[DeFault User]

I say if your opponent is in the process of committing political suicide, don't get in his way.

We just need to make sure it hits the headlines.

[martin_fierro]

Let Barbara Boxer face California's Hispanic voters, explaining why Beltway politics necessitated that she obstruct the progress of what has become a symbol of success for millions of Latinos.

Good article.

But Barb Boxer's constituency -- Hispanic or not -- is about as smart as a bunch of rocks. They'll believe anything she tells 'em.

[xJones]

I say let a filibuster of the first Hispanic nominated to this prestigious post be their first major legislative act of the year.

Why shouldn't they? It only goes back to a long tradition of Democratic Senators filibustering Civil Rights legislation. Of course, we now have a very large majority of black voters voting for that same party. And the Democrats are all in favor of huge Mexican immigration they hope to see voting Democratic. Immigration and put on the new Hispanic planatation. No American Dream for them, just vote Democratic like the other underclass. Feh!

[Uncle Miltie]

I agree, just so long as we get to use the phrase:

"Racist Democrats"

liberally.

[chnsmok]

Leahy on the floor now saying outrageous things. C-Span 2 http://www.c-span.org/watch/index.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2

[Let's Roll]

Just think how educational it will be for the American people to watch them obstructing - er, I mean, filibustering on C-Span ... :)

[leadpenny]

C-SPAN2 bump

[Bill Davis FR]

make our day...filibuster hillary filibuster

[cloud8]

Let their presidential hopefuls hit the campaign trail forced to explain to Hispanic voters why they attacked a successful young immigrant called to serve his country.

Ah, but you see, Estrada isn't Hispanic *enough*...

(From an article posted by Utah Girl 2/6) But to hear representatives from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, and others tell it, the Estrada nomination should be killed not because of Estrada's alleged refusal to answer questions or because of constitutional obligations but because Estrada, who was born and raised in Honduras before coming to the United States and learning English at the age of 17, is simply not authentically Hispanic.

"Being Hispanic for us means much more than having a surname," said New Jersey Rep. Bob Menendez, a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. "It means having some relationship with the reality of what it is to live in this country as a Hispanic American." Even though Estrada is of Hispanic origin, and even though he lives in this country, Menendez argued, he falls short of being a true Hispanic. "Mr. Estrada told us that him being Hispanic he sees having absolutely nothing to do with his experience or his role as a federal court judge. That's what he said to us." Menendez found that deeply troubling.

But Menendez was relatively kind to Estrada compared to the representatives of Hispanic interest groups. Angelo Falcon, an official of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, railed about the "Latino Horatio Alger story that's been concocted" about Estrada's success and, more generally, about the "concocted, invented Latino imagery" of Estrada's life.

"As the Latino community becomes larger and larger in the country, as we gain more political influence, as we become more diverse, the issue of what is a Hispanic becomes more problematic," Falcon explained. "It's not good enough to simply say that because of someone's genetics or surname that they should be considered Hispanic."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/837624/posts

[hchutch]

The Dems are going to give us major inroads into Hispanic voters.

[NEWwoman]

Hispanics are the largest minority group, aren't they?
Hmmm. Could be good for the GOP. bad for the Dems.

[usmc_chris]

Feinstein on now. Spouting the normal rubbish that he's too young and either a blank slate or a rabid ideologue (depending on which argument she's trying to make).

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I say let the Democrats' stalled efforts at Hispanic outreach crash into the wall of lies, condescension and sanctimony that they don't bother to conceal.

Well said. Vote's scheduled for 5:15. We'll see if the Dems. mistakenly believe that the far left activist callers represent mainstream America.

[Irish Eyes]

Thanks for the post. We need to hear more from the Latino Community for the support of Estrada.

[votelife]

Dear President Bush,
With the Surpeme Court session getting ready to close, it may well be time for perhaps the most important domestic decision of your presidency: the appointment of a Supreme Court Justice(s). The main reason why I supported you in 2000 and why I wanted Daschle out of power in 02 (and 04) has to do with the courts. I want America courts to interpret law, not write law. During your presidential campaign you said Thomas and Scalia were your two model justices. Those are excellent models. The High Court needs more like them. Clarence Thomas recently said to students that the tough cases were when what he wanted to do was different from what the law said. And he goes by the law. This should be a model philosophy for our justices. Your father, President Bush lost his reelection campaign for 3 main reasosn, as far as I can see. 1. he broke the no new taxes pledge 2. David Souter 3. Clinton convinced people we were in a Bush recession (which we had already come out of by the time Clinton was getting sworn in)

I urge you to learn from all three of these: 1. on taxes, you're doing great. Awesome job on the tax cut. 2. good job so far on judicial appointments. I want to see more of a fight for Estrada, Owen, and Pickering, but I commend you on your nominations. 3. by staying engaged in the economic debate you'll serve yourself well

I have been thoroughly impressed with your handling of al Queida, Iraq, and terrorism. You have inspired confidence and have shown great leadership.

But I want to remind you that your Supreme Court pick(s) will be with us LONG after you have departed office. I urge you to avoid the tempation to find a "compromise" pick. Go for a Scalia or Thomas. Don't go for an O'Connor or Kennedy. To be specific, get someone who is pro-life. Roe v Wade is one of the worst court decisions I know of, and it's the perfect example of unrestrained judicial power.

I know the temptation will be tremendous on you to nominate a moderate. But remember who your true supporters are. I am not a important leader or politician. I am "simply" a citizen who has been an enthusiatic supporter of you. I am willing to accept compromise in many areas of government but I will watch your Court nomiantions extremely closely. What the Senate Dems are doing right now is disgusting, but as the President you have the bully pulpit to stop it. Democrats will back down if you turn up serious heat on them.

Moreover, I think public opinion is shifting towards the pro-life position. Dems will want you to nominate a moderate, but almost all will vote against you anyways. Pro-choice Repubs will likely still vote for you if you nominate a Scalia, after all, you campaigned on it. So Mr. President, I urge you to stick with your campaign statements and nominate justices who believe in judicial restraint, like Scalia and Thomas.

Happy Memorial Day and may God bless you and your family.