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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Hatch solicits Sotomayor questions

Posted: Monday, July 13, 2009 3:46 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: ,

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Twitter has been, perhaps tellingly, quiet today on Sonia Sotomayor from the GOP side of the Tweet.

Most looking for a fight kept the focus on debt and the stimulus. (By the way, "the U.S. budget deficit broke past $1 trillion in June," the Wall Street Journal reports.)

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch didn't Twitter off a comment from today's proceedings. He, instead, is fielding your questions for tomorrow's questioning:

R-UT Orrin Hatch: Email me your question for Judge Sotomayor at askjudgesotomayor@hatchforsenate.com.
about 2 hours agoReply Retweet 

R-UT Orrin Hatch: New blog: Ask Judge Sotomayor http://is.gd/1xn09

On his blog, he has three comments with questions on it.

So, tomorrow, will we hear some version of: "Judge Sotomayor, this question comes from Twitter?"

*** UPDATE *** At about 3:45 pm ET, Sen. Arlen Specter, who once upon a more politically secure time, was the ranking Republican member on this judiciary committee, Tweeted the following: "I think it was wrong for America to wait until 1967 to have an African American justice, Thurgood Marshall, on the court and to wait until 1981 to have the first woman, Sandra Day O’Connor. As as a diverse nation, diversity is very, very important."

And check out Arlen Specter's Twitter profile screen background. It is absolutely wallpapered with tiled pictures of a road sign that reads, "Putting America to work. Project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act."

Who's a Democrat? Priceless.

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And at tomorrow's staged invitation-only "town hall" in Michigan Obama can say, "This question comes from myself."
And how about the stimulus?  Where are all those jobs?
I'd like to see some of these senators answer their own questions....that would be entertaining
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Twitter has been, perhaps tellingly, quiet today on Sonia Sotomayor from the GOP side of the Tweet.
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This is definately for the racist right. WTF? They have time to do this useless BS? They aren't smart enough to conduct their own Q&A session? These people have only proved that wasting taxpayers money on trivial BS is all they're worth.
Are residents of Utah allowed to Tweet?  Where does Sen. Hatch think his constituency is, exactly?
A little off topic, but I don't get the whole Twitter/tweet thing.  Is anyone really interested in the minute-by-minute details of people's lives & their every thought?

I'm crossing my fingers that Judge Sotomayor has the patience to put up with the inane questions that will be coming her way.
I think it was wrong for America to wait until 1967 to have an African American justice, Thurgood Marshall, on the court and to wait until 1981 to have the first woman, <<<

Exactly Arlen. And everybody knows that minorities and women are smarter then white guys.
Arlen is losing it again. Talking about the old days.
And check out Arlen Specter's Twitter profile screen background. It is absolutely wallpapered with tiled pictures of a road sign that reads, "Putting America to work. Project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act."

-----------------------

Who wants to break the news to Arlen that we're losing a half million jobs a month?
Where do I go to pick up my shovel?
Twitter him questions, doesn't he have enough of his own to ask or does he need to fill his 30 minute time slot.  He probably figures he'll get some of those "red meat" ones so that he can say it wasn't him that asked.

Reading some of the earlier posts on health care.  Judging from the rights thoughts the $1.4 million per day the insurance lobbies are spending must be working.  You'd think republicans would get it by now that the words socialist, socialism didn't work during the general election against democrats so it won't work now.  Every citizen should be ashamed that basic health care is not available to every person.  It is sad that the richest country in the world does not provide basic health care to its citizens.  What is worse is that the GOP works so hard to convince people that HCR will be a horror beyond horrors but they'll protect us--while lining their pockets with insurance company and lobbiest dollars.  Good old American free market that makes money off sick people and those who can't afford it but can't qualify for medicaid, too bad.  
I agree that diversity is important.  But confirming someone or hiring someone only based on diversity and not based on qualifications is wrong.  Period.
I'm not watching all of this but I know that Hatch is good!

He was the main character in getting Clarence Thomas on the bench .... and exposing Anita Hill for what she was, a planted liar.
Let the Dems have their loser judge. We need to get back to the business of watching Health Care Reform tank. Obama is twisting in the wind over that problem, and it's nice to see his anger come out. What an arrogant sob that man is.

The Democrats keep call the Republicans "The Party of No". Well, the Democrats are "The Party of Can't Get a Da*n Thing Done". Losers.
This hearing, like all others is a total joke.  I don't even see why there should even be a hearing when despite whatever kinds of questions she will be asked, and despite whatever kinds of answers she will give, she will be confirmed with flying colors.

Every President should nominate someone who is NOT polarizing.  The nominee should have an equal amount of support from both sides, not all from one side and not the other.

Many of Sotomayor's rulings have been over turned by the very court she has been nominated to because she makes decisions based on how she feels, and based on the color of someones skin and their gender rather than the law, which should disqualify anyone from being confirmed to the highest court in the land.

Justice is supposed to be blind.  I guess Sotomayor was absent the day they taught that in law school.
Mo - Yeah, used the Missouri line before.


Touche'
Is torture illegal ?

Are Americans bound by the Geneva Conventions ?

Is the President above the Law ??

