While your tidy summary may satisfy the intellectual curiosity of some on this important topic, I'm not sure of the propriety of unilaterally recommending the topic and thread for extinction. But...that's just me.

I have also taken a look at the debate over this important Supreme Court appointment. My opinion comes from a slightly different perspective than the nuts and bolts Kahuna has thoughtfully mapped, summarized and condensed for us. The issue is much larger than that.

For decades, radicals, socialists and Communists in America have been in relentless pursuit of destroying capitalism and replacing it with a Marxist system that changes everything that made this country great. They have used violence to facilitate change. They have attacked religion. They have infiltrated our schools and college campuses cloaked as "progressives". They have to a significant extent controlled the media. In spite of all these efforts, in many cases they could not alter the will of a substantial component of the electorate and accordingly many of the legislators the people put in office. The old red state/blue state maps come to mind. With insidious and calculated cunning they turned to the courts to circumvent the will of the people on issues they could not achieve a majority consensus or legislative initiative on. Obama himself was looking for a candidate with empathy which is code for overriding law when it is inconvenient to the political agenda. Sotomayor fills that criteria.

I hate to use a liberal like Barbra Streisand to make a point but in the abstract she put it quite into perspective. I recall her stating in regards to a presidential election, "It's about the (Supreme) Court." In that brief comment, she nailed the progressive, liberal, Marxist strategy. She in effect was saying, when the left can't legislate their will, they must have a court that will circumvent the will of the majority of the people and create policy. I want my Courts to decide law...not policy.

I believe that the Supreme Court should decide matters of Constitutional Law without setting public policy. Judge Sotomayor clearly has stated she believes the Courts set public policy throwing our checks and balances system between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government askew. She will be a tool of the left in circumventing the will of the people and creating policy that cannot be obtained legislatively.

She will most likely be appointed.

Steve, it is a rare moment indeed when I disagree with you. This is one. I still respect and enjoy your thoughful input.