Michelle Malkin » Sen. Graham to Sotomayor: “Unless you have a complete meltdown, you will be confirmed.”

Sen. Graham to Sotomayor: “Unless you have a complete meltdown, you will be confirmed.”

By Michelle Malkin • July 13, 2009 11:33 AM

As predicted and expected, the Senate Sotomayor hearing this morning has been marinated in rhetoric about “overcoming adversity.” (Plus two disruptions from protesters. Immediately quelled by Capitol police.)

Sen. Feinstein praised Sotomayor’s “warmth.” (Did she take her temperature?)

Sen. Kyl made a measured, comprehensive case challenging Sotomayor’s biases and prejudices on race and foreign law.

Sen. Schumer performed a full-on smear of conservatives, claiming they won’t confirm a Hispanic.

Sen. Graham rebuffed that by pointing out Republican support for Miguel Estrada and then challenged Sotomayor’s ethnic-centered speeches. But his main point:

“Unless you have a complete meltdown, you will be confirmed.”

Graham rambles on about elections having consequences. Says he doesn’t know how he’ll vote. But I think Graham’s Kabuki act is rather transparent. He’ll wait for Sotomayor to reassure him that she can be impartial, and after all his obligatory sound and fury, he will vote for her.

***

Must-read: Make sure to read Randy Barnett’s WSJ op-ed on the Seinfeld hearings.

If you suspect this week’s Senate confirmation hearings for Sonia Sotomayor will be, like “Seinfeld,” a show about nothing, you are probably right. To understand why, we need to revisit an era that remade how lawyers and the public think about law, and especially the Constitution…

…Today we live in a legal world in which many progressives and conservatives share the legal realists’ preoccupation with results. So justices must be chosen who will reach the politically correct results or opposed because they will reach the wrong results. Judicial confirmation hearings are thereby turned into a game of gotcha, with questioners trying to trip up the other side’s nominees, and nominees quite properly refusing to reveal the only thing their inquisitors truly care about: how they would rule in particular cases that are likely to come before the Court.

But postures must be assumed and questions must be asked. So senators and nominees opine about two empty concepts. The first is “stare decisis” or precedent: Will the nominee follow the hallowed case of U.S. v. Whatchamacallit or not?

***

Sen. Tom Coburn gave a very eloquent opening statement on the rule of law, principles of constancy, and Constitution as our foundational document.

Takeaway quote: “The rule of law is the glue that binds us together.”

Takeaway quote number two: “If we disregard objective consideration of facts, then all facts are subjective.”

Sen. Durbin empathizes with Sotomayor about race and gender. ‘Cuz he’s down with the Wise Latina Ladies.

12:38pm: Senate hearing recesses.

Posted in: Sonia Sotomayor

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#744201

On July 13th, 2009 at 5:29 pm, Flyoverman said:

On July 13th, 2009 at 4:06 pm, Ilovemycountry said:

Hi I.L.C. – here’s a question: how do you deal with the ~~bigotry~~ hatred of the ~~republican~~ Democrat party as a ~~black man~~ “tolerant” Progressive?

You know: like ~~the Obama Welfare Coupons with ribs and watermelons on them.~~ Ted Rall cartoons.

The question is at the same intellectual level as yours, so i am confident you can handle it.
#744209

On July 13th, 2009 at 5:33 pm, zorro said:

Senate Sotomayor hearing

Except for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), I have no respect at all for the senate.
#744311

On July 13th, 2009 at 7:42 pm, Durangodarlin said:

James Madison had envisioned the Senate comprised of wise men.

Waiting…waiting…waiting…
#744423

On July 13th, 2009 at 11:31 pm, Republicanvet said:

“Unless you have a complete meltdown, you will be confirmed.”

Any guesses as to who is blackmailing this raging idiot?

I simply cannot believe this fool is this stupid, or that someone, ANYONE in the Senate on the GOP side hasn’t asked this idiot to shut up.

What is wrong with South Carolinians that this moron continues acting like he forgot what party he supposedly belongs to?

No wonder he and McCain are best buds. Grahmnesty is as bad or worse!
#744593

On July 14th, 2009 at 9:53 am, misterbee241 said:

how ’bout an anvil.

Charlie Cowell, anvil salesman. You call we haul. Overnight delivery guaranteed anywhere in the US. Just pay shipping and handling.
#744594

On July 14th, 2009 at 9:54 am, Kevin from Ohio in Virginia said:

Misscheryl,

No, not always.

CORRECT: Kevin says, “Misscheryl is an intelligent commenter.”

ALSO CORRECT: That is what is often referred to as “sarcasm”.
#745023

On July 14th, 2009 at 3:26 pm, jamesgreenidge said:

On July 13th, 2009 at 11:44 am, sonofdy said:

Graham is right. It doesn’t matter what happens she will be voted in unless she kills a child on the desk in front of the cameras. The dems have the votes.

She will be voted in the first hispanic female judge because it is the polticaly correct thing to do.

Well, the Dems are only rightly hitting the iron while it’s red-hot — like Republicans had dropping the ball twenty years ago at scoring the ultimate political prize. It’s the GOP’s massive (moronic) loss for not beating Dems at the black Prez punch and shredding the race card pitted at Republicans for good. To this day, I still say Gen. Colin Powell (while he was saner back then) could’ve been “nudged” to run for Prez and won. He could’ve been persuaded had they REALLY tired. The forever high feather in the Dem’s cap of hawking the first black Prez completely overshadows Lincoln’s (Republican) contributions to black equality the present day African American community, and leaves Republicans/Conservatives forever “catching up” along with escaping the image of being “the redneck party.”

James Greenidge
Queens, NY