The GOP (re: Sotomayor) is in a position called "Zugzwang". It's a chess term.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

Literally translated it means "the compulsion to move" but the term is used to denote a situation in which all moves are bad and worsen one's position, and one would be better off being able to pass the move to the opponent.

Piling onto an obviously qualified nominee will further erode what little support among Hispanics there is. Failing to vigorously oppose the nomination is probably the best option but the GOP is setting itself up to fail because people like Newt and Rush calling her "racist" etc. are putting the party in a place where if they don't oppose her nomination they will disappoint some of the knuckle draggers.

And allowing the nomination to go through with only token opposition will not only allow Obama to appoint a qualified Justice (a win for EVERYONE), but it will also likely increase his support, and the support of the Democratic Party, among the Hispanic community.

Zugzwang, baby. Learn it, love it.

I think Obama is as good at chess as he is at basketball.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zugzwang



Whoever has to move, loses

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

1. That word sounds SO cool it should be the title of an X-Files episode.

One in which Mulder roots out the Monster of the Week out of his hiding because he has to get out to eat brains / reach the portal to his own dimension / whatever.

[peacetalksforall]

2. Thanks for posting. Easy to understand. On the mark. I just hope

that a more direct route to an acknowledgment and appreciation of her life work to this point won't be lost because of the never ending Republican stupidity of opposition, their need to use every incident to generate hate so that they can retain support from their loyal 20 per cent followers. I also hope her life work won't be lost because of her gender, her heritage and because they, the Republicans, are playing a racism game with it.

U.S. citizens with Northern European heritage are insufferable. I have Northern Europe heritage, but I fight for equality because of my early-in-life interpretation of what was meant when I learned the word brotherhood and sharing the earth.

[Old and In the Way]

3. Perfect analogy.

I've been saying that the R's are in a 'no win' situation with Sotomayor, but I like your reference. The traditional Republican codewords and talking points just don't have the same zip they used to have. I think both Rush and Newt are waaaay ahead of the elected Republicans on this one....they've set up their side for another failure. Either Congressional R's side with the mouthbreathers and oppose the nomination - further marginalizing their opportunities in 2010 - or they capitulate to the reality that she is qualified and pass on this battle which will then make them all RINO's to those "leaders" that get all of the media oxygen, thus providing the activist base with ammunition to primary them out at the next opportunity.