HERE COMES THE JUDGE

Barack Obama's nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court inspired several lively conversations this week at Propeller. "Obama Picks Sotomayor for Supreme Court!" racked up 79 props, 3 drops, and 147 comments, including a thumbs up from deathray: "Well, as the Republicans like to say, the president should get the judges he wants. I think Sotomayor is a good choice." There was a similar reaction from sinophil49: "That Sotomayor is a competent Latina judge should be a point of pride for all Americans. If approved, it would truly be a historical event in our Republic's gloried history."

Meanwhile, tanglang expressed some discomfort with what he saw as the nominee's judicial activisim: "She said that appeals courts are where policy is made." Replied Beau7890: "She was describing the difference between appellate and district court. She wasn't advocating making policy. Regardless, appeals courts are where policy is made, whether you like it or not." Endoscopy raised the prospect of Republicans blocking Sotomayor's confirmation, and suggested that such tactics came straight out of the Democratic bag of tricks: "The Democrats... are proud of 'Borking' people." This elicited a quick shot across the bow from Desdamona, who expressed relief that the Robert Bork had been barred from the highest court in the land: "The guy was a nut and I am exceedingly proud of the Senate for preventing his elevation to such an honored position."

A related story, "Rush Limbaugh Slams Judge Sotomayor: 'Racist' and a 'Hack'," racked up 72 props, 6 drops, and 131 comments. Charlson suggested that Limbaugh had no standing (to put it mildly) to criticize the nominee: "The racist, homophobic drug addict has no credibility when it comes to racism and hackism." Bkumm still had some doubts about Sotomayor's "wise Latina" comments: "I would not go so far as to call her a racist, but it is troubling that she would say something like that. There is no evidence that a person who has 'been there' and 'done that' is going to uphold the rule of law better than someone who has not." Yet he still felt that Obama had made a good pick. So did kobzikov, who actually applauded Sotomayor's admission that a judge's background and experience would inevitably factor into his or her decisions: "There are many theories of justice and not all of them would insist on justice being blind. And if we think that justice should serve the society as a whole and not only those who are well-connected and with the means to hire the best attorneys, then I'm not sure a blind servant is preferable to the one who can see."

STRAIGHT OUTTA GITMO

With the president dithering over his promised closure of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, the Propeller community chimed in on both sides of the issue. "Guantanamo Bay Detainee Site Should Be Open or Closed: What Do You Want?" generated 125 props, 7 drops, and 257 comments. Pecossam thought we were worrying far too much about the rights of the prisoners: "There is no place for 'touchy-feely' when one is engaged in war; not if one wishes to defeat the enemy. As General William Tecumseh Sherman (the Union officer who marched on and burned Atlanta, GA) said, 'War Is Hell.'" And where would the detainees be housed, should the Gitmo facility be shuttered? One member, donald51, proposed a solution: "Keith Obermann interviewed a city councilmen with a totally vacant 300+ bed, high-security prison in Wyoming or Utah, which is empty and volunteering to take the detainees!" But even in that case, Klarissa saw some potential problems: "We would have to set up special kitchens and special religious accommodations wherever these prisoners are sent. Let's be smart for a change and keep them where they are."

There was agreement from prophyporcrites: "If we give them trials here, we open up a Pandora's Box that was better left closed. Heck, how many murderers, child molesters, and others get off on a simple technicality? Is it really that farfetched to think the same may happen to these people?" Replied gamahuche: "So fear of Pandora should guide US 'justice'? Tell that to the judge! The earthly one and the one upstairs if you believe in that one." Commodore1 suggested that there was some NIMBY-style hypocrisy at work: "For those of you who want Gitmo closed, I'm sure you're willing to have them detained in your state. Right?" To which jordan11 replied: "I don't have a problem with it. We already have 'terrorists' imprisoned in this country, and I've heard no one complain in the states they're incarcerated in. Stop being such a whiny baby. You don't trust our prison system? Then stay under your bed."

AND DON'T OVERLOOK....

On a less partisan note, there was "Couple On the Run after 'Stealing' $6 Million Credited to Their Bank Account in Error," with 75 props and 12 comments, most of them fairly cynical. Said rj3sp: "I doubt that the bank would be held at fault if they inadvertently depleted someone's bank account. Of course, that never happens." And EastwoodCarter seemed confident that the bank would recoup its losses, one way or another: "Just charge every savings account a small inactivity fee. Problem solved." Added ppt4706: "Actually, that money is the amount that I have been charged in overdraft fees through the years, so give it back!"

Elsewhere, Propeller members sounded off on waterboarding and pistol play in our national parks. And this YouTube video of Bob Dylan singing "Forever Young" rang up 131 props and 21 comments. There was a small debate over who did the best version of the Dylan chestnut, with chevydog opting for the composer's ex-main squeeze : "The Joan Baez version is among my favorites." Added Ciera-Marie: "I prefer Bob Dylan's or Joan B's versions over Rod Stewart's any day. God, I do not like Rod Stewart at all. Not here, there or anywhere." To which JoseMadre replied: "I think Rod's voice is an acquired taste." It's a terrible temptation at this point to post the "Hot Legs" video, but we'll stick with Bob Dylan after all.