Views on a Judge, Hope, and a Drunk Club Girl

I am not built for sleep. Once upon a time, maybe, but not anymore. I'm so used to going a million miles every day and squeezing everything from every moment that having an abundance of time makes me go crazy. Tonight, I was hanging out with Mandy, Ty, and Andrew and I got really tired at about 12:30, so I came home. I was just going to check my e-mail...and then I got sucked in and I've been doing stuff for the last five hours (I also swept the house because the dirt on my feet was grossing me out). So, anywho, I figured I'd update.

I have a couple of brief thoughts, some serious, some not, to catch you up on my current state of mind:

Nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court will probably pass. I am begrudgingly supportive of this move. I like that she is a hispanic woman who has a rise-above past and a solid basis in legal theory and practice. I appreciate that she has been a sitting judge for many years. I, however, wish that the chance had been taken to establish a much more progressive or liberal canditate for this office...the conservative slant of the Roberts Court is unlikely to change in the near future, so what is the harm in stacking it to the left to balance it out? What is the problem with a legislative battle for confirmation as opposed to her just sailing through? Democrats have the power...why aren't they trying to use it?

The more I hear the song "Just Dance" by Lada GaGa, the more I'm concerned for the main character. This woman has lost her phone, drink, man, and keys, she doesn't remember the name of the club, she can't see straight, and, at some point, her shirt got turned inside-out. Her solution to this dilemma is to "just dance." I feel like this girl needs help...maybe a taxi home...a good counselor to work out some deep-seated emotional problems. Actually, I was talking to Mandy earlier, and she said that she thought that the cops had busted in during this song, and this girl was the only one still dancing because she was so blasted and that the second verse is her continuing to dance as the entire club gets put in jail. Interesting theory...but it doesn't lessen my concern.

I support the general message of President Obama's Cairo speech. I think it's a good step towards diplomacy. However, I'm getting a little tired of the lack of tangible planning that is visible to the American people. So far, there is no tangible health care plan, immigration reform, education initiative, or withdrawal plan from Afghanistan or Iraq. Don't Ask, Don't Tell has not been repealed despite the ease of its dismissal (having been enacted by executive order). And I'm little tired of platitudes. Further, the President's bungling of his support of same sex marriage on the federal level during his recent NBC interview has only served to sharpen my suspicion. I feel like something tangible should be done...and if nothing is...well, hope can only sustain national pride for so long. I need something to be proud of...something daring. Something...audacious.

I'm going to go to bed, eat lunch with Mandy in a few hours, and send her off to Twin City.