Sen Lugar: Yea to Sotomayor

July 17, 2009

barry’s travel buddy and ever-important swing state Republican, Sen Dick Lugar (R-IN), is the first Republican to officially back Judge Sotomayor.

From the Office of Senator Dick Lugar:

I have listened to the testimony of Judge Sonia Sotomayor before the Senate Judiciary Committee, carefully reviewed her public service record, and reviewed recommendations from Indiana constituents and colleagues here in the Senate.

Judge Sotomayor is clearly qualified to serve on the Supreme Court and she has demonstrated a judicial temperament during her week-long nomination hearing. Judge Sotomayor has had a distinguished career of public service. She is well regarded in the legal community and by her peers.

I will vote to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Sen Specter: Yea
Sen McConnell: Nay.

Judge Sotomayor opening statements (video/text)

July 13, 2009

Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s opening statements – Day 1 Senate confirmation Hearings.

Sotomayor’s background. Video/text of announcement of nomination.

VIDEO of statement: Politico44

Also noted at Politico: Norma McCorvey aka Jane Roe [as in Roe v Wade] was one of four people arrested for “shouting anti-abortion slogans”. Wonder of Fr Weslin was there too. Have to do a follow up on Notre Dame.

TRANSCRIPT of statement: The Washington Post

————–

SEN PATRICK LEAHY (D-VT): Judge, now we will administer the oath, and I’ll let the two senators step back, if they’d like, if we can. Please raise your right hand. Do you swear the testimony you are about to give before the committee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

SOTOMAYOR: I do.

LEAHY: Thank you. Please be seated. And I thank my two colleagues from New York for the introduction. And I — I appreciated it, because I know both have known you for some time. Judge, you’ve also introduced a number — members of your family. And now the floor is yours.

SOTOMAYOR:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I also want to thank Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their kind introductions.

In recent weeks, I have had the privilege and pleasure of meeting 89 senators, including all of the members of this committee. Each of you has been gracious to me, and I have so much enjoyed meeting you. Our meetings have given me an illuminating tour of the 50 states and invaluable insights into the American people.

There are countless family members and friends who have done so much over the years to make this day possible. I am deeply appreciative for their love and support. I want to make one special note of thanks to my mother. I am here, as many of you have noted, because of her aspirations and sacrifices for both my brother, Juan, and me.

Mom, thank you.

I am very grateful to the president and humbled to be here today as a nominee to the United States Supreme Court.

The progression of my life has been uniquely American. My parents left Puerto Rico during World War II. I grew up in modest circumstances in a Bronx housing project. My father, a factory worker with a third-grade education, passed away when I was 9 years old.

On her own, my mother raised my brother and me. She taught us that the key to success in America is a good education. And she set the example, studying alongside my brother and me at our kitchen table so that she could become a registered nurse.

We worked hard. I poured myself into my studies at Cardinal Spellman High School, earning scholarships to Princeton University and then Yale Law School, while my brother went on to medical school. Our achievements are due to the values that we learned as children, and they have continued to guide my life’s endeavors. I try to pass on this legacy by serving as a mentor and friend to my many godchildren and to students of all backgrounds.

Over the past three decades, I have seen our judicial system from a number of different perspectives — as a big-city prosecutor, as a corporate litigator, as a trial judge, and as an appellate judge. My first job after law school was as an assistant district attorney in New York.

There I saw children exploited and abused. I felt the pain and suffering of families torn apart by the needless death of loved ones. I saw and learned the tough job law enforcement has in protecting the public.

In my next legal job, I focused on commercial instead of criminal matters. I litigated issues on behalf of national and international businesses and advised them on matters ranging from contracts to trademarks.

My career as an advocate ended, and my career as a judge began, when I was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. As a trial judge, I did decide over 450 cases and presided over dozens of trials, with perhaps my most famous case being the Major League Baseball strike in 1995.

After six extraordinary years on the district court, I was appointed by President Clinton to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. On that court, I have enjoyed the benefit of sharing ideas and perspectives with wonderful colleagues as we have worked together to resolve the issues before us.

