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Freshly confirmed Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor, pictured here being greeted by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, center, and the committee's ranking Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions, right, on July 16, 2009. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Whether the justice would be confirmed was never really in much doubt; the biggest piece of news out of the vote was maybe that ailing Sen. Robert Byrd managed to show up to cast his vote. But the inevitability of the decision should in no way downplay the historic significance of Sotomayor joining the highest court in the land.
For you lawyer types out there, how fast does the scramble to get one of the new justice's clerkships start?
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Somewhere Alberto Gonzales is shedding a tear over what could have been.
"Somewhere Alberto Gonzales is shedding a tear over what could have been bought."
Who didn't show? By my count 68-31 is only 99.
Ted Kennedy is rather ill with the brain cancer and all.
Good point
I think she is a great story of achievement. But her appointment has made me curious of one thing: what's the working definition of Hispanic these days? I'm pretty sure being from Spain or Portugal doesn't count, but what about South Americans with 100% European ancestry (like most Argentinians)? It seems that to the extent the definition is used to identify historically disadvantaged groups then it should be more focused on indigenous populations. Right? I don't know what Justice Sotomayor's ancestry is, but from her features it looks like it is at least in part indigenous to South America. But what if she were 100% the descendant of Spanish colonialists? Should that really be considered a member of a minority?
These aren't rhetorical questions. I'm honestly interested in knowing what the answers are to these questions.
Sonia's parents are Puerto Rican.
Let me Wikipedia that for you: The U.S. Office of Management and Budget currently defines "Hispanic or Latino" as "a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race".[14] This definition excludes people of Portuguese origins, such as Portuguese Americans or Brazilian Americans. However, they are included in some government agencies' definitions. For example, the U.S. Department of Transportation defines Hispanic to include, "persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central or South American, or others Spanish or Portuguese culture or origin, regardless of race."[15] This definition has been adopted by the Small Business Administration as well as many federal, state, and municipal agencies for the purposes of awarding government contracts to minority owned businesses. Still, other government agencies adopt definitions that exclude people from Spain, since there is a distinct ethnic difference (indigenous American or European American). Some others include people from Brazil, but not Spain or Portugal.
Yeah, I saw that. But that's not exactly a working definition. And it hardly provides any underlying logic of why descendants of Spanish colonialists should receive the same hand-up that descendants of the people their grandparents oppressed should.
And yes, I'm embarrassed that I forgot that she is Puerto Rican, not South American. But the same issues apply. If you're simply trying to identify people vaguely attached to the greater Spanish culture, then a huge definition of Hispanic or Latino is appropriate, but once you use it to identify disadvantaged people, I just don't see how it's logical to use a large amorphous definition. Can someone please explain what I'm missing?
I'm glad to see that she was confirmed, I think it's good to offer a fresh perspective to the Court. I'll be interested to see what direction her verdicts swing and how she fits in with the other old foggies we have on the bench presently.
I look forward to seeing what kind of chops this wise Latina woman has on the Court. Enhorabuena, Sra Sotomayor!
The greatest news of all? She can finally take that Million Dollar Man boot off now. ;)