He did it again, he served himself, leaving nothing on the platter but bitter scraps for starving Republicans desperate to rebuild national face... not to mention live and do business in a post-Obama landscape.
The Glutton for Publishment, Rush Limbaugh, reacted to Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court today,
“Here you have a racist — you might want to soften that, and you might want to say a reverse racist,” Limbaugh said. He called Sotomayor a “horrible pick,” said that Republicans should “go to the mat” in their efforts to oppose her confirmation in the Senate, and said — as he'd hoped for Obama — declared he wanted Sotomayor to “fail.”
LIMBAUGH: Do I want her to fail? Yeah. Do I want her to fail to get on the court? Yes! She’d be a disaster on the court. Do I still want Obama to fail as President? Yeah. AP you getting this? He’s going to fail anyway, but the sooner the better.
You know us, we don't give a rusty fuck about political correctness. We are not outraged at what people say about whom. We do not wear panties and would never admit to any up-bunching if we did. We love irreverence and get in more trouble erring on that side of things.
But we don't count.
What counts is a very tender, highly courted, numerous and growing voter demographic.
It's about pride. Old world Republicans don't get it. Latinos , who have felt dis-included all these years, feel pride when at last someone of their own breaks through.
It's not racism, it's pride.
We were amazed during the 2008 election at right-wing media's reaction to the African-American excitement over the nomination and election of Barack Obama. Remember all those video clips played over and over by Billo and Hannity of school children wearing Obama t-shirts singing Obama songs? They compared it to cult-worship, and North Korean brain-washing. Dori Monson pronounced them "creepy."
But if they really believed that, (which is doubtful) they were wrong. It illuminates their basic misunderstanding of politics. It's not reverse racism, or cultism -- it's pride -- a pretty good feeling for those who have long felt second-rate no matter what they did.
It's not racism, it's pride.
Barack Obama, bless him, knows how to work it.
The Republicans? not so much. Their mouthpiece: Rush, a wealthy, white, overfed pontoon sits in his pillowed Palm Beach pontificate blarting through a golden microphone that he hopes this incredibly accomplished, barrio-breaking woman will fail!
In a perfect world, hell, Rush is right! None of that should matter. Supreme Court Justices should be chosen with cultural and racial blinders.
But in the real world Rush just sounds like an asshole; his point, except to dittoheads, sounds like a diss. And because he speaks for them, and that no one can stop him, Republicans have stepped in it again. Limbaugh, once more, has served himself.
At this point, it will be interesting to see the process develop.
By the time it is done, everyone will have been called a racist. Judge Sotomayor and those that oppose her.
Pres Obama won. Elections have consequences. If his nomination is qualified THEN it should be put forward for an up or down vote without the politics of personal destruction.
AND, when the election goes the other way one day and the Repub President is given an opportunity his or her candidate should be treated in a similar fashion by the Dems.
Posted by: puget sound | May 26, 2009 at 07:22 PM
Can you name on GOP nominee that was treated without the politics of personal destruction?
Posted by: Queens Hunter | May 26, 2009 at 07:40 PM
Agreed, PS.
But let's get back to Rush; how can anyone except the most extreme element of the Republican party tolerate him? He is beyond "loose canon"; he is bordering on psychopathic behavior. But then, I am not a qualified mental health professional. Perhaps he is simply on drugs again...? There has to be an explanation beyond that he is just an a-hole.
Posted by: AprilMayJune | May 26, 2009 at 07:42 PM
We all know that a wise white man with all of the richness of his experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a Latina woman who hasn't lived that life.
Is that woman a bigot and a sexist? Just a bigot? Or just sexist?
But, unlike their democrat counterparts, the Republicans will question her in a moderately agressive manner and pass her through. Unlike Miguel Estrada, Thomas, Alito or Bork, she will not get Borked. The Republicans can never be quite as shitty as Chuck from New York or some of the other less than ethical democrats.
It will not matter how poorly her decissions are reasoned or written. It will not matter that any decission that she has handed down that made it to the Supreme Court on appeal was reversed. That is of coarse not includding the fire fighter case that is under deliberation right now.
I may just have to support her because my kids mom is a Latina woman and I want for them to witness success of the "brown" side of their heritage. Would that proove beyound a shadow of doubt that one of the many shitty things joanie says about me is true? That that make me rasist?
