Mike Crapo

“As with all lifetime appointments, Solicitor General Kagan’s background deserves, and will receive, close scrutiny in the U.S. Senate,” Crapo said. “A Supreme Court nominee should carefully follow the Constitution and avoid judicial activism. I look forward to reviewing the findings and recommendations of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and meeting personally with Ms. Kagan, as the nomination process moves forward. quote -taken from his website

William Kristol

After saying he “endorsed” her, Kristol now falsely claims Kagan has “hostility to the U.S. military”

6 hours and 54 minutes ago — 5 Comments

William Kristol falsely claimed Elena Kagan has “hostility to the U.S. military” because she “tried to bar military recruiters from Harvard Law School.” In fact, Kagan has praised the military, military veterans dispute the notion that Kagan is hostile to the military, and Kagan consistently followed the law while allowing students access to recruiters. mma

Orrin Hatch

You have to admit, Elena Kagan is a brilliant woman,” Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said during a radio interview a year ago when Kagan was being vetted for a high court seat. “She is a brilliant lawyer. If [Obama] picks her, it is a real dilemma for people,” especially conservatives. “And she will undoubtedly say that she will abide by the rule of law.” mma

Susan Collins

“Ms. Kagan has an impressive resume of dedicated public service and strong legal credentials but she does not have extensive writings by which one can assess her judicial philosophy. In the coming weeks, I will closely examine her record as U.S. Solicitor General. I will also follow the Judiciary Committee hearings so that I can better assess how she might approach issues as a judge.” quote from her website

John Boehner

“Supreme Court nominees undergo a rigorous examination for a reason. No other appointment in the federal government can be as powerful and as long-lasting. “Solicitor General Kagan’s record must be scrutinized to ensure that she is dedicated to applying the law equally and impartially to all, not promoting a particular ideological agenda or legislating from the bench. “Given her lack of judicial experience, or time spent as a practicing lawyer, other aspects of her record must be thoroughly examined, including her troubling decision to ban United States Armed Forces recruiters from Harvard Law School. As one liberal journalist wrote recently, ‘Barring the military from campus is a bit like barring the president or even the flag. It’s more than a statement of criticism; it’s a statement of national estrangement.’ “On this, and other issues – including the Constitutional questions arising from Washington Democrats’ new health care law – Solicitor General Kagan deserves a fair hearing on her qualifications, and her commitment to fairness, the rule of law, and interpreting the Constitution as written.” quote from his website

Jon Kyl

“As I made clear when I supported her confirmation as Solicitor General, a temporary political appointment is far different than a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.” -quote from his website

metro weekly reports

When the Senate voted on her nomination as solicitor general, seven Republicans voted in support of Kagan’s nomination – Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Susan Collins (R-Me.), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Me.).

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

TP … must read

05/10/2010 Nativegrl77

Yesterday, on Univision’s Al Punto, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) confidently told host Jorge Ramos that it is “very” clear that the GOP is “an anti-immigrant party.” According to Reid, Latinos are walking away from the Republican Party as “ninety percent of the Democrats in the Senate and Barack Obama, all want comprehensive immigration reform.” Indeed, polls show that an overwhelming majority of Latinos across the nation support comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level. Eighty-seven percent of Latino respondents said they wouldn’t even consider voting for a congressional candidate who favored forcing most of the undocumented population to leave the country. That might be problematic for the GOP come November, considering that while there isn’t a single Republican who has come out in support of the immigration reform framework recently introduced by Democrats, most — if not all — of the “copy cat” efforts aimed at reproducing the harsh immigration legislation recently passed in Arizona are being led by members of the GOP. Of the Republicans who currently hold or are vying for elected office, most have chosen to either commend Arizona’s drastic measure or remain silent. Such actions may have a decisive impact in the state of Arizona itself, where over 70 percent of the state’s Latinos are opposed to Arizona law SB-1070, and at least two-thirds of those Latinos are, or will be, eligible to vote.

