News SUCKS

Me
Ok, so it's been forever since I posted. I've been busy with work (of which I totally hate), exercising, fishing, and cutting people out of my life that are otherwise useless, avoidant, or that piss me off. I suppose I don't post as much either since only like 3 people read this. Kind of makes a blog pointless really. I don't write shit just to write it, or like it's some diary I'll re-read someday.

North Korea
Anyhow. There's a ton going on in the news. The main thing that takes precedence over anything is North Korea getting even bigger (false) balls than usual and saying they actually will attack South Korea and US soldiers (stationed there and off the coast) if "provoked". Which basically gives them any excuse to attack while blaming us. While this is common sabre rattling device #212, this time it seems they are even more serious than usual. There's been two fatal naval battles in the last 15 years off their disputed western martime border. They're launching missles. They're testing nukes. They're defying the international community even more. Even -China- is getting annoyed. They've declared the 1953 armistice null and void. Obama, what the fuck are you waiting for? The ball-less UN to do something? I'm not saying let's nuke them, but we need to be ready, or at least move on some kind of punishment. They're testing you. Lest I remind: as a result of the Korean War, and World War II, if SK or Japan is attacked by North Korea, it is our duty and responsibilty to militarily defend them. Try and side-step that one. Even staunch libs scratch their heads and fidget nervously.

Sotomayor
I want to shift gears. I've come to the conclusion this country is fucked, both socially and politically, and it was so long before "Republicans fucked everything up". Funny how easy it is to be contemporary and cool; afterall it's popular to dump all problems on the previous party instead of realizing our own country and citizenry has failed us tremendously. Look around, read the paper, are you surprised? The media has taken collective control of most people's brains. People are so quick to label things left/right, Rep/Dem that we don't even see the issues anymore. Media pundits on both sides, Dem and Reps have ruined politics for me. However, the Dems are the belle of the ball right now, so they are the loudest voice. The Republicans are just scrambling for attention, albeit proving impotent in power, so they've reassured their irrelevance.

What I'm getting at is this latest political debacle by Barack Obama to elect Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Most of us who are well-read are aware of the un-PC comments she made regarding white men. You can find the article with the quote here. Whether you're on the side it was taken out of context for a conservative feeding-frenzy, or you think it's legit and uncooth, it's polarized the nation yet again. It amazes me how Obama so desperately wanted to "unite" the nation during his Presendential campaign, yet he continues to further divide. However, he's a celebrity, so you can't dare disagree, either that or you're a racist and/or (white) Republican jerk. It seems you can't question her record, or basically a large portion of her cases being overturned. Amazing. I feel like it's the election again: "Voting for Obama?" "No." "Racist?"

Jack Cafferty writes a poitical blog on CNN's website (he also does video bits), and often poses questions for the public to comment and respond to. The responses from the public have both scared and amused me. There's two ends of the spectrum. Basically 50% of the responses were "Republicans are dumb/stupid/idiots and the party is dying" (well maybe not far off?) etc, and about 25% were "the comments are racist, what if a white person said it?" and the other 25% were actually enlightening. It somewhat refreshed my usually-cynical outlook in that there are some smart people who cut through the bullshit media, and yet part of me is horrified how everyone else is so intent on hating Republicans, they let it blind their political awareness. Either that or people are so jaded they don't even belong to a party. People are blindly supporting things they don't research. This is drastically changing the nation, and yes, it can be scary to imagine a future America like this. Once you get so far ahead and look back, it can be hard to come back around when you see the err of your ways.

I've stated before I'm a moderate, however I tend to lean towards the right slightly, since the rabid, liberal left tends to alienate this white man. Religion sucks though. =) However, I see this country becoming a one-party deal in under 10 years with little to no opposition since Republicans are disappearing at an alarming rate. That's always good historically speaking, no? It's going to be so uncool to oppose Democrats, or think indepedently and differently; something this country was founded on. If you're still bashing Bush and Republicans, you're ok, because there's no reason to look forward or move on to other things, right? I'd feel just as fucking annoyed if it was the Republicans still doing this. Ok ok, fair is fair: shut the fuck up Dick Cheney, go home.

