Introducing Judge Sonia Sotomayor - Page 6 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Honus · #76 05-28-2009, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txjake

A 60% reversal rate is not very good...makes one question her judgement

Comparisons between Judge Sotomayor and Justice Alito keep coming up:

Quote:

...Of course, if that 60% figure were really scandalous, the right should have balked at the Alito nomination -- he had two of his rulings considered by the high court, and both were overturned. (That's a 100% rating! He must have been a horrible judge!)...

http://washingtonmonthly.com/

I am not familiar with Judge Sotomayor's opinions, but if you look solely at her batting average on reversals, she is doing quite well.

MS Fowler · #77 05-28-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tankdriver

She's supposed to think she's better. Otherwise she shouldn't have the job.

Would you honestly feel the same way if the races in her quote were reversed?

Again, I think she will be confirmed. That does mean there can not or should not be any hard questions.

I am also a bit worried by the White House' warning that critics need to be "very careful". Sounds like some sort of a threat. If Bush had said that many of you would be alrmed, but since it comes from the Obama WH, its OK.

tankdriver · #78 05-28-2009, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Would you honestly feel the same way if the races in her quote were reversed?

Yes and no. Yes, anyone in line for the job should think they are better than anyone else. Yes, anyone should point to the trials of their lives as a reason. No, no one should use their race as a reason.
She used a short cut to detailing the trials of her life. I'm not a big fan of generalizing in that manner.
However, if you said, "You think you've got it hard, you should just try being a white man in DC", then I wouldn't consider you a racist. Absurdly ridiculous, but not racist.

RichC · #79 05-28-2009, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

How do you all feel by here comments that a latino woman will make BETTER judgments than a white male?
Is that not a racist comment? Would a white male saying that a white male would make BETTER judgments than a latino female be a racist statement?
This is a lifetime appointment with no recall. We need to be very careful who we place in this position.

When and where did she say this ?

RichC · #80 05-29-2009, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Fair enough. Why don't you explain it then since you allude to understanding it. I would like to know how giving preference to one race is discrimination while giving preference to another race is not. Yes, I understand that we crafted laws that say one form of discrimination is legal while the other is illegal. However, whether legal or illegal, it is discrimination, IMO. But feel free to explain in your own words and understanding how discrimination is not discrimination.

You know the answer.

Laws that force equality and fairness are not discrimination.

Honus · #81 05-29-2009, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

...I am also a bit worried by the White House' warning that critics need to be "very careful". Sounds like some sort of a threat.

That was a really foolish thing for him to say. I don't think Gibbs is a very good spokesman for the President.

Quote:

If Bush had said that many of you would be alrmed, but since it comes from the Obama WH, its OK.

Why do you keep throwing that accusation at people? It's not very polite.

MS Fowler · #82 05-29-2009, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dculkin

That was a really foolish thing for him to say. I don't think Gibbs is a very good spokesman for the President.Why do you keep throwing that accusation at people? It's not very polite.

The accusation was directed at some of the people here. "Many" was probably a poor choice of words. Its my feeling that some here are way more partisan than principled, and I think that is dangerous.

JollyRoger · #83 05-29-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Would you honestly feel the same way if the races in her quote were reversed?

Again, I think she will be confirmed. That does mean there can not or should not be any hard questions.

I am also a bit worried by the White House' warning that critics need to be "very careful". Sounds like some sort of a threat. If Bush had said that many of you would be alrmed, but since it comes from the Obama WH, its OK.

If you read Gibbs entire statement, it wasn't "threatening" at all, in fact he is trying to give the far right guys some help. The truth is Sottomayor was originally put on the Federal Bench by George Bush Sr, her opinions have for the most part have been mainstream and moderate, and to Hispanics, she is a heroic role model, coming from their world of janitors and cleaning ladies up to one of the highest offices in the land. What he gave to Republicans is good advice, and the warning is this: if you want to go after this candidate, be prepared to pay one heck of a political price.

aklim · #84 05-29-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

If you read Gibbs entire statement, it wasn't "threatening" at all, in fact he is trying to give the far right guys some help. The truth is Sottomayor was originally put on the Federal Bench by George Bush Sr, her opinions have for the most part have been mainstream and moderate, and to Hispanics, she is a heroic role model, coming from their world of janitors and cleaning ladies up to one of the highest offices in the land. What he gave to Republicans is good advice,

and the warning is this: if you want to go after this candidate, be prepared to pay one heck of a political price.

