it too early for a drink? Kohl up now.

[Dawgs]

46. Nice move by Leahy to put on record all of the organizations that approve of SS for justice.

Especially right after Sessions asked his stupid, race themed questions.

[cyberswede]

47. Kohl is making good rebuttals

"...rather than lifting lines from speeches, often out of context" the committee should look at her record.
Yay!

[MiniMe]

50. Kohl brings up Bush v Gore

Asks if the court should have even brought it up

[defendandprotect]

94. What was SS's reply to that . . . ?? and . .

Where in the Constitution does it say the Supreme Court gets to decide on who

is president?

[Fire1]

51. The irony is astounding! All implications of racist remarks

and 'concern' regarding prejudices are coming from the most racist people on the planet. Oh, pardon me. I forgot, we're now using "reverse discrimination" as the current convenient argument.

I will also NEVER encourage students to be all they can be regardless of their background, race or experiences, as I would fear condemnation from conservatives.:eyes:

JEFF SESSIONS IS A DICK!!!

[Hepburn]

53. Really is mind boggling that a POS racist like Sessions can...

...accuse someone else of being a racist. :eyes:

[Are_grits_groceries]

54. If all the Rethugs are going to do

is bring up cases involving race, they may energize their base, but they lose Hispanics and other minorities. After she has explained the "wise latina" comment, her vote on the Ricci case, and the "making policy" remark a couple of times, it will appear that they have nothing more to but hammer her on three issues.

She has a long record on the bench and other areas. This will not go over well with a lot of people.

Why do they need to energize their base?? I think they are energized quite a bit after reading Freeperville and other items. Do they just want to feed their prejudices until they are even more out of control? These are the people who are going to leave them and go off with Sarah Palin no matter what they do. They will be left with no voters.

[Gregorian]

55. She appears quite deliberate. And I like her Constitutional context.

She seems to see things from the eyes of the Framers. I hope so, at least.

[BlooInBloo]

56. What is Tweety smoking? Roe's being settled law is not a new fact.

[MiniMe]

57. Whorin Hatch is up after Kohl

Kohl has done a pretty good job imho

[MiniMe]

59. 10 minute break before Whorin

[TheCoxwain]

58. I think leahy wants to take a crap ..... an unscheduled 10 min break

[MiniMe]

65. I think Leahy is giving her a break before Whorin

Then she will have another Dem, Feinstein I think, and another break for lunch before she faces Chucky. A good plan imho.

[Hepburn]

61. Anyone else listening to Tweety on MSNBC?

Man, is he EVAH going off on SS's remark about "settled" law viz the abortion issue.

Wow....!!

[blogslut]

62. Heard some of it

This is one issue where Matthews is very wrong and is letting his personal viewpoints get in the way of his objectivity.

[Hepburn]

63. Boy....

...is he EVAH! He and Andrea mixed it up a bit on what was meant by the SS statement. I understand where she is coming from: There is nothing about the rule of law of Roe v. Wade that at the present time is subject to review...which means it is settled law.

Too bad Tweety thinks so emotionally about this issue ~~ and makes an ass of himself when he discusses it.

JMHO

[BlooInBloo]

64. Is msnbc refusing to show any of the hearings except for the people against Sotomayor?

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

80. That seems to be the case

!

[defendandprotect]

95. PBS . . . our Channel 13 . . . is carrying it live . . .

They should on some long weekend replay ever second of the Clarence Thomas

Hearings!!!

The world should better understand what went on there.

[MiniMe]

66. Meeting has returned from Break, Hatch up

[Hepburn]

67. Whorin' Borin' Hatch....

...sooooo freaking pedantic! :puke:

[MiniMe]

68. Hatch concentrating on the 2nd amendment

Refuses to answer at least one of his questions because cases are likely to come before the supremes soon. Says that she approaches every case with a fresh look.

[LSK]

69. So let me get this straight

Empathy bad

Empathy good if benefiting white males

Is that the gist of it?

[MiniMe]

70. I think you've got it

[Hepburn]

71. By gawd....

...I think you've got it!

Aside: As a lawyer ~~ it is VERY difficult for me to believe that Hatch attended and graduated from law school and thereafer practiced any form of law in which there was a necessity to understand the US Const.

Unreal...:wow:

[KharmaTrain]

72. If They Were Decent Lawyers They'd Still Be Practicing...

To paraphrase..those who know, do...those who don't run as rushpublicans.

:rofl:

[Hepburn]

75. Amen!

:hi:

[Hansel]

73. Yes. Someone should point this out.

Of course, that would be "reversed discrimination". :sarcasm:

[cal04]

74. Feinstein why do you keep bringing up Estrada

good for her
you pass with an A++
this nominee characterized as an activist
this bothers me

[LSK]

76. Feinstein smacking down the Estrada argument

[MiniMe]

77. Sessions brings up Miguel Estrada again re: correcting record

Leahy lets him speak and says that it actually had nothing to do with Estrada himself, but with some info withheld by the Bush admin. Leahy then quickly passed it on to Feinstein.

[helderheid]

78. Just tuned in - looks like I missed some fireworks!

[MiniMe]

79. Hi Helderheid, welcome.

Not really fireworks, but the repubs so far seem to pick one topic and then stick to it. Sotomayor has been very good at stating her case. They are trying to get some answer and she won't give it to them. :hi:

[helderheid]

81. Excellent!!

Thanks for making the thread! Been a LONG time since I got to watch stuff with my DU buds!

[MiniMe]

83. Glad you're here.

I agree, I was determined we were going to blog this hearing. As you can see, in the beginning, I was pretty much alone. Glad that other people have chimed in too. I also miss this.

[LSK]

82. Is CNN and/or MSNBC playing this in full???

I have the CSPAN3 feed, but if its all on tv????

[MiniMe]

84. Don't know about cnn, but msnbc cuts covers other news on occasion.

It seems like it is when the dem Senators are up. Not sure if that is on purpose or not.

[Hepburn]

86. I have noticed that, too ~~ the Dems are cut off by MSNBC. n/t

[LSK]

87. Leahy: Estrada is not the nominee

:rofl:

[MiniMe]

85. Oh, and make sure that you use the cspan link in the OP

The screen comes through a lot better on that one, and I haven't had any delays with it so far. It is also a bit bigger window than the usual cspan feed.

[LSK]

90. I went there 1st and it wasnt loading good

So I went to the stream I always use.

[defendandprotect]

96. Don't know . .. but PBS and C-SPAN 3 are doing it live and in full . . .

I hope!

[helderheid]

88. Recess - when did he say they'd be back?

[MiniMe]

89. Lunch break until 2pm edt. New thread will be started for the afternoon session

All comments and help is appreciated. See you at 2.

[helderheid]

91. Thanks you!!

:hug:

[Hepburn]

92. Thanks, MM!

Having brunch here in the West Coast so I will be ready when they come back!

:hi:

[BlooInBloo]

93. Is it just me, or does Abrams look like he's coming off of an all night binger?