Because it's been that kind of day
Vignettes from the Sotomayor confirmation hearings.
I caught the hearings in snippets over the last week, and reached a couple of conclusions. The principle one was that no one in the actual hearing was taking the process seriously, so why should I?
Hence, here are some things I remember from the hearings.
Senator Kyl: The entire Supreme court voted to overturn you firefighters case, and all of them said you were a dangerous Latina and probably a lesbian. But what I want to talk about is the fact that if your decision hadn't been overturned, it would have set a policy that would end civilization as we know it.
Sotomayor: I'm not sure I read the decision that way. Ginsberg said I made the right call.
Senator Kyl: No, end civilization. Do you agree that this would be a bad thing?
Sotomayor: Is there any chance that 'reasonable' will creep into this conversation at some point? How about 'fact'?
Kyl: No, let's stay on-message. Civilization. End. Your fault. Do you agree that this would be bad?
Sotomayor's expression: It was worth a try.
Sotomayor: Whatever. Bad things bad, yes.
Kyl: Wictory! Now, let's talk about this time you said that appeals court set policy. Courts should just decide the one case before them; their decisions don't effect policy at all. Aren't you dangerously un-American?
Sotomayor: Well, if you listened to my speech in context I think you'd understand it differently. But given your last two questions, I'm pretty sure 'context' is a foreign concept.
.....
Senator Feinstein: Justices Roberts and Alito promised to be fair and impartial judges. I'm shocked, shocked to find batshit crazy republicans on the supreme court. I just hope my constituents will forget that I voted to confirm them.
California: No fucking way.
......
Senator whose name I've forgotten: How come you didn't vote reasonable, like this other spic?
Sotomayor's expression: Are you really stupid enough to say that?
Pundits, except Pat Robertson: Yes, they are really that stupid.
Pat Robertson: See? We like some spics, just not this one.
Rachel Maddow: You've really got that 'racist, sexist, xenophobic homophobic anti-semite' thing down, haven't you?
.....
Senator whose name I've forgotten: This is day three, so I'm going to ask you about that 'wise latina' comment again. I've forgotten the last thirty-seven answers.
What Sotomayor was much too polite to say, so I said it for her: You guys are making my point.
Sotomayor: Same answer I gave last time. You guys don't give up, do you?
Senator: There may be a news outlet outside of Boise Idaho that hasn't run this quote today.
....
Question I kept waiting to hear: Are you familiar with the definition of insantity as doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results?
Sotomayor's answer: .... sure?
Followup: Do you expect to hear that 'wise latina' remark question again?
Sotomayor: Every time a republican opens his mouth, yes.
.....
I caught the hearings in snippets over the last week, and reached a couple of conclusions. The principle one was that no one in the actual hearing was taking the process seriously, so why should I?
Hence, here are some things I remember from the hearings.
Senator Kyl: The entire Supreme court voted to overturn you firefighters case, and all of them said you were a dangerous Latina and probably a lesbian. But what I want to talk about is the fact that if your decision hadn't been overturned, it would have set a policy that would end civilization as we know it.
Sotomayor: I'm not sure I read the decision that way. Ginsberg said I made the right call.
Senator Kyl: No, end civilization. Do you agree that this would be a bad thing?
Sotomayor: Is there any chance that 'reasonable' will creep into this conversation at some point? How about 'fact'?
Kyl: No, let's stay on-message. Civilization. End. Your fault. Do you agree that this would be bad?
Sotomayor's expression: It was worth a try.
Sotomayor: Whatever. Bad things bad, yes.
Kyl: Wictory! Now, let's talk about this time you said that appeals court set policy. Courts should just decide the one case before them; their decisions don't effect policy at all. Aren't you dangerously un-American?
Sotomayor: Well, if you listened to my speech in context I think you'd understand it differently. But given your last two questions, I'm pretty sure 'context' is a foreign concept.
.....
Senator Feinstein: Justices Roberts and Alito promised to be fair and impartial judges. I'm shocked, shocked to find batshit crazy republicans on the supreme court. I just hope my constituents will forget that I voted to confirm them.
California: No fucking way.
......
Senator whose name I've forgotten: How come you didn't vote reasonable, like this other spic?
Sotomayor's expression: Are you really stupid enough to say that?
Pundits, except Pat Robertson: Yes, they are really that stupid.
Pat Robertson: See? We like some spics, just not this one.
Rachel Maddow: You've really got that 'racist, sexist, xenophobic homophobic anti-semite' thing down, haven't you?
.....
Senator whose name I've forgotten: This is day three, so I'm going to ask you about that 'wise latina' comment again. I've forgotten the last thirty-seven answers.
What Sotomayor was much too polite to say, so I said it for her: You guys are making my point.
Sotomayor: Same answer I gave last time. You guys don't give up, do you?
Senator: There may be a news outlet outside of Boise Idaho that hasn't run this quote today.
....
Question I kept waiting to hear: Are you familiar with the definition of insantity as doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results?
Sotomayor's answer: .... sure?
Followup: Do you expect to hear that 'wise latina' remark question again?
Sotomayor: Every time a republican opens his mouth, yes.
.....