Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

Debunked! — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:12:15 GMT

I hope this lady knows what she is doing. If it is revealed that Obama is not constitutionally eligible to be President, then I think it will only be a matter of time before there will be loud cries for her to be removed from the Supreme Court. The argument will be valid-----her appointment can not be honored/legitimate if she was selected by a person who was not constituionally eligible to be POTUS.

It is only a matter of time before Obama's constiutional eligibility is front and center ESPECIALLY if the economy continues to go down (which I predict it will). Check out this article...........I got it from Drudge report but I almost passed out when I had seen this topic on the Huffington Post... I know many of you think I am talking crazy but I still say that everything is simply a matter of time.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/story/776335.html

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

brydges — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:30:45 GMT

"Yes, she confessed, she had made such statements repeatedly. But when she did so, she said, her aim was to inspire young people, women and Hispanics to aim high in law and in life"\

So is David Duke actually just an inspirational motivator for young white kids?

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

rrobeson — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:38:36 GMT

so 'debunked' you're believing in the inevitability of a possibility of a fact, the rumour of which has been spouted for years now, but yet unproven though many have tried. What next, you believe that California is about to fall into the ocean, Armeggedon is upon us, raining cats and dogs? The only thing that's a matter of time is your own inevitable death. I don't think you have it in you to comprehend or differentiate any other fact in the world from fiction.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

brydges — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:12:28 GMT

rrobeson - keep up with current events, It has just been revealed that Obama registered for school as a foriegn citizen. Read a real news outlet and find out, or keep your head in the sand with the rest of the sheep. You weren't the only one suckered in by Comrade Obama and yet so many still support him. The only answer for this is you don't want to admit you were wrong or you voted for him becauase of his apearance only. Any one who voted for his policies knows not one has actually happened.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

misskaren — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:12:58 GMT

Sessions is outmatched, out-thought and out maneuvered. He never got over his own failure to be named a Federal justice and is outraged that a Latina woman is up for the SCOTUS while he is not.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

Debunked! — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:15:17 GMT

TO RROBESON------

It took years for Watergate to be exposed. It took years for the Civil Rights law to be enacted. It took years for the New Haven Fire Fighters to finally have their day of justice. It took years for America to have a black president (we just have the wrong one)..........etc....

What would have happened had they given up because they had many rocks thrown their way every step of the way? Persistence is the key.

True indeed........death is a matter of time for EVERYONE however, that is NOT the only thing that is a matter of time.

You talk about world of fiction? What is fiction is just about everything that comes from Obama, his administration and his many of his supporters--------now that is fiction!

However, if I am wrong or crazy or delusional as I have been called many times on this blog, then no one has anything to worry about!

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

Still Free in the USA — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:15:46 GMT

I heard that she was leaning too far to the left when this happened.

I wonder if a wise white guy would have stumbled and broke his ankle?

`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Sotomayor Breaks Ankle on Way to DC

WASHINGTON (June 8) -- Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor broke her ankle Monday morning in an airport stumble on her way to Washington to meet with senators who will vote on her confirmation.

The federal judge, who has been keeping up a busy schedule of appointments on Capitol Hill, tripped at New York's LaGuardia Airport before boarding a flight to Washington and sustained a small fracture to her right ankle, the White House said.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

twocspirit2 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:30:36 GMT

I thought her statement of "Infidelity to the law" made the Republican's all check their zipper's on their pant's and sobered them up. I think that statement will appear in history books, and be talked about for some time. It was "Brilliant"!!!!!!!!

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

News and Notes — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:01:49 GMT

Roberts got 78 votes, she will likley get 80 or more.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

MTR1973 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:14:30 GMT

Are people still beating that poor, dead birth certificate horse? Really?

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

mmckee58 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:17:25 GMT

It just goes to show how little the general population understands our government. The same people who believed that Obama would bring change, are under the misconception that Sotomayer's appointment will make any difference in their lives.

Roberts is in his 50s as is Alito. She is merely replacing a liberal judge from the minority, and her presence will do nothing to slow down or stop the erosion of our civil liberties and constitutional rights. This court will be remembered as the worst since the days of Oliver Wendall Holmes, and it will go on for the next 30 years. It will be a heaven for Corporations and the wealthy elite, and hell for free speech advocates. In short this doesn't matter except it allows today's journalists to sell more widgets, which is all there is left for "journalism" to contribute to our society.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

TruthForward — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:31:55 GMT

I think she did well with the hypotheticals, by not really answering. How can she answer questions on hypothetical cases? She would need to actually look at the case before making a decision; and apply the current law. If she had an opinion before the case, then that would probably be bias.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

citizenPZ — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:25:16 GMT

she's SLOPPY AND A *****

SHE'S the one having the meltdown

WHAT THE F IS HER POINT? DOES SHE REALLY THING WE CARE? SHE'S AN OBAMA BUTT-KISSER - PUCKER UP!!!!

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

citizenPZ — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:25:56 GMT

I don't think she has a clue about what's REALLY in the Consitution

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

citizenPZ — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:27:24 GMT

Posted By: MTR1973 (July 14, 2009 at 5:14 PM)

Are people still beating that poor, dead birth certificate horse? Really?

