Elections Have Consequences...

Sonia Sotomayor.

As everyone has heard 80000000000 times, she has a very compelling story. Its actually a very American story, coming from a poor family, to the highest court in the land. But, compelling stories do not a justice make.

There are a number of issues I have with the selection. This video is one of my biggest problems. She thinks that policy is made in the appellate courts. The reality of our American system is that this couldn't be further from the truth. Our founders set up our court system for only one reason, to rule on the legality of issues. If she wants to make policy, she can run for Congress. That is where policy is made. Thats the beauty of our system. Congress makes the policy, the court decides its constitutionality. This is very frightening that Sotomayor has explicity said she thinks she should legislate from the bench.

Issue number 2: Her actual judicial record. She's had numerous cases reversed at the supreme court level. The number I've heard is that 60% of cases that she has ruled on that have been appealed up to the highest court have been overturned. SIXTY PERCENT. That is a frightening amount of cases overturned by an entity that doesn't usually like to overturn lower court decisions.

Issue number 3: Why Obama selected her. He said he was looking for a judge who would be "empathetic". What does empathy have to do with ruling on issues of law. The only qualification for being a supreme court justice should be ability to decide constitutional issues. He also picked her for political expediency. The Republicans have a problem fighting this because they are scared to upset Spanish and female voters. Her ethnicity and and sex should have nothing to do with her appointment. But in our bullshit PC world, it is one of the main reasons for her appointment.

A very frustrating situation, but, Elections have consequences.
Look for a post on the situation California is in because Morales asked. I'd also like to write about N. Korea, but I'll wait and see if the situation heats up any more.

And We're Back

After a couple weeks of having a dead computer at home, I've finally picked up a new laptop, so tune in, more political analysis and liberal hippie bashing will be in the works.