I just felt like rambling a bit to the internet, so by all means, read the comments and article yourself. I've tried to make it fair and take a cross-section as well as I can. However I will admit it seems the comments that are the smartest and make the most sense are people not in favor of Sotomayor. The ones that are for usually basically say "Republicans are alienating hispanic voters, the party is disappearing" and hating on Limbaugh, Gingrich, etc. There were a lot of "Republicans are dumb" so I left those out in favor of more room. I decided to allow access to America weighing in, it was both funny and scary, and well....in retrospect may not have been the best idea. Again, my job is not to persuade you one way or the other, nor do I care; I'm just putting it out there for you to figure out. Enjoy your fellow Americans' comments. However, fear the spelling and grammar. You can get the full article and comments section from Jack Cafferty's blog "Cafferty File" on CNN:

Will Republicans dare to vote against the first Hispanic woman nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court?

Unlike the Democrats who dared to stop Miguel Estrada from making it on the Court of Appeals. Unlike the Democrats who dared to try and destroy Justice Thomas. Come on, the difference between Democrats and Republicans are that Democrats can get away with charater assassinations and the media will never call them on it. If a Republican tried to make a logical point against the nominee then he or she would be destroyed by the media. Lets face facts Democrats can get away with anything, Republicans can’t. So to answer your question, no the Republicans will not dare oppose the nomination of the first Hispanic woman. But a Democrat would if she was nominated by a Republican.
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If the Republicans publicly and vocally offer up some moderate Hispanic alternatives to her candidacy, I don’t see why they wouldn’t be able to viably vote against her. There have been 50 Federal judicial posts that have had Hispanics appointed to them over the last 16 years and a racist, sexist jurist who thinks the Legislative and Executive branches are mere trophy wives to the Judiciary is the best Obama could come up with??? I refuse to believe that. So should the rest of America.
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Hispanic America would be behind the Reps if they vocally promoted the better Hispanic options. I would love to see what this candidate thinks about things like the Conscience Clause and how much support she gets from the Catholic Hispanic community if she is for rescinding it or on the other side the liberal community if she is for keeping it. You know…because the courts are where policy is made.
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Nope. They’re terrified and so-called “minorities” have this country in a stranglehold. G#d forbid that anyone dare to not vote for someone who is brown; that would “prove” that she/he were racist, imperialist and behind the times.

*sigh*

Haven’t you heard? We white people are the enemy and should hang our heads in shame, all the while paying for most taxes, giving most generously to charities and supporting affirmative action that allows everyone except for our own kids to thrive.
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The premise of your question today proves Obama did not select the best qualified person for the Supreme Court. Rather, like most of his decisions, this one is totally calculated to benfit Obama – politically – not to benefit the country.
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Republicans are running scared as they should be. They will tread carefully with Sotamayor and she will win confirmation easily. About the only thing the Republicans are passionate about is (1) reversing Roe v Wade (2) railing against embryonic stem cell research (3) denying homosexuals equals rights and (4) restoring school prayer.
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I’m a Republican and my wife is Puerto Rican and we’re excited about Judge Sotomayor. However, like the Democrats did with other extremely well qualified Supreme Court nominees nominated by Republicans, her record and position on judicial activism should be reviewed and discussed. Like Democrats who opposed the appointment of Clarence Thomas, shouldn’t Republicans be able to question, and if it’s the right thing to do, oppose, a Latina?
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I would hope we’ve grown beyond the identity politics that seem to be so critical to everything Democrats do. Let’s judge this nomination on the basis of individual qualifications, not on ethnicity.
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Everyone consistenly talks about ‘old white men’ as a negative.
Well these old white men helped build this country from nothing you ungrateful…..well you know.
Stop being racist.
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John asks: “Did she attain her position based on merit and qualifications or was she simply another product of an affirmative action quota system?”

