Jack & Jill Politics

. . Racially-tinged inferences, snide liberal bashing and the shameless pandering to anti-intellectual sentiment that once won the day for Republicans are now falling flat. The Sotomayor nomination has proved to be yet another test case for the efficacy of traditional conservative attack lines.

Republicans might have hoped to use this hearing to put limits on how far the President can safely go in picking liberals for future openings. Instead, they showcased just how narrow and out of touch their political base has become. . . . Until Republicans get past calling 1-800-HATE there will be fewer and fewer voters on the other end of the line.

Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jeff Sessions (R-AL) hinted today that Sonia Sotomayor won't see a confirmation vote next Tuesday as the committee's chairman, Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has planned. Any individual senator on the committee can place a one-week hold on a judicial nominee. "I expect that will happen," Sessions told reporters after the committee adjourned for a break early this afternoon, though he said the committee has a "realistic opportunity to complete this vote before August recess"--the desired deadline President Obama put forth when Associate Justice David Souter announced his retirement.

Connecticut Council On Occupational Safety: Despite His Claims, We're Not Affiliated With Ricci
By Brian Beutler - July 15, 2009, 11:36AM

The Senate may wish to place a moratorium on criticism of New Haven fire fighter cum expert legal witness Frank Ricci. But we sure don't.

On its official witness list, the Senate Judiciary Committee lists Ricci as Director of Fire Services, ConnectiCOSH (Connecticut Council on Occupational Safety and Health). And that's understandable--he boasts as much on his website.

The problem, unfortunately, is that there is no such position.

Seeking to distance themselves from Ricci, ConnectiCOSH has sent a letter to Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) asking him to correct the record. "Mr. Ricci has posted on his website that he is the "Director of Fire Services for ConnectiCOSH" but there is no such position with ConnectiCOSH," writes ConnectiCOSH Co-Chair Steve Schrag.

We have in no way authorized him to testify in relation to this nomination. In fact he does not hold any elected or appointed position with ConnectiCOSH.

Please remove ConnectiCOSH from any association with Mr. Frank Ricci in relation to his testimony before your committee regarding Judge Sonia Sodamayor as his views are his own and do not reflect our organization's position regarding his lawsuit against the city of New Haven and subsequent legal decisions.

You can read the entire letter below the fold. At a glance, I'd say the non-existence of a "Director of Fire Services" position is probably evidence of anti-Ricci discrimination of some sort on the part of ConnectiCOSH, and they should either invent one or expect to be sued.

ConnectiCOSH

Ct Council on Occupational Safety & Health

683 North Mountain Road · Newington, CT 06111 · (860) 953-COSH (2674) · Fax (860) 953-1038


July 14, 2009

Senator Patrick J. Leahy
United States Senate
Committee on the Judiciary
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Leahy,

On behalf of the Connecticut Council on Occupational Safety and Health we wish to make clear that Mr. Frank Ricci is not speaking on behalf of our organization before your committee regarding the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Please remove ConnectiCOSH as an affiliation for him from your records and correct this error on the committee's website.

Mr. Ricci in the past has participated in ConnectiCOSH activities to strengthen workers' rights to refuse dangerous work and some fire safety issues. Mr. Ricci has posted on his website that he is the "Director of Fire Services for ConnectiCOSH" but there is no such position with ConnectiCOSH. We have in no way authorized him to testify in relation to this nomination. In fact he does not hold any elected or appointed position with ConnectiCOSH.

Please remove ConnectiCOSH from any association with Mr. Frank Ricci in relation to his testimony before your committee regarding Judge Sonia Sodamayor as his views are his own and do not reflect our organization's position regarding his lawsuit against the city of New Haven and subsequent legal decisions.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Steve Schrag Judy Sparer
Steve Schrag Judy Sparer

Co-Chair ConnectiCOSH Board Member


CC: Frank Ricci