Posted on 07/19/2009 1:28:05 PM PDT by IbJensen
Washington (CNSNews.com) – After a combative question-and-answer period with Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) complimented the judge on her accomplishments but seemed less than satisfied with her openness.
“I think your record is exemplary, Judge Sotomayor, exemplary,” Specter said while concluding his allotted time at Wednesday’s hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He then added, “I’m not commenting on your answers -- but your record is exemplary,” drawing a chorus of laughter from the audience.
Specter had sparred with the Sotomayor on numerous subjects, including the Terrorist Surveillance Program, abortion, and televising Supreme Court proceedings.
In reference to the Terrorist Surveillance Program, about which the Bush administration did not notify senior senators and on which the Supreme Court recently declined to take a case, Specter asked, “Wouldn’t you agree that the Supreme Court should take that kind of major conflict of separation of powers?”
“I know it must be very frustrating to you,” Sotomayor said, beginning her response.
“It sure is,” Specter interrupted. “I was the chairman who wasn’t notified.”
“I can understand. … Congress’ and your personal frustration, and sometimes the citizens,’ when there are important issues that they would like the court to consider,” responded Sotomayor, “but the question becomes, ‘What will I do if you give me the honor of serving on the court? If I say something today, is that going to make a statement about how I’m going to prejudge someone else’s -- ”
Specter interrupted again, saying, “I’m not asking you to prejudge. I’d like to know your standards for taking a case.”
The awkward exchange continued on the subject of abortion. “Circuit Judge Luttig, in the case of Richmond Medical Center [for Women v. Gilmore], said that Casey v. Planned Parenthood is/was ‘super stare decisis,’” Specter said, referring to the legal doctrine of stare decisis, which calls for courts to respect their previous decisions on subjects they they have previously ruled on. “Do you agree with Judge Luttig?”
“I don’t use the word ‘super,’” Sotomayor said. “I don’t know how to take that word.”
Newly installed Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.), a former Saturday Night Live comedian, opted to employ generous amounts humor in his questioning of Sotomayor, drawing laughter from the audience on multiple occasions.
In beginning his questioning, Franken dwelt for some time on Sotomayor’s earlier reference to the television legal drama “Perry Mason” as having influenced her to go into law.
“I was a big fan of Perry Mason,” said Franken, “I watched Perry Mason every week with my dad and my mom and my brother, and we’d watch the clock, and we knew when it was two minutes to the half-hour that the real murderer would stand up and confess.”
“It amazes me,” he said, “that you wanted to become a prosecutor based on that show, because in Perry Mason, the prosecutor, Burger, lost everything.”
Later in the hearing Franken said, “Yesterday, a member of this committee asked you a few times whether the word ‘abortion’ appears in the Constitution, and you agreed that no, the word ‘abortion’ is not in the Constitution. Are the words ‘birth control’ in the Constitution?”
“No,” said Sotomayor.
“Are you sure?” Franken continued, drawing chuckles from both the audience and Sotomayor, who responded, “Yes.”
Franken then went on to note that the word “privacy” also does not appear in the Constitution, and asked about whether Sotomayor thought this was nonetheless a fundamental right.
Franken concluded his questioning by returning to “Perry Mason.”
“What was the one case in “Perry Mason” that Burger won?” said Franken.
“I wish I remembered the name of the episode, but I don’t,” Sotomayor said, “I just was always struck that there was only one case where his client was actually guilty.”
“And you don’t remember that case?” Franken said.
“I know that I should remember the name of the episode,” Sotomayor began, only to be interrupted by Franken.
“Didn’t the White House prepare you?” he scolded.
News outlets reported after the hearing that “Perry Mason’s” only lost case came in the episode, “The Case of the Deadly Verdict.”
That Al Franken is such a clown and buffoon. Who said he wouldn’t fit right in up there on Capitol Hill?
Amy Klobuchar needs his support, it's no laughing matter. ROTF!
*** and we knew when it was two minutes to the half-hour that the real murderer would stand up and confess.” ***
Dum bass doesn’t remember that Perry Mason was an hour long show and the real murderer would be exposed about two minutes TO THE HOUR, not half hour.
Al Franken has found a home.
Why are American jews such a disappointment and a disgrace?
“No,” said Sotomayor.
“Are you sure?” Franken continued, drawing chuckles from both the audience and Sotomayor, who responded, “Yes.”
Franken then went on to note that the word “privacy” also does not appear in the Constitution, and asked about whether Sotomayor thought this was nonetheless a fundamental right.
____________________________________________________________So none of those things are found in the constitution but somehow they're fundamental rights, yet we have a second amendment plain as day in the constitution and people like Frankinberry and Sotomeyor can't seem to find that right.
So nice that we have a newly minted senator drawing $150,000/year (last I heard) and he knows all about Perry Mason.
Danial Webster must be spinning in his grave.
“It sure is,” Specter interrupted. “I was the chairman who wasn’t notified.”
Or, “It’s all about me, isn’t it?”
Po witto baby Awen. Wah wah wah.
Franken - clown one day, U.S. Senator the next. But I repeat myself.
Wonder if Fwanken will wear his widdle diaper to the Senate?
Senator Franken. What a nice ring.
(I ripped Minnesota's star off my flag yesterday.)
“What was the one case in “Perry Mason” that Burger won?” said Franken.
This is actually a bad transcipt, because “Judge Judy” began answering the question even before Franken finished it. So she was totally prepped to answer this idiotic question.
She does not appear to be the sharpest knife in the drawer. The other eight SCJs (at least most of them) are going to have their hands full if she is confirmed. Would love to know what is going through their minds when she tries to argue about a case.
Have thought about writing a letter to the Star Tribune asking the voters in Minnesota why exactly they elected this dunce. Unbelievable.
LOL! Home Run! I don’t know how anyone can take those buffoons on Capitol Hill seriously anymore.
Leahy has been in the Senate for decades, and still doesn’t rate any more respect than Franken ... Franken is the face of the Democrat party, especially in his diaper with his bear.
I think the picture of Franken in that diaper is one of the most accurate representations of the Democrat party ever made.
"Perry Mason" was an hour program, about 52 minutes of program and 8 minutes of commercials.
When he was elected in 2000, Minnesota Democrat Mark Dayton seemed well prepared, but he exhibited erratic behavior: in October 2004 he shut down his office for almost a month, citing an unspecified terrorist threat. The 99 other Senators had access to the same intelligence and kept their offices open, even while Dayton went on television to tell his constituents not to visit the Capitol.
In February of 2005 he made another notable blunder. The Mayo Clinic, which is in Rochester, Minn., was opposed to a South Dakota — based company's plan to expand its railroads into Rochester because it would mean dozens of trains passing by the clinic each day. Dayton told FORTUNE magazine the Mayo Clinic is "worth a hell of a lot more than the whole state of South Dakota."
Inside the Senate, Dayton passed few bills partly because they were way too liberal , including one that would have created a Department of Peace and Nonviolence. He confounded his colleagues by complaining about basic facts of the job, such as his limited power in a chamber where authority derives from seniority.
Franken has a tough act to follow, but I think he's got it in him. He better lighten up on the comedy though, that's Biden's territory.
I am sure he will wear his widdle diaper - he does not appear to be potty trained yet. The inmate are running the asylum! Unbelievable.
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