FLIP-FLOP: Up until recently, Reid would not have gotten away with calling the GOP the “anti-immigrant party.” Less than four years ago, 62 U.S. senators, including 23 Republicans, voted for the relatively moderate Bush-backed immigration bill. At that time, Republican support wasn’t limited to moderates and mavericks — Sens. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) both joined Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in voting in favor of it. The bill was never reconciled with the much harsher Arizona-like immigration legislation that had passed the House before the 109th Congress ended, and in 2007, the 110th Congress started from scratch with a far more conservative bill that failed amidst angry anti-immigrant vitriol that overwhelmingly came from the mouths of Republicans. Nonetheless, the effort still garnered 12 Republican votes. Perhaps the most jarring difference between then and now is that those who were once the GOP’s main proponents of immigration reform are the ones stalling it in 2010. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) once defended his support of the 2007 bill by saying, “Do I sit on the sidelines and say, ‘That’s a bad bill?’ Or do I get in the fight and try to shape it as best I could to meet the objectives that I think are more appropriate?” Now, he has reportedly stated that “Republicans will use the opportunity to filibuster,” if immigration reform is brought up in 2010. McCain has also indicated that he will block immigration reform until the borders are secured. However, just a few years ago, McCain described “enforcement-first” policies as an “ineffective and ill-advised approach.” McConnell, meanwhile, agrees that time would be “better spent” on border security. Taking a cue from the more moderate members of their party, the GOP’s hardliners have essentially been handed a carte blanche to be as anti-immigrant as they want to be — an opportunity which they certainly haven’t let go to waste.

“Interestingly, a majority of Hispanics agree that this law [SB-1070] should be enforced here in Arizona.” — Former Arizona congressman J.D. Hayworth, 5/02/10

VERSUS

“A poll of Arizona Latino voters by Latino Decisions, with the help of Arizona State University, found that 70% ‘strongly oppose’ the law and 11% ‘moderately’ oppose the law.”
— La Opinion, 5/07/10

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

ThinkProgress.org

05/10/2010 Nativegrl77

CIVIL RIGHTS — IOWA LAWMAKER PRESSES THE STATE TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LGBT FAMILIES AT CAMPGROUNDS: In April 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously overturned a 10-year ban on same-sex marriage in the state, making it one of five plus the District of Columbia that currently performs and recognizes same-sex marriage. Although the far right claimed that this decision would upend traditional marriage, a September 2009 Des Moines Register poll found that 92 percent of Iowans believed marriage equality had “brought no real change to their lives.” But now, Iowa state Sen. Merlin Bartz (R) is trying to convince the public that LGBT families threaten the pastime of camping. Bartz, who sits on the Iowa Senate’s Administrative Rules Review Committee, believes the legislature should intervene in the Iowa Department of Natural Resource’s (DNR) effort “to make gay couples eligible for family camping at state parks.” The rule change would not allow gay families to pay a lower camping price — camping prices are already equal for families and non-families — but instead allow gay families the option to “put up more than one tent on a camp site.” Bartz said he wants to be “vigilant” as state agencies adjust policies in the wake of the court’s decision. “A lot of the advocates of gay marriage in Iowa have said, ‘It doesn’t affect anything. Nothing has changed,'” Bartz said. “The reality of it is that everything is changing.” The DNR has said the change has nothing to do with the court ruling and instead reflects the agency’s effort to “comply with a state policy that prevents discrimination.” Bartz has been a staunch opponent of marriage equality, encouraging county recorders to refuse marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Bartz’s effort, however, to “pass legislation giving county recorders a free pass to discriminate” failed.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress at Work

05/10/2010 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene at 2:00pmET and will be in a period of morning business until 3pmET

At 3pm, the Senate will resume consideration of S.3217, Wall Street Reform.

There will be no roll call votes on Monday. We expect the next vote to occur Tuesday morning
Unanimous Consent:
Adopted S.Res.520, a resolution honoring the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Glacier National Park. (S.Res.520)

Tuesday’s schedule below is on the Senate calendar but subject to change ?

The Senate will convene at 10:00am and resume consideration of the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 (S.3217), with up to 80 minutes for concurrent debate in relation to Sanders amendment #3738, as modified, and Vitter amendment #3760. Senators Sanders, Vitter, Shelby, and Dodd, or their designees, will control 20 minutes each. ? Upon the use or yielding back of debate time, the Senate will proceed to vote in relation to the following amendments: o Sanders amendment to Dodd-Lincoln amendment in the nature of a substitute #3739, to require the non-partisan Government Accountability Office to conduct an independent audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System that does not interfere with the monetary policy, to let the American people know the names of the recipients of over $2,000,000,000,000 in taxpayer assistance from the Federal Reserve System, and for other purposes. (#3738, as modified) o Vitter amendment to Dodd-Lincoln amendment in the nature of a substitute #3739, to address availability of information concerning the meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee, and for other purposes. (#3760) ? The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm for the weekly caucus luncheons.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:30pmET on May 11. 2010

