Surprise, surprise: Brownback still sour on Judge Sotomayor

Breaking non-news in a statement from Sen. Sam Brownback, who met with Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor yesterday:

I asked for and appreciated my meeting with Judge Sotormayor today. I wanted to hear more from her as I have serious concerns about her philosophy as it relates to an activist judiciary. Unfortunately I did not hear anything in our meeting that allayed those concerns. As Chief Justice Roberts said, a justice should be an impartial umpire, not a player in the game. I am afraid Judge Sotomayor wants to be more of a player than an umpire.

No details on how Brownback came to that conclusion, though he promises to elaborate in a floor speech “in the near future.” What are the chances he’ll say what he really means: We like a judicial activist when she’s on our side, but when she’s on the other side, judicial activism is bad, very bad.

Until then, he says “There are still questions about her rulings on the 2nd Circuit” — but again, no details, only an argument that “the timeline for her hearing is too soon. To give this nominee proper consideration, senators from both sides of the aisle should be given ample time to effectively and completely review her record.”

Way to sound deeply serious and thoughtful, senator.