Some reads from this morning...

1. Is Sotomayor truly a “liberal” judge?  E.J. Dionne argues that Sotomayor was actually the most conservative justice Obama could have nominated, while Lisa Lerer reports that some liberal groups are concerned about her opinions on abortion, gay marriage, and the death penalty.
2. The Obama administration is circulating an article by Robert Morgenthau, a New York County District Attorney and Sotomayor’s former boss, in response to accusations that she is a radical or an affirmative action pick.
3. Mike Allen reports that despite outspoken criticism from Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich, the GOP may back down from a full-fledged political fight over Sotomayor’s nomination.
4. Ted Kennedy champions Obama’s health care proposals.
5. Robert Kaplan warns that those calling for tough action in response to North Korea’s nuclear tests may be forgetting the lessons of Iraq.
6. Donald Bland and Ron Brownstein report that many industries that traditionally support the GOP are increasingly cooperating with, and donating money to, the Democrats.