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

manic Monday News …

05/10/2010 Nativegrl77

Today, our President is going to announce his newest pick; definitely a perk of being President …adding a new and possibly more left of center Supreme Court Justice. This is a very busy President and though it seems like folks aren’t recognizing it … the job numbers are up the economy is getting better but those things are just not as controversial enough to get press time … the Media is by far more likely to say okay the reports are a candidate is ok on the airwaves but then questions the what happens ifs …What ? give credit to the President and acknowledge what this man was given by the last guy and stop trying to make Americans look so bad … the likes of limbaugh,beck, bachmann and the others make us look vulnerable and maybe less safe with their comments maybe by people who are on the edge are more likely to do awful things

Though there are rumors out there about Ms Kagan, Solicitor General, teacher and public servant:FYI as stated by the President, ” Elena is widely regarded as one of the nation’s foremost legal minds. She’s an acclaimed legal scholar with a rich understanding of constitutional law. She is a former White House aide with a lifelong commitment to public service and a firm grasp of the nexus and boundaries between our three branches of government. She is a trailblazing leader — the first woman to serve as Dean of Harvard Law School — and one of the most successful and beloved deans in its history. And she is a superb Solicitor General, our nation’s chief lawyer representing the American people’s interests before the Supreme Court, the first woman in that position as well. And she has won accolades from observers across the ideological spectrum for her well-reasoned arguments and commanding presence.”

Apparently, Orrin Hatch has either forgotten his comments of the past or figures We the People have no true interest in what is going on that we don’t remember is beyond me; Mr. Hatch comes out against her but many progressive radio personalities have played his opposite comments …the guy seems to talk before thinking … isn’t that bad politics. The Hatch comments from a year ago are below …

And as we all hear the President announce his Supreme Court pick let the nonsense begin … fauxnews is coming out fast and quick to report what could be considered fauxnews about financial reform, racism and as Media Matters reports most if not all the questions about the BP spill being Obama’s Katrina; started by mainstream talking heads has been picked up by people on the right who also continue to repeat the Republican talking points then move on to embellish the story in a way only people on the right can.

The BP spill is getting worse the news is getting really ugly as profits from the spill itself were reported by some talkingheads this morning … which is very disturbing for the people on the Gulf Coast and the many industries associated …but hey that’s a part of having a huge insurance claim available. Congress will take time to investigate and question the people of BP for those who can do nothing but wait out this horrendous environmental tragedy.

Other News ..

**BP has spent 350mil on the oil spill so far and received an insurance claim of 256mil

**UK Gordon Brown PM will resign later on this year

**Lena Horne died at 92…great person;went to a concert with my mom

**Airports in Europe are closed as ash clouds keep planes down

**Richard Wolf will be on the Stephanie miller show 5/12

**Earthquakes in Indonesia get bigger and bigger 7.9

C-SPAN …

Pres. Obama’s Commencement Address Washington Post: “Education can fortify nation”

Elena Kagan, New Supreme Court Nominee

Solicitor General Elena Kagan has been nominated by Pres. Obama to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. If confirmed, she would be the 112th Supreme Court Justice and the third woman on the current Court. Ms. Kagan may begin meeting with Senators this week. Confirmation hearings are expected to begin in late June.

Formal Announcement: Available Soon

Sen. Leahy Briefing: C-SPAN at 10:30am ET

Wash. Post: Obama’s Supreme Court pick

Afghan President Visits U.S.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is visiting Washington D.C. this week to request U.S. support for peace talks between Afghanistan and the Taliban forces in the region. Later today, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs will hold a press conference with Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of the international security forces in Afghanistan, and Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry.

Joint Press Conf.: C-SPAN3 at 1:30pm ET

AP: Taliban vow new Afghan offensive

Forum Asks: On Key Issues, Can U.S. and China Work Together?

Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg headlines a Brookings Institution forum on how China and the United States can cooperate to address global economic challenges, climate change issues and the potential threat of new nuclear states such as Iran and North Korea. He and three panels are expected to review the history of U.S.-China relations on these key issues and discuss recent outreach efforts. China holds a majority of U.S. national debt, and the two economies have become increasingly intertwined as China expands its global presence.

Brookings: LIVE on c-span.org at 10:30am ET