Oh ye, like joanie, she is childless and divorced and is likely to be single until she dies. There is hope for people like that.
Posted by: chucks | May 26, 2009 at 08:31 PM
you are so correct on miguel estrada.
see Chucks, he was the wrong kind of hispanic. a republican hispanic. the
ph(J)oanie Dims can't have that, you know.
I just don't want to be like that.
for those that forgot:
"Unable to block Estrada's nomination in the Senate Judiciary Committee after the Republican Party took control of the Senate in 2003, Senate Democrats used a filibuster to prevent his nomination from being given a final confirmation vote on the full Senate floor. Although a filibuster had been used in 1968 to prevent the elevation of Associate Justice Abe Fortas to the position of Chief Justice of the United States, Estrada's filibuster was the first ever to be used against a Circuit Court of Appeals nominee."
Posted by: puget sound | May 26, 2009 at 08:38 PM
interesting comment by liberal law prof jonathan turley on msnbc. ol david sleester is caught off guard.
judge sotomayor opinions lack intellectual depth...per turley
she won't be a match for a scalia...per Turley.
will they be calling prof turley racist?
Posted by: puget sound | May 26, 2009 at 08:49 PM
Oh yeah, time to harken unto Professor Turley. Where were you last week when he was calling for "prosecutions at the highest levels of the former administration" for war crimes, Puts?
Posted by: Mark C. | May 26, 2009 at 08:59 PM
chucks for heaven's sake. A white man has the experience that minorities can relate to and therefore would make "better" decisions??? Im not even concerned whether or not that comment could or could not be considered racist...it just makes no sense. As well meaning as you might have meant it, I can look no farther than some of my relatives who have no clue what the lives of my students are like and have a very hard time believing some of the horror stories I tell them. They think I am exaggerating. I wish I was. Now take that to a national scale. The Supreme Court already has a big bunch of white rich guys. Why is putting a Latino woman on the court---one who has rarely had any of her cases overturned, one who gradutated at #2 in her class at Princeton---why is that racist???
And as far as her being treated well by the Repugs??? We will have to wait and see.
Posted by: sparky | May 26, 2009 at 09:46 PM
I like that word "gradutated"!
Heh....
Posted by: sparky | May 26, 2009 at 09:48 PM
puget is correct, obama won.
Posted by: wilbur | May 26, 2009 at 10:26 PM
"Supreme Court Justices should be chosen with cultural and racial blinders."
Is B'lam suggesting we take the blindfold off Lady justice?
Posted by: nevets | May 26, 2009 at 11:00 PM
Wow, I'm going to bed. Lot of driving today and I am just tired. Of course B'lam is not suggesting that, I just misread it. Sorry B'lam.
Posted by: nevets | May 26, 2009 at 11:30 PM
It is about damn well time we had a lady as King County Exec!
Posted by: woody held | May 27, 2009 at 02:48 AM
Do you also like the word 'Latino' when referring to the feminine gender in Spanish?
Posted by: HoChiMinh | May 27, 2009 at 05:25 AM
Like every good propaganda-meister, Rush stays on message.
And it works. At least with the five million Fixed-news followers.
I doubt with the rest of us. People like Rush, chucks are sounding more and more extremist all the time. Democracy under Obama is looking more and more American all the time. The time of the over-fifty white male is hopefully over.
My only concern: she has diabetes and I want a Justice who will be there for a long, long time. I wish her good health and lots of liberal votes. Neither is guaranteed.
Posted by: joanie | May 27, 2009 at 05:47 AM
Actually, when referring to a woman, it is "Latina"....
Posted by: sparky | May 27, 2009 at 05:58 AM
I predict that Judge Sotomayor will breeze through, as well she should from what I've read of her.
I'm happy to see another woman on the Court, it's needed. Why? For one, because I happen to believe that a woman is basically more compassionate and that 'touch' will help with the balance.
Posted by: Billa | May 27, 2009 at 06:35 AM
Oh, and I meant to add that in my opinion Rush Limbaugh should be ignored as an idiot and a non-event waiting to happen. Why anyone pays the least bit of attention to him is beyond me.
Posted by: Billa | May 27, 2009 at 06:51 AM
"Oh yeah, time to harken unto Professor Turley. Where were you last week when he was calling for "prosecutions at the highest levels of the former administration" for war crimes, Puts?
