Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog

But, words DO matter.

President Barack Obama on Friday personally sought to deflect criticism about Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, who finds herself under intensifying scrutiny for saying in 2001 that a female Hispanic judge would often reach a better decision than a white male judge.

“I’m sure she would have restated it,” Obama flatly told NBC News, without indicating how he knew that.

The quote in question from Sotomayor has emerged as a rallying call for conservative critics who fear she will offer opinions from the bench based less on the rule of law and more on her life experience, ethnicity and gender. That debate is likely to play a central role in her Senate confirmation process.

Said Sotomayor in 2001: “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.”

After three days of suggesting that reporters and critics should not dwell on one sentence from a speech, the White House had a different message Friday.

“I think if she had the speech to do all over again, I think she’d change that word,” presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.

I am actually taken aback from the White House rushing to Judge Sotomayor’s defense. Her nomination appeared to be heading toward an easy confirmation with Republicans treading carefully around the issues of her Hispanic race and affirmative action.

Perhaps the White House noticed some softness in her polling.

Quinnipiac polling reports, “American voters approve 54 – 24 percent, with 22 percent undecided, of President Barack Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court.”

I have no illusions that Sotomayor will not be approved by a majority of the Senate, barring some earth-shattering revelations, but doesn’t that 54 percent seem a little low? Obama’s job approval is in the mid-50s to the mid-60s; wouldn’t one expect that if you’re an Obama fan, you’re pretty much on board with the pick? Are there any pockets of Obama supporters who are wary or disappointed with this selection?

Flap’s antennae have now been raised.

Will some scandal drop this weekend?

Apparently so and with Jerry Springer’s PR Flak no less.

But, there continues a need for an honest debate and an answer to the questions which Flap raised previously.

Come on. WTF is this all about?

Justice Department political appointees overruled career lawyers and ended a civil complaint accusing three members of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense of wielding a nightstick and intimidating voters at a Philadelphia polling place last Election Day, according to documents and interviews.

The incident – which gained national attention when it was captured on videotape and distributed on YouTube – had prompted the government to sue the men, saying they violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act by scaring would-be voters with the weapon, racial slurs and military-style uniforms.

Career lawyers pursued the case for months, including obtaining an affidavit from a prominent 1960s civil rights activist who witnessed the confrontation and described it as “the most blatant form of voter intimidation” that he had seen, even during the voting rights crisis in Mississippi a half-century ago.

Court records reviewed by The Times show that career Justice lawyers were seeking a default judgment and penalties against the three men as recently as May 5, before abruptly ending their pursuit 10 days later.

People directly familiar with the case, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because of fear of retribution, said career lawyers in two separate Justice offices had recommended proceeding to default judgment before political superiors overruled them.

Elections have consequences but this is BULL and should be further investigated.

Somebody in the Justice Department needs to be held accountable for this egregious discarriage of justice. How about a special prosecutor?

The Republican National Committee has asserted a copyright claim to remove their Nancy Pelosi – Pussy Galore video from You Tube. As you can see above it has resurfaced for a time at another site.

Flap does not think the video is offensive and the RNC did NOT make a mistake so why the big deal now?

Do these GUTLESS WONDERS just like shooting themselves in the foot?

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Republican National Committee Pulls Nancy Pelosi – Pussy Galore Video

Video: The Obligatory Nancy Pelosi = Pussy Galore Post