Moderate liberalism??? I am familiar with Sotomayor's record, and the word "moderate" doesn't come to mind. Rather, this is MSM, reading from their handler's WH-issued talking points.

Obama signaled that he wanted to pick someone that would be "compassionate", meaning that she would nullify laws she did not agree with. Sotomayor is just the person to carry this administration's water when it comes to re-writing laws from the bench.

For a change we do have a very smart President.

I find this coverage disgusting. We are all diminished by this identity politics. Here is a candidate for the highest court and we do not have a single journalist capable of providing the professional resume that earneds her this distinction.

sonia sotomayor will be great. bush 41 pick her..and clinton picked her....so she will be moderate...both sides should be happy...

She will not be "great" she tends to lean furtehr left than what the media is suggesting. This is a hand chosen pick by Obama to help him pass his agenda through unfettered.

Distinguished Judge – outstanding qualifications. Politically savy move.

Judge Sotomayor is EXTREMELY capable and has stellar credentials. Opposition from the hateful, unhinged right is based largely on the fact that they DON'T want to know anything about her other than calling her a "liberal" and who "empathizes". Give me a break. She has an established judicial record, went to the top law school in the country, and has a compelling background which shows just how hard she's worked in her life. She has not been handed success on a silver platter like the typical conservative thug in Congress, and she will be an excellent Justice once she is confirmed.

I see Obama has picked another racists for his administtration. Maybe all the Obama supporters and Obama himself should review hjer speech from the 90's. God Can Only Help Us Now, since Obama has left the door wide open for a less safe America and empathy in our court system. Obama you might as well open the gates and let it all happen. America will never be the same, economy in the pits, NO JOBS, America less safe, a racists and crooked administrtation with every pick and Obama with NO backbone except to promote his agenda and his buddies while the American People Suffer.

I would like to know what a moderate is... The term seems to be more about spin than informing anyone on her views or her past decisions.

The Republicans are a one issue party....this candidate will not please them.

I still look forward to the day that we do not judge people by the color of their skin, gender, religion etc. This time we chose again to pick just those with certain traits, repeating what history has taught us leads to problems. Instead of not asking those questions, we made sure they were at the top of the list. I am a moderate conservative woman, a former Republican now a Democrat. Can we pick our leaders on their merits, ethics, and good will towards all the worlds people, and someone in the middle? Obama has come the closest....

Absolutely great pick. I am sooooo happy.

From her record, Sotomayor should bring a voice of reason, something the mouthy Republican extremists do not understand. Republicans, the No party, wouldn't be happy if a Democrat nominated God.

Toobin is off his rocker!!! sotomayor is an EXTREME liberal activist judge. it is disgusting CNN portrays this judge as a moderate...trying to convince the public that this is indeed the case. EMPATHY??? i thought justice was blind and a judge should NOT have empathy of one side over another! typical extreme liberal nomination from a typical VERY extreme liberal prez...

Bush 41 also picked Souter. Disaster!

Conservatives would be unhappy no matter who Obama picked - because he [obviously] would not be picking one of them. What do they expect him to do?

Sheesh!

You can tell she is a good pick-the right-wing hates her!

Her comment "...court of appeals is where policy is made..." should scare everyone to death. It is in direct contradiction to our constitution. Haven't we had enough (over the last 8 years) of our constitution being ignored? Our founding fathers are rolling over in their graves.

"Sotomayor is just the person to carry this administration’s water when it comes to re-writing laws from the bench."

So she's already re-writing laws? Or perhaps your fantasies seem more real than reality.

Well at least she's not carrying the stinky stuff for our previous administration.

RepugliKLAN extremists such as clairesolt and Norm Deplume will ignore Sotomayor's outstanding professional qualifications in favor of the Rove/Limbaugh playbook of ad hominem, partisan attacks of the most personal in nature. 12 years of Bush presidents and they selected men for ALL of their nominees.
Norm Deplume could not name one example of Sotomayor "re-writing" laws from the bench. Like when the conservative majority re-wrote the Constitution to say the government can seize private property for economic development?

Just as expected from CNN-MODERATE???. If this is a moderate selection I am one who does not know left from right. Per CNN Obama can do no wrong-which is your prerogative,but,ri discolor the coverage as you consistently do is an abandonment of any type of journalistic ethics. You shoul present yourself as a appendage of the ultra liberal wing. Sadly,BTW

I guarantee you if Obama nominated Jesus Christ to the Supreme Court, the GOP would whine He was too liberal and try to block His appointment.

This was an excellent pick. We need the process to take hold and cease to politicize the process. It is sad when we reduce ourself's to self flagilation and drag-out the "tit for tat" elements from our different political parties..... People the "Bork" era ended and our country faces new and ever changing challenges.....Lets united as true americans and allow our diversity to take hold..... Judge Sotomayor, has proven that she can be fair and equitable in interpreting the law. Keep politics where it belongs in the bowels of Capital Hill and out of our Judicial branch of government. Give me a break, the "NO Party-(Republicans) needs to wake up......They lost the election....Dah!

H

Lets watch as the Repubs start smearing her as an "activist judge" and "radical liberal". Look at the Court right now, it is sharply tilted to the right, so a moderate, liberal, Hispanic woman will be a great counter weight to the current prevailing ideology.
Excellent choice by the President, she sounds very smart, not as liberal as she is painted and has that "real life" experience that really does matter.

Moderate liberal??
Are you kidding me? She sided with the New Haven CT government that threw out promotion test results because the white firefighters passed and no hispanics/blacks did....She basically said you can discriminate against white people always in favor of black/hispanics. This is EXACTLY the same racism whites used against blacks in the 60's. I guess its only racism if it affects a minority. You might as well just appoint minorities to positions of power no matter what their qualifications because she thinks the U.S. Constitution somehow doesn't read "equal rights" but reads "unequal rights to favor a minority who was unjustly treated DECADES/Centuries before". What an embarrassment.

I wonder if she will follow the constitution or will she make laws as she see fit.

Ummm, how is she not moderate? Bush 1 appointed her! Eat that rethugs.

The Neocons are just pissed that Obama has made a very solid pick; one who is a 2 for 1 er. She locks up the Latino vote and she is a woman. The GOP must now tread lightly regarding her confirmation or otherwise be portrayed as a bunch of BIGOTS. Just look at their track record. They never found a minority that they never loved to hate, yet expect the same individuals to vote The Party Line because of ideology.

AL Said: Republicans, the No party, wouldn’t be happy if a Democrat nominated God.

Of course they wouldn't be happy about the nomination of God. God, as any sensible observer can see, is liberal. He would just smite the republicans from the bench 95% of the time.