Posted by: Mark C. | May 26, 2009 at 08:59 PM"
Mark, the point was what the left wing law professor said -and was willing to back up- rather than it coming from a right wing idealogue.
How will the left wing blogs treat Prof Turley?
As for me, I am glad that they settled for her. Elections have consequences and we could have gotten someone else.
The ph(J)oaney Dims won't get it and will march in knee jerk fashion behind this pick...
Posted by: puget sound | May 27, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Turley was very circumspect and nuanced in his description of her as interviewed all over cable yesterday. She is truly a middlebrow appointment. It is hilarious to hear Karl Rove and everybody sneering about how shallow she is after appointing Harriet Myers whose only qualification was that she was a friend of G. Bush, and loved Jesus. If you call it knee jerk supporting the decisions of a president I supported and, helped elect, I am guilty. If I trust a leader's judgment, and I trust Obama, I'll take appointments like this on faith. He has done nothing to betray that faith. My easy-going trust is not shared by many on the left, there's plenty of lefty criticism out there that Sotomayor isn't progressive enough. I can now relax a little knowing that the guy in the chair is fundamentally on my side. The right-wingers, by painting her as some far-left, activist bigot are only hurting themselves and making sure she's confirmed.
Posted by: Mark C. | May 27, 2009 at 01:21 PM
Rush is being consistant in his evaluation of Sotomayor. She has proven to be exactly who he said she was twelve years ago.
She is moderate to many on the left because the left has moved so far left in these past twelve years. She is a left wing loon to many on the right although I don't believe she has moved as far as many of you.
Anyway, unless something real looney shows up in the next 90 days, she will be confirmed. There is nobody in the Republican party as shitty as Schumer to treat her badly. She will be questioned and the questions will be tough, but our side 99.99% of the time lets the POTUS have his nominee. That won't change with this bigot.
Posted by: chucks | May 27, 2009 at 02:09 PM
If Limbaugh is the de facto leader of the Republican Party they can forget about getting the Hispanic vote in 2010 and 2012.
Posted by: mrogi | May 27, 2009 at 02:30 PM
Like that was a vote the Republican Party was going to get in the first place.
Posted by: chucks | May 27, 2009 at 02:41 PM
I don't see the GOP filibustering this one, but they had better show that they have some gonads and put her through a rigorous confirmation hearing, just like the Dems did to Roberts and Alito.
This would inspire more of the Hispanic vote in 2010 and 2012 than if they rolled over and didn't vet her properly. This is the most ideologically based (and also far left administration) in history. It only stands to reason that B-HO would nominate a pro-ACLU,ideological marxist who likes to play the race card as well as being judicial activist to serve on as a clone of Ruth Bader-Ginsberg.
Posted by: KS | May 27, 2009 at 07:05 PM
"Rush is consistent in his evaluation"... as in making up bullshit as he goes along.
Posted by: wilbur | May 27, 2009 at 07:28 PM
Except that there are a number of others besides Rush who are saying the same thing. I am more inclined to listen to the less ideological voices who's views sound similar.
The courts have become a legislative body in addition to a judicial one and don't care about violating the constitution. That is what judicial activists do.
Posted by: KS | May 27, 2009 at 08:18 PM
"I can look no farther than some of my relatives who have no clue what the lives of my students are like and have a very hard time believing some of the horror stories I tell them."
Posted by: sparky | May 26, 2009 at 09:46 PM
I have no children, but if I did I would be horrified if one of thier teachers was going around broadcasting thier personal lives to her family. Sparky, it is not your familys business knowing how poor or handicapped your students are. If you need help teaching these students, then keep it professional within the school community not outside it where rumors can spread faster than a wildfire.
Posted by: nevets | May 27, 2009 at 08:32 PM
Except that there are a number of others besides Rush
Who are they?
Posted by: joanie | May 27, 2009 at 08:37 PM
Get your panties unbunched steven. I never use names, and I never use gender. I dont go into detail. Your secrets are safe with me.
Posted by: sparky | May 27, 2009 at 09:02 PM
So was Alito playing the race card when he said this:
" ALITO: I don't come from an affluent background or a privileged background. My parents were both quite poor when they were growing up.
And I know about their experiences and I didn't experience those things. I don't take credit for anything that they did or anything that they overcame.
But I think that children learn a lot from their parents and they learn from what the parents say. But I think they learn a lot more from what the parents do and from what they take from the stories of their parents lives.
