Blake James on Sotomayor and CARS

I hate to say I told you so.

Blake James, TFJ Contributor
08.07.2009

Good [insert proper salutation],

Readers, August 6, 2009 was an important day in Washington. The confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor as the 111^th Supreme Court justice; ensures a seat for the third woman, and the first Hispanic justice history has ever seen. Our Senate had yet another history changing vote the day before they go on vacation. The emergency bill that was passed in the House last week continued its trip to law status as the Senate approves the $2 Billion for “Cash for Clunkers”.

Sotomayor

Set aside her race and sex for a moment and look at the pure political success of Sotomayor’s confirmation. Obama has to be happy that he was the first Democrat in 15 years to have a nomination to the Supreme Court be confirmed. With the left in full support and the right doing their best (only 9 Republicans voted in favor), the vote tallied 68 in favor and 31 in opposition. The right’s main argument against the justice is that she will bring a liberal agenda and personal bias into the court room. Sorry guys but losing a liberal (Justice David Souter) and filling the seat isn’t going to sway the bench, no matter how hard she could hypothetically push her agenda.

The right should probably watch what they say in following days, America is moving towards a more liberal approach to politics and any Hispanic constituent that happens to be on the fence will certainly be lost to the left.

Kudos to Sotomayor, may she be blessed with a successful ride on the most exclusive bench America has to offer.

“CARS” “aka. Cash for Clunkers” “aka $$$”

After the original $1 billion had been spent (in 10 days) congress was forced to take action, the 60-37 vote in tonight’s session of the Senate shows just what that action will be. The emergency $2 billion for CARS was again supported firmly by the left and the right really couldn’t do anything about it. Officials of the program say that the extra cash could help Americans buy a half-million more cars. While the lawmakers are fretting over more spending the initial success of the program must play a huge factor when looking at the cost benefit analysis of CARS. The first billion has allowed Americans to see a 50% increase in fuel economy and up $1,000 worth of savings in gas. The top selling cars under the program are the Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, and the Honda Civic.

A big boo-yah goes out to the men and women on Capitol Hill, today really shows that our legislative branch can get things done.

Peace, love, and the right to be informed

-Blake James

by Eli Yokley: Want to read on?

• Sotomayor: A Break Down of the Confirmation Here (via the New York Times)
• Senate approved CARS, and Obama plans to sign it.