Live Sotomayor confirmation hearing coverage
posted at 12:15 pm on July 13, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Watch the confirmation hearings of Sonia Sotomayor live here at Hot Air. Consider this an open thread.
Andrew Malcolm has the text of the opening statements.
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I have it on C-SPAN and it has closed captions unlike your sucky video that does not cater to the hearing impaired and deaf world.
Vatican Watcher on July 13, 2009 at 12:17 PM
A lot of great comments on the earlier thread…
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/07/13/sotomayor-day-1-hispanics-promise-lots-of-scrutiny-of-gop/
Lourdes on July 13, 2009 at 12:18 PM
“Sanctuary for the little guy”
They have no idea what a Justice is.
Esthier on July 13, 2009 at 12:19 PM
I’ve been listening to it all morning. She’s been taken to the woodshed a few times already.
Guardian on July 13, 2009 at 12:20 PM
HA doesn’t have the budget for that. It seems like a courtesy for those without televisions (maybe at work). There is no need to insult Ed, HA or the rest of the community. It sounds like you might just be civility impaired.
Laura in Maryland on July 13, 2009 at 12:23 PM
I smel the foul stink of RINO’s..Graham is at it again. Real republicans are doing better…
JIMV on July 13, 2009 at 12:24 PM
As long as she continues to discriminate against white, christian males she will be OK. Who could object to that?
DeweyWins on July 13, 2009 at 12:25 PM
I agree with Coburn on the ‘rule of law’…If the law can be whatever the judge wants, then there is no law, just personality.
JIMV on July 13, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Wow, Tom Coburn is a rock star.
Caiwyn on July 13, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Graham sounds like he wants to heal the wounds of the past and make these hearings less partisan going forward.
I am SURE the Dems will remember this and be much more civil next time a Repub appoints a SC Judge. This will happen when pigs fly.
Joe Caps on July 13, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Coburn is on FIRE. Keep it up…
Emily M. on July 13, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Is she crying? I saw her wipe a tear.
Joe Caps on July 13, 2009 at 12:28 PM
My Latina relatives are all hoping she will fail.
OmahaConservative on July 13, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Give Graham some credit – he specifically said “unless you have a meltdown, you are going to be confirmed”
Odie1941 on July 13, 2009 at 12:29 PM
The oath of office for the supreme court:
Clearly Sotomayor’s past shows that she cannot keep this oath.
Rebar on July 13, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Clearly they are not “wise”… ;)
Odie1941 on July 13, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Tom Coburn is doing a great job describing the predictability in the rule of law and its necessity in an ordered society. He chastised Ms. Sotomayor for her support of an unpredictable judicial system.
Thanks SEN Coburn for being a patriot.
ted c on July 13, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Agh…Durbin.
Emily M. on July 13, 2009 at 12:30 PM
who is the guy on right now?
ted c on July 13, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Ha, yeah, I caught that, too.
Meltdown, meltdown, meltdown, meltdown, meltdown…
She displayed far too much emotionalism already and she hasn’t even spoken yet. So I think that…
Ooops, outburst from the audience…
Lourdes on July 13, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Who’s shouting and what?
Knucklehead on July 13, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Durbin: Blah blah blah (ABORTION) blah blah blah (PRIVACY) blah blah blah (IN CASE YOU DIDN’T PICK IT UP, SONIA, I’M TALKING ABOUT ABORTION).
Emily M. on July 13, 2009 at 12:32 PM
So now being a Latino is a substitute for the sort of quality and qualifications needed for this job? I’ll add that to the accepted Liberal list.
Hening on July 13, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Turban is an a**hole…
OmahaConservative on July 13, 2009 at 12:33 PM
The droopey, dopey looking guy is Dick Durbin, Leftwing Democrat from Illinois.
The snarky, creepy “olde guy” who slurs his speech is the ghastly Democrat from Vermont, Leahy, who is Chair of the Senate Judiciary.
O.K., now the droopey Durbin is back on again talking about baseball.