And that's why I went into that in my opening statement. Because when a case comes before me involving, let's say, someone who is an immigrant -- and we get an awful lot of immigration cases and naturalization cases -- I can't help but think of my own ancestors, because it wasn't that long ago when they were in that position.
And so it's my job to apply the law. It's not my job to change the law or to bend the law to achieve any result.
But when I look at those cases, I have to say to myself, and I do say to myself, "You know, this could be your grandfather, this could be your grandmother. They were not citizens at one time, and they were people who came to this country."
When I have cases involving children, I can't help but think of my own children and think about my children being treated in the way that children may be treated in the case that's before me.
And that goes down the line. When I get a case about discrimination, I have to think about people in my own family who suffered discrimination because of their ethnic background or because of religion or because of gender. And I do take that into account. When I have a case involving someone who's been subjected to discrimination because of disability, I have to think of people who I've known and admire very greatly who've had disabilities, and I've watched them struggle to overcome the barriers that society puts up often just because it doesn't think of what it's doing -- the barriers that it puts up to them.
So those are some of the experiences that have shaped me as a person."
Substitute his name for Judge Sotomayor...
Posted by: sparky | May 27, 2009 at 09:07 PM
"And so it's my job to apply the law. It's not my job to change the law or to bend the law to achieve any result."
That is all that I have ever wanted out of a judge. Somebody that knows exactly what the job is under our Constitution. We have a Senate and the House to make the laws.
If Sotomayor worked by those rules, all fear would be gone from me.
Her statement that"....a wise Latina woman....would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male." is racist and stoopid to. Stupid in as much as the Constitution consists of writen words. Words that have meaning. He accepts the words as they are written. She accepts them as she wishes them to be.
Posted by: chucks | May 27, 2009 at 09:33 PM
I don't think that's the sticky point Sparky as much as it is as her saying:
“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life,”
Just not comfortable with any gender or race saying that they are more capable than another to make judicial decisions. I was really hoping to move beyond that mindset at the level of a Supreme Court Justice.
Posted by: Puge Sound | May 27, 2009 at 09:37 PM
Who are they?
No one that you like because they aren't flaming progressive liberals.
"Substitute his name for Judge Sotomayor..."
I don't think so. Go back and read it carefully. Where was he playing the race card or reverse race card if you will ? He did not single any specific race. Another red herring...boo-ya !
Posted by: KS | May 27, 2009 at 09:37 PM
In other words, you don't know... Figures.
Posted by: joanie | May 27, 2009 at 09:43 PM
I just hope that her Catholic faith brings out respect for life and maybe reverses Roe if the chance comes about.
Near as I can tell, nobody knows her views on infanticide.
Posted by: chucks | May 27, 2009 at 09:49 PM
Ks, you enjoy pretending to be obtuse.
Puts, that is just a case of convenient semantics. No, he did not label himself as Latino directly. But he did acknowledge his family background of immigrants and how he could not help but think of them when deciding a case. She was more overt in labeling herself, but their messages are the same. Bottom line, it shouldn't matter for either of them. She has more judicial experience than any of the sitting judges had at the time of their appointments. She graduated second in her class. She is more than qualified.
Posted by: sparky | May 27, 2009 at 09:49 PM
respect for life...
Where's the war! Sign me up! Oh, no, don't. I'd rather send a bunch of young guys.
I have respect for life all right - mine.
Posted by: joanie | May 27, 2009 at 09:54 PM
Bitch should be waterboarded so that we can find the real truth.
Ten questions from the R's
Ten questions from the D's
Vote
Next
Posted by: Buzzard Barf | May 27, 2009 at 09:59 PM
Sparky
I think she is qualified and should be confirmed. This is the pick of the President and his candidate should be given a fair, respectful hearing and then an up or down vote in the Senate. It would be dishonest of me to advocate 'Borking'a qualified candidate on the basis of legal disagreements. That would make me a ph(J)oanie.
Too be honest, I am more concerned about North Korea and what it means for my friends/relatives in South Korea and Japan.
Unfortunately, the party out of power will use this for fundraising purposes. Just like the Dems use to send out the scary literature about 'Newt' 'Rove' et al, the Repubs will be sending out fundraising requests to 'Stop Sotomayor' etc. I hate that crap.
Because I use to get the Economist and National Review I would get both sides of the fundraising efforts.