[...] Word came early this morning that Obama had made his pick to replace Justice Souter on the Supreme Court.  That pick–Judge Sonia Sotomayor–appears to come in the form of a female (only the third to ever hold a spot on the bench, if confirmed) and a Latina (only the first to hold a spot on the bench, if confirmed).  So far the nomination (or rumors thereof) has provided liberals with much food for thought. [...]

Are conservatives so dilusional that they believe the PRESIDENT should nominate a right-wing conservative to the supreme court. The PRESIDENT has the priviledge of nominating anyone he wants. Republicans basically can cry and whine all they want, but they LOST. Do I need to repeat that! Republicans lost.

Well the radical conservatives are already calling her a "judicial activist" which is nothing more than NeoCon code for any judge who isn't a NeoCon nut!

If the right was happy with this pick I would be worried... but the fact they are alrewady attacking her leads me to believe she is probably the correct choice!

As long as she upholds the Constitution and our individual rights as they are written, I don't care if she is Minnie Mouse! Congress makes the laws, Judges enforce the laws. Plain and simple.

Qualifications have absolutely nothing to do with whether she will be confirmed. It's all politics!!! Our liberal congress will confirm this liberal nominee nominated by a liberal president. If qualifications had anything to do with it, Robert Bork would be sitting on the Supreme Court right now.

She's about as moderate at Hilton Perez!!!

Extremist haters of the far right had their attack portfolio ready long before today, and early this morning then the name of Judge Sotomayor was revealed, the bile immediately spewed all across the radio waves.

Now we see that the right-wing haters have begun appearing here, too.

Judge Sotomayor's appointment is good in terms of legal skills, experience and judicial temperament. It is good in terms of perspective toward the primacy of the constitution. It is good in all the professional aspects that qualify someone for the nation's highest bench.

As far as her sex is concerned, and her ethnic heritage, those are important factors but they did not overrule weaknesses in her qualifications. The haters forget this. And as the fastest-growing part of the American population, Hispanics deserve opportunities, when they arise, to sit in the "councils of state." The haters forget this.

Inclusion is clearly a part of the Obama Administration. Exclusion is clearly the program of the haters. No wonder they are losing political relevance.

I don't know enough about her to comment but I do see that she once ruled against a pro abortion group..thats a plus

Yet again the "know it all" Repugs voice their single, simple minded war cry. She is not a vindictive, condescending, judgemental, right wing, better than thou, Republican puppet they would love to see. It's been 7 months since sensible Americans spoke by electing President Obama and the right wing morons still have got it. Go cry to Cheney and Limbaugh as if they can help you! And while you are it just "get a life"!

Moderate liberalism – wonderful; they came up with a PC term for someone they think will keep Roe vs. Wade alive and kicking. When Bush made his selection for the Supreme Court, the only thing you heard out of liberals was fear that Roe vs. Wade would be over-turned. Everything said, every comment, every criticism, was centered on Roe vs. Wade. Liberals always polarize selections to the Supreme Court in this light.

As far as bringing a voice of reason, every judge brings a voice of reason. Problem is, their idea of reason will be different than yours. What are her qualifications, her track record regarding decisions? Is she politically motivated or does she seek to place precedent and the rule of law above politics. That is what's important, not how she stands on your particular position.

Don said: I wonder if she will follow the constitution or will she make laws as she see fit.

That is a good point, Don.

After Bush Jr. selected the activist judges Roberts and Alito, it will be important to get somebody nominated who can actually interpret the constitution properly.

"Judge Sotomayor is EXTREMELY capable and has stellar credentials. Opposition from the hateful, unhinged right is based largely on the fact that they DON’T want to know anything about her other than calling her a “liberal” and who “empathizes”. Give me a break. She has an established judicial record, went to the top law school in the country, and has a compelling background which shows just how hard she’s worked in her life. She has not been handed success on a silver platter like the typical conservative thug in Congress, and she will be an excellent Justice once she is confirmed."

Substitute Roberts for Sotomayor, he for she, and conservative for liberal, and you have a comment that would have been appropriate a few years ago when Roberts was nominated. Obama won, and he gets to nominate whomever he wants. The Republicans will put up the same amount of opposition as the Dems did to Roberts and Alito. She'll most likely be a justice that will vote with the liberal bloc, oh well. Whether or not she turns out to be a good justice will be for history to judge. Roberts has turned out extremely well, we can only hope she does as well...

Empathy??? Lady Justice is blindfolded. There is only the rule of law according to the constitution. Yet again our constitution will be considered a living document. What a joke. Abortion on demand... fantastic. Prolife or prodeath?

I don't believe any rightwinger should say anything about "activist" judges following the debacle of the activist conservatives on the Supreme Court who decided to appoint George W. Bush.

A Hispanic, white-male hating liberal. No surprise here!

Jesus Christ is a liberal? Yep he would condone killing innocent unborn children...

To all of you conservatives complaining about how liberal Sotomayor is ... are you stupid? We elected a liberal President, of course he's going to pick a liberal Supreme Court nominee. Get over it ... you're on the losing side this time, stop whining about it. We've had to live with Republican Presidents for 28 of the last 40 years, now it's our time. You still have a 5-4 conservative majority on the Court, Sotomayor is replacing the most liberal member on the Court.

Oh no! Obama is going to put a judge on the SCOTUS who has EMPATHY. A real person. A NON-PSYCHOPATH. We're doomed, I say. DOOMED.

You right wingers would complain about Rush Limbaugh being appointed, so long as it came from President Obama.

Rick, get a grip. Where was your similar complaints when Bush was the poster-boy for recruiting terrorist? Whether we were safer or not under Bush is really questionable. And you can't really blamce the Obama administration for the unemployment.
You remind me of a right-wing friend that told me that when Clinton was elected our economy would fall apart. He was wrong... the same as you are wrong about Obama. Your hated for all but right-wing ideology reminds me of the nazi party before WW2.

Judge Sotomayor's actions in the Connecticut Fierfighter's case is extremely disturbing to say the least, siding with the city to toss the results of a promotion exam because minorities didn't scored high enough. It appears that hard work will no longer be the measure of the individual, but the color of their skin.

Her statements on the Appeals court and the making of policy are also a red flag. Remarks like this from a judge should be shocking to those of any political party.

While I'm not saying that she isn't capable, I can't help think that there are more qualified individuals. If this is his best qualified person, the country is indeed in dire straits. I'm disappointed that the President seems to think more of the gender/race of the individual than their ability to protect the Constitution and laws of the Country. I'm beginning to regret my vote, so far the President has not lived up to my expectations. So much for change...

KWW, Jesus *was* a liberal. The right wingers would never approve him.

