Mr Dean is for the death penalty, against gun control, for fiscal responsibility and wary of foreign entanglements.

ECONOMIST: Dean's appeal

This worrisome predilection has only been whetted by the failure at Copenhagen, and we can anticipate far more activity in 2010 and beyond, not only on climate change but in a host of areas traditionally considered "domestic" policy (such as abortion, firearms control and the death penalty).

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Little to celebrate

"Strictly control and unify standards relating to the death penalty, and ensure that it only applies to a very small minority of criminals committing extremely serious crimes, " read one section of the supreme court's report.

BBC: China orders suspension of death sentences

The committee's questions once again touched on a range of hot-button issues, including gun control, abortion, same-sex marriage, the death penalty, and the role of international law in American jurisprudence.

CNN: GOP homes in on controversial Sotomayor speeches