Can Karl Rove evade testimony before Congress
\
If you're 'the Decider' does that mean you are above the Consitiution  ?

Is the VP a part of the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch ??

IS it OK for the President to wire tap Americans without a court order ??

Is it OK for the VP to award no bid contracts to Halliburton ?
Even if they're aying his salarty ??

Why do fools fall in love ?

Who put the 'bomp' in the bomp shu bomp shu bomp ??

Gee, Sen Hatch, I have sooooooooo many questions !!!
The only thing missing from Senator Session's attire today is his pointy WHITE Hood!


Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL


Robert Byrd had taken it back. It's his you know.
What an absolute phony this woman is. Off telepromter, she is worse then Obama.
Arlen Specter is politically dead. Dems and Repubs dont want him. However, he is just like Obama, full of empty promises.
Arlen Specter is a man without a face ... an aberation to the human race. No political identity really. He just wants to be wanted.

Even Mo (short for Missouri) might agree.

And how about the stimulus?  Where are all those jobs?
Willing to Work
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And the answer is:
By the end of Bush's presidency, unemployment climbed to 7.2%. You need to ask George!
And how about the stimulus?  Where are all those jobs?
Willing to Work (Sent Monday, July 13, 2009 4:05 PM)
__________

Your state should have its money by now. Rather than whine online, why not contact them to find out what jobs will be made available as your state puts their money to use.

I realize logic is difficult for conservatives, but try and stay focused here.
Arlen Specter is politically dead. Dems and Repubs dont want him. However, he is just like Obama, full of empty promises.
cindy, las vegas, nv (Sent Monday, July 13, 2009 4:52 PM)
___________

Yeah, after the stimulus was passed, perhaps he should have held a news conference with a big old "Mission Accomplished" banner behind him.  Would that have made it better?
What an absolute phony this woman is. Off telepromter, she is worse then Obama.
T Housekajer, CA (Sent Monday, July 13, 2009 4:48 PM)
_______

But there is nothing the GOP can do....remember, when the GOP was in power, Limbaugh declared filibusters for judicial appointees to be unconstitutional, dont you know?
Many of Sotomayor's rulings have been over turned by the very court she has been nominated to because she makes decisions based on how she feels, and based on the color of someones skin and their gender rather than the law, which should disqualify anyone from being confirmed to the highest court in the land.
- Justice is supposed to be blind
---------------------------------------
Case names please....
If your only example is the Ricci case, what the SC heard was a different legal question that what the lower court did.  It is widely understood and excepted that the lower court followed precident and the SC is that group that made the waves.

If the Repubs talking points said the sky was red, I'd bet the mortgage you'd be the first on posting as such.
Where do I go to pick up my shovel?
Average Unemployed White Guy
------------------------------------------

You wouldnt need that shovel if Bush hadnt left an absolute disaster of an economy.
Is torture illegal ?

Are Americans bound by the Geneva Conventions ?

Is the President above the Law ??

Can Karl Rove evade testimony before Congress
\
If you're 'the Decider' does that mean you are above the Consitiution  ?

Is the VP a part of the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch ??

IS it OK for the President to wire tap Americans without a court order ??

Is it OK for the VP to award no bid contracts to Halliburton ?
Even if they're aying his salarty ??

Why do fools fall in love ?

Who put the 'bomp' in the bomp shu bomp shu bomp ??

Gee, Sen Hatch, I
MSierra, SF

EXCELLENT questions!!!  I would like every member of Congress to have to answer these!!!
I know the stimulus dollars would be here in Michigan....if only the Republicans weren't being so girly-girl whiny.  And the beat goes on.
Senator Byrd readily admits he was racist when he was young. In fact, the Junior Senator from Illinois at the time, Barack Obama, met with Senator Byrd who told him about his earlier racist thoughts.

Senator Obama asked for some advice, and Senator Byrd took out a pocket Constitution and told Senator Obama he was never without it.

When someone is young, they often have beliefs that change with maturation. At least Senator Byrd recognizes his beliefs were indeed racist. Senator Sessions? I don't think he has seen the error of his ways.

Also - there are places where people are starting to go back to work. If we invest in green energy, that is where a lot of jobs will be.

Telecommunications and health is also a field that will need workers.

There is a shortage of nurses, and soon, shortage of teachers. All the Boomers who began teaching in the early 70's are ready to retire.

If you look at the history of our country, it is evident that we always conquer obstacles when necessary. If people would stop bickering and separating themselves by Party, and work for the common good of this country, than we will prevail.

If we continue to split along Party lines, if we continue to threaten and ridicule each other, than our destiny will leave us behind other countries.

Although China consumes great quantities of oil now, they also are building wind turbine and solar panel factories. They have one foot in the future already.

We need to do the same thing. It is interesting that because China is a communist country, and the people do what they are told, they may succeed in beating us to green energy technology. Funny how democracy, when it works poorly. can set us back. Because we are able to have a choice, to challenge our leaders, to investigate and ask questions, but need to learn to come together for the good of all.

What incredible power we would have if we came together as people did with JFK and LBJ - what incredible results we might have.

Instead of discussion, though, we have infighting and Party line fighting. We are making our own bed. We need to become United again. Not a lot of people living in a lot of States.


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