Nominee Number Two: It’s Harriet Miers
The White House counsel has never been a judge…that will form Democratic talking point number one. More later…and while you’re waiting in unbridled anticipation, why not swing by AJ’s place for the latest RINO Sightings…Agent Coffey demands it…
UPDATE 8:58 a.m.: As our good friend Ryan says in the comments, many Republicans are very upset. At Red State, Mike Krempasky is highlighting her contributions to Al Gore and Lloyd Bentsen…
From the Left, Professor Jack Balkin of Yale Law School gives us three things we should know about the Miers nomination…
David Frum: “an unforced error”…
At the Daily Kos, cartwrightdale gives 5 reasons why the progressives should support her confirmation…
A RINO Watering Hole has been declared at the Llama Butchers…
The Commissar finds his inner Joe Biden, and says, “I’m not disappointed, I’m relieved”…
William Kristol: “I’m disappointed, depressed, and demoralized”…
In true paranoid delusionist fashion, Gallatin at the Daily Kos thinks the VRWC is feigning outrage, no doubt under the direction of evil mastermind Karl Rove…
Jon Henke: “The Left side of the sphere seems to be taken a bit aback. Sure, they’ll oppose her…they just have to figure out why”…
Leon H thinks this proves the Coalition of the Chillin’ wrong, and says, “Behold the legacy of the Gang of 14″…
AJ is happy with the pick: “I guess that is why I am an independent conservative! And still Chillin’”…
The Instapundit, in his home away from home, admits working for the Gore campaign in 1988(!!!!), then follows that brave admission by asking, “Harriet who?”…
Glenn approvingly quotes Mickey Kaus: “Here is Harriett Miers’ bio … and here’s Michael McConnell’s. Assume they’re both fine people. If you had to make a snap decision, which one should be on the United States Supreme Court? …”
The base is apoplectic. Even I’m disappointed. I have no idea what the president is thinking here, but maybe he has a master plan we’re all missing.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that both Earl Warren and Thurgood Marshall had never been judges either. Dems talking point number one is very weak.
Mark: There’s also a concerted “chill” movement going on at RedState in the comments. Let’s wait and see.
I think it is time for a Carnival of the Chillin’ – what do you say?
Want me to do it this weekend? Does Ryan want to host one?
AJStrata.
AJ, I’m totally cool with that, if you want to do one…I just put up a RINO Watering Hole at the Commissar’s request, if you’re interested in weighing in there. Here’s the link…
from the balkin essay:
Choosing a stealth candidate is a sign that the President wants to avoid a fight,
i would to.
considering that the republican party is the MINORITY party in the U.S. senate.
Well, I retract my prediction that we could expect a messy, bruising confirmation battle on this one. I was assuming—wrongly—that the nominee would be one of the qualified conservatives whose names were flying all over the place.
It’s possible that Miers will turn out to be an outstanding jurist. It’s even possible that over the next three years she’ll make decisions that will thrill conservatives. Who knows? But even if she does, I still think this was the wrong nominee to put forward at this time. Bush missed a chance to cement his credentials with his base at a time when conservatives of all stripes are starting to feel a bit disenchanted with him.
This is especially bothersome after seeing Rove put in charge of the Katrina recovery spend-a-thon. I’m beginning to wonder if Bush is developing a bunker mentality where the loyalty of his inner circle trumps just about every other consideration.
Perhaps I’m just not smart enough to see the brilliance of this move by Bush, but I just don’t get it. Is this simply a “reward one of my most loyal cronies” thing or is Bush making some sort of super-clever strategic move? She is 60 years old, so how long is that lifetime appointment going to last? I’m sure he knows her conservative bono fides, these two are, reportedly, quite close.
As for strategy, there are two kinds: direct and indirect. Direct strategies are only effective in situations where you are certain to possess superior power; that is often not the case in politics and Bush’s poll numbers post-Katrina are pretty much in the dumper. But his party controls the Senate and, therefore, the Judiciary Committee. And then there is the Gang of 14 as counter-balance to the Schumer filibuster threat. To top it all off, there are a number of very strong, conservative candidates who would have the additional advantage of the ABA “Well Qualified” imprimatur.
So if this is some sort of clever indirect move then I just don’t get it. I think either Bush has suddenly developed weak knees or he wants to reward a loyal crony or a little of both.
No offense to Ms. Miers but we could have done much, much better.
I’ve never hosted a carnival of anything, but I’d be happy to do it. Or AJ can do it. I’m happy either way.
I think the other charge you will see is one of cronyism — i.e., he picked someone he was comfortable with rather than the most qualified person for the job — Micheal Brown redux –
I am getting a bit of an insta-lanche in this post from the Doua Report at Salon.
http://daoureport.salon.com/
My post is on the right hand side asking “Miers a Democrat?”
My post is here.
http://strata-sphere.com/blog/index.php/archives/723
Personally, I think it was a brilliant move and will work out just fine. And it will be another win for the Chillin’. For the naysayers I have one comment. A quick response is fine as long as it is not riddled with false assumptions. Most of what I have seen is riddled with false assumptions. Reagan was once a democrat and he is more an icon of conservatism than any of these pundits!! It would seem we could not nominate Reagan to the US SC by what I have seen out there today.
Cheers.
Sorry guys, but I wanted someone to pick a fight.
I don’t think we got that.
That being said, I’m still Chill.
Amen to everything that AJ said. Kristol’s hysterical vapors are embarassing. Try Fred Barnes:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/167xqcii.asp
for a voice of reason.
Ryan (James) – like the new look; Ryan (Bonneville) – thanks for the offer, we’ll see what happens…
AE, I appreciate the Fred Barnes link…
I told you I wasn’t smart enough to figure this out, but the folks are Powerline sure are:
http://powerlineblog.com/archives/011862.php
Now I’m pissed. What’s worse than a political guy with no power? A political guy with power that is afraid to use it.
But if that Powerline theory is right, the problem is that President Bush didn’t have the power, at least in terms of votes. And perhaps it’s true.
I am curious how this will all play out. I thought this morning that the left would go into its usual attack mode and the conservatives would get over their initial concerns and circle the wagons. But the left so far has been smart enough to shut their traps and let the conservatives fight amongst themselves.
At this point, if the Democrats do start attacking her as an unqualified crony, Bush won’t have an ideological base to back him up, and the nomination might collapse. In which case, he’ll nominate someone more obviously conservative, that person will get the votes no matter how much the Dems scream, and the Democrats will wonder how they forced Bush to nominate a more conservative justice.
But my gut tells me the Democrats are smart enough to realize this is the best they’re probably going to get. Even Kos seems smart enough to realize that, which is saying something.
One other thought: Why is the left seemingly happy with this nomination? Unless they have access to her diary, they know as much about her as conservatives do right now. Are they just assuming she’s one of theirs, since that’s how these stealth candidates seem to go? That’s certainly a possibility, but it seems to me this nomination has just as much a chance of blowing up in their face as it does in the face of conservatives.
I’m guessing they’re mainly enjoying watching internecine warfare on the other side of the aisle for a change. All the more reason for the coalition to calm folks down!
Conservative or liberal, originalist or expansionist. it doesn’t matter. She’s his freaking personal lawyer. That alone makes it a lousy choice. Stephens, Souter, Ginsburg and Breyer will wrap her around their collective little finger, just as they have Kennedy.
Fatman-
Unless Roberts wraps her around his…
Or unless she really is a “pit bull in size 6 shoes” as the President says, and won’t easily be wrapped around anyone’s little finger.