Race to Judgment

Already marginalized to the point of irrelevancy, 31 Republican senators just said "NO" to Sonia Sotomayor becoming the first Hispanic U.S. Supreme Court justice. Only 9 of them could muster up enough courage to break ranks and join the 59 Democrats in voting to confirm President Obama's history-making nominee.

(How do you say "permanent minority party" in Spanish?)

Despite the obvious party split, both parties agree Ms. Sotomayor's credentials for the court are impeccable.

But Republicans say the "wise Latina" is just playing dumb. They suspect she's actually a racist in disguise -- who'll finally be unable and unwilling to remain impartial. They're convinced this impeccable jurist will take the bench and then . . . the Latina who wise-cracked about old White men (one time, at one speech) will emerge from hiding and wreak havoc.

Republican senators voted "NO" because they're certain Judge Sotomayor will reject reality and ignore facts -- choosing instead to make irrational decisions based on prejudice, paranoia and petty politics.