Posted by: Puge Sound | May 27, 2009 at 10:11 PM
If senators vote on Sonia Sotomayor's track record, they might want to look at the 60% reversal rate when her decisions reach the Supreme Court.
Impressive?
Posted by: Queens Hunter | May 28, 2009 at 07:57 AM
Queens, your numbers are off a bit.
In all the years she has been a judge, of the hundreds of cases she has ruled on, only 6 have been taken to the Supreme Court. Of those 6, three were overturned. 50% of cases that went to the Supremes were upheld, along with all the other cases she heard. 50% were overturned, or 3. Considering that none of her other decisions were appealed to the Supremes, she has an excellent record.
Posted by: sparky | May 28, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Would you consider that an excellent record for a surgeon doing critical surgery and losing 3 of 6? How about airliners arriving safely 50% of the time?
In todays world obtaining 50% is honor society material.
Posted by: Queens Hunter | May 28, 2009 at 05:06 PM
Your analogy doesn't work, since she isnt performing surgery nor flying a plane. So, that makes you wrong two times now!! Your percentage is O. Good thing you aren't in the running for the Supremes!
Posted by: sparky | May 28, 2009 at 05:31 PM
you enjoy pretending to be obtuse.
How so ? You seems to enjoy making ASSumptions...
"Puts, that is just a case of convenient semantics. No, he did not label himself as Latino directly. But he did acknowledge his family background of immigrants and how he could not help but think of them when deciding a case. She was more overt in labeling herself, but their messages are the same."
I believe you were commenting on what I wrote, not Puts. They were similar, but different in one important area - she singled out her race and her experiences making her at least as gualified as a white guy. True, that is more overt, more overtly racist.
Her ideology matches Obama's and she is similar to Bader-Ginsberg. Even listening to the whole context of the message did not change the interpretation - it was apparently that she knew she was trapped by that statement right after she said it.
"Bottom line, it shouldn't matter for either of them."
So why did you bring up Alito's statement then other to do a broad brush comparison ? She is qualified enough and unless she steps in it big time like Bork did, she will be confirmed. Screw any timetable - they will take as long as it needs to take to do justice to this process and keep in mind that she is a judicial activist and not roll over like they did with judicial activist Bader-Ginsburg. My point is that she be cross-examined by GOP senators about those statements in a civil way, unlike the Dems did for Alito and Roberts. The gang of 14 is a good idea. They should be wary of a potential perceived trap set by the White House and know when to hold em and when to fold em.
Posted by: KS | May 28, 2009 at 06:51 PM
Only in you tiny mind does it not work. You disagree that life & death decisions are made at the SCOTUS?
Posted by: Queens Hunter | May 28, 2009 at 07:06 PM
You are correct, KS.
And, unlike Miguel Estrada, they'll be fair enough not to prevent a vote on the floor up or down.
Posted by: Puge Sound | May 28, 2009 at 07:10 PM
No, KS, I was replying to Puts.
Posted by: sparky | May 28, 2009 at 09:43 PM
Certainly, there are more significant issues than confirmation hearings for Sotomayer, such as Iran, North Korea, the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, watching our credit go to hell under the Obamanation.
China is in the catbird seat and they keep buying up our debt as their economy continues to expand. This will be looming issue for years to come. This has been occurring for the last decade, but has become more pronounced since our deficit has tripled in the last 4 months (approx. numbers) and sorry to say it won't be going away. I'd say that this considerably overshadows the topic of this post.
Posted by: KS | May 28, 2009 at 09:53 PM
Hey KS
Note the push for retaining teachers based on Merit and not length of service. A Parent up movement
Very interesting article.
Merit...interesting concept
I have been blessed to meet some great teachers at my school. I really would like to reward them based on merit. But that is a difficult measure as children are not widgets. I'm sure that Ms. Sotomayor came across some great teachers that inspired her to achieve.
Posted by: Puge Sound | May 28, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Funny how when the Repubs nominate a Clarance Thomas or Anita Hill all of a sudden their race becomes suspect as in 'are they really african american.' And after the way that Miguel Estrada was treated by the Dems with procedures and process practiced by people like VP Biden to deny Miguel Estrada a simple vote on the floor all I can do is laugh when Dems claim the high ground.
Posted by: Puge Sound | May 28, 2009 at 10:18 PM