American Morning’s Friday viewers remained focused on the pending confirmation hearings of Judge Sotomayor, as many expressed appreciation for AM’s in-depth coverage; others were frustrated that the “racism” comment attributed to Sotomayor was presented out of context.

• Bruce: Regarding Pres. Obama's supreme court nominee...I thought we had a process in place. First, the nomination then the Senate confirmation hearings. When did this process become so inflammatory? Why do we need commentary from the pundits, when the Senators will ask all the necessary questions and will then vote on her? Unfortunately, this process has become so partisan because the opposing party wants to tarnish the nominee. Who wants to go through that? This process should be dignified not a Jerry Springer episode. This is exactly why so many people are turned off by politics!
• Akua: Thank you for the interview about Judge Sotomayor it was insightful. However I will like to state with regards to the statement highlighted why is your show and other programs on CNN not stating she gave that speech at a diversity in the courts conference/seminar. When the statement is read without the correct context the information given to us is inaccurate. I love your show thank you for the good work. Cheers
• Ginspelts: The thing that worries me the most about Sotomayor is the video I saw where she is laughing and carrying on about "Judges are in the business of making policies. Oh I know I shouldn't say that. We are being filmed on camera, but hey we all know it is true." Judges do not make policies or the law. Judges are only suppose to interpret the law. As a American citizen these comments concern me greatly. I would like to know exactly what she meant when she made the comments. It is the job of congress to ask some very tough questions before making her one of the highest judges in the Supreme Court of the United States in America.

Has the American public been too quick to judge Sotomayor? What questions would you like to hear the Senate Confirmation Committee present to Judge Sotomayor?

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Wednesday’s American Morning audience was highly skeptical about the positive economic news about the recession, asking “what planet” CNN was living on and noting that six million people are still out of work.

• Sharrion: Please tell me what planet you are living on! I am the owner of a large hair salon in Long Beach, California. Every day my clients are losing their homes, retirement and jobs. Maybe your jobs are secure but that's not true for the rest of us. Strip malls are losing their small business each day. Many people have lost 1/2 their retirement! People in the car industry are losing their jobs which trickles down to everyone. The housing problem has created major job loss. I was talking to and employee yesterday. Her husband is in construction they cannot pay their house payment. Hello! I watch your station every morning and disappointed in your recent comments. I cannot believe a news station is so out of touch! The fear you talk about has turned into reality! Maybe not yours but the rest of us are living it daily. As far as recovering in 2009 and the fear is gone. Tell it to the people that have lost their businesses, jobs, homes, retirement etc. It will take years to undo what has happen and many people will never recover.
• Don: I cannot believe what I just heard about the economic outlook. Where do they interview, I want to be there to see who these people really are. Did anyone speak to the 6million or so that are currently out of work, or had to take jobs that are part time because there are no full time jobs around? Yes, things will be getting better, but I happen to think that we are a long way from that. If this was supposed to be a "make the masses feel good story," it did not work for me.
• R: We may be gaining "consumer confidence" right now but watch the economy tank again if Exxon-Mobil and friends continue their upward spiral in prices. I know their profits were off a bit last quarter but you know what? So was one huge segment of Americans as they adjusted from paycheck to unemployment checks.
• Chris: The oil companies at it again, gas prices just went up in north central Ohio by $ .26 per gallon. That puts us at $2.65 a gallon for regular gas. When is the president going to focus on the gouging of the american people by the oil companies. I can remember when a barrel of oil was at $60 and we were paying less then $1.50 a gallon for gas. What is up with this??

How do you feel about the economic news that the recession will subside by year-end? What positive changes have you noticed in the area where you live?

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Thursday’s American Morning audience had a plethora of topics for comment. The Binghamton, AL, police chase divided viewers who felt the perpetrator created a volatile situation and got what he deserved. Conversely, police brutality was addressed as an issue, as well as the need for additional police training for such situations.

• R, C.: Thanks for showing the video of the Alabama man being beaten by police after a high speed chase. My nephew was stopped and so badly beaten by Birmingham police that his eardrum burst. After an "internal review" the police found no wrong doing. My nephew was unarmed and was beaten by more than one officer. Someone needs to expose this kind of abuse.
• Glo: Adrenaline! That's what these police officers were working on. This perp tried to kill one of their brothers with his car and put the rest of them in danger by having them chase him. Unless you have lived with a person in the police you cannot understand or judge their actions. My Father was a New York Detective and I can understand.

How do you feel about the sentencing of the police accused of brutality? Was justice served?

Rights of the boy with cancer were deliberated, as viewers weighed personal rights against child safety.

• Dee: I cannot believe the fact that we are wasting government dollars to chase down a family who has made a decision to refuse the treatment. I would better understand if this was a case where the child appeared otherwise neglected, but that's not the case. It seems that money is allotted to situations that don't need it rather than to situations where children are in real danger and are seeking help. If someone could show me that the parents are not competent to make the decision regarding his care, I might side with the state. Otherwise, leave the parents alone. As the guardians of their child they have every right to have the final say. The child's inability to read doesn't negate his ability to understand the situation if it is explained to him.
• Barbara: I wonder if the court has had the benefit of research documenting the long term dangers of chemo. There is plenty of research that shows that while chemo can work in the short run, it is so highly toxic to the body that there is a heightened risk of cancer returning. I'm not opposed to all western medicine, but I'm pretty sure I would not undergo chemo. I understand the parent's position. The father, the only parent we've had the opportunity to listen to, seems like a reasonable person.

Is this a personal medical decision that should be decided by the boy and his family, or should the state intervene in order to protect the health of the child? What would you do?