I have now served as an appellate judge for over a decade, deciding a wide range of constitutional, statutory and other legal questions. Throughout my 17 years on the bench, I have witnessed the human consequences of my decisions. Those decisions have not been made to serve the interests of any one litigant, but always to serve the larger interests of impartial justice.

In the past month, many senators have asked me about my judicial philosophy. Simple: fidelity to the law. The task of a judge is not to make law. It is to apply the law.

And it is clear, I believe, that my record in two courts reflects my rigorous commitment to interpreting the constitution according to its terms, interpreting statutes according to their terms and Congress’s intent, and hewing faithfully to precedents established by the Supreme Court and by my circuit court.

In each case I have heard, I have applied the law to the facts at hand. The process of judging is enhanced when the arguments and concerns of the parties to the litigation are understood and acknowledged.

That is why I generally structure my opinions by setting out what the law requires and then explaining why a contrary position, sympathetic or not, is accepted or rejected. That is how I seek to strengthen both the rule of law and faith in the impartiality of our judicial system. My personal and professional experiences helped me to listen and understand, with the law always commanding the result in every case.

Since President Obama announced my nomination in May, I have received letters from people all over this country. Many tell a unique story of hope in spite of struggle. Each letter has deeply touched me. Each reflects a dream — a belief in the dream that led my parents to come to New York all those years ago. It is our Constitution that makes that dream possible, and I now seek the honor of upholding the Constitution as a justice on the Supreme Court.

Senators, I look forward in the next few days to answering your questions, to having the American people learn more about me, and to being part of a process that reflects the greatness of our Constitution and of our nation.

Thank you all.

Madame Secretary Hillary Clinton sworn in (video)

February 2, 2009

Swearing-in ceremony for Madame Secretary Hillary Clinton #2.

Part 1 was done privately in her office and she was sworn in by childhood friend: DC Court of Appeals Associate Judge Kathryn Oberly.

Hillary Clinton was sworn in as the 67th Secretary of State (15th from New York) after being confirmed 94-2. The two dissenters were Jim DeMint (R-SC) and no surprise DC Madame frequenter David Vitter (R-LA). He has severe castration anxiety and gyne envy and has to pay women for sex. He was the only dissenter in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote (16-1).

Her confirmation was initially held up by John Cornyn (R-TX) because a Republican had to do it. He wanted a roll call not the voice vote even though he said she would be confirmed. It was political theater. Period. Officially the reason was because he wanted to investigate Mr Bill's foundation as if the reps won't be watching it every hour. Besides Mr Bill signed an agreement that lays everything out.

CNN:

CORNYN: But we should not let our respect for Sen. Clinton or our admiration for the many good works of the Clinton Foundation blind us to the danger of perceived conflicts of interest caused by the [foundation's] solicitation of hundreds of millions of dollars from foreign and some domestic sources. The perception and reality must be that the office of secretary of state is viewed around the world as beyond reproach.

SEN JOHN MCCAIN: I think the message that the American people are sending us now is they want us to work together and get to work. I think we ought to let Sen. Clinton, who is obviously qualified and obviously will serve, get to work immediately.

Will Madame Secretary ever be viewed as her own being?

Immediately after being sworn in she resigned from her Senate seat. I wonder if she advised Paterson about her replacement. Tomorrow she will be welcomed at the State Department and give her initial press conference.

Taylor Marsh

It was Turbo Tax not me

January 22, 2009

Financial wizard and Secretary of the Treasury (IRS) nominee, Tm Geithner, tries to blame Turbo Tax for his "common mistakes". He is testifying as the present Head of the New York Federal Reserve Bank and pretends he doesn't know how to file taxes.The scary thought is what if it is true?

tryindep

He has a strange accent.

Madame Secretary 1, Vittner 0

January 16, 2009

Thank you, vyttalimma. I never did get around to the exchange between DC Madam piglet Vitter and Sen Clinton and Mr Chairman. I had transcribed it by hand with body language but Taylor Marsh has the video.

