As it turns out, Sotomayor was right about that "wise latina" business

All you have to do is watch about ten minutes of the hearings.  The white guys come across as drawling and clueless, while she seems measured and rational.  The GOP Senators don't seem to get that white men no longer set the objective standard.  They come across as believing that minority views are some kind of deviation from that standard, and they seem to question how much of a "deviation" is allowable.  Craig Crawford is more blunt: 

Even if they vote for her, the fallout for Republicans could reach well beyond Hispanic voters. They are coming across as a bunch of snarky and bitter old white men who cannot bear the thought of their kind losing power.

I don't know how Sotomayor will do as a justice.  She seems a centrist to me, which means we'll just have to wait and see.  Politically, though, the pick was a masterstroke by Pres. Obama.  I suspect he knew the opposition would react in this way, and, in so doing, they would bleed minority voters with each passing minute.

 

Comments

[Hypatia]

There should have been more criticism of Sotomayor from the left. That's one thing I can say for the GOP strategy of painting Sotomayor as a crazed lefty - Democrats spent so much time defending her that there was little or no discussion of the more questionable side of her record. If Sonia Sotomayor represents the hard left, the GOP doesn't have much to worry about.
That said, given what they're putting her through, maybe Sonia will be radicalized into the La Pasionaria of wingnut nightmares. :)

[John Petty]

These hearings are a meaningless charade. The whole idea is not to say anything, and instead blather on with your carefully scripted talking points. We have no idea what kind of judge she'll be, but she's bound to be better than Roberts or Alito.