Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she would not support Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court, during a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday.
"After lengthy introspection, I rise today to inform my colleagues that I am unable to support the nomination of Judge Sotomayor to serve on the Supreme Court," Murkowski said in prepared remarks released by her staff. "This is a difficult result for me because I have grown fond of Judge Sotomayor on a personal level."
NOOOOOO!!!
I cannot adequately express my disappointment in Murkowski's decision.
After the drubbing Alaska has taken from the rest of the country over the fact that we chose a witless beauty contestant runner up to lead our state, many of us were counting on Lisa Murkowsi to show the kind of intelligence and common sense lacking in our ex-Governor.
Sotomayors IS going to be confirmed. And Murkowski's decision not to confirm her based on "speeches as well as her decisions in key cases involving the Second Amendment and property rights", does nothing to help put to rest the impression left by the McCain campaign that Alaska is filled with uneducated racists.
Now more than ever Alaska needs a strong female politician who can show the world that we are well educated, erudite, and progressive. I had hoped that person could be Lisa Murkowski, and I am sorry to see her pandering to the fringe hate groups of the GOP.
The speeches to which Murkowski alludes have been more than adequately explained by the media and Sotomayor herself, and the only people who have a problem with them, in my opinion, are those who are looking for an excuse to vote against this more than qualified candidate.
YIPPEE!! Mark Begich votes YES on Sotomayor!
After weeks of mystery, Mark Begich has finally announced he's a yes vote on Sonia Sotomayor — an hour before the confirmation vote.
So he'll lose points with the National Rifle Association, but he's also not up for reelection for another five years.
“Today, following one of the most thorough confirmation processes in Senate history, I am honored to vote to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the U.S. Supreme Court," Begich said.
"... During our meeting, I told her that Alaskans believe especially strongly in the Second Amendment and our right to bear arms, that we cherish our personal privacy and privacy rights and that we strive for a careful balance between protecting our state’s unmatched beauty and the need to develop our natural resources. Judge Sotomayor told me that she understands and appreciates these strongly held Alaskan and American values. "
Wow just when I had about given up hope for Alaskan politicians, Mark Begich lifts my spirits back up.
Thank you Mark.
Guess Murkowski didn't get the message about change, the American people voted for change, bipartisanship, no more divisive rhetoric. We want our politicians to reflect that. Bye, Bye Lisa.
ReplyDeleteMurkowski, like the rest of the GOP, didn't listen last Nov. They are fading fast, except among the fringe.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that Lisa. I will work for and donate to whomever runs against her.
ReplyDeleteOf course $P didn't approve either. Every thing she supports has nothing to do with progressing, it's just another buzz word she likes to use in the name of the troops of course. It didn't matter who the President picked anyway, the party of no to everything would have said no. What a way for most of them to be remembered, support only themselves, the rich, white, immoral, lying, and no change, we don't care about America.
ReplyDeleteIs the GOP listening to anybody other than the Birthers and the Town Hall disrupters? Apparently not. Very disappointing Lisa; this will not serve you well in the future.
ReplyDeleteSorry about that Gryphen. Murkowski isn't proving Alaskans are morons, just that SHE'S a moron.
ReplyDeleteFemale Alaska politicians are morons?
Sorry about that Alaska, your politicians do appear either incompetent or out of touch. Flimsy excuse from Ms. Lisa, maybe she thinks Sotomayor is a racist like the rest.
ReplyDeleteBut you bloggers have shown that Alaska does have people with sense, just that none of them have run for office.
It's not the speeches, it's the NRA.. they are pushing hard.. I would be almost willing to be Mark votes against her too. He was leaning that way the other day he said. The NRA is pushing very hard on him too... and you know the NRA is very big in your neck of the woods..and you know how hard they are lobbying in Congress right now about everything.
ReplyDeleteI, too, think it is all about the NRA and their lack of support should she have voted for Ms. Sotomayor. I am very, very disappointed in Murkowski's announcement and it will cloud my opinion of her in the future! It makes me sick that the funding of the NRA can have such clout with our politicians.
ReplyDeleteAnnette @ 7:34 - BINGO! The NRA has announced that they will not $upport anyone who votes "yes" on Sotomayor. Lisa sold out for the big bucks. Shame on her.
ReplyDeleteSenator Begich is in a rock and hard place, being he is from an NRA state.
ReplyDeleteRepublicans have been particularly critical of Sotomayor's position on the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. She was part of a panel that ruled this year that the amendment doesn't limit state actions — only federal ones — in keeping with previous Supreme Court precedent. But gun rights supporters said her court shouldn't have called the issue "settled law," and they criticized her for refusing during her confirmation hearings to go beyond what the high court has said and declare that the Second Amendment applies to the states.
The National Rifle Association is strongly opposing her and has threatened to downgrade any senator who votes to confirm Sotomayor in its closely watched candidate ratings. The warning has made little impact on Democrats, many of whom have rallied behind the judge despite their perfect or near-perfect ratings from the NRA, but it may have influenced some Republicans who were initially considered possible supporters but have since announced their opposition, citing gun rights as a key reason.
Well if Murkowski voted "no" because she "claims" she got 1400 emails/letters against, and if Begich truly has not declared,
ReplyDeletehere is his phone #: 202-224-3004
CALL HIM and let him know how you feel!
I was watching KO the other night and heard a "concept"....
ReplyDeleteHow about elected officials listen to their constituents on how they should vote? Not the NRA, ins. lobbyist...THE PEOPLE?
What a concept, eh?
I saw this coming -- why else have I been bombarded with telephone polls?? I know that THEIR idea of supporting "strong family values" translates into HATE ... They conclude the polls the moment I don't give them the answers they are looking for.
ReplyDeleteWell, this ought to make Lisa Murkowski ashamed of herself. Linday Graham (SC) voted for Sotomayor (no surprise here, he already said he would probably vote for her). The other Republicans who had the courage to do the right thing: Lamar Alexander (TN), Kit Bond (MO), Susan Collins (ME), Judd Gregg (NH), Richard Lugar (IN), Mel Martinez (FL), Olympia Snowe (ME), and George Voinovich (OH). I hope McShame loses his seat next year. For more reasons that one.
ReplyDeleteI think, Lisa voted NO entirely because of the Second Amendment rights. Most of the states like AK or states in the Midwest and South know that there is a movement to curtail gun ownership with the Supreme Court will be making a decision of this issue. Lisa is still 100% better than the Quitter Bailin Palin.
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed - but not surprised - by Murkowski's vote and thrilled by Begich's AYE! Maybe, just maybe, there is a change coming that we can believe in after all :)
ReplyDeleteWell isn't this a fine kettle of rotten fish now. A whole country controlled by a bunch of rabid gungoons who buy politicians!
ReplyDeleteAs long as Murkowski doesn't become a "birther" I think you're still OK.
ReplyDeleteSo, Sen. Begich did the right thing and did not succomb to the threats of the NRA or all the nuts with their illogical arguments.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm a bleedingheart liberal just like the rest of you, but I support the second amendment just like I support the first amendment, and I hope that Sotomayor does too. Just sayin.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the women of Alaska will remember this slap in the face.
ReplyDeleteI see that Maine's two Republican Senators voted for Sotomayor. But then Mainiacks are pretty independent folk without having to scream.
But Collins and Snowe have secure seats and have been around for a while.
At a guess Murkowski is paying her party's dues.
But playing that game with a life time appointment of a justice is never good for people of this country.