Vice President Joe Biden may have crossed the line when he assured national law enforcement groups Monday that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor "has your back."
The remark quickly stirred criticism in the legal world, since Biden was making a pledge that a fair and objective justice would not necessarily be able to keep.
Biden made the remark at an assembly of eight law enforcement groups after he detailed Sotomayor's tough-on-crime record in the courtroom.
"There's a part of her record that seems to be, up to now, been flying under the radar a bit. And that's her tough stance on criminals and her unyielding commitment to finding justice for the victims of crime," Biden said.
He then repeatedly said, "She gets it," and sought to assure the law enforcement groups that she would be on their side.
"So you all are on the front lines. But as you do your job, know that Judge Sotomayor has your back as well," Biden said. "And throughout this nomination process, I know you'll have her back."
The comment touched on the hot-button issue of bias in the debate over Sotomayor, whose confirmation hearings could start as early as July if Democrats have their way.
John Wesley Hall, president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said Biden didn't do himself any favors with that remark, since it's likely to generate more critical questions for Sotomayor during confirmation hearings.
"That (comment) means that she could probably care less about civil liberties and just do whatever law enforcement wants," Hall said.
Hall said Sotomayor probably doesn't sign on to Biden's remark, though.
"My take on it is that he's probably just trying to get law enforcement to support him by saying something just completely off the wall," he said.
#6
Biden is the best insurance policy that Obama has against any assassination attempt.
Note to Secret Service: I am not in any way advocating or promoting the assassination of the president.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
06/10/2009 21:40 Comments ||
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#7
Pray for President Obama's health, even if you're an atheist Republican (hey, it couldn't hurt).
A state senator and small-town lawyer pulled off a surprising win in Virginia's Democratic primary for governor, besting a former legislative colleague and the well-funded Terry McAuliffe, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
It wasn't surprising to anyone paying attention. Deeds was way up in all the recent polls ...
Tuesday's victory by Democrat Creigh Deeds sets up a rematch this fall with Republican Bob McDonnell.
Deeds lost to McDonnell in the race for attorney general four years ago by only 323 votes out of almost 2 million cast - the closest race in modern Virginia history.
But in an Associated Press interview, Deeds said he doesn't consider the fall election a grudge match. "The rematch isn't so important to me," Deeds said of facing McDonnell, a conservative with strong ties to Pat Robertson.
Deeds won nearly 50 percent of the vote Tuesday. He and his erstwhile Democratic rivals, McAuliffe and Brian J. Moran, hope to put the past behind them starting Wednesday with an appearance together in Richmond with current Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, who is barred from serving consecutive terms by the state constitution. Kaine is also chairman of the DNC, the same job once held by McAuliffe, a former White House confidante of President Bill Clinton.
Deeds was choked with emotion in front of supporters in Charlottesville Tuesday night as he recalled growing up in a family of modest means in the small Alleghany Mountain community of Bath County. He repeated his often-told tale of how his mother sent him off to college with only $80 to spend. "Only in the commonwealth of Virginia, can a mother who still works as a mail carrier in Bath County send his son off to college with four $20 bills in his pocket - that was all - and have her son be standing before you as the Democratic nominee to be the next governor," Deeds said.
Nearly 320,000 people voted in the race, only 6 percent of the state's 5 million registered voters but more than officials predicted. Deeds piled up surprisingly large margins across the state, including in the Washington suburbs of northern Virginia that his opponents call home.
Deeds raised only about $3.7 million, far less than his rivals. McAuliffe, who dominated fundraising, received nearly twice Deeds' total. Deeds' staff was so sparse he often drove himself to campaign events, and he had to lay off field staffers at one point so he could afford to run television ads in the final two weeks of the campaign.
McAuliffe and Moran had criticized Deeds for legislative votes supporting Virginia's broad pro-gun laws, actions popular in rural areas that don't play well in cities and affluent suburbs.
Another clue for the Dhimmicrats if only they'd pay attention ...
McAuliffe's political connections from his days as chief fundraiser for Clinton and chairman of the DNC helped him dominate press coverage and amass a hefty amount of cash in his first bid for elective office.
