Bipartisan vote confirms Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court
Kari Chisholm
On a 68-31 vote, the U.S. Senate has voted to confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. Nearly a quarter of the Republican caucus voted with the Democrats to confirm her. The Democrats, including Oregon's Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, were unanimous. (Senator Ted Kennedy missed the vote due to his ongoing illness.)
Sotomayor succeeds Justice David Souter and is the first woman of color on the top bench. Of the previous 110 justices, only four were either non-white or non-male - and none were both non-white and non-male.
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2:49 p.m.
Aug 6, '09
The eight Republicans who voted to support Sotomayor include four who are retiring from the Senate - Bond (R-MO), Voinovich (R-OH), Gregg (R-NH), Martinez (R-FL); the two female Senators from Maine - Collins (R-ME) and Snowe (R-ME); and two others - Graham (R-SC) and Lugar (R-IN).
Aug 6, '09
Great news, but why lead with the word "bipartisan?" It was a helluva lot more bipartisan when so many blue dogs voted for the creeps bush put in. A lot of good THAT did us. Why does that word seem to trump all?
I'd prefer: "After 200 years, another woman is finally confirmed to the Supreme Court. Better late than never."
Aug 6, '09
This is good news about the Sotomayor confirmation, but to me the real test of progress will be the next three or four appointments. They should all be women in order to bring some gender parity to the Court at long last.
Unless, of course, the argument can be made that there are not yet three or four women out there who are among the very best qualified candidates. Could that be?
3:27 p.m.
Aug 6, '09
Probably a reaction to the lead line in the NYT story: "Voting largely along party lines, the Senate on Thursday confirmed..."
With the Villagers all obsessed with "bipartisanship" on health care, I'd like to establish a marker that it's bipartisan if a half-dozen (or even less) Republicans cross over.
Bipartisan doesn't mean unanimous.
Aug 6, '09
Kari is correct. Bipartisan does not mean unanimous. IT does, however give a nod of the head to the President. Winning elections do have consequences. Just like his predecessor, Obama understands that much of the rhetoric surrounding Sotomayor had nothing to do with her confirmation and everything to do with the next one.
Aug 6, '09
Actually, I think it's only been 16 years since the last time a woman was confirmed.
But, this is great news. Here's hoping she's more liberal and less police state-friendly than she seems!
3:39 p.m.
Aug 6, '09
It's only an accident of American history and bigotry that Italians (Justice Scalia) and Lebanese (Sen. Sununu) are somehow "white" but no one with a Spanish surname is so included. Silly really--shall we pretend Afro-Cubans and pale Argentinians face identical hurdles when they immigrate to the US as a result of both being "Latino"? (See Eva Rodriguez in today's WaPo for a good deconstruction of our "race = political views" fantasies. Or just look at Justice Thomas's record.)
Our ongoing collective stupidity around race and ethnicity aside, Sotomayor looks to be an extremely well-qualified candidate and a welcome replacement for the erratic Souter. It's a real shame the identify politics on the sidelines have obscure that fact, but she can expect 20-30 years to show her merits as an individual. Hopefully her pushiness is as extreme as some senators feared--we need somebody to stand up to Scalia after all.
Aug 6, '09
I understand what you are saying, Kari, but I prefer not to buy into The Village's talking points. How many Republicans voted for Medicare, one of the best programs ever conceived? I'm sick of accepting these meme's put out by the likes of the NYT. The "two sides" aren't the Democrats and Repubicans. If anything, they are "the people" v. "the corporations and their lackeys." I look forward to meeting you in person tomorrow. You rock.
3:59 p.m.
Aug 6, '09
I think 9 Republican votes makes it a bipartisan majority, but I'm disappointed it wasn't more. I do blame the NRA in large part for announcing that this vote would count in their biennial rating of Senators.
I was also particularly disappointed in Senators Hatch and McCain, who I think voted against their best instincts. I also think it would have done Senator Session a lot of good to have voted for her, although maybe not in his home state.
