Alright, I know that Michael Steele is a seemingly nice enough guy. However, is he really the person to be in charge of the Republican Party? And, does he have any ideas of his own? It would seem that after his tumultuous election victory, he has been hemmed up at every turn by those who wield the REAL power in the party. It amazes that as the GOP cries that they desire diversity and change, they make Steele look like a ineffective, powerless dunce (well, that may not be entirely their fault), posture about how the President is going to fast to get healthcare to the masses (isn't he an evil b@stard trying to make sure people don't die because they can't afford to see a doctor in an overburdened and overpriced healthcare system...sheesh, what was he thinking...I digress) and then (because they do not have filibuster power) attempt to hold Judge Sotomayor's confirmation in committee so that they can leave for their August break without voting on her, thereby ensuring that the first 5-7 cases the SCOTUS hears will be heard without her vote (convenient how they are hot button issues for the Republicans). I do not know how many of you have healthcare, however, for those without, this IS A HOT BUTTON issue. It is the difference between life and death. I just wish the Republicans would consider that and at least try not to look like the party of No. If Mr. Steele really cares about changing his party and bringing some diversity, maybe he should talk to some people of color and see what matters to us and stop mouthing the words of the ventriloquist with his hand up his...

READ: Healthcare for Dummies by Washington Post opinion writer Dana Milbank
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/20/AR2009072002484.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Senators really shouldn't joke during hearings...

Ok, so this is a rant. I was already getting sick of the hearings for the next Supreme Court because i started watching knowing that someone was going to say something provocative or just plain rude. Of course, it did not take long. I am going to give the gentleman from Oklahamo a little more leeway, or rope, if you. So, I will preface this with my opinion that perhaps he was trying to insert a bit of levity. But, it was not funny. During today's hearing Senator Colburn went all Ricky Ricardo and I was just a little offended.

Ricky Ricardo, as many of you know was Lucille Ball's spouse, in reality and on television's The I Love Lucy Show. When Lucy would invariably get into trouble, Ricky would crook his finger at her and then utter one of his most famous catch-phrases "Lucy, you got some 'splaining to do." Many thought it was cute and quirky at the time. So, the guy had a problem with the enunciating the word "explaining." For the Senator to use it during the Congressional hearing was just a little inappropriate. I am hoping that I caught this because I am just more sensitive to people poking fun at other's dialects because of some of the words butchered by my own family, but I have to wonder why he chose THAT phrase when speaking to the first Hispanic nominee to the United States Supreme Court? She is not Cuban, she is Puerto Rican, Boricua, if you please. And, the only accent you can hear from her is the one she sports indicating that she is from New York.

Perhaps, he was just being witty, but I wonder if he would have made a similar crack about Shylock to a Jewish nominee or used some line from The Sopranos if he was questioning a jurist of Italian lineage. Somehow I doubt it, but maybe, just maybe he would have gone there anyway. That being written, let me just say that people poke fun at others' manner of speaking or dialects or accents all the time. Heck, it is the bread and butter for many comedians and children do it all the time. However, some things need to be left to children and comedians and not Senators.

I'm in favor of Judge Sonia Sotomayor...and why Republicans should be, too

The Republicans say that they want a more diverse party, but they do nothing to further this lofty ambition. After a brutal day of voting, they finally elect an African-American to head up their party. However, since that time, Michael Steele has been stripped of his economic powers and transformed into little more than an ineffective talking head. Today, they have the opportunity to support a moderate jurist, they turn this into a potential attack on someone they are trying to restyle as an activist judge. This morning marks the first day in the confirmation hearings of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, a distinguished jurist and a level-headed, fair and balanced attorney who, with her confirmation, will rise to the highest court in the country.

As the composition of the Senate is in favor of Democrats, 60-40 (just in case anyone is keeping count), it is thought that Judge Sotomayor will easily win confirmation, but somewhere floating in the ether, I will wonder if their attacks are borne out of any legitimate need they have to question her history of jurisprudence or because her complexion is different. At some level, I have little doubt that they will be purposely incendiary, and even brutal to satisfy their base. Heaven forbid they smell blood. Do I need to remind any of you how they turned Harriet Miers into chum for the sharks…and she was one of their own!

The Supreme Court has a long and distinguished history of legal scholars, in fact, they have had 110 of them. 108 of those have been white, the exceptions being late marvelous Justice Thurgood Marshall and current Justice Clarence Thomas (dear readers, please do not begin to boo and hiss at me because I have included his name because while I may disagree with daggone near everything that man has written or added a ditto/Amen to, he should still be afforded the dignity offered to those that sit as members of the Supreme Court, plus regardless of what he does or what he says, he is still a person of color) and 108 of those have been men, those exceptions being Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg (she is simply wonderific…I had to make up a word for a diminutively sized woman who is still standing tall) and Sandra Day O’Connor. Those numbers do not speak to the call of diversity that is needed in a country as diverse as the United States. But, today, President Obama’s pick will go one step in changing both those numbers. And in the coming years, President Obama has a chance to make inroads unlike any we have seen since President Jimmy Carter.