You're right - you shouldn't have to be an American to decide American Law - DUH

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

citizenPZ — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:27:59 GMT

It's because she IS tension and she's a master manipulator

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

downsteamjim — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:17:42 GMT

I recently read that someone call Sarah Palin 'Rush Limbaugh in a dress'. After seeing the hearings I was struck by how much Sotomayor looked like 'Rush Limbaugh in a dress.'

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

hollyp — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:31:04 GMT

Better to look like Limbaugh than be like Limbaugh.

I do not understand the argument of those who say Obama is ineligible to be POTUS. He was born of an American mother within the US.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

topgun97365 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:15:07 GMT

Howard Fineman is so biased he all but displays his Obama left wing liberal label on his face. Newsweek claims to be fair and non partisan in their reporting. You just have to watch Fineman on MSNBC for about a minute to gag. Newsweek - get rid of him. Your magazine is failing and Fineman is one of the reasons.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

Ethan30 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:41:05 GMT

What was very cleat is that she is not John Roberts nor ruth Ginsburg. She doesn't have that intellectual force and is far from brilliant.

You mainly feel uncomfortable watching her. She known and we know, she got where she is thanks to affirmative action and her radical views that will deprive a worker who did better than his peers, just because he is white.

It's only natural that Sotomayor would hold these views.

That's how she got into Princeton and how she got any job she did.

When a mediocre student gets into the Ivy League, thanks to her personal statements she will like to perpetuate such path for other less qualified that will take the place of the best and the brightest.

Obama chose her as his nominee because of her radical liberalism (that others might call "racism") but also because he too, was a teenager who didn't do so well academically and yet, thanks to his "story" and despite of his mediocre grades got into the Ivy League.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

Pro-American American — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:22:17 GMT

It was impossible not to notice how inarticulate Sotomayor was in her answers. I was embarrassed for her as she struggled to remember even the basic tenants of settled and famous case law and how everyone on the Republican side from Lindsey Grahm to Orin Hatch, tried desperately not to make her look like a lightweight so as not to embarrass her while she ummed and ahhed in a fashion similar to Obama during the campaign.

Wow, I was expecting this accomplished, sophisiticated and intellectual judge who might be able to, if not joust a little with her interragators, then to at leas hold her own in conversation - and she just came off like a local suburban council woman or unprepared school adminsistrator. We have hundreds of qualified black and hispanic judges that this bumbling and stumbling president could have schosen from and this is the best he could come up with.. This is worse than Geightner.. and this is for life!!!!!!!

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

Dolores Bertrand — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:55:21 GMT

Thank goodness, the reign of ignorance ended with the last election. I presume that Pro-American American, Ethan30, and Topgun97365 gain all their knowledge and thus their 'talking points' from the intellectual acumen of the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity, etc.! It would be laughable if it weren't so glaringly obvious that racism is indeed alive and well in this country of ours. It pores from their mouths like pure venom. How very sad for mankind.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

maty — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:32:45 GMT

To those up in arms about Sotomayor and Obama: what will be your opinions about minority protections once you are, actually, the minority?

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

Carlito3557 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:15:09 GMT

Pro-American American characterizes Sotomayor as "inarticulate" while spelling tenets as "tenants", Graham as "Grahm," Orrin as "Orin," sophisticated as "sophisiticated," interrogators as "interragators," least as "leas," chosen as "schosen. Why do dumb conservatives arrogantly

lecture others on their lack of intelligence?

I'd love Pro-American to tell us which law school s/he went to and for how many semesters she studied constitutional law that would qualify her to characterize any constitutional case as "settled" or "famous." More fundamentally, here's a question to think about: would any of the commentators on this blog believe s/he has the expertise necessary to render a medical opinion or an opinion on a structural engineering problem? Why then do non-lawyers believe they have the requisite sophistication to offer opinions about constitutional cases or principles?

P.S.--I have a Master's Degree in Constitutional Law from Stanford Law School.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

Carlito3557 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:16:59 GMT

lecture others on their lack of intelligence?

P.S.--I have a Master's Degree in Constitutional Law from Stanford Law School.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

aritomo — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:56:46 GMT

Thank you for your comments Carlito3557. Ethan30, where are you coming from? I know Princeton as I was an undergrad there. Sotomayor graduated summa *** laude from Princeton - an academic honor that is not given to a lackluster student, but only to some of the best and brightest anywhere. People like her got into Princeton despite people with attitudes like Ethan30. Just look at the environment. Princeton has historically had some of the lowest diversity, highest alumni legacy admits and the virtual country club of the selective eating club culture. Its is a tough school academically, and does not have much care what random color of the rainbow you are inside the four walls. Since she is one of the best and brightest by almost any proof point one can generate, Ethan30's comments can only logically follow as that from someone who judges people solely by the color of their skin and the heritage of their name.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

The Honest Truth — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:05:08 GMT

If this is what she can do when she "has done her homework" than we have a problem.

Her articulation is one problem, but worse than that, she did not master the law at all, looked confused many times and was completely worng about the New London case.

