She is a brilliant judge, has ruled on over 3000 cases. Has incredibly diverse experience in law enforcement and on the bench. It’s impossible for any judge with this background to expect that ALL of her opinions are going to be accepted by everyone all the time.

Alito’s opinions were overturned by SCOTUS by over 60%. Roberts was overturned as well. Her overturns are only in 10% range.

The GOP is being ugly as usual. I am not a Latina, but her being a woman to boot is grist for the bigoted southern senators posing as legal ethicists. The are a hoot to watch.

The entire proceedure is a circus. There is no way she will not be confirmed. She is by far more experienced than anyone currently on the court when they were confirmed.

Her remarks taken out of context, good or bad, have no bearing on 17 years and over 3000 case rulings
in which she has garnered the respect of former FBI head, William Freeh who was in court today as one of her mentors. Few have had the experience of serving as a prosecutor, private international lawyer,& on the bench in appellate and curcuit courts. She gets high praise from those she’s served with on the bench.

Of course, Lindsay Graham declaimed that an unmamed legal complaint against her accused her of being a bully,out of control,screamer, etc. In other words, code for LATINA. And code for WOMAN.

Are we ever going to grow up? Look at the shit Hillary has had to endure from this bunch.

On four or five issues, she has had to admit that she said something stupid, made a bad statement, made a play on words that fell flat, had a cavalier attitude with an important case (Ricci), and just generally she seems to screw up on a regular basis. This is certainly an impressive track record inasmuch that it amazes me that someone could have left such a visible trail of litter in their wake, and still be seriously considered for a spot on the SC.

Anyone that brought up the obvious fact that the principle reason that Obama became a candidate was because he was black, got pounded down. The race card trumped all other considerations, no one dared make it an issue, and look what we’re stuck with, an unaccomplished, pusilanimous man-child for President. Now we have Sotomayor who was obviosly chosen primarily because of her race and gender, and again, it is forbidden to make an issue of that. As long as this nation allows the bar to be lowered in specific circumstances for candidates based on their race or gender (think Ricci again) we will not always promote the best and the brightest. And it seems certain that we’ll be stuck with a less than stellar Justice far into the future.

How about totally off his/her rocker?

Big time.

We’ll all listen Sotomayor tomorrow. She’s going to get a grilling. Of that I’m absolutely sure. Whether she’s direct or not, whether she comes across as credible is the name of the game.

Of course, we never know 100% what a nominee will do once seated. Think of Pappy Bush appointing David Souter. That didn’t work out quite to plan. But I would rather hear a nominee first hand without the filter of the chattering pundits, who always have an axe to grind.

And then? We’ll see.

But no, you did not hit a nerve, beyond the fact that I’m weary of beating people senseless before we hear them defend themselves in their own voice.

All I’m asking for is patience and giving a woman of indisputable accomplishment her day before the committee and the American people.

Promise, that’s my last comment on this thread.

Remember: They just need to be different. They don’t need to be qualified or the best person for the job. Refer back to Obama’s (s)election.

I’m a former lefty from a lefty leaning state.

Lefty Guilt is a powerful motivator. Too bad it doesn’t often seek the best, just what will lessen the guilt.

I am a very strong advocate for women – my biggest issue, and I am very offended at Marsha’s suggestion that I am ….”one of those women who never thinks any woman is good enough.” Oh, please, I am a left-of-center liberal, life-long activist democrat who voted for Sarah Palin (and John McCain) because of my anger at how she had been treated as well as Hillary! You don’t get anymore accepting than that! When you have worked in the trenches for women’s rights as I have, you don’t need to be lectured on your support for women.

Before I can become a cheer-leading supporter of Sotomayor, I’ve got to know if SHE is an advocate for women. As far as my ethnicity concerns, I saw ethnic and minority women royally screw Hillary – the May 29th, 2008 DNC Rules Committe meeting, a prime example, was made up primarily of AA women and white men. Is there any doubt that meeting was a turning point for Hillary? There were AA & minority women super delegates that had been committed to Hillary since 2007 who left her in droves to get on the Obama train. Does anyone think they did this because he was better qualified than Hillary? I think we all KNOW why they did it.

Just because a person is born with ovaries and a uterus does not automatically get my support. Does anyone think Nancy Pelosi, “Ms. Liberal San Francisco” is an advocate for women? She worked feverishly against Hillary in favor of B0 from 2004 on. She wants to be the ONLY woman in the room or at the table and the only women I’ve ever seen her support are her own daughters – one of which wrote a book during the 2008 campaign, lying that she and her mother were “uncommitted” in the presidential primary while she used Obama’s themes of his campaign in her book. Ask CA Rep. Jane Harmon whether or not Pelosi supports and mentors other women.

We cannot mistake normal questioning, regardless of the sometimes harshness in situations like todays hearing. Sounds like some of you feel any negativity is tearing her down or being unfair. They did not ask her anything today that they would not have asked a man or that I would consider sexist, and believe me, I am very tuned into what is sexist and what is not. If you disagree, then tell us specifics on why. There is no need for women to carry the torch for women trying to get elected or appointed to political office who will not be their advocate. What would be the point? I’m not going to support anyone that is going to use me for their purposes just to have them turn their backs on me afterward.

I can apreciate your need to hear her for yourself. But if recent history has taught me anything, it’s watch what people do and be very wary of what they say, especially if they’re part of the Obamanation. After all, it’s the age of Obama, and big lies are all the rage.

As I said, I reserve my personal judgment until I hear the woman speaking for herself.

End of argument!