The fact that you ask this question of her, and would never think to ask it about a white male judge is telling. Your question assumes that she IS a product of the affirmative action quota system, and is a priori sexist and racist.
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Very few people, Republican or otherwise, will dare be so politically incorrect as to oppose the first Hispanic and only third female Justice. But what about her qualifications and philosophy? Is an inquiry into her suitability for the Supreme Court also taboo?
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This is all part of the Dem’s plan to win Hispanic votes. The real gain for Dems will be when they legalize millions of immigrants to create “instant democratic voters”. When there’s only one party left, you’ll find out that you the voter no longer matters to them and will never have a voice again.
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It’s ironic that Obama chose Sotomayor as a “biography” pick when liberals were up in arms about Sarah Palin’s nomination for VP. Identity politics have taken over the choice of a position that is supposed to be purely apolitical.
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Our Supreme Court has been around for 220 years with 110 justices serving it…only 3 of the justices have been non-white males so Republicans should proceed with caution in making a case to deny the first hispanic, especially one that’s qualified. Republicans talk about activism as if it started with liberals. Conservative activism has been part of our supreme court for hundreds of years…four amendments in our constitution to uphold voting rights exist because our courts refused to enforce laws that enable the rights for all people to vote regardless of race or sex. Judge Sotomayor should be confirmed!
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Republican Party of white guys will try to embarass Sonia Sotomayor but I got news for Rush Limbaugh and the Republicans, the world is passing you by…while America went backwards under the Republican Congress policies of the 1994 to 2006 rein.
All the white guys in the southern states and anti-choice people couldn’t get you the White House and you’ve lost Congress.
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[Republicans] Isn’t it time to change your policies that have hurt America and the American workers, such as; tax-havens so companies don’t pay any taxes to America, outsourcing good paying American jobs, tax breaks to Foreign companies to set up shop in Alabama or Mississippi, and preventing raises in the Minimum Wage…..
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The Senate might as well overwhelmingly approve Sotomayor. She can legislate from the bench since the Senate doesn’t even bother to read the bills before them, much less pass meaningful legislation. Let Sotomayor do it.
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Before all you Liberals get high and mighty, remember please that your own dear Democrats FILLIBUSTERED Miguel Estrada’s appointment to the DC Circuit (Next stop: Supreme Court) by Bush in 2001, specifically because they didn’t want him on the Supreme Court and didn’t want to skewer a Hispanic during the confirmation process. Bush tried to set up the first Hispanic Justice (just like he appointed the first Hispanic Attorney General) but because he wasn’t a LIBERAL Hispanic judge, the Democrats got out the knives. Of course, that was not seen as bigoted or intolerant because they were Democrats, and Cafferty I’m sure didn’t mention it.
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Of course they will oppose her, because that is what they do. She is not a old white man and being intelligent is not a requirement for being republican. In fact, I strongly believe, that if brains were dynamite, they would not have enough to blow their nose.
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DARE TO? DARE TO? That’s a question you should have asked the libs who voted against Bork, or Alito, or Roberts. What the hell is this? Only Democrats can vote against Republican appointees? Just because she is a woman, shouldn’t make a difference. They hate Sarah Palin. That’s OK, right? She’s Latino…..so what? You can’t call any business without having to press “1″ for English. She’s a liberal judge who wants to legislate from the bench. That’s a reason to vote against her JACK!
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This very conversation proves this country is racist. Including the very people putting forth this stupid arguement that opposing her nomination over concerns of past statements and rulings, risks alienating hispanics.
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I would like to think that Obama would nominate a person based on what that person will bring to the bench and not what political advantage you may gain over your opposition.
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If that was the reason Obama nominated her, then shame on him.

That means her race and gender were the sole deciding factors.

That my friends is very dangerous.
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Jack – the issue is not Judge Sotomayor’s race, but her view of the Constitution and the role of the judiciary in crafting policy. Your comments reflect the left’s cynical view of race baiting.

