Ginsburg and Sotomayor: A clear example of how far to the right Senate pukes have moved

[cali]

over the last 16 years. In 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who had litigated for the ACLU, received 97 votes for confirmation. In other words, there was almost universal repuke support for her in the Senate when it came to confirmation. Does anyone think, for one moment, that Sonia Sotomayor will receive support from Senate repukes beyond a handful of votes for confirmation? Of course not.

This isn't only about the repuke Senate caucus having moved sharply to the left, but also about the politicization of the confirmation process. Still, it's clear that in the last 16 years, the Senate repukes have become foamingly and radically wingnuttish.

[customerserviceguy]

1. There are some differences between then and now

First, the Rethugs were trying very hard to become a majority party, and their leadership had them reasonably well disciplined. Clearly, it worked, because they made enormous gains in the 1994 elections. At this point, they entertain no such illusions for 2010.

Second, you now have the effects of the Internet. While someone out in a particular GOP Senator's state would have had to have actually picked up a pen and some paper, and maybe found an envelope and a stamp, that same person can now bombard Congress with form letter emails. It's made it easier for people who would normally just sit and fume to actually get their opinion off to an elected official. Also, back in 1993, we had these quaint people called "editors" who would refuse to publish unsubstantiated stories. Today, any nutjob with a website, or at least an email address, can send off wild rumors to a hundred of their fellow gullible citizens, who can then in turn pass it on to a hundred of their fellow sheep.

You make a good point about the politicization of the confirmation process. This country has become increasingly polarized in the last sixteen years, and I expect that this fight is going to be a particularly nasty one. We ain't seen nuttin' yet.

[madaboutharry]

2. The republican part is unrecognizable from even

the time of the Ginsburg confirmation. It may very well be the conduct of republicans in the Senate during the upcoming confirmation hearing that will make Sen. Olympia Snowe finally see the light.

[indepat]

3. Let's all rally behind cali's "foamingly and radically wingnuttish" moniker for Senate 'pukes

so it becomes such a part of the lexicon that it is on all our lips. :patriot:

[FSogol]

4. Kick and recommend. Spot on. n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

5. Ginsburg got support because she was 60

Had she been 50 or 55, she would have faced the same if not more opposition than Sotomayor.