Let's see, who won the election? Democrats. Who picks the Supreme
Court Justice? Democrats. Want to change that? Win an election.
Let's see, where did I hear that before? Impugn away, republicans.
I'm always looking for a laugh.

When your own political leanings are so far to the extreme right, of course you'll see a moderate as being a left-wing liberal. But the
SCOTUS already has enough right-wing representation.

"Conservatives . . . described her as a "bully" who "abuses lawyers." "

But that's OK when Scalia does it, of course.

The right is diving head first into a serious hypocritical position right now. If they want to contest her ACTUAL judicial capacity and intellect, they had better be ready to defend the nomination of Clarence Thomas, a Justice that even the other conservatives on the bench won't let write opinons.
If they want to argue that she is merely a politically motivated partisan hack, they had better be ready to explain why Justice Scalia has spouted the conservative line consistently over his tenure and he is not a hack. (Other than the mindless comments about how conservatives are infallible in their constitutional interpretation simply because they agree with it.)
Let me explain something... all judges are activist, from Brennan to Scalia. They read the constitution the way they want to read it. If you don';t belive me, read the 9th Amendment, or the due process, equal protection, or privileges and immunities clauses and tell me what they include and exclude. I promise you you can't, it has to (and has been) INTERPRETED.

RIGHT WING & LEFT WING please leave! We have got a country to run. What do know about law? You both have spent most of your lives yelling slogans you don't understand the meaning of.

I can't believe how moronic the liberals are! My guess is you won't realize it until the government controls everything. My guess is even then you won't care probably because you expect the hard working tax payers to actually support you in every way shape or form. I have news for you though...what happens when the money runs out? Then what will you do? My guess is whither and die since you don't know how to fend for yourselves anyway.

Norm Deplume, Esq.- Examples please, My bet is that you can not cite one example. Typical republicans picking up Buzz words and not reading the facts to form their own opinion.

I guess the gang of old white guy's are girding for a fight.
Face it you all lost and he gets to pick who ever he wants. We lived, and continue to suffer from that non-speaking porn king Thomas

Norm Deplume, Esq. May 26th, 2009 9:29 am ET

"Obama signaled that he wanted to pick someone that would be “compassionate”, meaning that she would nullify laws she did not agree with. Sotomayor is just the person to carry this administration’s water when it comes to re-writing laws from the bench."

-

Norm, are you psychic? You read Pres. Obama's mind and KNOW that the word "compassionate" means "she would nullify laws she did not agree with". Nice try. If you're truly a lawyer, you scare me.

Give it up skippy, there's not much you or your side can do. What did you expect – another conservative on the court?

Keep the mind reading to youself – your results aren't too promising.

I am so sick of hearing the replys that the Republicans should just shut up because they lost the election. Okay, so the last four years you Democrats should have also just shut up since you lost the election. Trust me, the Republicans will win again and much sooner than you liberals want to believe and I will be on this site daily saying "just shut up, you lost!"

So the conservatives are all screaming bloody murder and stamping their feet because Obama didn't nominate one of them – he nominated "an extreme liberal". What does that mean? To them, it means anyone to the left of Benito Mussolini.

Here's a news flash guys – YOU LOST THE ELECTION! People don't buy the snake oil you've been selling anymore. And to borrow a phrase that so much the rage over the last eight years, "If you don't like it, why don't you move to another country?" Oh, wait a minute... the Third Reich was overthrown, wasn't it? My, you conservatives are up a creek, aren't you???

j smith May 26th, 2009 9:56 am ET

Toobin is off his rocker!!! sotomayor is an EXTREME liberal activist judge. it is disgusting CNN portrays this judge as a moderate…trying to convince the public that this is indeed the case. EMPATHY??? i thought justice was blind and a judge should NOT have empathy of one side over another! typical extreme liberal nomination from a typical VERY extreme liberal prez…

–

J Smith – do you have any facts to back up or comments that the nominee is an "EXTREME liberal activist" – or are you just hyperventillating?? Rants without reason or facts are just that and are quickly disregarded. check with rush later – I'm sure he'll fill in the blanks for your hysterical tirade.

Once again, watch the Republicans bash Justice Sotomayor. Sessions of Alabama will be the leader in the hearing. Who oh why does Alabama elect the two worse anti senators, Sessions and Shelby.
Thanks

She upheld the law that prevented world organizations from discussing abortion if they are taking money. That decison would probably be considered conservative by anyone's barometer.

Nothing this woman has done points toward her being moderate. She even said she legislates from the bench.

She's a kook left wing liberal.

I did not expect Obama to nominate a conservative.

I suspect that Ms. Sotomayor will be consistently liberal in her views no matter what the case. I understand she is on the side of the City and against the white and Hispanic firefighters who were denied promotions even though they excelled on the promotion exam.

What more do you need to know? We will have another justice who ignores the words in the Constitution when it does not fit her political agenda of quotas and forced equality at any cost.

Basically the left wants no standards of competency imposed when it comes to hiring and promotion practices. Anytime a minority fails an exam, it is deemed that the exam is unfair.

This insanity will never end because Obama will ensure that all the federal judges he appoints will continue the insanity.

Sotomayor is a Puerto Rican Judge. She may be a great Supreme Court Judge. I hope so. However, she is not a Mexican American judge so we Americans of Mexican heritage are still not represented on the Supreme Court. It is absurd to lump all people of Latino heritage under the generic term "hispanic". Of course this reality amplifies the absurdity of selecting a candidate based on their ethnicity. When you do this you can never satisfy everyone in a multicultural society. The only way you can come close to satisfying everyone is to select the most qualified candidate without considering ethnicity.

The Republicans would be wise to tread lightly here. Most of america associates the party as being made up of racists and bigots. They have an opportunity to prove the country right and I'm sure they will. They have already lost many, many, hispanic votes. They will continue to lose more as the years move foward. It's their own fault with men like Steele, Cheney, Newt, and Limbaugh leading the way, LOL

Just wondering.. Who would Obama have nominated, that wouldn't have been "a great pick?"

This is one very savvy president. With his help, the Supreme Court of the land will reflect the ethnic diversity of this country as it should. We have an eminently qualified nominee who will replace Justice Souter and keep balance on the court. And she is a woman to boot! What more can you ask for? Conservatives and the defunct GOP do not seem to have received the memo!

Um...to clairesolt go here to get her resume....
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/26/sotomayor.resume/index.html

idiot

Republicans know there is no way to block any pick the President makes. They will use his pick to get donations and fire up their base which is shrinking every day. But their main goal here is to weaken the Obama administration.

all you Obama supporters, do you really see change? I do. Less jobs available, economy is in the toilet? bailouts, helping the welfare folks with cars? insurance? health care plan? emission testing? leave the gov't out of my life, they're all crooks. Obama speaks a good game, but if you have any brains at all it's easy to see right through it.
This person he appointed, belives in abortion(murder) believes in gay marriage(please!) and wants guns to disappear. Obama is on a mission and people are so blinded by what he wants, it's scary to me.

