Judge Sonia Sotomayor brought to the Judiciary Committee hearings an outstanding record academically, as a prosecutor and as a commercial lawyer plus 17 distinguished years as a federal judge. At the hearings she displayed intellect, restraint and judicial demeanor.
As the third woman and the first Hispanic, she will add needed diversity to the Supreme Court.
I intend to vote for her and urge my colleagues to do the same.
July 13 – Senator Arlen Specter talks with U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor and her mother Celina, at the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings in Washington.
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 DavidVitter (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.
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.
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.
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 thenhe 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.
