Archive for July, 2009
With GOP Votes, is Sotomayor on her Way?
4:55 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Justice|Politics|race · Comments Off
17 Jul 2009I know it’s starting to sound like the 24-hour Sotomayor News Channel around here, but we promise we’ll be done with it soon. Here’s at least one note before our heads explode with all the Sonia updates: 3 Republican senators have pledged they will vote for her confirmation. Might Sotomayor be paving an easy street to confirmation? Can we get excited yet? The Miami Herald reports:
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor picked up her first Republican Senate backers Friday – Sens. Mel Martinez of Florida, Richard Lugar of Indiana and Olympia Snowe of Maine – virtually assuring her of an overwhelming confirmation vote.Democrats control 60 Senate votes, and some other Republicans could join them when the Senate votes, probably in early August.
In the clip above, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham asks Sotomayor about her “temperament”. Another “hot-blooded Latina” stereotype? Maybe, but The Miami Herald and other sources are saying that Graham is strongly leaning towards voting for her.
I’m actually really surprised that Mel Martinez is voting for her confirmation. I mean, just look at his positions on common hot button topics. I guess this might be taken as further testimony to the fact that Sotomayor is no “activist liberal judge”. But some (perhaps Fox News?) will undoubtedly whine that it’s about Latino favoritism. Like Mel Martinez and Sonia Sotomayor have anything in common aside from a Spanish surname.
What do you think? Is Sotomayor out of the woods yet?
After the jump, some fun and lightheartedness with regard to how literally Sotomayor’s soundbite about being a “wise Latina” has been taken…and what she’s still up against.
More Defending the “Wise Latina” Comment
6:50 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Controversia|Politics|race · 1 Comment
16 Jul 2009In the past two days of confirmation hearings, Sonia Sotomayor was made to “clarify” her now infamous “wise Latina” statement countless times. Yesterday afternoon she went up against Republican Senator from Texas John Cornyn in yet another attempt to quiet the accusations of racial bias (see video above). While she is totally not owning the statement, she wins the battle of rhetoric here and Cornyn is clearly grasping at straws. Score one for Sotomayor.
After the jump, video of Sotomayor defending the statement to Senator Patrick Leahy (D) of Vermont on Monday.
Ricky Ricardo Evoked at Sotomayor Hearing
6:48 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Controversia|Politics|race · 1 Comment
16 Jul 2009From my sickbed yesterday I was able to catch some of the Sotomayor hearing (thanks, C-span!) and it didn’t disappoint. I mean it did disappoint if you were looking for a hearing that didn’t include unfounded accusations of “bias”, but in terms of WTF moments, it really performed. But one moment that has me baffled was this: a pop culture reference made by Senator Tom Coburn (R). Coburn quoted I Love Lucy character Ricky Ricardo while questioning Sotomayor. Have a look:
Was this racist? Did he evoke the quote because Sotomayor is Latina? Or is it just the Senator’s “silly” style? Without being too much of a conspiracy theorist, I’d err on the side of yes, this was yet another potshot at Sotomayor’s Latino heritage. Consider the source.
BTW, today’s hearings start at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, and you can catch them online at C-SPAN.
Via / HuffPost
Mala’s on the Road : To Detroit for Women’s Media Equity Collaborative Summit and the Allied Media Conference
6:21 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Allied Media Conference|Detriot|Media|media justice|VivirLatino · Comments Off
15 Jul 2009
While all of you are reading this, I’m on the road again, this time returning to Detroit for a busy few days that I hope will recenter me and the work that I do.
Thursday I will be at the Women’s Media Equity Collaborative Summit.
A day long session of exchange in a nourishing environment
++ to build a strong women centered media movement
++ that broadens outreach, evolves programs and is sustainable* In Detroit a new women’s media strategy will evolve. POLICY in action!
