Today began Judge Sonia Sotomayor's Senate confirmation hearings, with opening remarks from the Senators on the Judiciary Committee, introductions from NY Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, and an
opening statement from Judge Sotomayor herself. Among the shouted protests from pro-life advocates in the gallery, highlights included Sen.
Lindsay Graham's statement about what he thinks the advise-and-consent function of the senate should entail, and
Sen. Al Franken's first real moment in the U.S. Congress.
posted by Navelgazer
on Jul 13, 2009 -
86 comments
Minnesota is a state rich in study material for fans of political oddity. The state has faced famous (and infamous) political news in the last few years, from the legendary surprise independent gubernatorial victory of
Jesse "The Body" Ventura to the tragic death of
Senator Paul Wellstone and its ensuing
fallout,
controversy, and
lunacy. It holds a unique variation in the usual two-party system with the
DFL replacing the Democratic Party. St. Paul will host the
2008 Republican National Convention. And now, the ongoing oddity that is Minnesota politics will now enter a new chapter as Comedian
Al Franken, who moved his Air America radio show to his home state of Minnesota a year ago, will be leaving radio in February
to run for his late friend Paul Wellstone's old Senate seat against incumbent Republican incumbent
Norm Coleman. Another unique fact would be should Franken win the DFL nomination, it would be a rare instance of both candidates from the major parties in a statewide race being Jewish- Franken and Coleman are two of the
less than 50,000 Jews living in the state.
posted by XQUZYPHYR
on Jan 31, 2007 -
48 comments
