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Sonya Sotomayor will be nominated to replace retiring Justice David Souter. |
 | By Drew Olson   Senior Editor E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Drew Olson |
| Published May 27, 2009 at 5:24 a.m. |
|
When President Obama announced his plans to nominate Sonia Sotomayor, a federal appeals judge in New York, to the Supreme Court, the political press and blogosphere shifted into overdrive and the talking points, counterpoints, spin and bluster came flooding from virtually every direction.
Frankly, it was enough to make you reach for the aspirin -- if not a bottle of the hard stuff (Tylenol, of course).
Depending on the source and the time of the day, you would have discovered that Sotomayor -- who would be the third woman and first Hispanic to sit on the court -- was:
- An inspired choice to replace retiring Justice David Souter
- Intelligent, competent and completely qualified for the job
- Totally overrated and unqualified
- A reverse racist
- An example of affirmative action run amok
- Too liberal
- Not liberal enough
The spin was enough to make your head, well, spin. One thing that did come of it, though, was the realization that the Supreme Court -- the highest judicial body in the United States -- is one of the more fascinating entities in our society.
Most Americans would struggle to name the Chief Justice (John Roberts) or even half of his associates. Yet the nomination of a new "justice for life" always prompts millions of average Americans to pretend that they are constitutional law scholars, even if their only exposure to the Court is what they remember from "The Pelican Brief."
As a service to readers who weren't paying attention, here is a collection of links to coverage of Obama's announcement from a variety of sources. Feel free to use the Talkback feature to add your own favorites.
A compendium of Sotomayor coverage:
USA Today has a complete biography and profile.
Politico.com looks into why Obama chose Sotomayor.
U.S. News & World Report calls the choice a "political balancing act."
Politico.com says the right is "divided" over court fight.
Talking Points Memo describes the White House talking points on the nomination.
A Chicago Tribune analysis says the pick "puts Republicans in a bind."
Nate Silver of fivethirtyeight.com looks back at Sotomayor's previous confirmation battle.
Washington Post media reporter Howard Kurtz checks out the spin war.
The New Republic's story "The Case Against Sotomayor."
The Wall Street Journal thinks the nomination doesn't merit a rubber stamp.
The Washington Times calls the move "inspiring."The Los Angeles Times says the nomination sets off "few ideological alarm bells."
Richard Sandomir and The New York Times look back at Sotomayor's impact on the Major League Baseball strike.
Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich says "fasten your seatbelts."
LegalNewsline.com says Sotomayor can expect lots of scrutiny.
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10 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review. |
Recent Talkbacks ...
Posted by FunkyBrewster on June 3, 2009 at 12:01 p.m. (report)
Sotomayor is a Latina she can't be racist! Only white people can be racist! Duh! Obama should have been impeached the day of his inauguration ceremony for having all those prominent racists deliver their speeches like "Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around - (laughter) - when yellow will be mellow - (laughter) - when the red man can get ahead, man - (laughter) - and when white will embrace what is right." Which is basically blaming whites for everything and giving excuses to blacks, asians, and native american indians. Why does society allow for anyone except white people to be racist?
| Rate this: |
Posted by tortola on May 29, 2009 at 12:24 p.m. (report)
It's obvious that the previous posters all have a political agenda. Ideally a supreme court justice leaves his or her agenda at home when they go to work. So, the question becomes can Sotomayor do this? It's an impossible task to ask of any human being, but it is important to try.
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Posted by corrina252 on May 28, 2009 at 3:28 p.m. (report)
Pure identity politics. 60% of her rulings on the appellate court were overturned by the Supreme Court. Since ineffectual and weak-minded socialists/liberals realize they can not legislate their insane and inferior worldview through the "proper" channels (see Prop 8 in California) they use the judicial branch. I heard a montage of the ridiculous coverage by the liberal media and they can't shut up about her "life story". Funny, I didn't hear that about Clarence Thomas whose life story is much more compelling. You liberal clowns are amusing however. Whenever I am upset about the direction Obama, the messiah, is taking this country I just thank my lucky stars at least I am not an intellectually immature and bitter liberal dolt.
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Posted by rabid652 on May 28, 2009 at 11:47 a.m. (report)
You do realize how much you sound like a Republican, don't you? I suspect David Clarke has more Democrat in him than you do. Just come out of the closet already.
| Rate this: |
Posted by rabid652 on May 28, 2009 at 10:34 a.m. (report)
Yep...saying that a hispanic woman who grew up in an impoversihed setting might have a better understanding of hispanic women who grow up in impoverished settings is certainly racist. Idiots.
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