------------------------------------------------------------------------


So statistically speaking, it's not that unusual that it's taken this long for a latina to be nominated to SCOTUS. If we accept the statistic that nearly 90% of attorneys are Caucasian, the composition of SCOTUS as it is now [88% of Justices are Caucasian] really isn't all that remarkably racially discriminatory.

And consider also the fact that we usually pick from the pool of judges not the pool of practicing attorneys. The statistics above don't tell us whether the diversity among judges is on par with the diversity among attorneys [and I think that's unlikely]. So if we guess that the population of judges is less diverse than the population of attorneys, then less than 3% of all judges would be latino -- not a big pool of candidates from which to choose.

So similarly, I wouldn't think it's odd that there isn't an Asian SCOTUS justice because the percentage of Asian judges is so small since [in all likelihood] less than 2% of all judges are Asian.

We should also consider that the diversity in SCOTUS can only increase as a consequence to diversity among judges and attorneys. And so, the claim that the Court has been a 234-year institution of white-bias is incorrect, because 234 years ago the diversity among judges and attorneys was not what it is today and therefore Supreme Court selection couldn't very well choose latino candidates even if it were non-biased.

Regarding gender-bias... Assuming that the gender demographics among judges and attorneys is the same [75-25], then SCOTUS candidates would be chosen from a pool that is 25% female and it would follow that [if SCOTUS selection isn't gender-biased] SCOTUS too would be 25% female. In fact, it is [except for recently]. For a while there, 22% of sitting Justices were female. When Alito came on, there was a gender-bias on the Court, but if Sotomayor's confirmed, the Court's accurate gender-representation will be restored.

It's actually much more unusual that there haven't been more Supreme Court Justices from California [there have been many from NY].

I want to be clear that diversity on the Bench is a great, great thing. It's just that I'm not particularly surprised that it took this long. If less than .25% of judges identifies themselves as Native Americans who grew up on a reservation, I wouldn't think it's odd that SCOTUS has no Native Americans sitting on the Bench. I would actually believe it to be more odd if the representation of minorities in SCOTUS grew faster than the diversity among attorneys and judges.

For instance, it would be odd if Asians represent only 2% of all judges yet represent 88% of Justices in SCOTUS. Very odd -- and equally discriminatory.

To increase the diversity in SCOTUS, increase the diversity among attorneys and judges.

She has been overturned 60% of the time. Who wants to pay someone who is wrong most of the time? Oh yeah... Obama!!!

How can a misandrist racist skank like her be confirmed for a lifetime appointment to the so-called Supreme Court?

This just stinks! At least Bush's SC appointments had merit!

So Republicans step aside for a democrat nominee, but democrats get to throw huge roadblocks in front of any Republican choice? No, sorry, it's become too serious to allow that kind of double standard anymore. Obama may only be up there for four years. Sotomayor could do damage to our country for the next thirty years. This is the chance for Republicans to speak out for the constitution loud and clear while the public is watching. If the GOP wants any hope for 2010, we the voters need to see some spine now. Sotomayor may have the votes no matter what, but we don't need to just give up.

Her comments on being better than a white man doesn't bother me nearly so much as her suggestion that the 2nd amendment may not be binding on the states. My thought was....now the states get to choose what parts of the Bill of Rights they will follow...

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor wants to give jailbirds the right to vote. It’s her opinion that the federal Voting Rights Act can be used to force states to allow voting by currently imprisoned felons. Ms. Sotomayor’s dissenting opinion in a 2006 felon-voting case should make senators extremely wary of confirming her for the high court.

Another reason to FIGHT, Neal.

Yes, we all know Sonamayor is a racist and a judicial activist. But did you know that she actually rendered a decision from the bench claiming that the constitution does NOT guarantee a right to bear arms? I don't know what part of "SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED" she doesn't understand, but she claimed that states have an unlimited right to control arms that supercedes the Constitution. (So does that mean slavery is up to the states, too? I thought we fought a war over that.)

I couldn't believe it, but my own Republican Texas Senator Cornyn, is not only not planning to fight this nomination, but he's advising his colleages to do the same. The few Republicans left seem determined to prove why they are now barely have enough votes to filibuster.