I do not believe Judge Sotomayor is activist. Quite the contrary, she seems to be a well-thought and balance jurist. Her history of opinions leads one to acknowledge that she is a staunch advocate of the law and her duty to uphold it has never wavered based on her written opinions. There was some hubbub made of the firefighters, but if she was truly an activist who chose race, color or culture first, then she would have voted IN FAVOR of them, since one was Puerto Rican. What? You did not know that? Get out of here, but it would make sense as some in the media, in particular one outlet known as Faux acted like they were all poor disenfranchised white guys. Did they also mention that no blacks were hired as a result of those tests? They did not? Shocking. Anyway, I do not have to list the Judge’s stellar qualities, she has been fully vetted by the President and White House staff, praised by colleagues and received public support from her brother via a wonderfully touching interview.

I am in support of reasonable questioning, but attacks are out of the question. As the Republican party attempts to identify with minority voters, in particular those of the brown and black hue, they would be better served to not strike at this woman too hard. Our memories are long. Just ask anyone if they remember the name of Anita Hill. A decidedly brutal attack on Sotomayor would alienate anyone who has a browner hue because in the back of their mind, they will always wonder whether it was ideology that made them attack her or was it the hue of her skin…

That's all.

Y si El Juez Sotomayor lee este, estamos todos orgulloso de usted. Amplío felicitaciones de antemano para hacerme la tercera mujer y la tercera persona de color y la primera Latina en el Supreme Court of the United States of America!!! Si se puede!!!

Jeez Louise, please stop with the angry emails. I’m back

Ok, so many of my readers may have noticed that I took an extended hiatus from writing this blog (not to worry, my acerbic wit did not rust in the interim, I did some ghosting for my friends’ blogs). I have skipped commentary on our new President because there is simply nothing I could write that would less than a glowing praise of his accomplishments to date and what I believe he will do. I firmly believe that without the government’s intervention in the economy, we would have been well over 10% unemployment back in February. I am also inclined to believe that we are slowly digging our way OUT of the economic sinkhole that the previous administration helped foster and that within the year, we will be fully emerged into the bright light of economic healing. I even believe that if President Obama continues on at this current clicking rate, he is certain to gain re-election in 2012. Optimistic, yes. Psychic, no. However, even old blind Bartimaeus could tell you that he cannot see the Republicans putting a viable candidate up against President Obama in 2012. What platform are they going to run on? Family values are out, the man has a brilliant, compassionate helpmeet who has charmed the world, two of the most well-mannered and cutie-pie daughters and a matriarch IN THE WHITE HOUSE who acts as an anchor to the family. Umm, no. So, let’s see., what else do they have in their arsenal? Gun control? Recent school shooting and murder-suicides related to the economy make that a shaky platform. Abortion? Yes, always a hot button topic, but it is the law of the land, so that argument needs to be left at the judiciary level because politicians are just that - politicians. They can suggest laws, but once a law is on the books, it is up to the judiciary to reinterpret it. So, that is out. Death penalty. No. Gay rights? They better not because they will then alienate one of the few groups that are still with them (ironic, I know, right). That leaves them with the economy. And, unfortunately by the time the election cycle comes around again, the economy will have rebounded by its own natural course or by economic intervention.

Just as an aside, let me tell you, I am a little biased. I went to the White House’s Ode to Spoken Word back in May and it ROCKED! James Earl Jones was enough to make me gush (dude could read the alphabet to me and I would be in love), but add Lin Manuel Miranda (who did a hip hop soliloquy as Raymond Burr, the buster who killed Alexander Hamilton) and Alex Lacamoire (who is such a cutie that I officially have a crush on him) from In the Heights fame, Mayda del Valle and her abuela (who I spent 10 minutes talking to while we tried to untangle Mayda’s necklace -- and if you’re reading this I still want it!), Ayelet Waldman and her husband Michael Chabon…I could go on and on, but y’all get the point. It was awesome. So, in my humble opinion, the President and First Family can do no wrong. Sorry, not buying it and if it were free, I still would not take it.

Back on topic, I am back and this season, I will endeavor to bring the wit and the humor. Just as an aside, please google my friend’s blogsite, Polichicks. She is wonderfully witty and hosts the best talks in town.