Talking about the "things that matter most" on May 263:00 – SCOTUS Gets a New Member
If confirmed by the Senate, Sonia Sotomayor will join Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the second woman on the current court, the third in history. She would succeed retiring Justice David Souter. She would be unlikely to alter the ideological balance of the court, since Souter generally sides with the liberals on key 5-4 rulings. But at 54, she is a generation younger that Souter, and liberal outside groups hope she will provide a counterpoint to some of the sharply worded conservative rulings. Paul Schenck has been working at the Supreme Court for years, and is here to offer his opinion.
3:20 – Sonia Sotomayor for Supreme Court
President Barack Obama chose federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor to become the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice this morning, praising her as "an inspiring woman" with both the intellect and compassion to interpret the Constitution wisely. Obama said Sotomayor has more experience as a judge than any current member of the high court had when nominated, adding she has earned the "respect of colleagues on the bench, the admiration of many lawyers who argue cases in her court and the adoration of her clerks, who look to her as a mentor." However, that experience is being called into question by those opposed to the nomination with some calling it laughable to say she has a superior legal intellect. Robert George of Princeton University analyzes.
3:40 – North Korea test-fires 2 more missiles on the heels of a nuclear bomb test
North Korea reportedly tested two more short-range missiles today, a day after detonating a nuclear bomb underground, pushing the regime further into a confrontation with world powers despite the threat of U.N. action. Pyongyang also warned ships to stay away from waters off its western coast this week, a sign it may be gearing up for more missile tests, South Korea's coast guard said. How big of a threat is North Korea, and what can we do about the clearly rogue regime? Bruce Klinger of the Heritage Foundation has the answers.
4:00 – Will Republicans Mount an Opposition to Sotomayor?
Larry Klayman, the founder of conservative groups Freedom Watch and Judicial Watch, is praising -- in a qualified way -- the Sotomayor pick, calling the selection "a very prudent and wise decision from a far left liberal like Obama." Republican Judiciary Committee member Jon Kyl stressed the need for Republicans to have plenty of time to review Sotomayor's record. Kyl cited examples from past Supreme Court confirmations under a Republican-controlled Senate where the then-Democratic minority was afforded "ample time" to review the nominee. What will conservatives do with the nomination? Gary Bauer is here.
4:20 – CA Supreme Court Upholds Prop 8 – Also upholds gay “marriages” already performed
The California Supreme Court has upheld a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, but it also decided that the estimated 18,000 gay couples who tied the knot before the law took effect will stay wed. The decision rejected an argument by gay rights activists that the ban revised the California constitution's equal protection clause to such a dramatic degree that it first needed the Legislature's approval. We talk with Bill May of Catholics for the Common Good.
4:40 – The Pope in the Holy Land: A Review
In the final days of his Holy Land trip, Pope Benedict forcefully denounced the Holocaust, telling Israelis that the brutal extermination of Jews by the "godless" Nazi regime would never be forgotten or denied. His language appeared to lift Jewish disappointment over earlier remarks about the murder of six million Jews by his fellow Germans, which to Israelis had sounded cold and distant. Ending a Holy Land pilgrimage which he said made "powerful impressions" of hope and sadness, the 82-year-old pontiff also appealed for peace between Israelis and Palestinians so each can live in their own state, as trustful neighbors in security. We review the trip and ask what impact it will have. John Allen is our guest.
5:00 – Sotomayor and social issues
President Barack Obama called Judge Sonia Sotomayor at 9 p.m. on Memorial Day to say she was his pick for the Supreme Court. Sotomayor’s record on the divisive issue of abortion is murky. In 17 years on the federal bench, she has issued no opinions dealing directly with abortion rights. And in two cases dealing tangentially with the issue—involving anti-abortion protesters and the government right to limit abortion-related speech by foreign recipients of U.S. aid—the appeals court judge’s ruling favored abortion opponents. Still, anti-abortion forces are convinced that Obama would not nominate Sotomayor without being confident that she supports abortion rights. Hadley Arkes is here to look at her record.
5:20 – Victory for Prop 8 – Where Does the Fight Go From Here
The California Supreme Court upheld a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage Tuesday, but it also decided that the estimated 18,000 gay couples who tied the knot before the law took effect will stay wed. The 6-1 decision rejected an argument by gay rights activists that the ban revised the California constitution's equal protection clause to such a dramatic degree that it first needed the Legislature's approval. The court said the people have a right, through the ballot box, to change their constitution. How big is this victory and where does the battle go from here? Maggie Gallagher has the answers.
5:40 – Kresta Comments
You mentioned the former Archbishop of Milwaukee's ignorance regarding the criminality of child sex abuse. I am only 31, BUT! I have encountered this bizarre line of thinking in other interviews. I am now of the opinion that men, such as Archbishop Rembert Weakland, are unduly influenced by the philosophy and work of Alfred Kinsey. Somehow, smart, common sensical people went out of their head and embraced the idea that even children have sexuality and to deny this or to ignore this would be to oppress children and deprive them of healthy outlet of their personhood.
ReplyDeleteAnd in this way, the States which used to punish crimes like pedophilia and rape with the death penalty went out of their way to get un-Victorian and throw off these puritanical shackles. Happy to fling wide the doors on these criminals with this new found gnosis that sexual offenders are rehabilitatable. That this is the natural outcome of suppressing children's innate sexuality that in adulthood it blasts out of them as this antisocial element. And so it is today that confessed child rapists and molesters can receive very light sentences or merely probation because we are still legally struggling with the wasteland of consequences wrought by Dr. Kinsey's sick work.
It has been utterly shocking to me to hear Maurice Sendak (the author of the children's book, Where the Wild Things Are) to declare that children have innate sexuality and that we ought not diminish this (in an interview with Terri Gross on the WHYY program Fresh Air). In another Terri Gross interview with the creator of the HBO production True Blood (a series about vampires, starring Anna Paquin of the Piano), Alan Ball discusses the series premiere. Anna Paquin character is assaulted by her mother's boyfriend. Alan Ball remarks that the reason why he does not script Ms. Paquin character as being particularly traumatized regarding the assault and her mother's subsequent rejection is because sometimes the victims enjoy themselves despite the assault. This lack of concern for victims in the portrayal of sexual violence is really unthinkable and the product of a series of extremely faulty and sick assumptions and they all have their root in Dr. Alfred Charles Kinsey. The pretense that the Archbishop was unaware of the criminality of these acts, is proof of an extremely disorder soul at best.
PS: The blog is my husband's