* Emphasis on attendees from groups led by women of color, low income women, queer women, the disabled and moms – focus for scholarship assistance
* “Being there” is vital for long term sustainability of women led mediaCritical initiatives to explore and build:
* Create Trust & Relationships across race/class/geography/media-genre borders
* Share Field Developments and discuss the results of the survey
* Build For The Future, embrace new digital paradigm along with political/economic shifts
* Envision a New Fund that is sustainable and responsive to critical field needs
* Advocate Gender Justice amidst independent media and the larger public sphere
From Friday, I will be at the Allied Media Conference
The Allied Media Conference is the central project of the Allied Media Projects (AMP) network, which emerges out of ten years of organic relationship-building. Since the first conference (then the Midwest Zine Conference) in 1999, people have been compelled by the concept of do-it-yourself media. Later, as the Underground Publishing Conference, the emphasis was on building a movement of alternative media makers. With the shift towards Allied Media, the AMC has attracted more and more people who are interested in using participatory media as a strategy for social justice organizing.
Nunchucks are important part of judicial process
14 Jul 2009Some how, some way, nunchucks made their way into the Sotomayor hearings.
Caution: watch following video with full knowledge of how painful it is to watch people trying to be dignified while talking about Nanchucks.
I guess the reasoning behind the questions came from the gun lobby–if Sotomayor ruled that it isn’t ok to carry nunchucks around, then she CLEARLY must also be saying that all gun owners need to report to Gitmo, but only after they throw their precious guns into a volcano.
Samantha Bee on Palin Resigning
3:33 pm By la Macha · Bizarro|Celebrities|children · 1 Comment
14 Jul 2009The Daily Show gets a few really good jabs in at Sarah Palin–I like the “Suckle on the teat of a shooting star” part the best…
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Half Baked Alaska | ||||
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Action Alert : Puerto Rican Political Prisoner Being Denied Medical Treatment
3:18 pm By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Activism|Puerto Rico · 1 Comment
14 Jul 2009
It’s easy to get caught up in the “all american success story” of Supreme Court Justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Latinos, specifically Puerto Ricans are glowing with pride at the historic achievement. However, in the shadow of this “American Dream” is the reality that there are Puerto Ricans in U.S. Federal Prisons for defending the sovereignty of the island nation that Sonia Sotomayor parents came from.
From my amigos at ProLibertad:
Puerto Rican Political Prisoner Avelino Gonzalez Claudio is being denied medical treatment! Since his incarceration, he has developed a neurological condition. In November 2008, Avelino requested, several times, medical attention receiving only a “I do not know”, “I will read some books” answer from the Doctor assigned to his facility.
Not to get all conspiracy theory-like, but it is a fact that the United States has historically conducted experiments and tortured political prisoners. Take for example the case of Pedro Albizu Campos who was given intense radiation against his will.
We cannot let our brother suffer! COPY AND PASTE THE FOLLOWING LETTER AND MAIL or FAX IT TO JEFFERY E. MCGILL! SHOW HIM AVELINO HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE MOVEMENT!
After the jump you will find the text of the letter. We cannot let Sonia Sotomayor’s story be the only story of Puerto Rican identity shown. justice isn’t about making it to the top. It’s about community.
At midnight, people will linw up to catch the latest film installation in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Lucky for me, I won’t have to subject myself to screaming tweens the way I did for Twilight, because I was fortunate enough to catch a special screening of the film last night.
The Harry Potter core three amigos, Harry, Hermione, and Ron are back at Hogwarts for their 6th year but there are, as usual, evil forces at work. Not surprisingly, Voldemort is behind the evil plot enlisting the ever creepy Draco Malfoy.
I’m not gonna give too much away pero if you want to read more, read after the jump.
Read more…
Sonia Sotomayor’s Opening Statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee
7:10 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Politics|Women · 1 Comment
14 Jul 2009Full transcript under the jump
Read more…
Radical Women of Color/ GenderQueer Media Makers : We Want to Hear from You
1:49 pm By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Allied Media Conference|Detriot|Media|media justice · Comments Off
13 Jul 2009In preparation for work that will be done at the upcoming Allied Media Conference and beyond, a team of radical women of color media makers (myself included) created.
If you are planning on being at the AMC in the coming days, please take a few minutes to fill it out.
Landscaping Our Dreams: What Women and Genderqueer
Media Makers of Color Need and Want: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=kYIs3eJQ_2b8eOpSMCi8_2bRtw_3d_3d
Hola!
VivirLatino is a daily publication published by Mamita Mala Media, dedicated to featuring all the latest politics, culture, entertainment of interest to the diverse Latin@ diaspora.
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