Vitter, like all of them, had reservations about Mr Bill's foundation. They really just want to find out what's in there for them to keep ragging on. Madame Secretary Clinton has been held back by her husband and now when she is clearly more informed than all of them together - they focus on her husband. What did they ask her that she didn't know? Nothing. So the old fall back - Mr Bill.

Vitter wanted more disclosure and asked about conflict of interest. He said Mr Bill hadn't agreed to disclose future foreign contributions to his Global Initiative and she gave an explanation of what barry and Mr Bill agreed on. Something that has been made public and answers were provided ahead of time that he must not have read. Maybe his wife gave him an ultimatum. She looked awfully scary in that picture and appeared taller than him. Surprise. This man has a lot of issues above and beyond simple coarseness.

courtesy of taylor marsh

Madame Secretary Clinton is speaking with her head down, glancing at her papers. When vitter rudely interrupts, she stops and looks up.

CLINTON: But I want to speak for a minute, if I can, about the work that's done, because I think it's important--

Vitter, a fellow senator, a southerner, a prostitute frequenter, a father of three daughters, a husband of a former prosecutor and a Catholic Church Lector, rudely cuts her off. But he has no problem addressing Chairman Kerry with respect.

VITTER: Mr. Chairman [Face flushed, voice quivering, hands palm out like, enough wench!]

[points both hands at himself - he wanted camera time] no objection listening to this.>[lie] But I don't want it to come out of my time, 'cuz I'd like to pursue these questions.

He sits back like, aha, I won. Not even close. He was always going to vote nay and just wanted to stand out. He did. As a classless, rude pig. He lost himself an awful lot of votes with his gyne envy microphallus insecurity. I wonder if his prostitute ever pissed or shat on him. My guess is he liked to be spanked...for good reason. I would like to know what Mr Chairman said afterward. Vitter, besides disrespecting a woman and a colleague - disrespected the Chairman and the proceedings in front of foreign dignitaries.

MR CHAIRMAN (off camera): Well, I guess, I mean, it's fair to say...

Clinton raises her eyebrows, like you've got to be kidding me - this eunuch? She re-centers herself in the chair--showing him he didn't begin to put her in her place--draws in her upper lip--figuratively biting it--rests her forearms on the table--bring it on, this is my domain--and waits for Kerry to handle the useless gnat not worthy of swatting.

KERRY (wide shot of him and piglet) ...that if you ask a question you deserve an answer, and the answer, traditionally, comes out of the time of the senator.

Piglet sits back in his chair and rocks like a kindergartner who has to urinate - or already has - in his diaper.

VITTER: Well, I'm still waiting for an [laughs dismissively] answer. I'd love an answer. [rocking and smirking] But if there's an answer to my question--

KERRY calmly, in control: Well, I think you need to give the senator an opportunity to give you answer the question. And if you need additional time--

Vitter cuts off Kerry, looks away, stops rocking, puts his elbows on the table and gestures with his hands. His face still flushed, he starts in without pardoning himself, addressing her by name or thanking Kerry.

VITTER, dismissively, 35 second question: Let me repeat the question: which is, would you support

[blinks after a wimpy 10 words]

and help produce a new MOU that requires the same sort of disclosure

[Looks down. He couldn't hold her gaze. He looked down. Couldn't sustain for a single sentence. Her look back is what I would have liked to have seen]

for contributions for the Clinton Global Initiative. Under this,

[he points and looks away]

there is no disclosure moving forward for contributions of the Clinton Global Initiative. So, it 's a yes or no. Would you support expanding that disclosure. Admittedly - this is voluntary and it's not required by law - but it seems to be a big exception to the rule of MOU in terms of disclosure.

Clinton then told him the answers were provided and that she would be happy to provide whatever he needed. She answered evenly and calmly and maintained eye contact. Her response lasted the same time as his question. I would love to know if she gave him a second thought once he had his little notice me I'm a senator too tantrum. Most notably he never got his yes or no. He got a polite didn't you read your handout?

