Columnist: Sotomayor is no Sandra Day O'Connor

A few questions for William McKenzie, a progressive conservative columnist for The Dallas Morning News:

Q: What is your general reaction to the hearing so far?

A: If Obama is looking for a Souter-like replacement to shore up that center-left faction of the court, then he's found her She will be a pretty predictable left-of-center member of the court, which I assume is what Obama wants.

Q: Did any Republicans stand out? Could any use this to launch a 2012 presidential campaign?

A: Hatch was brilliant with his legal questioning, but his day has come and gone.

I think (Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina) elevated himself.  But that's 3½ years away, and it's tough to use a great sound bite 3½ years later to run for president. But he's plain speak -- not wooden and using clichés -- and that's what Republicans need.

Q: How do you think the regular people, especially Republicans in red states are viewing the hearing?

A: I think most people get very confused in these proceedings because it gets so technical. I think they size up the person.

I'm sure most Republicans who look at her, would think she's not the best nominee. But what do they expect? Obama won. I would have liked him to pick another O'Connor. I don't see her at all being a Sandra Day O'Connor and going back and forth and helping the court find the center. Kennedy is the only justice who does that, and that's a shame.  I'd like to see more justices who could help us find the center in a center-left era. I don't see Sotomayor being that person, but I may be wrong.

Q: Do Republicans in states with significant Hispanic populations need to walk a tightrope politically on this nomination?

A: I think it's a big issue for (Sen. John) Cornyn (of Texas). I fully expect Cornyn to vote against her. Given the immigration battles of two years ago, at some point Cornyn has to consider an electoral calculus.

This state is changing. (Hispanics are) a natural constituency for Republicans to win, as Bush did. If (Cornyn) votes against Sotomayor and he votes against immigration reform again, it looks like he's just going with the base.

Go to William McKenzie's column archive here.

-Michael Giarrusso, AP editor