But more importantly, I do not remember you crying race when Senate Democrats filibustered Miguel Estrada, a Hispanic and Janice Rogers Brown, a black woman to the DC Circuit. I also don’t recall you complaining Senate Democrats were playing race when Manuel Miranda found documents outlining the Democrat strategy for opposing President Bush’s nominees …. on RACE.
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Stop projecting your divisive, cynical politics onto others. The issue is ideology, not race.
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It’ll be a shame if the Republicans vote for her just to be politically correct. This country is doomed for the reasons we do things anymore.
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I hate the fact that the media and the political word is trying to tell the GOP that they have to decide how to vote based on RACE and GENDER! If they find things in Sotomayor’s history that make her look to be unfit to have a lifetime seat on the SCOTUS, then they should be free to vote against her, without be labeled RACISTS!
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The Leftist Media plays the race card…..one again….
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Just the fact that you (and everyone else) has to use the term “DARE to vote against” shows the problem with this country. There is no freedom of speech. At least not for the white man anymore. God forbid someone say something negative about a minority and openly discuss her QUALIFICATIONS for the job. If you do, then you are a racist. Maybe the GOP would vote against her because she isn’t the best person for the job? Crazy thought. I’m so sick of the PC world we live in more and more and what its doing to our country. The only reason Obama put her in office is because of race and because it secures his hispanic vote. Don’t people long for a day where politicians make choices based on what’s best for the country and not their political future?
yea I know I’m crazy.
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Of course they will. It’s part of their ongoing effort to reduce their party to a few grumpy old racist white guys. At this rate, they can have their next national convention in a phone booth. And by the way, somebody please tell Rush that it’s not all white men she thinks she’s better than, just hm – and Latinas are not the only women who think so.
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Dare not vote against her? Is this what we have come down too? Who cares her gender or ethnicity? If those are the only qualifications we are banking on here then YES DARE TO VOTE AGAINST HER. We should be voting yes or no on her experience, her record, and her judicial approach not her race or gender.
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I think it is funny how 90% of the press coverage is about how the republicans are going to deal with this nomination and only 10% about the qualifications of the nominee herself and her track record. The press needs to stop creating contraversy and report on what the real issue is.
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Jack – love the show and agree with you most of the time; however this is one I have to disagree with you on. To me, we lose the center point of our two-party democracy when one side is questioned on their motive when engaging into an honest dispute of an appointment….especially to the Supreme Court. There will never be 100% agreement on anyone’s qualification for anything, and this country was built on the minority being heard and their opinions appreciated. Regardless of whether or not you / I agree with them, the GOP should lspeak out and not be villified for doing such. And let’s hope any opposition isn’t viewed as sexist / racist bias. We all should be above that by now – thanks for your always refreshing honesty!
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I assume this is still a Democracy and different opinions can be expressed.
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I think politics has finally made me lose my mind. I’m still having a hard time believing Republicans are actually saying all this and people (albeit, only a few) are lapping it up as gospel. It’s very strange, to me. I don’t know anyone (personally) that has such extreme opinions and beliefs. I have friends who are Republicans, but they’re not total whack jobs like these folks.

Freedom of Speech is all fine and well, but don’t I have the Freedom to be Sane, or something like that?
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How about we stick to the relevant facts.

Her comments are odd and perhaps important but only as to how they impact her work.

Sotomayor has had six decisions brought before the Supreme Court and decided. In five of those cases the court struck down her decision, three of them by a significant (non-political) majority. In the six case the court upheld the decision but unanimously stated that her reasoning was faulty.

Or in other words, in every case brought before her “supervisors” on matters of fact and law it was determined that she was wrong. In two thirds of those cases it was by a significant, non-political, majority.

To me this seems to be evidence that she is not qualified to be elevated. (If you receive negative performance evaluations in every review do you get promoted?)
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