Vitted, cowed, still flushed and waving his hands: Well, ok, if you could consider that suggestion. And then he basically asks the same thing, Clinton corrects him and then Me Chairman steps in and says asked and answered. Vitter says he won't vote till it's amended. She says it isn't going to be amended but we'll clarify it. Then he says, I hate to beat a dead horse...

And Madame Secretary responds with a zinger, sealing his nay vote. How else could he save face?

Not only that, there will be ongoing reviews by anything that is brought to the attention of the career professionals.

David Vittner nays Sen Clinton's appointment

January 15, 2009

Sen Clinton passes 16-1 by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The only dissenter was David Vitter (R-LA), who was the only one to try to challenger her. Chairman Kerry asserted himself and that was that. I didn't know who Vitter was (I only started following politics in Jan 08) but he looked angry about something that was not related to Sen Clinton so I went agoogling. Turns out he's a pig with castration anxiety. Explained everything except the diaper fetish.

He got his microwillie involved with the DC Madam and was the first member of Congress to be outed by her phone book. He is actually trying to use his reelection funds for defense against the allegations. Can you say wardrobe? Clothes vs defending himself because he frequented a prostitute? His lawyer says that his defense costs are a direct result of him holding office as senator. Problem being he was involved before he became a senator. And he dropped out of the 2002 gubernatorial race because of his alleged relationship with a prostitute named Wendy (like his wife).

Salon's MARY JACOBY:

He presents himself as a morally righteous, clean-cut family man, and his wife and three young children have become virtual campaign props. The Harvard-educated Rhodes scholar is also extremely intelligent, observers say, and runs perhaps the most effective political ads in the state. But there are hints of a dark side: allegations of an affair with a prostitute and a lawsuit claiming he lost his temper and physically charged at a woman at a town hall meeting.

Mercedes Hernandez, who was involved in Republican politics, testified that she frequently attended local meetings to engage officials on the issues, usually tape-recording the events. At a town hall meeting, Hernandez asked the state representative about a rumor she'd heard that he was supporting a gay-rights bill in the Legislature. Vitter became "enraged by her question, left the podium where he was standing, advanced toward her in a rapid, threatening manner, pushing aside chairs ... and grabbed a portable tape recorder" that Hernandez was holding, according to her legal complaint.

And then there's his ethical campaign standards bringing David Duke and the KKK:

Vitter was against any form of affirmative action. For most of the race, the better-known Treen led in the polls -- until the last week, when Vitter violated his pledge not to play dirty, John Treen said. The Vitter campaign sent fliers to black voters stating that the racist David Duke was supporting his opponent. In fact, Treen had been an enemy of Duke and had tried to stop his rise in Louisiana GOP politics. "Dave Treen and I have absolutely no use for David Duke whatsoever," John Treen said. "He [Duke] tried to shake my hand once, and I said, 'I'm not going to shake your hand, you son of a bitch.' It's hypocritical to shake someone's hand if you consider them an enemy." But in what John Treen believes was a secret pact between Duke and Vitter, the former Ku Klux Klansman came out publicly for his nemesis, Treen.

Sound familiar?

He vowed to outlaw abortion in almost all cases, even when pregnancy results from rape or incest.

Crooks and Liars' JOHN AMATO:

VITTER on "sanctity of marriage" in 2004:

This is a real outrage. The Hollywood left is redefining the most basic institution in human history, and our two U.S. Senators won't do anything about it. We need a U.S. Senator who will stand up for Louisiana values, not Massachusetts's values. I am the only Senate Candidate to coauthor the Federal Marriage Amendment; the only one fighting for its passage. I am the only candidate proposing changes to the senate rules to stop liberal obstructionists from preventing an up or down vote on issues like this, judges, energy, and on and on." stated David Vitter.

In 2006, Vitter told reporters that "the existence or non-existence of a stable, loving, two-parent household" is the most significant predictor of success in life, and conceded that infidelity contributes to the breakdown of traditional families.

Vittner's number in DC Madam's phonebook (SHAILAGH MURRAY)

Vitter and his wife, Wendy, a former prosecutor, have four children. On his Senate Web site, Vitter says he is committed to "advancing mainstream conservative principles" and notes that he and his wife are lectors at their hometown church.

