Thursday, May 28, 2009

WHAT!?! NO FILIBUSTER FROM THE PARTY OF NO?!?

All that flag waving and chest pounding from the Party of Immense Failure was all for naught. They figured out that if they filibuster the appointment of Judge Sonia Sotomayor the only thing they will accomplish is the further alienation of the Hispanic voters....of which over 65% voted for Obama in November.

From Alter Net:

It Looks Like GOP Senators Lack the Enthusiasm to Block Sotomayor


While Rush Limbaugh calls Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor a racist and Ann Couler calls for a filibuster, GOP Senators are in a political bind. For a party already shrinking due to demographic changes (and lack of ability to manage any part of the government well) attacking an "up from the Bronx" Latina woman apparently isn't very palatable. Here's the best Republicans can muster:

Charles Grassley: "We need to ask tough questions to learn how this individual views the role of a Supreme Court justice."

Ouch. How about Jeff Sessions? He's attacking with a sports metaphor:

...we must determine if Ms. Sotomayor understands that the proper role of a judge is to act as a neutral umpire of the law, calling balls and strikes fairly without regard to one’s own personal preferences or political views.

But John Cornyn means business. He's making demands. Cornyn says the Obama administration won't get any cooperation unless... unless Sotomayor agrees to answer questions:

...the president has assured me that we will have ample time to give Ms. Sotomayor's record a full and fair review.

Take that Democrats!

You may say this is just typical Senate speak but previous nominees have been attacked immediately out of the gate. Harriet Miers was attacked from the right and left. And when Samuel Alito was nominated instead, Patrick Leahy called the pick "needlessly provocative."

Surely the most recent standard bearer for the GOP, John McCain, could work up some anger sarcasm over Sotomayor:

I congratulate Judge Sonia Sotomayor on her nomination by the President to be an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court,” McCain said. “I look forward to examining her record thoroughly during the Senate confirmation process."

Jim DeMint?

I will withhold judgment about her nomination until she has the opportunity to fully present her views before the Senate

Mitch McConnell?

Senate Republicans will treat Judge Sotomayor fairly.

Olympia Snowe?

a well-qualified woman

The primary strategy of Republican Senators will be to delay the process as long they can (a la Al Franken), hope a smoking gun emerges, and talk a lot about legislating from the bench. Will these GOP Senators be voting for Sotomayor. No, most won't. But, absent some new dirt, don't expect too much fight from them either.



(Hat-tip to tremayne at Open Left)

6 comments:

themom said...

Not really pertinent, but I was sleep channel surfing and caught McCain on Hannity - and between the two of them, they want us to invade N. Korea now. F88king warmongers. Of course, they have the answers, and Obama is just twiddling his thumbs. Remind me to block Faux News on my remote!!!

Grandpa Eddie said...

themom - I think I know where that headache came from.

Only a couple of idiots like those two would want to invade N.Korea. Even the Shrub was smarter than that.Don't they realize that N.Korea has 1 million armed soldiers at the border with S.Korea? Is Hannity ready to enlist and lead the charge? Fuck no! Too much of a chickenshit chickenhawk!

The sooner you block Fuks Nuz on that remote, the sooner your head will feel.

Gordon said...

Big Hero sandwich Hannity can invade NK if he wants, fine with me. It'd be fun to watch.

The Senators know Sotomayor is a done deal. It's just the lesser wingtard pols and gasbags soundin' off, stalling for time and hoping something substantive comes up to disqualify her, like not paying payroll taxes for her gardener. It won't.

Grandpa Eddie said...

Gordon - It'd be fun to watch what the N.Koreans would do to his wimpy ass.

Hopefully Barry has learned his lesson about making sure people are vetted properly and no one will find anything on Sotomayor.

ZIRGAR said...

They can filibuster my left nut. Assholes.

Grandpa Eddie said...

ZIRGAR - I don't think the hard right Rethugs have enough on their side to prevent the Dems from breaking a filibuster.

So ya don't have to worry 'bout your left nut.