The Atlantic - Latest Comments in The Boredom Of The Sotomayor Hearings

Re: The Boredom Of The Sotomayor Hearings

Mavis Beacon — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:55:09 -0000

I don't think the decrease in drama stems from a chilled out or impatient public, but from the actual decreased drama of the process. I'm not old enough to have watched (and understood) the Thomas hearings, but our Senators (and media) have determined that a confirmation hearing is an opportunity to see if the judge has any views you disagree with and can use as a rational for voting against her. The judge, who does not benefit from having any views, hides her beliefs. Rinse and repeat. My suspicion is that it wasn't always like this.

Re: The Boredom Of The Sotomayor Hearings

Lisa J — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:17:19 -0000

Well, though they are not showing the hearings all day according to USA Today they plan to provide beefed up coverage later in the day. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/judicial/2009-07-09-hispanic_N.htm

Re: The Boredom Of The Sotomayor Hearings

Juba — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:56:21 -0000

HA ha ha ha that comment made you pretty salty...

Re: The Boredom Of The Sotomayor Hearings

Sorn — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:55:19 -0000

I don't want the public's business to be exciting. Just to be carried out in the interest of the public.

Exactly. I'm not sure that public business was ever carried out in the interest of the public but I concur with the sentiment.

Re: The Boredom Of The Sotomayor Hearings

Mr. Shrimp — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:47:11 -0000

I think it's pretty rich to hear Senators voicing concerns about Sotomayor making the law versus applying it, when these same people support Roberts, Thomas, Alito, and Scalia.

But my real point here is that I'm tired of these confirmation hearings as political theater, just as I'm tired of what Schaffer describes about our national conversation as one big confirmation hearing. I don't want the public's business to be exciting. Just to be carried out in the interest of the public.

Re: The Boredom Of The Sotomayor Hearings

DaveinHackensack — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:14:59 -0000

I don't think you'll see any "rabid" attacks on Sotomayor, or any attacks on her at all for that matter. The purpose of calling Ricci (and Vargas -- let's not forget the Latino firefighter) to testify is to highlight the Democrats' position on affirmative action, which, according to recent polls, is far to the left of mainstream America's views.

Incidentally, who was it here who wondered last week if Univision was going to broadcast the hearings? I just checked, and Univision was showing some daytime talk show instead -- their regular programming, as I predicted.

Re: The Boredom Of The Sotomayor Hearings

MikeCee — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:48:55 -0000

He may also be able to flip it into evidence of Obama bi-partisanship in action if Graham and other Rs cross the line and vote for her.