The indefatigable McAuliffe, who had campaigned statewide with the former president, told dejected backers the campaign was "one of the greatest experiences of my life." He received polite applause when he exhorted them to help elect Deeds in November.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2009 07:57 ||
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#1
The best ad of the campaign was McAuliffe sitting in a diesel engine boat in the middle of the ocean spouting off about building wind mills in the ocean of the VA coast.
Deeds is a moderate Democrat; it appears the leftist agenda is already showing signs of fatigue in the first election since 'hope and change' started.
#2
Unfortunately the pro-gun moderate democrats are the enablers for the remake-everything-in-Marx's-image hope and change Democrats. How much cover did Jim Webb give to the Zero while he was running for President?
(WPRI) - A bill that would allow nonprofit stores in Rhode Island to sell marijuana to medical patients is headed to the governor's desk. The state Senate passed the bill Tuesday afternoon by a 30-2 margin.
The bill has already passed the House and now heads to Governor Donald Carcieri for approval. The governor vetoed similar legislation last year.
If it becomes law, the bill would allow so-called compassion centers to sell marijuana to registered patients with debilitating illnesses. Right now, 680 patients are registered with the Department of Health's medical marijuana program.
State lawmakers approved the use of medical marijuana in 2006, however they never legalized the sale of the drug. Under the current bill, Rhode Island would be the third state in the country and the first on the East Coast to approve marijuana dispensaries for medical patients.
"Sick patients and their caregivers shouldn't have to risk their safety and deal with criminals to get the relief they need," said bill sponsor Senator Rhode Perry (D-Dist. 3, Providence). "Rhode Island was compassionate enough a few years ago to recognize the benefit of marijuana for those who are suffering, and I'm proud that we're now taking the next logical and necessary step and recognizing that patients need a safe, legal means to get it."
Governor Carcieri has a week to either sign the legislation or veto it. If he does nothing, the bill will automatically become law without his signature. The legislation passed each chamber with significantly more than the three-fifths majority necessary to override a veto.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2009 07:59 ||
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#1
Right now, 680 patients are registered with the Department of Health's medical marijuana program.
#2
Them Yankees be discriminatin' I tell's ya! What about cocaine stores for the depressed? Meth for the tired? Morphine for the tooth-achy? Ecstasy for the dance challenged? I's demand ma rights.
Posted by: ed ||
06/10/2009 9:17 Comments ||
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#3
Duuude, Rhode Island! It's like, you know, an island, man! And it's rhode!
Posted by: Mike ||
06/10/2009 9:31 Comments ||
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Unable to get what they want through plebiscite, they use autocratic methods like this.
I would hope that this failed in the senate, but if not, I would hope that the Supremes would throw this out. I also can't imagine that there is enough law enforcement in this country to stop handloading, which is done by millions of people (including millions of people IN law enforcement).
Posted by: no mo uro ||
06/10/2009 6:03 Comments ||
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#6
I also can't imagine that there is enough law enforcement
That's where the new job creation program comes in.
#8
That's where the new job creation program comes in.
Given that much of the job hand out is patronage based upon loyalty and not competency, it won't be much of a problem. The one thing the Beltway can't afford is a Lexington Bridge event in the Redlands if they attempt such a stupid move.
#11
you can't be President for Life unless you've a personally loyal & armed forces--
"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; - Enlisted Oath
"I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God." - Commissioned Oath
The problem for 'President for Life' is that while he can probably compromise the senior leadership by promotions and selections, its the middle grades that in the end make the army [and more than enough historical revolts]. That is drawn largely from Redlands, either physically or culturally. Those take decades to grow and replace.
#14
and at what point is there a line crossed on the Lexington green? Sooner or later Atlas will shrug, hopefully it is the 2010 elections back to real conservatives and not something more kinetic.
#15
I'm not so sure anyone would consider reloading a bullet as manufacturing a firearm. Not only is a bullet not an actual weapon on its own, but refurbishing and restoring is generally not considered manufacturing.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Vice President Joe Biden may have crossed the line when he assured national law enforcement groups Monday that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor "has your back." 
(WPRI) - A bill that would allow nonprofit stores in Rhode Island to sell marijuana to medical patients is headed to the governor's desk. The state Senate passed the bill Tuesday afternoon by a 30-2 margin.