Moderate liberalism? That would make Charles Manson just a guy in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is an activist socialist judge who will be an activist socialist justice. Let's just hope Obama doesn't get to replace a conservative justice.

Is she pro-life? Does anyone know?

Many comments posted here from both the left and right are ugly and hate-filled. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

It's true, we conservatives lost the election, due in no small part to the biased media. And it's true Obama has pciked EXACTLY who I expected him to pick. I'll stop "whining" ("I prefer the term advocating") about it when liberals stop whining about the Bush years, which were good, safe years for this nation. Sotomayor's judicial philosphy isn't what bothers me–it's what you'd expect from any Obama pick. What disturbs me is her naked racism–her quote where "a wise old Latina" would of necessity make better choices than a white male, simply due to genes and gender. Reverse those, and you'd have a REAL scandal.

Great pick! well done President Smart Obama

She is an imbecile that has been nominated SOLELY because of gender and ethnicity. Her Judicial qualifications were never considered ...look at how many of her rulings have been OVERTURNED by the Supreme Court . Now ... she will be sitting on that Court making a mockery of Law.
What a sad sad sad day for America.

(A) Supreme Court picks often end up adjudicating quite differently than predicted. (B) This has no real effect on the balance of power on the Court. It will be the NEXT justice, not this one, that determines what President Obama's real intentions are for the Court. (C) This is a softball for Obama. Professionally she is eminently qualified, liberal enough that Democrats will be appeased, moderate enough that Republicans won't be able to mount any kind of Borking operation against her. And politically correct enough that the media has to love her. Obama will come out looking like a genius once again, but the real test of his political skills and his ideological beliefs will come with his SECOND Supreme Court pick.

[...] giudice donna, portoricana, cresciuta nel Bronx, diabetica e orfana di padre da quando era bambina. Liberale [...]

Speaking as a white, moderate, Caucasian male, I'm extremely happy that President Obama has chosen Judge Sotomayor for the SCOTUS. It's inconceivable that only white, male, Caucasians who are jingoistically-motivated are qualified to sit on that bench.

Even though Republicans think otherwise, Americans come in all shades, ethnicities and backgrounds; Judge Sotomayor's selection simply reinforces that truth.

Mr. Neverright (Navarettte) was wrong again. He said that President Obama would never select a Latino. I am sure in his next commentary he will say that judge Sonia Sotomayo is not Latino enough or that her views are not in line with Latino views. Well, Mr. Neverright, there are many people of Spanish descent that are not right wing nut jobs like you. And bravo Mr. president for selecting the best person for the job. (Unlike your predecessor).

I worked as an assistant DA with her in the 80's. She sure wasn't shy about trying to win convictions then, which seems at odds with all the concern now that she is a liberal fanatic. Elections have consequences and President Obama won. She may not have been my first pick but she'll be fine. Relax.

KLB I agree that Republicans should not shut up, i hope you Republicans have some ideas instead of just partisan sniping. KLB how are Republicans going to win another election in the near future with woman , Hispanics and blacks not on your side? Do you not see the dynamic that is forming in the country? Your GOP is getting narrower and narrower and the growth of Hispanics in the country where are you going to get the votes? If the GOP goes after Sotomayor you can forget about the Hispanic vote for the next 10 years. The the GOP will be the Limbaugh party and 20 million votes gets you jack squat in a general election.

One thing that has been made crystal clear over the last 40 years or so, if it wasn't clear before, is that "judicial activisim" is not the sole province of "liberal" judges. "Making law from the bench" happens on both sides of the ideological divide. "Conservatives" are no less immune.

the rules say President Obama gets to pick, isn't it great.

To Rick the dick:
You need lessons in grammar and spelling.

Only republiCONS would consider "empathy" as a negative attribute.
Doesn't that tell us their whole story?

I wish the Republican base would stop whining and trying to destroy this country. They have no sense of bipartisanship...as 43 aptly put it, either you're with them or against them....no such thing as moderate to them. That attitude is childish and sad...they'll end up being even more aggressive sore losers and will try harder to undermine the U.S. and what it represents. We'll always have our extreme conservatives and extreme liberals, but what makes this country strong is the true moderate base...there just happens to be more Democrats than Republicans that are moderates for now.

The country and Constitution needs to have a moderate voice. It is frightening in decisions since Roberts became Chief Justice, that the Roberts-Scalia-Thomas-Alito pack has a penchant to support methods and ideology usually associated with dictators and trample on the Constitution and individual. I hope there is no political payoff of Sotomayer in the manner that Roberts was paid for his service in carrying the water for Dubya in Bush-Gore to the Supreme Court.

To KLB,

You lost. Just shut-up!

I truly hope we get a judge on the bench that will FINALLY help the gay community....hopefully she will represent the progressive side of America that wishes to see equality for all...not the "special" marriage rights currently reserved for only for straight couples. And to the extreme right-wing nut jobs, yes–this will at some point make it all the way to the Supreme Court and you will LOSE. It may take a while to get there, but you cannot deny your fellow tax-paying Americans equal rights under the law...come up with whatever cute name you want to call if you can't stomach "marriage" but it will happen...get used to it.

I am sure we will hear from all the republicans (including a few on this post). After all, Sonya comes from a poor background. She's not an affluent male, like the GOP would like to see appointed.

"Moderate" liberal???

I guess that makes Obama a "moderate" Communist?

A left leaning moderate is going to replace a left leaning moderate. I fail to see the major issue. The balance of the court is going to remain unchanged.

So another blameless minority pick, who has a bit of a superiority complex over men. So she's already sexist, supports big surpise the illegal imigrants.

Go Obama, your the perfect prez since keep lining the table like this anything you do something wrong is because evil white people don't like change?

What change?

Mr. T.."Just wondering.. Who would Obama have nominated, that wouldn’t have been “a great pick?”

Very well said. Obama could have picked Caroline Kennedy and it would be hailed by the left as an extremely wise choice. Of course he was going to pick a liberal female minority. As far as all the ignorant Republican bashers go....Repulicans AND the Democrats are supposed to give a nominee serious consideration. Not just rubber stamp whomever Obama nominates. But what can you expect when politics is practiced like tribal warfare rather than intelligent governance (and of that BOTH liberals and conservatives are guilty).

"Bush 41 also picked Souter. Disaster!"

For the right. Souter hasn't been questions in terms of intellect, unlike 41's other pick.

But I don't hear conservatives complaining about Thomas' short comings.

