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Sen. Franken Debuts in Sotomayor Hearings

By Caroline Miller,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 13, 2009 2:23 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The voice was Stuart Smalley, but the occasion was no joke, and Sen. Al Franken, on his fifth day in office, was sober and respectful as he made his public debut during Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings today. Franken said deferentially that he had much to learn from his colleagues, and was almost folksy as he positioned the hearings themselves as opportunities for the public—"Americans sitting in living rooms and offices in Winona and Duluth"— to learn about the workings of the high court.

But Franken didn't pass up the opportunity to rib Sotomayor's GOP critics. "I'm wary of judicial activism," he said, "I believe in judicial restraint." But he quipped that for some who've been wielding the term lately, the definition of judicial activism seems to be "someone who votes differently than they would like." In fact, he argued, there has already been entirely too much "activism" on the court in the last 10 years.


Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., the newest member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, July 13, 2009, during the committee's confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., the newest member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, July 13, 2009, during the committee's confirmation hearing for Supreme Court...   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., the newest member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, awaits the start of the committee's confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Monday, July 13, 2009, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., the newest member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, awaits the start of the committee's confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Monday, July 13,...   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., the newest member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, looks on prior to the start of the committee's conformation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Monday, July 13, 2009, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., the newest member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, looks on prior to the start of the committee's conformation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Monday,...   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor laughs on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, July 13, 2009, during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor laughs on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, July 13, 2009, during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor smiles on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, July 13, 2009, during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor smiles on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, July 13, 2009, during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor listens on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, July 13, 2009, during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor listens on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, July 13, 2009, during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
chas_m
Jul 13, 2009 11:49 AM CDT
Who you callin' fat?? :)
kokuaguy
Jul 13, 2009 9:45 AM CDT
They're thumbing you down cuz they don't get it, Raj. Of course you know that.
kokuaguy
Jul 13, 2009 9:41 AM CDT
I have no argument with the four modifiers, but we all know the man is a genius, and that's why you and your ilk hate him sooooo very much. I feel your pain. By the way, I'd recommend a nice green papaya salad for dinner with your raw tenderloin. It's very healthy, and easy. If you can't find them your local ethnic market give me your address and I'll have some delivered. Aloha.
Politics • US

 
Senate Judiciary Committee • Al Franken • US Supreme Court • Sonia Sotomayor

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