His come to Jesus moment. Why is it they have "respect for their families" only after they're caught?

This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible. Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling. Out of respect for my family, I will keep my discussion of the matter there -- with God and them. But I certainly offer my deep and sincere apologies to all I have disappointed and let down in any way.

Salon's JOAN WALSH:

Predictably, he refused to take questions; less predictably, he pushed his wife, Wendy Vitter, out to speak. Wendy Vitter, you'll recall, made fun of Hillary Clinton's plight during impeachment, telling the New Orleans Times-Picayune that if she had a cheating spouse, she'd be "a lot more like Lorena Bobbitt than Hillary. If [he] does something like that, I'm walking away with one thing, and it's not alimony, trust me."But today we got the calm, forgiving, Christian wife -- "I'm proud to be Wendy Vitter," she declared -- who insisted she was mainly speaking as a mother and who is "sad for our children" because the media has been hounding the family since Vitter's admission a week ago, even following them to church.

Lorena Bobbitt? Mrs Spitzer is more like it. One wonders what he thought of barry's pick of Warren.

As Glenn Greenwald points out, Vitter was a leading sponsor of the ban on same-sex marriage, insisting, "I don't believe there's any issue that's more important than this one," and he compared gay marriage to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

And there's this:

Impeachment-backing state Rep. David Vitter, by the way, wrote this in the Times-Picayune: "Some meaningful action must be taken against the president [Clinton]. If none is, his leadership will only further drain any sense of values left to our political culture."

I honestly cannot believe these men can say such things when they've been busy doing it for years themselves. Remember Mark Foley who was the crusader against internet predators at the same time he was sending teenage pages graphically sexual IMs? And, of course, like Foley, Vitter was not found guilty of anything.

Washington Post's MARY ANN AKERS:

The Senate ethics committee in May exonerated Vitter because his contacts with the late D.C. Madam's escort service occurred when he was a House member, before he ran for the Senate. And since the House ethics panel cannot retroactively investigate Vitter's conduct, the Louisiana Republican looks to be off the hook completely.

Wendy Vitter doing her Mrs Spitzer impersonation at a news conference in Metairie, La. on July 16, 2007. (AP File Photo/Alex Brandon)

Spitzers: pickwaynesbrain

John Kerry on Sen Clinton & Tim Geithner

January 15, 2009

Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry's interview with Matt Lauer. He discusses Sen Clinton and Tim Geithner. He said it didn't bother him that he wasn't sitting in Sen Clinton's chair. He didn't act that way yesterday. He was professional and came to her defense. He also winked at her before they went to lunch. I have to congratulate Sen Kerry on a job well done. There's no doubt Sen Clinton will be confirmed. She's giving her farewell speech and they're having a party to congratulate her. Eric Holder is another matter.

VIDEO

Sen Clinton's stance on Hamas

January 14, 2009

Well Senator Clinton did her usual. She was massively prepared - even without notes and she displayed an encyclopedic knowledge of the world. They couldn't break her. She has to be the smartest politician on the planet. Her comment on Israel.

CLINTON: On Israel you cannot negotiate with Hamas until it renounces violence, recognizes Israel, and agrees to abide by past agreements. That for me is an absolute. That is the United States government's position and the President elects position.

I'm putting together barama matthews comments. They are diametrically opposed to everything he spouted during the primaries. Don't they ever listen to themselves and what do they actually believe? I wish I knew how to splice videos. I would go back and clip his comments together before and after.

"Mr President"

January 14, 2009

Quite a surprising procedure. I didn't know what entailed a confirmation hearing. I can see why Sen Clinton wanted to see a friendly face across from her. But it was a huge statement having Chelsea sitting behind her in camera range. Probably only women noticed.

Props to Sen Kerry. This was the funniest part - poignant even.

Sen Clinton addressed Mr Chairman, John Kerry as "Mr President".

He smiled. No hesitation: I'll take that.

She laughed: It was a Freudian slip.

He smiled: We're both subject to those.