Empathy doesn't equal right. It means taking things in context. Justice is blind not stupid.

Obama smiled when greeting a Central American dictator, just like Ronald Reagan smiled when greeting Gorbachez. Obama wants to raise the tax rate on the highest brackets to the same level as Ronald Reagan had them. Obama want to put one of George HW Bush's Federal jusges on the Supreme Court. Obama is continuing to use W's military tribunals. Obama was raised without a father, just like Ronald Reagan whose father was an alcoholic. Obama has W's secretary of defense Gates.

Wow, no wonder the Republicans hate him.

Hey GOP. if this is a Christian nation, why don't you guys follow the Golden Rule

I can't wait to see Sotomayor take down the twin bottomless gas bags Thomas and Alito in SCOTUS opinions!

Mr. Petrosino,

Read my earlier post of 10:47 a.m. and tell me if the left considers competency in hiring and promotion practices.

By your post, it appears you only care about ethnic diversity.

This ethnic diversity mantra has run amuck and defies logic and reason.

Activist???? ALL people who act in the world are ACTIVISTS What the hell do you think the Roberts' of the world are doing if not being activist.
We have one of the most eminently qualified presidents picking a most eminently qualified judge.

I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a sad day for America. We will now become a nation that legalizes both gay marriage, and the murder of the unborn, and our country will no longer be a safe place to raise children. People who resist, and speak out against these immoral laws will be persecuted.

Read Isaiah 1:21-31 to understand the judgment that is to befall us.

Brenda has a good point. Most liberals are wrong on affirmitive action. Why should affirmitive action favor the minority child of a middle income minority family over a white child that was raised in foster care and orphan's homes????? Justice William O. Douglas, in his autobiography, denounced affirmitive action, and he was as liberal as they get. This is a killer issue for the Democrats with working class and poor whites. There are a lot of children, of all races, in the USA that grow up in terrible conditions. We should help them all. Should a young white girl who was abandoned by her parents at a young age, and then grew up in an orphanage be disadvantaged when competing for a job against a minority girl from a stable middle class family?????? I know the young white girl mentioned above, and today she has a college degree. I do not believe that she should be disadvantaged anymore than she already has been!!!! By the way Conservatives, the young white girl recieved free lunches at school, and a medicaid card, and so did the other 200 children in the Children's Home. She was helped by liberal programs. Programs Conservatives fought against. Neither Conservatives or Liberals are always on the right side of history.

BRENDA: She sided with the New Haven CT government that threw out promotion test results because the white firefighters passed and no hispanics/blacks did….

I'M GUESSING YOUR 12 RIGHT?

Norm Deplume, Esq,

Great screen name, but where did you get your dictionary? To quote:

“compassionate”, meaning that she would nullify laws she did not agree with.

You wing-nuts just make this stuff up. So now compassion is a dirty word?

A lot of these posts make me wonder... Is this not a time for all Americans to be proud? Here we have a very solid judicial appointee – first appointed by Bush 41, then again by Clinton, and confirmed twice by the Senate – that is both a woman (only the 3rd on the Supreme Court if confirmed) and our very first Latino Justice (if confirmed). That should speak volumes about finding someone that might actually have both the legal expertise and the life experience to be a very fair and impartial Justice. Please people, get off your political high horses, and think about what might be most important for ALL Americans! I salute this nominee and am very proud of our President's choice!

If Abraham Lincoln, George Washington or Thomas Jefferson were alive today to be nominated, there are those who would have a lot of the same complaints I see here and want to toss them out.

I think everyone should just take a deep breath, watch the various grillings she'll get in the nomination process in front of congress and /or read ALL her judgments from the bench before passing judgment of their own...

Empathy is not a dirty word. It's not indicative of bias. One would hope that ALL judges were capable of empathy, although that sadly isn't the case. Despite Chief Justice Roberts's talk at his confirmation hearings of judging as umpiring balls and strikes, it's really not that simple-not at the Supreme Court OR the lower court levels.

Every day, judges are confronted by questions that have huge impact on people's lives, and the answers are not necessarily found in the Constitution or statute. Not because of judicial activism, but because we ask judges to determine what is an appropriate sentence for a first-time X offender. What is in the best interest of child Y. Or child Z. Or child B. Or the other kids going through the system, with every case being different. What is the appropriate balance to strike between protecting a defendant's right to a fair trial and a victim's family's right to free speech when it comes to them wearing buttons with the victim's picture in the gallery during a trial? A defendant is trying to use a seldom-used doctrine of lenity to allow his late appeal to be heard, because the trial judge gave him a filing deadline that was a few days later than it should have been and neither his lawyer nor the prosecutors picked up on it-can he appeal or is he screwed?

Those examples are but a few of the issues that judges face where judgment and empathy matter. Where laws aren't being rewritten regardless of the ruling. Where statutes provide guidance but the judge must provide an answer.

Moving on to Judge Sotomayor, I have no doubt that conservatives won't view her as a moderate. On the other hand, they were up in arms about President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, slinging mud at the non-existent nominee, since Justice Souter announced his resignation. As far as judges go, however, Judge Sotomayor is relatively moderate. Liberal? Yes. And for that matter, no duh. Was anyone expecting a member of the Federalist Society? As far as liberal picks go, however, she is no radical. She hasn't advocated any extreme positions, and has no pet issues where she's tried changing the law.

The Democrats weren't thrilled with Justices Roberts or Alito. Nobody calls Justice Alito a moderate. But they were confirmed. If the Democrats didn't block Justice Alito, I fail to see what would justify the Republicans blocking Judge Sotomayor.

Funny how conservatives always froth at 'activist' judges.... unless the judge happens to be in favor of some primitive, backward and luddite policy the conservatives would love to ram down our throats. GOP = Hypocrites, liars and cheats.

Maybe one more win for main street people ......
Good luck on your confirmation "New Yorican"

Who did you Conservatives expect him to pick? Sean Hannity?!

The only question should be is she qualified, not if she is iiberal or not. She is HIS pick. You act like Bush 43 was killed and we snuck Obama into office. He won the campaign, he is allowed to pick a damn liberal.

Change has come! She will likely be on the bench for the next 25 years. Ranting will not change that.

I would reserve judgment on Sotomayer. However, I can only smile at the hysterical reaction of Dems that the Republicans are opposing her only because of politics, not qualifications. Isn't that the circus that we saw when Roberts and Alioto were nominated, when the Dems displayed ridiculous opposition. Now Repubs are supposed to lay down and accept a liberal nominee? Remember that Mr. Obama opposed Roberts, one of the most qualified judges we have, ONLY on political stance. All said, I think she might make a fine appointee.

