Alexander's poor judgment

[Pat McGarrity]

In case you haven't heard yet, U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander is showing extremely poor judgment (no pun intended) in backing the very anti-gun Supreme Court Nominee, Sonia Sotomayor. This is not only a surprising move, bearing no fruit politically, it's extremely disappointing.

Granted, Obama should have enough support to confirm Judge Sotomayor, and if he didn't, he'd just nominate another Bolshevik fellow traveler, but maybe a nominee not as ignorant on meaning of the Bill of Rights, and not one that feels entitled to make law from the bench.

Senator Alexander's choice illustrates a failure to take a principled stand. It is a step backwards for gun owners and his standing with us.

In Liberty,

Pat McGarrity
Director - Shelby County TFA

http://www.tennesseefirearms.com





By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS Associated Press

July 30, 2009, 9:46AM

WASHINGTON — The Senate's No. 3 Republican announced Thursday he'd break with the rest of his party's leaders to support Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, who's in line to become the first Hispanic justice.
Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander said he was voting for President Barack Obama's nominee despite his differences with her, particularly on gun rights.

“Even though Judge Sotomayor's political and judicial philosophy may be different than mine, especially regarding Second Amendments rights, I will vote to confirm her because she is well qualified by experience, temperament, character and intellect to serve,” Alexander said in a speech on the Senate floor.

Alexander, a conservative, is only the sixth Republican to publicly line up with majority Democrats to back Sotomayor, a native of Bronx, N.Y. and a federal appellate court judge. She's virtually guaranteed to be confirmed in a vote next week, and is expected to join the Supreme Court in time for an earlier-than-usual meeting in September to hear a campaign finance case.

The others Republicans supporting her include fellow conservative Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and moderate Sens. Dick Lugar of Indiana, Mel Martinez of Florida, and Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.

The impending vote on Sotomayor has confronted the GOP with a political dilemma. Many senators are torn between their desire to please a conservative based that opposes Obama's nominee and a fear that doing so could alienate Hispanic voters, a fast-growing part of the electorate.

Alexander noted in his speech that as a governor, he had named women and African Americans to the bench, as well as people from both parties.

“In the same way, it is my hope that my vote now not only will help to confirm a well-qualified nominee but will help to return the Senate to the practice, only recently lost, of inquiring diligently into qualifications of a nominee and then accepting that elections have consequences, one of which is to confer upon the president the constitutional right to nominate justices,” Alexander said.

[C. Richard Archie]

[jpesz]

Alexander has been a great disappointment to me on many issues.

[jarhead]

Not that it will matter but I did send him an email ...

I simply wanted to voice my extreme disappointment with your decision to endorse Judge Sotomayer for the Supreme Court. I have been a supporter of yours in the past but can no longer do so in the future. To endorse a candidate with a record of extreme liberal decisions and comments on record that border on racism, shows a lack of judgment on your part that cannot be overlooked. There are few issues more important than choosing Supreme Court Justices who will interpret the Constitution and not attempt to re-write it.
As a Christian, American, retired Marine and voter, I strongly urge you to reconsider your decision to endorse Judge Sotomayer.
With all due respect sir, we do not need another Arlen Specter. Do you really believe the good people of Tennessee who sent you to Washington would agree with this choice?

[jpesz]

I have written Alexander about numerous issues, emailed him, sent him faxes and called his office. He really doesn't care what we think. Corker and Gordon normally respond to everything that I send them even if they disagree. Alexander rarely responds to anything. He considers himself to be so popular in Tennessee that he will get reelected no matter what he does.

[johnharris]

I agree. Alexander largely reminds me of the "ruling" mindset that gave rise to the French Revolution.

[backwoodsman]

they are by and large elitists who consider themselves lords over undeserving minions, they look over as caged rabbits.It is good for them they don't have to worry about their health or retirement since they have a golden fleece retirement with cost of living adjustment included, while the social security fund has always been robbed, I suppose, like a senator, if forced to, I could live on the base of 173,000 per year plus cost of living.. poor fellows have it so rough.but working class to them is nothing more than a farm animal. A perfect reason for term limits, and I don't like being stuck with a senator for 6 years, thats too long!!!, I suppose they didn't originally want an overlap problem with presidential terms, even a better reason to make it 3 years, just look at how controlling and divisive they are in their high place. Do I trust in the Constitution and the wisdom of our forefathers , yes, do I trust our government? , HELL NO!

[JTravis]

If we keep playing with the RINOs, why are we surprised when we eventually get the horn?

[ProguninTN]

[Grunt67]

[Pat McGarrity]

We could do better than Alexander...