Clinton: On this subject, especially

Immediate clearing of the air in public, in the Senate, in front of everyone watching and on you tube forever. And it was completely natural and spontaneous.

Think about it: Kerry could have been starting his second term with her (or Biden) as VP or SoS. She could just have likely been President and he (or Biden) the VP or SoS. Instead she's SoS and he took over the committee the now VP used to chair and the President used to be on.

They say politics is a business and that they can get over lost campaigns and move on. Hard to believe but their interaction gave testament to something. They said it would be hard for her to walk back into the senate after the campaign. How hard was it walking in there after they impeached her husband?

They may not all say it out loud but they are proud of her and her preparedness and thanked her for taking the job. Sen Whitehouse (D-RI) said she's "fiercely smart" and "astonishingly funny" and that they would miss her as a colleague and as a person.

Where were they when she was being attacked?

Why are they still surprised about the power of Sen Clinton?

January 13, 2009

Hardball

They're commentating along with Sen Clinton's testifying.

MARK WHITAKER: She is putting not only Congress but the rest of Washington on notice that she's going fight for the State Department turf, and also that she is-when you listen to these questions-that she's going to do more homework and know more about all these issues than anybody else. This is really an very impressive performance in terms of showing that she is really going to be strong in reasserting the prerogatives of the State Department.

MICHELLE BERNARD: Prior to recent history we didn't make women's rights a part of our foreign policy. It will be very interesting to see what she will do with her new power and her managerial skills in Islamic countries where women's rights are a major issue. And she's going to make it a part of our national security efforts at the State Department.

barama talks about how the Prime Minister of Israel made fun of Condolezza Rice by talking to Bush to make Rice abstain on the agreement she helped craft.

MATTHEWS: Don't you have a hunch Hillary is not going to allow that to happen?

WHITTAKER: Another source of power is the power of her personality. And in talking to people in the transition, close to obama about why he wanted Hillary--obviously there are political reasons--but there's also just her appeal around the world. And when -- he's not going to be able to travel that much in his first year. He's going to have to focus on the economy. But when Hillary Clinton arrives representing the United States, that is going to send a very powerful signal, because people around the world know who she is, knows she's powerful, and know that she will be able to pick up the phone and talk to obama whenever she wants.

BERNARD: She is a very commanding presence - very intelligent - and I think she gives off an aura that says 'I'm in charge - don't mess with me.'

They watch more live testimony by Sen Clinton.

MATTHEWS: Mark Whitaker, how's she doing?

WHITAKER: I think she is doing very well. She clearly knows her stuff. I mean, I keep thinking about how the job of Secretary of State is to sit there and go head to head with world leaders. And we're seeing a little preview of that today. Here she is with all these powerful senators, looking them in the eye, and you really can see that she is going to be very effective as our top diplomat.

BERNARD: When Madeline Albright became the Secretary of State, the big news was the nation's first woman as Secretary of State. We're not looking at Senator Clinton today as a woman. We're not talking about her jewelry or how she is dressed or anything like that. Where talking about the power that emanates with this woman.

I think she is doing an excellent job. I think she is going to make a very effective Secretary of State. I think we're going to see a very, very different Department of State - very strong, very powerful. I'm forward to seeing the tension between the department of State and the Department of Defense, if there is any, on how we're going to handle issues such as Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

MATTHEWS: Well, she walked in the door with 18 million votes.

...the same amount barry got. And it sounds like she's got a lot more going for her on the foreign front than having tea with Ambassadors.

Sen Clinton confirmation hearing tomorrow

January 12, 2009

Sen Clinton's confirmation hearing is tomorrow - expected to be only one day. Mr Bill's finances have passed major scrutiny though some "clarification" is needed. Kerry expects a "fair and expeditious" hearing. Has Sen Clinton ever been treated "fairly"?

Who do you have more faith in: Sen Clinton or Kerry?

All I got was the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. And to think I was the one who brought barry on the scene. Well, I'm gonna take it out on Hillary just to get back at barry and my ex-bud Joe Biden. I could've at least been Secretary of Commerce. Now me and Dodd are stuck in the Senate and Edwards is in hiding...