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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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 ANALYSIS 
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Six Things to Watch at Sotomayor Hearings

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(Newser) – The White House is working hard to ensure an easy confirmation for Sonia Sotomayor, with John Roberts' perfect-10 testimony as a model. Will she sail through? Politico lists six things to watch.

  1. That 'wise Latina' remark. Republicans are obsessed with it, and she needs to explain it without sounding phony. But Dems say she won't apologize.
  2. Her broken ankle. Sotomayor might need an "injury time out" if it acts up—good for sympathy points or a quick breather.

  1. Jeff Sessions. The committee's ranking Republican has vowed to be tough. If he hits hard, other GOP members may follow his lead.
  2. Herb Kohl. The Dems' No. 2 is considered dull and non-confrontational. Will he be able to pump Sotomayor back up if Sessions punctures her?
  3. Praise for President 41. Democrats will remind everyone that the elder Bush appointed her to the federal bench.
  4. Those two guys at the end. Who are the two lowest-ranking Dems on the committee? Party-flipper Arlen Specter, who used to run the show but lost his seniority—and Al Franken, in office for a week.

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, wearing a cast on her right foot, on Capitol Hill. Sotomayor broke her ankle when she stumbled at La Guardia airport enroute to Washington.
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, wearing a cast on her right foot, on Capitol Hill. Sotomayor broke her ankle when she stumbled at La Guardia airport enroute to Washington.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
President Barack Obama announces federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor as his nominee for the Supreme Court in an East Room ceremony of the White House in Washington.
President Barack Obama announces federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor as his nominee for the Supreme Court in an East Room ceremony of the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., appears on CBS's
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., appears on CBS's "Face the Nation" in Washington, Sunday, July 12, 2009.   (AP Photo/CBS Face the Nation, Karin Cooper)
Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., asks questions during a committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington,
Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., asks questions during a committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington,   (AP Photo/Caleb Jones, File)
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is escorted by security officials on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is escorted by security officials on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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16 comments
VIEWING:
 
Fondue
Jul 13, 09 8:27 AM CDT
Going to watch this mostly to see what Fraken is like. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
IN RESPONSE:
DontLikeYou
Jul 13, 09 9:31 AM CDT
I can tell you what Franken is like.... he is arrogant and he has vile hatred for anyone who does not share his far left socialist views. There, I saved you some time. Thank me later.
Vote up! Vote down!
-5
IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
Jul 13, 09 10:09 AM CDT
Wow you really did that justice.
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0
IN RESPONSE:
kokuaguy
Jul 13, 09 11:28 AM CDT
I don't like you.
Vote up! Vote down!
+4
IN RESPONSE:
DeniseVB
Jul 13, 09 2:24 PM CDT
Franken did very well. He changed my Stuart Smalley views today :)
Vote up! Vote down!
0

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