Constituent Response From Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

This is the emailed response I received this AM from Sen. Hutchison regarding Sonia Sotomayor and her approval process to the SCOTUS.

Dear Friend:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United State Supreme Court. I welcome your thoughts and comments.

As a member of the U.S. Senate, I have been privileged to participate in the confirmation of four Supreme Court Justices, including that of Chief Justice John Roberts. The Constitution requires the Senate to “advise” the President on who will best uphold our Constitution in the nation’s highest court and to provide “consent” to the candidates who take the bench. Senators have a constitutional responsibility to carefully consider each nomination. This is a duty that I take seriously.

There are some facts we already know about Judge Sotomayor. Through personal tenacity and hard work, Judge Sotomayor overcame many challenges to study at some of the nation’s finest institutions, and embarked on a successful career as a district attorney, private practice attorney, and finally a federal judge. Her life story is a shining example of equal opportunity for Americans, and it reminds all of us that for those who work hard, no obstacle is insurmountable and no aspiration is too grand.

While there is no question that Judge Sotomayor brings a wealth of judicial experience to this process, we would be doing the American public and Judge Sotomayor a disservice if we did not conduct a thorough review of her record. This year, Senators will pore over thousands of documents and analyze more than 3,000 decisions that comprise the experience of Judge Sotomayor. I will be looking for evidence of impartiality as well as legal expertise, a demonstrated commitment to the rule of law, insights into her personal integrity and temperament, and, most importantly, her judicial philosophy.

As I review Judge Sotomayor’s record, one of the issues I will consider is her demonstrated stance on the Second Amendment. I am a staunch supporter of the right to keep and bear arms, and I firmly believe that the framers intended this right for the individual. This opinion was upheld by the Supreme Court last year in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller. Judge Sotomayor joined an opinion earlier this year that suggested that the Second Amendment is not a fundamental right, and is therefore not binding on the states. I hope to learn more from the judge about her Second Amendment beliefs during her confirmation hearings. With this issue potentially coming before the Supreme Court, it is critically important we confirm a Justice who believes the Second Amendment is a fundamental individual right so that no state or city, nor the federal government, may ever infringe on this liberty.

As the Senate examines Sonia Sotomayor’s record – and gives her ample opportunity to address our concerns – I expect a respectful, dignified, and above all, fair process that befits our Constitutional responsibility. I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope that you will not hesitate to keep in touch on any issue that is important to you.

Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator

Well thank you all to high heaven and back for that insightful letter Senator Obvious.

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Cornyn talks tough as Senate opens Sotomayor hearings

WASHINGTON – Texas Sen. John Cornyn added his voice to a chorus of tough-talking Republicans at Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearing today.

“The purpose of this hearing is to determine which path you would take if confirmed to the Supreme Court,” Cornyn said in his opening statement. “Judge, some of your opinions suggest that you would limit some of these constitutional rights – and some of your public statements suggest that you would invent rights that do not exist in the Constitution.”

Last week, Cornyn asserted that while the Senate’s Democrats have already decided to support Sotomayor, he and most other Republicans would approach the hearing with open minds — taking the opportunity to press the judge on areas of concern while allowing for the possibility that her answers will sway them.

But most of the Republicans’ opening statements, including Cornyn’s, suggested a deeply held disdain about her approach to the law.

Full Story Here:
Cornyn talks tough as Senate opens Sotomayor hearings

I have sent messages to Sen. John Cornyn almost daily since the Sotomayor nomination, to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison as well, imploring them to vote AGAINST this flaming piece of LIBERAL garbage. The result of those repeated pleas is not in yet, and I am NOT going to bash Sens. Cornyn or Hutchison in this post for something they haven’t done, but GOD help them, and their political careers if they DO vote to confirm Sonia Sotomayor as a Justice on the Supreme Court.

Sen. Jeff Sessions, the Judiciary Committee’s senior Republican, called her oft-stated belief that a judges’ personal background can and should inform her jurisprudence “shocking and offensive… I will not vote for—no senator should vote for—an individual nominated by any president who believes it is acceptable for a judge to allow their own personal background, gender, prejudices, or sympathies to sway their decision in favor of, or against, parties before the court.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if ALL of our Senators, right and left, Dem and Republican, had the STONES that Sen. Jeff Sessions has on this Sotomayor confirmation? I’m not a mind reader but I am guessing that Sen. Sessions is referring to the statement Sotomayor made that, in my opinion, and in the opinion of many other Conservatives, outed her as a racist and a sexist.

“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life,”

Then there’s the Sotomayor record in cases before the SCOTUS. The one that nearly all news sources agree upon. 60% of her cases that have made it to the Supreme Court for review have been overturned. That’s not too bad if you’re a baseball player. You’re batting .400 and in baseball, that’s a good number. In any other area of the workplace, be it public or private, a 40% success rate really sucks. If you’re working for a company, and you’re only 40% productive, or 40% correct, you’re outta here, hit the showers ya bum!!

“Americans need to know whether you would limit the scope of the Second Amendment”—the one involving the right to bear arms, he said.

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DO NOT Confirm Eric Holder

Some have said I am nothing but a big mouth bully on the blogs and that I wouldn’t DARE to speak like that face to face. Apparently, the guys saying that just don’t know me very well. I am an IN YOUR FACE guy if I think it’s needed, I am NOT a diplomat, I am an activist!

Below you will find the exact copies, personal info removed, that I sent to both of my Senators this AM. I don’t cut ANY of these people ANY slack, they work for US.

Eric Holder is THE biggest danger the gun owners of this nation face…

He is going to be the one that DOES come after guns and/or ammo. He is the one that will be the *bad guy* and Obama will sit back and smile smugly thru those purple lips and say, “Well, I didn’t go after you gullible gun guys, Holder did!!”

Just so everyone knows, I DID contact my Senators again.. None will EVER be able to say I didn’t try…

January 28, 2009

Sincerely,
Fred *******
972-***-****

The Honorable John Cornyn
Washington, DC 20510-4302

Senator Cornyn:

You ignored the wishes of your supporters and STILL managed to get re-elected…DO NOT ignore this, Eric Holder is a danger to this nation, vindicate yourself by voting against him.

Your vote FOR the bailout is THE reason I dropped ALL support for you, I voted for Rick Noriega, and that caused me great distress, don’t cause the voters of Texas to dislike you any more than they already do, vote AGAINST Holder, don’t let Obama load this country with goons and crooks, he already placed a tax cheat on the Cabinet…

Message sent to the following recipients:

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Washington, DC 20510-4302
Message text follows:

Fred *******
*******, TX *****

January 28, 2009

Sen. Hutchison,

If you vote to confirm Eric Holder you will have made MORE enemies than you will ever overcome…

Texas is fast seeing you for what you are and the office of Governor is going to be denied you if I can influence enough people, and you can bet your last campaign dollar, I WILL BE WORKING AGAINST YOU!! Every step of the way. And be aware, this is a feeling shared by the vast majority of Texans.