She reminded me Sarah Palin in how she ran back to her prepared talking points, but when she had to actually talk about the law and cases, she was very unimpressive.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

The Honest Truth — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:09:07 GMT

and I have to add that I was actually very surprised, since after so many years as a judge she was supposed to have a great handle of the material.

She was touted as someone much more stellar than what you actually see when actually watch her legal analysis.

She is supposed to be a graduate of YLS. She was very disappointing.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

BobbyNY — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:15:10 GMT

Every question they have asked her is a trap. If you carefully review the ambiguity in each possible answer, they will only pounce on the alternative, and try to show confusion. She is a very thoughtful, experienced judge, hence, the careful responses to the GOP. She is correct in every sense regarding life experiences that influences decisions. That is true for every human being. What is at stake here is the apparent erosion of the status quo, what a supreme court judge should look like, and she does not fit the mold, and that has got them all concerned. The face of the United States is changing...not an easy pill to swallow for the elitists who once ruled the kingdom.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

bobcat4424 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:58:28 GMT

Lindsey Graham thinks he is soooooo smart. But the general perception is that he is a little too snide for his own (and the Country's) good. This is exactly the sort of thing that is causing the GOP to slide about a percent a month in the polls. And the GOP can kiss the Latino vote goodbye for forty years because of Graham and Sessions.

If you want some interesting reading google both Sessions and Graham and past statements about the KKK, African-Americans, the NAACP, and affirmative action. Yopu can see some REAL racism there.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

Barry In Las Vegas — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:49:17 GMT

That's what I like - hard hitting no holds bar reporting.

No wonder you are going broke. Who who wants to read your dribble other than the idiots at MSNBC?

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

louee — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:10:43 GMT

Thanks Howard for a fair and balanced article. One wouldn't know that by reading the strident comments of the right wingers here. The old "birth certificate" allegation was answered a year ago by the governor of Hawaii, but yet the Drudgers still cling to this sad hope. As to Sotomayor, she has shown herself to be poised, intelligent and thoughtful. There's no evidence of bias in her rulings. And yet, here we go again with the hate-filled drivel (it's not dribble, for those of you who can't spell, which are most of the hate mongers). I believe their rage derives from the marginalization of their reactionary views which were soundly rejected by "true" Americans in the last election. Although I must admit, I don't understand their venom against this president and this nominee, considering neither of them is very to the left.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

it's about the future — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:01:53 GMT

Lyndsey Graham was apparently checking on Ms. Sotomayor's 'temperament'.

However,it was Graham's mental health that concerned me. Eventually the thought came to me,

that maybe someone would throw him a raw steak and put him out of his misery.

Not only are women equal, but they are often very balanced and thorough in their work.

Would a woman displaying the same kind of screw loose which Graham does in the Senate, be given the free pass that he has been given for ......how long?

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

Skidmarks003 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:33:35 GMT

More Newsweak cheerleading. I didn't see any tension defused. I believe nothing you print Newsweek. This is nothing more than liberal cheerleading.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

Amused Observer (NL) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:33:35 GMT

Louee, while I don't get the venom either, sadly some people just need something to hate and to spew rage stemming from their own misguided inadequacies. Fortunately, your current sitting Commander-in-Chief is skilled in the public sphere and gives them little to no ammunition in the way of gaffes, blunders, etc. so they're forced to advance non-sensical, paranoid, conspiracy theory type arguments that even moderate Republicans with their sanity intact shy away from. As for Sotomayor, she seems adept in the legal sphere and an adherent to precedent and the rule of law, which is all one should ask from a sitting judge. A fine representative to my mind and a good product of your legal system

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

AmericanMan63 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:40:42 GMT

Nothing has been defused there Newsweak - just label the article - GO TEAM DEMOCRAT! it would be more accurate.

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

drewand — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:43:36 GMT

Hey, come on somebody has to cheer for liberals! Actually, I don't like the way you say liberal, sir, this is the USA and it is a person's right to be liberal if they choose. I have a feeling that you probably don't even know what a liberal is. You probably think Obama is a liberal but he sadly is not or at least he can not rule as a liberal because of the Congress and the affiliation they have with the wealthy and corporations that actually do run this country. Newsweek maybe engaging in liberal cheerleading but you sir are a liberal basher!

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

crmac50 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:06:53 GMT

can anyone accusing newsweek of being a liberal cheerleader tell me what was false about this article? Why is describing correctly reported facts that happen to support a "liberal" cause make them guilty of bias?

If i point out that jesus helped the poor without regard for their personal habits, does that make me a liberal cheerleader too? does that make the pope a liberal cheerleader?

re: Sotomayor Masterfully Saps Tension From Hearings

keepitcool — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:37:51 GMT

I never respond to blogs, but I can't resist this one - some of the commentary is ridiculous - of course the Newsweek piece was all cheerleading, mixing facts with sarcasm and obvious liberal spin. But comments from louee & others about rage & hate-mongering are really out of touch with the mainstream - what are you so scared of? Talk to most between the coasts and you'll break out of your elitist bias...give it a try, you'll feel better.

And Amused - if you don't see the gaffes then you're not really looking...I like Obama and we were due for a change, but take off the rose-colored spec's because time will expose the problems. Keep smilin'.