Lourdes on July 13, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Durbin is such an asshat.
Emily M. on July 13, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Protestor, now escorted out. Didn’t catch what his protest was about, though.
Lourdes on July 13, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Sorry for the double posting, but Sotomayor might be asked whether she should be qualified for jury duty let alone the Supreme Court: http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/05/updated-obamas-first-nominee-for.html
Mervis Winter on July 13, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Why do they keep pretending that calling strikes is something easy that no one would ever disagree over?
Many judgments were decided 5-4? So what? How many disagreements over a referee call have been so closely debated?
Just because it should be objective, it doesn’t mean everyone will automatically come to the same decision. It just means that they should be calling these plays from the same rule book.
Esthier on July 13, 2009 at 12:36 PM
They need to organize and quick. Call Hispanic stations, write emails to the Senate Judiciary (and make sure they emphasize they are HISPANIC since that’s the going sales pitch of this issue) and most of all, talk with everyone they know and get others to do likewise.
My suggestions…
Lourdes on July 13, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Why the darn sports analogies, is this some game?
fourdeucer on July 13, 2009 at 12:37 PM
They are serious Roman Catholics who will not budge on abortion, etc.
OmahaConservative on July 13, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Durbin says Paul Simon told Ginsberg she’ll be judged historically on whether or not she “restricted freedom or expanded it”.
Really? Really?
I wonder what Ms. Kelo’s judgment is in this regard?
rockhead on July 13, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Break. Yay.
Emily M. on July 13, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Senator F-f-f-f-f-f-f-frankin??
Shut up!!
Ronnie on July 13, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Frankin is on the committee????
ricer1 on July 13, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Minorities once rightly demanded equality of access and opportunity. Now they play the game the majority once did. But paradoxically, I think both Soto and Obama represent the end of this charade, not the start of it.
JiangxiDad on July 13, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Oh great, lunchtime.
Someone bring out the barf bags. We get both Arlene Spectacle and Stuart Smalley on a full stomach.
Belch!
Knucklehead on July 13, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Dick D was making my head explode. I cannot stand to look at and listen to him.
OmahaConservative on July 13, 2009 at 12:41 PM
He made it so Specter was no longer the lowest member of the committee!
Joe Caps on July 13, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Will Specter bloviate about ’scottish law’?
ricer1 on July 13, 2009 at 12:43 PM
What….so he doesn’t have to carry the towels back to the locker room?
genso on July 13, 2009 at 12:45 PM
I wonder if Sotomayor believes in abortion to control the “undesirables” … like Ginsberg does.
darwin on July 13, 2009 at 12:47 PM
The Democrats are true leftists . . . they have no interest in justice, they’re goal is communism and the redistribution of wealth. This poor sick Republic is fading fast. We all know how well their dream society fared in the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, Vietnam and all the rest of those destitute “progressive” countries.
rplat on July 13, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Open Thread for watching a bunch of closed minded Senators. Peachy.
Weebork on July 13, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Megan Kelly said that the second protestor was another anti-abortion activist who yelled out something along the same lines as the first guy, “What about abortion?”
Joe Caps on July 13, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Aww c’mon … this time it’ll work better!
darwin on July 13, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Wow,that’s a bit nasty, don’t you think. Now something you get for FREE must “cater” to a certain group.
Jeff from WI on July 13, 2009 at 12:55 PM
A brief outburst occurred as Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, gave her opening statement when an unidentified man shouted: “What about the unborn, senator? Abortion is murder! Stop the genocide of unborn Latinos.”
Leahy immediately ordered the removal of the protester from the hearing room.
“This is a hearing of the United States Senate,” Leahy said. “There will be order and there will be decorum.”