The opinion Judge Sotomayor wrote supporting the New Haven city government's decision to throw out the results of the firefighters' promotion exam because it didn't allow for a greater number of minority candidates reveals this candidate's propensity to legislate from the bench.

Funny, all the right wingers I know are useless unemployed whiners, it's the dems who are college educated, informed and productive infdividuals.

What did Bush mean when he said he was compassionate?
Oh yea, he just lied.

"However, she is not a Mexican American judge so we Americans of Mexican heritage are still not represented on the Supreme Court."

Homey.. You ODed. Be serious, Latino is Latino. I'm Haitian you don't see me complaining that Thomas and Marshall are not from the Islands. Its great to have ethnic pride, but the President has one pick, he can't be that specific. EVER

I don't have a dog in this fight, but common sense dictates that qualifications rather than ethnicity or gender should rule. If Obama predetermined that his candidate must be a woman or a Hispanic, he's done a disservice to the country. Same if GWB predetermined a white male.

The SCOTUS is far too important and far too powerful to be ruled by any kind of quotaism.

Am I wrong here?

The only thing that anyone should be paying attention to is how she interprets the Constitution. You can have all of the qualifications on paper and still not be fit for a job.

The Constitution is the foundation. How does she interpret the rights guaranteed and protected by the constitution?

If history has taught us anything about Supreme Court is that new justices often do not act as was expected when they were appointed. It is impossible to judge a court appointee based on their past rulings. The court changes those who become judges. The concept of left and right disappears. The only thing that is constant is the justices love of the constitution and our country. Enough of this crap from the right and the left. A President's choices should be respected because even they don't know how a judge will vote when they are on the court.

If this is a moderate selection I am one who does not know left from right. –bernard wewinski

Exactly! Now you're getting it! You dont!

She is a socialist just like our President (although he seems genuinely offended when anyone asks him this), I'm sure he asked Europe to approve before announcing this, what an absolute joke this guy is, Im moving to France, oh wait I'm already there!

HAHAHAHAHAHA
Eat it up conservatives.

As one who has argued in the Supreme Court, I can say with some confidence that the two intellectual giants on the Court are Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Antonin Scalia.

You may agree or disagree with the way they decide a case, but if you want to contribute to the conversation about confirmation, talk about the facts and issues and outcomes of cases, and talk about Judge Sotomayor's reasoning.

The labels (liberal, moderate, conservative, democrat, republican) are unhelpful.

The Republicans would try and block Jesus if he had been selected as the nominee "He's to empathetic with middle eastern ties!!". If the Republicans know what's good for them they'll let this nominee slide or face losing the largest growing demographic in this country Well played Mr. Obama, well played

Obama just over-reached – he's now doomed for 2012 re-election.
He obviously picked her only because she's a latina and a woman, completely disregarding what he previously said about not legislating from the bench. As with his other decisions, Obama says one thing and does another. He says let's find common ground, then goes the most far left he can.
Sotomayor's record shows she's tried repeatedly to legislate from the bench, she even bragged about it, but many of her decisions were later over-turned.

Sonia Sotomayor is well-qualified and experienced, just as Justice Alioto and Justice Roberts were. Her record suggests, obviously, opinions more consistent with the current president; again, obviously, as one would suggest. That she is a Hispanic woman initially appointed by Bush is politically deft decision by Obama, for sure, but that doesn't diminish her qualifications. Instead it simply shows that it achieving diversity and excellence are not mutually exclusive.
Many Republicans will oppose her for their own political purposes, perhaps citing the opinions that werer reversed by votes other than 5-4 and highlighting those reversals in which the more liberal justices voted against her. Fair enough, but she is likely to be approved fairly easily, jsut as Roberts and Alioto were, and for the same reasons: she is well-ualified.

I just hope she will treat the constitution as a living, malleable document that can be shaped to allow tax-paying, law-abiding, highly-educated, red-blooded gay and lesbian Americans to participate in this great place that we call America the beautiful. This country does not live up to its creed if every consenting ADULT is not allowed to participate fully. Sounds like this lady had a challenging childhood. These are the people we want as judges- they understand compassion – not people who were born with silver spoons in their mouths who think the masses should eat cake. Those people would be compassionate conservatives, and after the last 8 years, we know for a fact that compassionate conservatism is a fake campaign slogan designed to garner votes beyond the Republican right-wing base. The masses ate that term up, but quickly found out that compassionate conservatism was not very filling. It was like eating air....

SC, I imagine she is personally pro-life. She certainly ruled against the abortion lobby on the Mexico City Policy, which means she is either NOT an activist judge by upholding the law or IS a PRO-LIFE ACTIVIST. Roberts, Alito and Kennedy, who are also Catholic, are probably also personally pro-life.

Of course, this depends on what being pro-life means. If it means desiring a return of the bad old days before Roe where the states could rule unfettered, then she is probably not pro-life, and neither are Kennedy, Alito or Roberts. I would guess she would side with these on Gonzalez v. Carhart. She is likely not like Brennan, who wanted abortion no matter what, or else she would overturned the Mexico City Policy when she had the chance. I suspect that sometime in the near future, when Obama advocates an abortion compromise bill that recognizes the congressional role in interpreting the 14th Amendment includes recognizing life in the third trimester and it becomes law, she will vote to uphold it as a valid exercise of congressional power under the 14th Amendment. Ginsberg, Bryer and Stevens will vote no and the rest will vote yes. Does that make her pro-life? Moderately so.

George Will will like her for ending the Baseball Strike.

If the Constitution was to be considered the ultimate word ,exactly as written, then we wouldn't need anyone to interpret it, therefore no Supreme Court. The framers knew that it was a document that would have to be interpreted as time & circumstances changed. The founding fathers knew that in order for the Constitution to endure and live, flexibility was necessary.

Hunh...

I find the possibility of "moderate liberal" to be exactly as possible as "moderate conservative"

And anyone who thinks any single judge on the Supreme Court can just throw out laws they dont like or ignore long established precedent has utterly no idea how the Supreme Court works or even a clue what the court does outside of laugable Rush Limbauaghesqe fear-mongering talking points...
Step one: Get a clue, read the Consitituton...
Step two: Understand it...
– Take a class on it, if you need to. (Hey, that's what Obama taught, right? in freakin COLLEGE, rght? I guess then that there may be a slight possibility that he may just possibly understand the Constitution a little better than ol Rush, ya think?)
Step three: go to step 1

MS. SOTOMAYOR, WILL BE A LIGHT TO THE SUPREME COURT,
MR. OBAMA KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED FOR THIS COUNTRY. REPUBLICANS, DON'T COMPLAIN. MS. SOTOMAYOR, IS PERFECT. CONGRATULATIONS, MS. SOTOMAYOR AND HURRAY MR. PRESIDENT.

