Obama's Supreme Court Nominee

Yesterday President Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace Justice David Souter on the United States Supreme Court.  I'm more than a little troubled by this nomination.  We seem to have lost sight of the job description of the Supreme Court.  The Court's job is not to legislate, or make law, but to apply the law in different situations.  Judge Sotomayor, however, has a history of saying things such as, "...the court of appeals is where policy is made."  W-w-what??  This is the complete antithesis of the role of judges and courts.  Judges must strive to be completely impartial, laying aside all personal agendas, and simply interpret the laws that are already in existence.  Now I realize our country has come a LONG way from this, but how have we come so far that our President would choose someone who has such a bold-faced misunderstanding of their job description?  Would you hire someone to work for your company who was under the impression that their role in working for you was the opposite of what it actually was?  I think not.

Obama's self-proclaimed goal in his nomination was to find a judge who had empathy.  Excuse me?  Empathy is a wonderful thing, but it has no place on the bench.  As already stated, a judge is to be impartial, administering justice according to the law, not operating out of their feelings and personal sentiments.  Obama thought Judge Sotomayor would be a perfect candidate for a Supreme Court Justice, because her background would cause her to be empathetic.  Well then make her a social worker, don't put her on the Supreme Court. 

We need judges who will uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.  Let's hope the Senate will do their job in exploring this candidate's judicial philosophy during the confirmation hearings. 

In other news, please excuse my long absence from the blogging world.  I've been busy birthing my second baby and enjoying life as a wife and mother of two.

Jon & Kate

"Jon & Kate, Plus 8" is a popular reality show on TLC that follows a couple who has both twins and sextuplets. There's been lots of recent chatter about their marriage and possible divorce. My friend Clayton has an excellent post on the matter and on relationships in general.

Read it here.

I was watching Sesame Street...

with my 2 yr old this morning. Oscar and fellow grouches were running a news station when one of them proceeded to comment: "Maybe I'll start watching the Fox News Network. Now there's a TRASHY news program."

Unbelievable. It starts so young.

A Break from the Norm

Game Time!

So this game has been making the rounds, and I thought I'd get in on the fun. It's in no way political, but perhaps it can pass under the scope of this blog in a pop culture sort of way. Here's how you play:

Step 1: Put music player on shuffle
Step 2: Post lyrics from the first 30 songs, no matter what they are
Step 3: Strike out the songs when someone guesses both artist and track correctly (I'm gonna have to change their color cause I can't figure out how to cross them off)

So your job is to guess the title and artist of each song from the list below. You can leave your guesses in the comment section. You don't have to know every one. Just guess on the lyrics that you recognize. Whoever gets the most correctly is the winner. Don’t use Google (or any other search engine, for that matter) – that’s cheating! Only guess if you know the answer off the top of your head. Happy guessing!

1. Why is that smile upon your face when it's such a rainy day? Why are you so happy? What do you know that I don't know? I wish I did but I ain't been told...

2. I guess it's cause and effect, your heart and mine. The way that we connect keeps blowing my mind.

3. Tell me I should not be feeling what I am today. Tell me to silence my heart. Tell me we've been here before and I will walk away from your love.

4. Hold me Light of the World. And love me, say you love me. And I will be free.

5. We stay above average stay killin' these tracks yo. I stay off in the country but stay city with that so. Stay keeping y'all guessin', stay in higher demand. Stay true to who I'm reppin' steady movin' ahead. (Grits, but still waiting on title.)

6. Way on down to southern Alabama with the guitars jammin', that's where we're headed. Me & My Gang - Rascal Flatts (Casey)

7. The wind is gone. Asleep at dawn. The embers burn on.

8. When we pray, we believe we receive what we ask in His Name. All things are possible. Prayers of the Righteous - Israel & New Breed (Katie)

9. Holy, holy are You Lord. The whole earth is filled with your glory. Let the nations rise to give honor and praise to Your Name.

10. Ain't it great not a moment too late. And I been waitin' for this all my life. Ain't it swell like a sweet southern belle. And I can finally see why I'm alive.

11. I confess my hope in the light of Your salvation. Where I lose myself, I will find You're all I need.

12. Everybody ain't trynna be tough and violent matter of fact I know some cats from the hood play the violin. Good in the Hood - Tye Tribbett (Katie)

13. You were my sun. You were my earth. You didn't know all the ways I loved you... no. Cry Me a River - Justin Timberlake (Casey)

14. I ain't got time to think about money or what it can buy. And I ain't got time to sit down and wonder what makes a birdie fly.

15. Is it fair to say I was lured away? By endless distractions and lovelier attractions then. Or fairer still my own free will is the better one to blame for this familiar mess I've made again. Mercies New - Nichole Nordeman (Jen)

16. I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain just to be with the one he loves. How many times has he broken that promise? It has never been done. Love Song - Third Day (Nancy and Jen)

17. I hear a cry goin' out in the middle of the night. Under the scatter of the stars from a voice cracked with fright. And as the tears stripe cheeks from pain runnin' south. The taste of salt hits the corner of her mouth.

18. Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it, Mount of Thy unchanging love. Come Thou Fount - Sufjan Stevens (Jen)

19. I didn't deserve Your grace. I didn't deserve Your mercy. But still You took my place because You loved me. I Live, I Breathe - Arize Live (Jen)

20. She's sun and rain. She's fire and ice. A little crazy but it's nice. And when she gets mad you best leave her alone... She's Every Woman - Garth Brooks (Casey)

21. For unto us, a Savior came. Amazing grace that takes the weight.

22. Now you say! Everytime you need some affection. The one you love goes in another direction. You just sit back in a daze reminiscing. Cause you know some other lips he's been kissing.

23. You remember me, before I learned to run. At the kissing tree, before I learned my guns. I am Still Running - Jon Foreman (Casey)

24. Girl, when we started, Baby, we were friends. But that's not how this fairy tale is gonna end. See I was thinkin then it clicked one day. That no one else has ever made me feel this way.

25. So you're gone, but I know you're not so far away. You're a call on the phone or a ride on a plane. But that just isn't the same.

26. Oh, my soul, sometimes we don't know what to do. We work so hard at being tough on our own. But now it's me and you.

27. I'm searching for the words to make you realize that I really, really want you to stay. Tears of frustration I hold inside, but if you walk away, you'll make this grown man cry.

28. You are more beautiful than anyone ever. Everyday, you're the same. You never change, no never. No One Like You - Barlow Girl (Jen)

29. From the moment that we met, my world was turned around, upside down. To some degree I still regret, my memory for keepin' you around.

30. When you see me workin' all night long, workin' till my stress is gone. It's for you, oh listen dear. I finally realize that it's all for you.

Well there you have it! Enjoy guessing. (And I did skip a couple songs that came up in the first 30... I do have a 2 year old and didn't think it'd be much of an exercise in mental prowess to guess "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands" and other such toddleress wonders.) :)