OmahaConservative on July 13, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Dick Durbin made much of the fact that 103 of the past 107 or so justices on the Supreme Court have been white males. I wonder what the percentage of white males is to women and minorities in the history of the US Senate and if Durbin, himself a white male, would be willing to resign his seat so that a woman or minority could be appointed to fill the vacancy. He should do his part to help balance out the obvious disparity.
uncalheels on July 13, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Maybe Vatican Watcher was pointing out the constant narrative of the liberals for catering to minority groups, and special interest groups.
fourdeucer on July 13, 2009 at 1:07 PM
The MSNBC coverage is absolutely hysterical. They just had a guy on who praised her for “mastering the neutrality” of her facial expression. How does that not get on the Daily Show tonight?
Go RBNY on July 13, 2009 at 1:11 PM
At least from the audience. The Senators can pretty much keep on acting like spoiled children.
highhopes on July 13, 2009 at 1:11 PM
How does Bill O’Reilly not pick that up to go with the whole body language crap he does on a regular basis.
highhopes on July 13, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Sotofinger…….
Seven Percent Solution on July 13, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Best known for comparing Gitmo guards to Nazis and Pol Pot.
Go RBNY on July 13, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Awesome point. Someone should ask him that. Call him on his politically correct nonsense.
JohnInCA on July 13, 2009 at 1:20 PM
While my comment was tongue and cheek – you bring up a very valid point – also expressed with Cali’s Prop 8 Latino vote, also why many of my friends were latino growing up in NY – Catholics come first, then ideology.
I believe many “minority pundits” are overshooting their ideological effectiveness , concerning latinos and liberalism. Truly a unique and split issue group – being the importance of the Catholic church; yet side with domestic issues, portrayed as “Democratic” issues. Prop 8 showed, quite clearly – latinos heavily voted, based on theology; rather than rank and file social liberal issues.
Frankly, I beleive these are the areas to rally around for conservatives, ala Reagan when he said “we need to stand firm on morality as conservatives and openly debate social issues.” Many RINOs basterdize this statement from Reagan, thinking we need a “big tent for all” when in fact it is a line in the sand that needs to be drawn.
Liberals and Dems will continue to pander to minority’s as a political tactic and I believe will effectively kill their latino base by overreaching on moral, theological issues.
Odie1941 on July 13, 2009 at 1:20 PM
By the Bar-Kays? Oh, wait…that was “Soulfinger“…I forget that the preferred minority if a fluid thing these days.
genso on July 13, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Then they’re lying or they didn’t watch because Sotomayor’s facial expressions were quite revealing on many if not all the Republican speeches, as also those by the Democrats.
Of particular note was the expression she flashed just after Senator Kyl concluded his speech. Sotomayor made a brief but noticable sarcastic “so, f*** it” expression, combined with “you’re a poor fool” look on her face.
She has very brief but noticable expressions. You have to (to quote AP) pay attention to her “nuance” — she does reveal contempt at times and a sorta’ “oh, pity me, you’re so sweet” look whenever the Democrats weep over her, as they did this morning.
Just watch her closely.
Lourdes on July 13, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Does this woman ever not look constipated?
James on July 13, 2009 at 1:53 PM
WTF is it storytelling time now?
Joe Caps on July 13, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Ed, no offense, but Minnesota is decidedly overrepresented on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The senator other than Franken is a very uneven speaker.
BuckeyeSam on July 13, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Seriously, what is this fetish with growing up in poverty? I’m sick of this crap. I admire the struggles of people like everybody else, but poverty in itself is not a qualification.
I’ve known poor people in my life who are complete A-holes and I’ve known rich people who are wonderful people with integrity. And vice versa. I grew up poor, too, but I don’t think that makes me a great person. It certainly doesn’t qualify me for the Supreme Court.
JohnInCA on July 13, 2009 at 2:19 PM
The majority in the room, including Sotofinger, have a look on their face saying in big bold letters……..
“Impacted Colon”
Seven Percent Solution on July 13, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Is specter the sphincter speaking english?? – all I hear is WAH WAH WAH, wah wah wah wah, like the adults on charlie brown sounded
Ris4victory on July 13, 2009 at 2:22 PM
What the hell is specter rambling about?