Sam Crunchie says:

It is absurd to lump all people of Latino heritage under the generic term “hispanic”.

Dude what are you talking about? Hispanic means that their ancestors are from spain. Thats what latino IS. Whats absurd about being Spanish? There are distinctions largely self-imposed (giving ytourself an 'identity' is how one gets entitlements) but the basic, essential fact of distant spanish origins is the ONE THING that latinos, hispanics etc. have in COMMON!

History isnt that hard to read is it?

For example, your family might be irish, scottish, or english, but to the modern world you are WHITE. Nothing wrong with that is there? You think I should get special treatment and special labels and special rights just because my family happens to be scottish and not english?? Logic please!

Listen, Obama won. He is the President. He gets to pick. Sotomayor seems confident and capable. I have no issues with her. But lets get real people. If Clarence Thomas, Scalia and a true lightweight Altio can pass confirmation muster, then she can. All this talk about "what ever happend to choosing the right person for the job" is code for "pick the white guy."

Is she pro-life? Does anyone know?
___________________
SC, does that really matter??
This country is becoming more ethnically diverse. If you are "pro-life" all you are doing is fighting for the lives of those that will be voting Democrat/Independent/Liberal when the time comes.
So keep fighting that abortion, we need all the diversity and votes we (moderate liberals) can get.
Amen!!!! HAHAHAHA

Here's a thought for everyone...nothing any of us say in this forum will make any difference whether she is confirmed or not...it's all politics folks.

I would not expect republicans to support anyone that was not white, male and a "born again" christian. The thinly veiled racism of the conservative movement is at the core of the republican party.

By the way, republicans purport to oppose activist judges. They do, unless an activist decision is needed to stop a vote re-count, and steal an election. It is only then that "states rights" take a back seat.

If Obama is for it, the Republicans are against it. He could nominate Jesus for the Supreme Court and they would manufacture some sort of opposition to it. Too Liberal...

I feel this idea of "emphathy" really needs elaboration and additional justification as a quality for a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Also, whoever get on the court will have to deal with the "empathy vote/judgement" label...

Thank you Mr. President. Keep up the good work!

MR T.

I know who the Republicans would thing was a good choice.....RUSH LIMBAUGH, of course.

For Todd and Shane, I feel sad that you are so misinformed. You REALLY believe that democrats are a bunch of welfare abusers who aren't interested in being productive. Allow me to set you straight:

The amount of Corporate Welfare that goes to Republicans in big business in the form of tax cuts and other benefits (as provided by our government) and is then abused and wasted by the wealthy in business FAR out-strips the miniscule amount of money that is wasted at the bottom by those relative few who abuse social welfare.

You conservatives are such hypocrites when you say garbage like that.

This nominee will do more to right the wrongs of this country than anybody your side would suggest. VIVA SOTOMAYOR!

Back in the 90's I met Justice Ginsberg one time. She espoused the impartiality of the Supreme Court as being divorced from political Idealology, subject to only "strict interpretation of the constitution" etc. etc. You know, the crap they list in high school textbooks....

I actually believed her at the time, but the more experiece I have, the more it becomes apparent that the only thing the Supreme Court is "divorced" from are idealogical SHIFTS in the populace. Justices themselves interpret the law as they see fit to match their subjective views on very POLITICAL issues.

So, for those who are critisizing others of making this nomination a political and not a leagal issue, wake up and look at the current example of the obvious main criteria for choice of this empty slot: SEX, RACE, and POLITICAL VIEWS.

I see the Republican Party repeatedly referred to as the "No Party." Is that as opposed to the "Blank Check Party," which the Democrats seem to have become? Also, the Republican Party is apparently a one-issue party? What would that one issue be? Iraq? Pro-life? Capitalism? Seems like many different Democrats peg Republicans with being solely concerned with many different issues. Hardly a one-issue party. Regarding Sotomayor, she apparently said the following at a previous Senate Confirmation hearing: “I don't believe we should bend the constitution under any circumstance. It says what it says. We should do honour to it.” If she holds true to this position, she should make a good justice. Otherwise, she will dishonor the Constitution and further facilitate the destruction of this nation's founding charter, which is already under way.

An impressive choice. Sotomayor is a serious, real-life,
everyday super-achiever. How refreshing. Scalia + the
ultraconservative boys better move over!

I am not overly troubled by the pro-Bush, antichoice decision
in 2002 regarding Mexico City. She seems to have decided that
one strictly on the legal merits.

Congrats Nuyoricans!!

Does anybody here even understand the role of the supreme court? Their role is to enforce the consitution.. nothing else. Somebody said they should be "blind" and that is correct. You do not want judges there to push and agenda or show empathy towards people. They are there to make sure the president and other law makers are not bending/breaking the groundwork set forth by the constitution.

Bush (the dumb one) selected Roberts and Alito because they were easily confirmable with his crony majority, and had limited writings to suggest the position they might have on their one issue (abortion). Of course Bush (the dumb one) knew where they stood, and knew he could forcefeed them to the Senate Dems because they were QUALIFIED. So, we got Roberts and Alito.

Likewise, Sotomayor is wholly QUALIFIED, and will skate through the process now that the "other team" gets to decide who sails. My suggestion to those who are here whining is to remember the last two appointments (and the failed appointment of Bush lackey Harriet Miers)... and realize that the public spoke by bouncing out "your" team... and the popularly elected leader is making what is certain to be a popular pick. Shut up and deal with it.

no she's not pro life. She believes like obama. It's ok to murder these children! WOW, what has our country come to? If you liberals want the gov't to run your life, move to Sweden or another socialist run country. Leave America the way it's suppose to be, full of christian men and women who should be joined in marriage(not 2 men or 2 women) gun carrying(we should have the right to bear arms)Pro life(why would you ever think with a sane mind that it's ok to kill an innocent life?)makes me sick, the way people think

I don't know why conservatives are so upset about activist justices. They are the only reason that George W. Bush was ever elected. The Supreme Court had no constitutional authority to interfere in the electoral process in 2000. The ruling majority revealed themselves as political activists and sullied the Supreme Court reputation along with their own.

Oh, wait – conservatives only object to activist justices who believe in social justice and social responsibility.

As a progressive liberal, I'm a bit disappointed in the selection. The time is ripe to appoint a true liberal. This is the best chance we've had to confirm a true liberal in 30 years. I wish Obama was not quite as conflict-averse as he is from time to time.

That said, there is much admirable about Sotomayor. I respect her career and accomplishments. And I hope that once confirmed and operating within the unfettered confines of the Supreme Court, that she moves further to the left over time. There are some elements of her background that suggest that this could happen.