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American Morning’s Monday audience believed the Pelosi/CIA issue was nothing more than a divergence created by the Republicans to veer attention away from the real story – torture under the Bush administration.

• Jerry: The CIA's existence is built around misleading and lying to people to gain what they want and if the Republicans think that they are all going to tell them the truth then they are as dumb and Bush and Chaney and need to go home and stick their head in the sand.
• Bob B.: Everyone seems to have selective amnesia over the faulty intelligence flowing from the mouths of most congressional members (mostly Republican), the entire Bush Administration and most of the analysts associated with every news agency. The same ones are apparently now trying to drum up ratings by attacking Speaker Pelosi for what was obvious. Even the head of the FBI in testimony said faulty intelligence, or better yet manipulated or misinformation. Remember the Agent whose correct intelligence was discounted as bazaar.
• Julian: Why is the media going after Nancy Pelosi? Because she may have or may not have known about what the Bush/Cheney Administration was doing; ordering illegal torture? Why is she being singled out? Why isn't the fact that torture was committed the issue? And the fact that it was illegal? Why is the media doing once again what they did during the run up to war; the Republican's bidding? Please stop it. You are making yourselves look transparent.

Was this, as the viewers above contend, an attempt by the Republicans to transfer blame for torture to the Democrats? Do you believe the government should continue to investigate the former Bush Administration for its part in approving such techniques to gather intelligence?

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Thursday’s American Morning viewers continued the controversial torture debate, adding more comment about the Obama administration’s change in policy regarding release of torture pictures.

• Ginger: Did Cheney's interview change President Obama's mind about releasing photos. It was a compelling interview. But either way I applaud the President for deciding not to release the photos. There would be no positive outcome if they were release. The majority of Americans do not care if the terrorists were tortured or not. It is really hard to have sympathy for a terrorist. Downright impossible. If anyone should be persecuted or charged with a crime it should be the people responsible for releasing terrorists from Gitmo so they can just go commit more murders and more destruction. That should be a crime.
• Tvpad: Thank you Dick Cheney for getting out and demanding information revealed that led to America's safety over 7 years along with pics!
• Bill: The "truth-o-meter" on Newt GIngrich saying that congress didn't pass a law making water boarding illegal: It is already illegal. Torture is illegal under civil law, criminal law, and international law. CNN gets a "FALSE" for not mentioning that fact.
• Ed: Mr. Zelicow gave a more easily accepted version than Cheney of Bush Admin. stance on Harsh Interrogation but still gets only half of the root point. Most Americans will agree we need to "do that which is right". At least I think so. We do not torture BECAUSE by taking moral high ground we still have the high ground to take action when another country tortures one of ours. (Hearts & Minds) That is consistent with the experience and stance of Senator John McCain.
• Kirk: This morning I was troubled by the way that you presented Nancy Pelosi's statements about when she was briefed on Bush's Torture Techniques. It seems very odd to me that the CIA's release of a "timeline" somehow in your description shows Ms. Pelosi to be lying. The CIA, being the main culprit in the commission of these crimes, should have a higher bar to prove the truth. The CIA has already obstructed justice in this matter and destroyed videotape evidence of their crimes. They are in the business of lying. Why would you hold their words up as a measure of what is true? Also by their own timeline, Abu Zubaydah had already been water boarded before Ms. Pelosi was briefed, which seems the larger story to me.
• Scott: IF DICK CHENEY SERIOUSLY DOES'NT SEE WATERBOARDING AS TORTURE LETS STRIP HIM,BIND HIM TIGHTLY,AND PROCEED WITH A THOROUGH WATERBOARDING SESSION AND QUESTION HIM ABOUT THE INNER WORKINGS OF HALLIBURTON. I THINK MR. CHENEY MIGHT CHANGE HIS FEELINGS ABOUT WHAT IS OR IS NOT TORURE.

How do you feel about the Obama Administration’s change in policy regarding the release of torture pictures?

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Wednesday’s American Morning "robocall" segment piqued viewers’ attention, as many reported their own experiences with the irritating scams.

• James: Good morning JOHN I was watching CNN this morning when you guys spoke about the ROBO CALLS. a friend on mind got a call two weeks ago about car warranty. The situation is that we are not living in the United States. We live in the Bahamas. I did not suspect anything wrong at first until i watch CNN this morning. It’s a good thing she didn't call back to give out her visa or master card number. Thanks to CNN I now can warn family and friends.
• James C: I found your story on the scams associated with the auto warranty programs now being sold via phone solicitations to be very informative and accurate. I found it very amusing that you ran an ad promoting one of those companies under investigation immediately following the story.

Have you been the victim of a robocall? Do you listen to the pitch or simply hang up? Has your cell phone bill increased because of these calls? Tell us about your experiences with robocalls.

Social security and Medicare were considered “old” issues that have remained on the “back burner” too long and simply needs to be fixed.

• Lorraine: i have been hearing this by government and the media for as long as i can remember. this [Medicare and Social Security] is no new problem but it is one that has continuously been placed on the back burner. i'm sick of hearing about it. when is the government going to do something about it?
• Sannerae22: Is anyone truly surprised that these funds are in trouble? Who has always paid into these funds? The middle class. Once again it is middle class being raped. The wealthy have loopholes protecting them from paying into the system and they funnel their money elsewhere. The lower class doesn't pay into the programs but draw from it. Congress steals from it to fund other projects. In the mid to late 1970's, my husband and I had many discussions with my grandfather about social security and Medicare being gone by the time we were eligible to draw on it and how we wished we could have the hefty sum of money taken out of our checks so that we could use it as we saw fit but it was money lost to us forever.

How do you feel about the current situation with Social Security and Medicare? Will universal health coverage help to solve many of these problems?  Is there a better solution?

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