Ronnie on July 13, 2009 at 2:25 PM
1. Diversity is great and important or something.
2. Different circuit courts decide differently or something.
Joe Caps on July 13, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Has Specter voted on more SC nominations than anybody else on this committee? He list sure seemed longer.
If so, its really funny that now he has second to last seniority, with only stuart smally behind him.
Joe Caps on July 13, 2009 at 2:28 PM
If Obamacare passes with a public option, I hope it includes the requirement that members of the House and Senate be enrolled in the public option. I hope for that requirement because I want Specter to be subject to it, and then allow his health care fall as it may.
Franken. Oy.
BuckeyeSam on July 13, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Protester again? Protesting Franken, maybe?? I want to.
XWing5 on July 13, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Ahhhhh Franken is on!
Celebrity Guest Commitee member?
Just like on Idol!
Joe Caps on July 13, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Franken’s slurring his words…
Lourdes on July 13, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Is this speech about him or her?
XWing5 on July 13, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Is Frankenstein drunk? I was so hoping he would wear his diaper – dammit
Ris4victory on July 13, 2009 at 2:35 PM
So far, from the after-lunch crowd, it’s been about Al Franken and before that, the Encyclopedia.
Lourdes on July 13, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Franken won’t stop talking about himself.
He knows this isn’t his welcome party, right?
Joe Caps on July 13, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Oh, and I forgot the depressing Spector: it’s about being exceptionally depressed and very, very unpopular.
Lourdes on July 13, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Raise your hands if you think Al Franken has empathy for the small business owner.
Lourdes on July 13, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Can we turn the autoplay feature of the video off please?
Ronnie on July 13, 2009 at 2:39 PM
I didn’t think this hearing could be more unbearable, but Franken proved me wrong.
XWing5 on July 13, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Is that Schumer? He’s recycling the Obama story. What’s good for the goose…
TouchingTophet on July 13, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Yikes. I may have to retract my last statement. Schumer is even more pathetic than Franken. “One of the most qualified” in the history of qualifications, Chucky?!?! Egad.
XWing5 on July 13, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Schumer is such a joke…
“None of this is about class and race but allow me to talk about class and race for five minutes straight.”
Joe Caps on July 13, 2009 at 2:45 PM
This is God-awful. “Let me tell you who Sotomayor is, so then when we ask her questions, she can say the same thing.” I don’t understand why we have to get the biography from Schumer when we could just as easily get the autobiography from SO-TO-MAY-OR.
TouchingTophet on July 13, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Is Leahy brain-dead?
BuckeyeSam on July 13, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Schumer is a pompous old gasbag. He out-franked smalley.
OmahaConservative on July 13, 2009 at 2:48 PM
So this woman is just going to read what everyone else already said?
Ronnie on July 13, 2009 at 2:50 PM
If you can’t pronounce “inalienable”, don’t put “inalienable” in your little speech.
Ronnie on July 13, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Poll..
Is Franken:
#1. Drunk
#2. Stoned
#3. All of the above
franksalterego on July 13, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Jill-ibrand? I thought it was Gillibrand.
XWing5 on July 13, 2009 at 2:55 PM
yes
OmahaConservative on July 13, 2009 at 2:56 PM
#4. Just being Franken
Ronnie on July 13, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Whatever Franken is on, he and Leahy are on the same thing(s).
BuckeyeSam on July 13, 2009 at 2:58 PM
here comes the touchie feelie holier than thou empathy crap (in liberal speak = ME ME ME ME ME) – can we call an ad vomitus break?
Ris4victory on July 13, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Let’s ask Frank Ricci about adherence to the law. What a liar.
BuckeyeSam on July 13, 2009 at 3:00 PM
I wish as the point as already been made that all white male leftists senators and anyone who else has power resign immediately and put in a minority person who is gay and handicapped. That crosses alot of empathy right there.
garydt on July 13, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Bloomberg:
Joe Caps on July 13, 2009 at 4:23 PM
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