Audiencias De Confirmación De La Muerte

The Confirmation Hearings Of Death...not for Sonia Sotomayor, but for the GOP. If they attack her, they lose the Latino vote, if they don't attack her they lose the immigration-hating base. Taking a look at the members you can guess to see who will do the most damage to the GOP:

Jeff Sessions -- The GOP's ranking member I don't see swinging the axe here. He faced this committee in 1986 as a federal judge appointee, and got reamed for his statements on the NAACP. They sent him home in a box and needless to say, he didn't get the federal bench appointment. If Sessions comes across as a racist asshole here, he's going to be the poster boy for "The GOP have been racist assholes for decades" argument, and that's going to murder them in the voting booth. I fully expect him to play nice (if I were him), which means Jeff Sessions being Jeff Sessions, he'll go full-bore racist asshole.

Orrin Hatch -- The old man from Utah is going to have to be the voice of reason here for the GOP. He's been through approximately 83 million of these hearings over the last few centuries and will have to come across as the elder statesman somehow. Sessions may be the ranking member, but Hatch is in charge.

Lindsey Graham -- The Barney Fife to John McCain's Andy Griffith, Lindsey will be the Good Cop to Sessions's Bad Cop. That's pretty much his job, sidekick.

Tom Coburn, Chuck Grassley, Jon Kyl and John Cornyn -- They'll follow Hatch's lead, especially if Sessions self-immolates.

There are Democrats to watch too:

Al Franken -- Al's first major duties as Senator Franken. not like the guy's going to freeze up on TV, but I think America is going to be damn impressed with Policy Wonk Al.

Chuck Schumer -- Chuck loves him some TV, he does. Watch him grandstand, showboat, and generally be all over the mike.

Sheldon Whitehouse -- The guy in the room with the major hotshot legal experience. Could be a chance for him to shine and help Sonia dig her way through the bullshit sure to emanate from the GOP.

Pat Leahy -- The Chairman and referee. Watch to see how hard he smacks down Jeff Sessions.

Russ Feingold -- Always amusing (and illuminating) to watch Russ go. Will he ask about the McCain-Feingold campaign legislation up before the court in September?

Keep an eye out today.