I can tell you this -- If there's not a better choice in the primary next time, I'll abstain before I'll vote for a senator without the nads to take on this fight.

Copy, quit smoking dope man. Where are your facts????

Let's hope she doesn't have any tax problems...that seems to be the "kiss of confirmation" for an Obama nominee!

So Sotomayor is a member of La Rasa. This translates to "the race". Some say a Latino racial supremacy group with links to groups that want the south western U.S to become part of Mexico. In other words Sotomayor would have felt right at home with Amnesty Mccain and his dealings with La Rasa, had Mccain become president. I mean seriously could a black or white racial supremacy group get anywhere near the white house, much less have a member become a supreme court judge? America is coming to an end unless we get real conservatives elected to save it. Ron Paul anyone?

Sotomayor should be challenged/stopped at all costs. She has proven her racist and sexist views, along with her contempt for the rule of law and the Constitution.

By her own words, she has fully disqualified herself for the nation’s highest court, much less the one on which she sits at the moment.

She will be confirmed, and will serve as an object lesson against electing anyone remotely like Obama again. And any RINOS voting for her should be targeted by the RNC for removal from office.

The poster Eric below took the words right out of my mouth. I am so tired of this attitude of "well, we need to not act like Democrats and be nice...." Yeah, that has worked so well in the past, huh???? The irony of it all is, even when we do act "nice", the Dems don't even give us credit for it. They still paint us the same way as if we would've gone on the attack. That said, why on Earth would you act nice then??

I am for the scorched earth policy. We need to destroy them. They open their traps and complain about something, we shut them and beat them down immediately instead of apologizing. They want to employ the strategy of personal destruction, we destroy them. When they went after the personal lives of Palin and Joe the Plumber, why didn't we get some PI's to look into the dirty lives of Olbermann, Matthews, and any other reporter who was so gung ho at destructing the personal lives of these people?

You think being nice is the way? The only way is to beat them 10 times as hard, just like when fighting the terrorists. Only then they will understand.

As Sean Connery said in the Untouchables: "They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. *That's the Chicago way! And that's how you get Capone."

Hussein should understand since he is from Chicago.

If a white woman nominee were a member of ALIPAC or FAIR, would she be called a racist?

My guess is yes and she would be disqualified.

Sorry, but I'm afraid I have to disagree with Boortz on this one. This isn't a choice between valid judicial philosophies. Rather, the Senate is being asked to confirm to the highest court in the land someone who HAS SAID she won't do her job. We have enough such judges and justices already, not to mention congressmen and presidents who aren't properly doing their jobs. We don't need to further enshrine this behaviour. Every effort needs to be made to defeat this woman, and if it's not possible, to demonstrate why she should have been defeated.

I am sick of this thing where a Republican nominates a justice and the media goes nuts, but when a Democrat nominates a justice, we get told "well, its their pick, we shouldn't filibuster". MULE FRITTERS!

The President gets to nominate justices with the advice and consent of the Senate. Thats the exact logic we get thrown in our face with every Democrat filibuster of a conservative justice. Why do we have to be the ones to bend over and grab the ankles every time, and just sigh and not fight.

This is somewhat reminicent of those who argue that no matter how badly our prisoners are treated we should never, ever waterboard Al Queda suspects because of some damned treaty that no one obeys but us. But we signed it so we are going to obey it no matter what anyone else does.

There is a time to fight fire with fire. Now is the time. If those who would destroy the values and beliefs that this country was founded on use loopholes and Congressional proceedure to further their agenda, then we must play the game too, even if we didn't make the rules.

Boortz, if not on this horrendous pick, then exactly when should the Republicans stand up to the dems? This woman believes in the Kelo decision, racial quotas, has no regard for the Constitution and feels it's OK to set policy from the bench.

when this is over. We can't stop it and I'm sick of hearing about it. If they do find something, then great, we can fight.

side note: NCchik great post on HotAir

With an appointment like this, the US is in a full speed turn to hard left... unless Libertarians and conservatives awake.

The "oh well" attitude of some politicians and pundits scare me. This is a lifetime appointment! This effects your freedoms! I would think some would take this a little more seriously when it comes to fully questioning her. Stop acting like Democrats!