Judging Sotomayor's Success

" All right stick closer look at these confirmation hearings and morons Dave Ratner stepping down as auto czar we're joined now by Alan Murray deputy managing editor. Of Wall Street Journal Alamo could be here Sotomayor. Business and looks like it's gonna happen right. Oh yeah I I think I mean look these these hearings are important things happen in the hearings we've seen that in the past -- that way back with justice -- something could happen this is no but -- this is -- doesn't look like at the bar in you know barring some sort of big surprise them in the next few days -- she's going to get confirm. Probably with something close to 80% of the Senate vote. Republicans judge success here like 20/20 three days perhaps they are trying to. I get sick sketch of what what -- abroad are yeah about the Obama administration I think there's a lot of comparison here with Justice Roberts who remember is similar in many ways a conservative -- but impeccable credentials. And you know came in very clean to the hearings he only got 78 votes in the Senate and by the way. President Obama was one of the senators to vote against them. So I think that could be one measure -- you know can they get at least as high as as Justice Roberts really don't have gun control these things we've talked about -- where the business network here do we know anything about Sotomayor do business bank GAAP and it's it's -- she's certainly a liberal just judge no question about -- and on issues like discrimination and the -- case it's getting so much attention the discrimination case. Things like that there might be some things there that business would raise questions about. But as you guys know. Business has such. Bigger issues on the table with this administration. Sotomayor is a is a -- this is not about business issues this is primarily about social issues. --"

" The focus I guess on how the court will change in what it's going to face will change in the next twenty years in terms of technological change. And privacy so are those some things that we ought to be listening for war in Iraq."

" I think actually it's probably worth spending more time looking at her she's had some interest in decisions on intellectual property which is going to be a big issue for business. Going forward so there -- number of areas of law that you're not hearing about at all. In these hearings that she's been very involved in that that will be big issues for business business going forward but look. This is a smart thoughtful woman. Her history on most issues relevant to business has been to. Look at the facts and try and make. Smart decisions."

" Steven Ratner now former auto czar quadrant former journalist and New York Times got very successful. Private equity firm. The New York attorney general's been sniffing around. Quadrennial. Brand perhaps Ratner he stepped down -- are there are now some questions this morning about why he stepped down."

" Yeah and I'm afraid I don't have the magic cancer I know this -- of this was a very ambitious guy you wanted a bigger job in the administration. He did a good job. In brokering the deal with GM deals with GM and Chrysler but look Brian -- put a bigger issue on the table because this is what business needs to be worried about. This is an administration that has taken on 13. Of the private sector of the economy it's nationalize the banks it's nationalize the auto companies it's taking on the entire health care industry and it's taken on the entire energy industry. And -- mortgage industry can we control things. It's getting bigger you know so and there is not a a single person in the top reaches of this administration with solid business experience. You know you have people like Larry Summers who were worked at a hedge fund for a couple years or Rahm Emanuel who was in private equity for year -- but. He taking on the huge shock -- the private sector you meet people there who have private sector experience Steve Ratner would have been such a person if they had figured out a way to bring him into the administration they did. So I'm I'm less concerned about Steve Ratner and what may happen with the squadron -- Investigation and I am concerned about how this administration. Takes on all these huge private sector issues without more internal expertise about how the private sector works."

" The existing overheard a conversation last week and this is this open my eyes a little bit I was in -- delegate to sell a couple guys talk and sitting here at the table they're -- health care. And along those saying you really want the government to run your health care -- the guy was defending. The Obama plan house -- dropping have to admit. And it was interest to be guided defended the plan wasn't defending the plant. His view was we gotta stick it to the insurance companies. That no matter what so what are defending the planet was let's stick it to the insurance company."

" Look back -- his view that is the political climate out there right now I mean that's the result of what we -- through in the last couple of years there's a lot of anti business sentiment to some extent Obama rode into office on the back of that sentiment. I think he's smart enough to understand though that it is the profits after the makes the economy run. And they were really need some internal expertise to help deal with these huge problems that they have on -- plate it will get to say that the government doesn't do a better job in the private sector. And think of in the future are allowed Murray The Wall Street Journal thanks so much out. Thank you proceed you."