The "real" Republican Party as led by Limbaugh/Cheney has no choice but to fervently attack President Obama's pick because they are the party of extreme right wing views. What's good for the country and the people of this nation means nothing to them. They ruled by the ideology of "we" know whats right, and the unwashed masses don't know better and we can always scare them into believing we know better. As long as Limbaugh/Cheney continue to speak for the 'real" Republicans their party will continue to lose. Unfortunately, I know enough about politics and government to realize the real losers are all of us (America), for without a smart reasoned oposition the left wing will tend to be more poliarizing in their governance. I am a Democrat, but first I am an American. I voted for Reagan the second time and Bush 41, the first time he ran, other than that I have voted for Democrats. Because in all other elections they were the better smarter candidates and better for our country!

Reslugs will fight this because they are the proven party of intolerance, racists, hatemonguering and don't forget the party of just say "NO".

I love all the people on here up in arms because Obama nominated a liberal judge. Guess what? Bush nominated conservative judges. Where were you guys then? I guess it's okay if a Republican nominates conservative judges, but not okay if a Democrat nominates a centrist or liberal? Your hypocrisy is astounding!

Obama could have nominated Jesus Christ himself, and you right-wingers would be upset. Of course, Jesus is a perfect example of a liebral, but that's another ball of wax...

What precisely is "moderate liberalism"? I don't recall similar comments about Alito or Roberts being "moderate conservatives". Either you are liberal or you're not. Either you are moderate or you're not. Either you are pregnant or you're not.

All I need to know is that the gasbag Limbaugh opposes her. As the leader of the Party of NO that for 8 years sought to destroy the Constitution, our economy, put us into an illegal war that has resulted in a million dead Iraqis and over 5000 dead Americans, and the party whose President IGNORED the August 6 briefing about terrorists using airplanes, giving them free reign to fly planes into the WTC and the Pentagon, Limbaugh's opposition and the neocon opposition tells me she will be GREAT for America.

Limbaugh, Cheney, and the other neocons are the perfect litmus test. When the Party of No turns shrill (when haven't they been shrill since January 20?) we know that we are on the right course.

I expect that they will call for an "up or down vote" just as they did when they were trying to get their boys through the Senate. But, being the Party of No, I don't expect either consistency or the interests of America to be advanced by them.

Great pick, Barack! Let's hope there will be about 5 more in your eight years as President!

She is described as being a very liberal, adamantly pro-choice judge and as a “realist.”

Moderate liberalism? Does that mean they only want to take away 70% of my freedom?

What a great pick. I'm proud of our president and the great work he and his staff is doing.

So many sour grapes exhibited here by right-wing loonies. When will they ever come to terms with the fact that they lost, and will probably never be in power again in their pitiful little lifetimes?

Is she pro-life? Probably not, though she has upheld some Pro-Life-ish rulings in the past.

All in all, about what I expected. A liberal leaning judge with a lot of experience and hailing from one or more 'minority' groups ('women' are not a minority, but they do fall under this category politically). That she was appointed by H.W.Bush is a nice extra, lending some weight to the 'moderate' label that several of her decisions seem to fit.

Yes, she's come out with several liberal judgments, but she's also come out with some conservative ones. Hence the 'moderate' label. If she didn't have any liberal judgments, she'd be called 'conservative', and if liberal and conservative judgments were in equal measure then she'd just be called moderate. I'm confused why some here are pointing out a couple liberal judgments, ignoring the rest of her history, and claiming that that makes her an 'extremist'.

No, I'm not entirely comfortable with her, but she seems to be more or less exactly what I expected, and a darn sight better then some of W's appointees. I'm confused how anyone here is surprised or upset by this nomination. Pleased or displeased, sure, but still.

@KLB, in the meantime, just shut up, you lost!

Alternatively, you could read her resume or a few of her opinions, then refer to facts when posting. Oh, and btw, you lost the last election. Don't forget that ok? You lost. Oh, and one more thing, you lost by a lot.

Read more. Talk less.

Based on her current decisions, there is no way to know if she is pro-life or pro-choice. The only case that I can find that she had, that was related to this, was the one where she upheld the government's right to only give funds to countries that did not allow discussin of or use funds for abortions. Based on this decision it is possible that she is pro-life. However, as an appelate judge she really had to follow the Supreme Court's lead in decisions, so even though she ruled this way, there is no way to know if p-l or p-c.

As for the criticism that she ruled against the city on the promotional test for firefighters, I would suggest that there is precedent for that. There has been a lot of "noise" around tests skewed for or against particular ethnic groups. i.e. the poll tests prior to the '60's that were purposely used to exclude blacks from voting. Without actually seeing the test, no one would probably know if it was skewed or not.

I suspect looking at the prior decisions she has made that she is not as liberal as I would like, but I believe that we will never know how liberal or moderate she is until she serves. All we can realy do is make sure that, in the majority of cases, she conformed to the letter of the law in her decisions. All judges make mistakes (after all they're human), but has she consistently enforced the law. So far in the examples of the hundreds of rulings she has made, I have not seen anything that leads me to believe she did not consistently follow the law. THAT IS WHAT THE DECISION SHOULD BE BASED ON. DID SHE CONSISTENTLY RULE ACCORDING TO THE LAW?

This will not be the first Hispanic Judge on the Supreme Court. Justice Benjamin Cardozo, a Portuguese American, was the first Hispanic on the Supreme Court Bench. Get the facts straight.

Chris,

God is a liberal! I understand your a liberal and therfore, are clueless.
But do actually believe God would be pro abortion? Don't be so stupid.

This is a very savvy choice. Hispanic and Catholic are two big voting blocks the GOP is trying to court. How do you oppose what are, essentially, Catholic values without looking anti-Catholic? How do you oppose a Hispanic choice, of which Hispanics will likely be very proud, without looking a bit racist. This is going to be fun to watch.

I Read these comments and I have to wonder what is wrong with you liberals. Why do you think that having a different opinion than yours amounts to hate? I have read many comments on many different subjects and what I see over and over again is the liberals think they can say what ever they want about the conservatives, but the first time someone expresses an opinion about Obama or a DEM. We are haters or raciest. Why don’t you try stating your opinion without insulting other people? Yes the Dems. Won the election but that does not mean all of us agree with you. You call the GOP the party of no, what do you sound like. I did not vote for Obama and I think he was the wrong choice. He came from Chicago Politics one of the most corrupt systems in this nation. However I am willing to wait and see how he does in the term he was elected to, maybe he will change my mind, not so far but he has a lot of time left. I don’t know enough about this judge to have an opinion about her, but if I did I should be able to state it without being called names by what is fast becoming the party of hate of anyone who does not share their opinion.

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