GOP should take a stand against Sotomayor
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Liberals are warning republicans not to oppose the appointment of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Why? Are they afraid someone may actually examine her record? I can’t say I blame them. It’s one thing to privately condone extortion, but to publicly support it is a little dicey for politicians facing re-election. For a judge to rule in favor of extortion, well let’s just say it’s a good thing for Judge Sotomayor that she’s not facing an election. (H/T lead pencil)
She was also on the panel that decided the 2006 case of Didden v. The Village of Port Chester by unpublished summary order.
The case involved what can fairly be described as an extortionate use of the state’s power of eminent domain. Bart Didden wanted to build a CVS pharmacy on land he owned. A politically powerful developer wanted to build a Walgreens on the same spot, so he “asked” for $800,000 cash or a 50 percent stake – or else he’d have the town seize Mr. Didden’s property. Didden refused and Port Chester took his land the very next day.
Instead of exploring the obvious differences between that case and the Supreme Court’s controversial decision in Kelo v. City of New London, Sotomayor and her colleagues issued an unpublished decision, devoting but a single paragraph to conclude that there was “no basis upon which relief can be granted.” Moreover, the panel made a wholly inappropriate factual finding that the $800,000 cash “offer” was not extortion but merely “voluntary attempts” to resolve the case. Didden – and property owners everywhere – deserved a better airing of his constitutional challenge.
So much for empathy. Sotomayor showed no empathy for Didden.
Didden isn’t the only case in which Sotomayor’s judgment is questionable. The Supreme Court could very well overturn her decision in the Ricci case. In fact, Sotomayor’s rate of reversal by the Supreme Court is 60%, even with its 5-4 liberal to conservative ratio. The Supreme Court is the last stop, if they get it wrong there’s no place left to turn.
Although Sotomayor was appointed to the district court by President George H. W. Bush, don’t believe she’s a moderate. That was part of a political trade-off. What kind of moderate quotes Norman Thomas….in a good way?
Sotomayor will most likely be confirmed. But the GOP ought to make sure the American people know what they signed up for when they voted for Barack Obama.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Once again non-Conservative/Republicans are telling their opposition what to do.
There ARE valid reasons to oppose MS Sotomayor. I expect them to be characterized as either being misgynist or racist by the MSM.
Sadly, I also expect the Republicans to exibit a total lack of backbone and simply go along with the Dems..