My prediction is that Justice Sotomayor may actually end up slightly more conservative than Justice Souter on some cases and overall will be a fine justice. I predict that many of the REpublican senators will come to regret not voting for her when the next Obama appointee comes along and they would have liked to be able to say, "I voted for Justice Sotomayor, but this one really is too liberal."
4:58 p.m.
Aug 6, '09
Right. Sorry, it was 9, not 8. I forgot Lamar! Alexander (R-TN).
Aug 6, '09
Congratulations to Justice Sotomayor. I have never had the feeling that she was biased toward a particular gender or ethnic group. From what I can read in the media, she seems to be a highly qualified judge who came from a fairly tough background and achieved the American dream. Her decisions may or may not please me or my progressive friends, but I am confident she will try to do what she believes to be the right thing based upon the facts, the law and the constitution.
Aug 6, '09
The hatred of Latino people from the right was revealed,confirmed, and reinforced during this process. It will be remembered. The worship at the throne of Rush Limbaugh and the tea-baggers has a political price. The ethnic complexion of America is changing and the wingnuts can't stand it.
7:21 a.m.
Aug 7, '09
Bill R, that's nonsense. I supported the Sotomayor nomination and wish more Republicans had voted for her, but their opposition was based on her perceived ideology, not her ethnicity.
How long ago was it that the Democrats wanted Alberto Gonzales's scalp and Republicans were defending him? Did the Clarence Thomas attempted gangbang by liberals prove they hate blacks?
Come on, save the race and ethnicity card for cases where it applies.
Aug 7, '09
@ Jackrobby
Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck rule the GOP these days, not you.
Aug 7, '09
Congrats, kids. OPB's "Think Out Loud" (I find it mostly to be a pretty stultifying chatshow) mentioned you a few times while Josh Kardon spun magically. TOL even trotted out that "watercooler" reference, with a slight wobble in his voice, that kind of "eck, can't believe I just said that, dammit" thingie.
However, my bet is the mention will drive some traffic of the curious and maybe even the serious to the site to check out the "couple of interesting comments" [sic].
Pretty good - you were labeled as the "liberal" resource.
Meanwhile, the discussion about Sotom. is so important, cannot even begin to say how much it matters to discuss. Kardon seems to be saying that Wyden really Gets It that 5 guys from the same zip code cannot hope to deliver colourblind rationalizations, bless their hearts. But if we only get 4 guys plus one from Eugene, that is a start.
Despite my distaste for Josh's professionalism (I like my politicos feral and real), I'm beginning to think I might truly like Wyden.
Aug 7, '09
I'm a little worried about this appointment. Being Cuban myself, I applaud them for finally appointing a Hispanic, as that was long overdue. I feel though that there were better options out there.
Sotamayor's financial irresponsibility troubles me. She does not live within her means, and this usually reflects irresponsibility in other aspects of her life. I wish her well, but I find that aspect extremely troubling.
Check out my blog about her personal finances at http://www.thedebtgazette.com/2009/08/justice-sonia-sotamayor-financial-irresponsiblity/
12:14 p.m.
Aug 7, '09
@ Jackrobby Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck rule the GOP these days, not you.
Bill, Bill, Bill--isn't it apparent by now that no one rules the GOP these days? Certainly no one is willing to step up and take credit for it, that's for sure.
Aug 10, '09
Frank sez: Sotamayor's (sic) financial irresponsibility troubles me. She does not live within her means, and this usually reflects irresponsibility in other aspects of her life. I wish her well, but I find that aspect extremely troubling.
SO, she's kind of Sam Adam's fiscal soulmate, then? :-)
Actually, Frank, she's from a completely different class background than most of her now-peers. If having actual financial struggles is a disqualification for public office, then guess what? We'll wind up with government by plutocrats.
Oh wait. We DO have government by plutocrats.
Shit.
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