Let me guess. The left walks on water and their **** don't stink.

Gee, how could anyone interpret that as a threat. How would you interpret it if I told you that either you let me have my way with you or you would pay one heck of a political price and I just happened to be your boss. Remember Clarence Thomas? People felt that that it should not be allowed.

cmac2012 · #85 05-29-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

How do you all feel by here comments that a latino woman will make BETTER judgments than a white male?
Is that not a racist comment? Would a white male saying that a white male would make BETTER judgments than a latino female be a racist statement?
This is a lifetime appointment with no recall. We need to be very careful who we place in this position.

Lord have mercy, what a tempest in a teapot. This is the modern right, America. So convinced that they are correct in all matters, they grab any sort of out of context, deliberately misunderstood snippet and try to pummel the dreaded liberal with it.

She was saying that an experienced, older and wiser judge should be able to come to better conclusions than say, just any white male. This is not exactly what she said but the context makes it clear that this is what she meant.

Referring to former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's saying that "a wise old man and wise old woman will reach the same conclusion in deciding cases," Sotomayor said, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

Diversity helps. Duhh. The recent case before the SCOTUS about the young girl strip searched on suspicion of holding extra strength Ibuprofin (shudder) is a good example of why the old boys club exclusively of aging white males so beloved by the right is not the best way to go. The boneheaded reactions by some of the men as opposed to female justice Ginsberg were sorta telling.

Get used to it folks. Espanish speaking Americans are on the increase, big time. Myself, I'm learning Spanish as fast as I can.

Honus · #86 05-29-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

Lord have mercy, what a tempest in a teapot. This is the modern right, America. So convinced that they are correct in all matters, they grab any sort of out of context, deliberately misunderstood snippet and try to pummel the dreaded liberal with it...

It's not just the right that do this. I had NPR on the radio on the way home yesterday. Their report on this provided no more context than Hannity did on his show last night. NPR had a commentator who said that the statement didn't show that she is a racist, but they provided no context to explain why that was the case.

Her statement is true and completely reasonable, except to a listener who is looking for ways to attack her.

cmac2012 · #87 05-29-2009, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dculkin

It's not just the right that do this. I had NPR on the radio on the way home yesterday. Their report on this provided no more context than Hannity did on his show last night. NPR had a commentator who said that the statement didn't show that she is a racist, but they provided no context to explain why that was the case.

Her statement is true and completely reasonable, except to a listener who is looking for ways to attack her.

I'm certainly grateful for what NPR brings to the table but I agree that they can often put out a sort of saccharine sweet neutrality that ends up being just not too enlightening.

And while I appreciate Olbermann and Maddow for the good research and generally informed opinions they offer up, too often they grab some unpersuasive bit of dirt on oppenents and run it into the ground.

MS Fowler · #88 05-29-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

Lord have mercy, what a tempest in a teapot. This is the modern right, America. So convinced that they are correct in all matters, they grab any sort of out of context, deliberately misunderstood snippet and try to pummel the dreaded liberal with it.

She was saying that an experienced, older and wiser judge should be able to come to better conclusions than say, just any white male. This is not exactly what she said but the context makes it clear that this is what she meant.

Referring to former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's saying that "a wise old man and wise old woman will reach the same conclusion in deciding cases," Sotomayor said, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

Diversity helps. Duhh. The recent case before the SCOTUS about the young girl strip searched on suspicion of holding extra strength Ibuprofin (shudder) is a good example of why the old boys club exclusively of aging white males so beloved by the right is not the best way to go. The boneheaded reactions by some of the men as opposed to female justice Ginsberg were sorta telling.

Get used to it folks. Espanish speaking Americans are on the increase, big time. Myself, I'm learning Spanish as fast as I can.

Oh, I don't know. I am an old white male, and I would have been quite disturbed about a strip search for ibuprofin.