I’m listening to Sen. Hatch (R-UT) browbeating Judge Sotomayor on the Ricci case. And I’m reminded of the ever-present nature of the exchanges between senators and nominees in this exchanges — brain vs. brawn.

It’s not that senators are dumb. A lot of them are extremely sharp. But certainly not all of them. And more to the point, with all but a few exceptions, they are at best amateurs at judicial interpretation. On the other hand, across the ideological spectrum, the Supreme Court nominees are almost without exception, extremely bright people, trained in a discipline that sharpens the skills of logical reasoning and argument. And they really, really know constitutional law. I would almost say this is a big shortcoming of our current system. I don’t think there’s any question that a number of great Justices from earlier in the 20th century never would have made it on today’s court.

In any case, on almost every front of intellect and knowledge, the judges have the senators wildly overmatched. And yet, the senators have the power.

It was hard to listen to Hatch’s questioning without this coming painfully to mind, though certainly it’s applied to many judges and senators, of all different partisan mixes over the years.

And speaking of amateurs vs. pros, for more expert Sotomayor hearing blog, don’t miss Andrew Pincus’s live blog here.

Finally, Sen. Feinstein brings it up …

“I am puzzled why Mr. Estrada keeps coming up. Mr. Estrada has no judicial experience. The nominee before us has considerable judicial experience.”

I know, I know. Republicans want to say they like Hispanics too. But it’s getting a little ridiculous, no?

Late Update: Here’s the video of Feinstein’s remarks.

I’m thinking that Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), rising GOP star the House and rumored presidential aspirant, is either conflicted or sending out some mixed messages. His PAC (the vehicle in place for his prez run) is called Every Republican is Crucial, i.e., “ERIC.”

Every Republican is Crucial, especially me! Every GOPer is so crucial the message is an acronym for my name!

This is simply one of the funniest things I’ve read in a long time. You remember those surreal few days when Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) was missing from his state and no one knew or could explain where he was. A lot of the media was far too credulous in accepting the increasingly ludicrous explanations for the governor’s absence. But in emails recently obtained by The State newspaper, through a FOIA-type request, it turns out that before Sanford got caught sneaking back into the country from Argentina, a slew of right-wing reporters from Fox, the Wall Street Journal ed page and Washington Times were telling the governor’s staffers to hang tough, that the whole story was stupid and generally asking how they could help.

Late Update: When we first published this piece we had yet to get a response from the Washington Times. But we’ve now heard from the Times John Solomon who says that the emailer from the Times was not from the newsroom but from a member of the marketing staff trying to book Sanford for the magazine’s radio show. Full details in the post.

Judge Sotomayor schools Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) on the use of nunchuks.

Here’s a fun moment from this morning’s hearings. Remember that scene in Annie Hall where the Alvy and Annie are waiting in line at the movie and Alvy is going nuts listening to the pontificating blowhard going on about Marshall McLuhan and then Alvy pulls McLuhan himself out from behind the movie poster to tell the guy he’s an idiot. Not quite identical and Sotomayor could have driven the point a bit harder but Judge Sotomayor managed to pull off something like that.

Steele on bringing minority voters into the GOP: “My plan is to say, ‘Ya’ll come!’ I got the fried chicken and potato salad!”

See the video.

Former OLC Chief Jay Bybee: John Yoo was “the White House’s guy” on national security matters.

President Obama, speaking today:

I love those folks who helped get us in this mess, and suddenly they say, “This is Obama’s economy.” That’s fine. Give it to me.

Lanny Davis resurfaces as lobbyist/spinmeister for Honduran coup plotters.