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Howard Kurtz of The Washington Post wrote an article in today's paper headlined "Revolt On The Right?", which expresses dissatisfaction with Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court. For example, he points to The Weekly Standard's William Kristol who bitterly wrote of the pick:
"I'm disappointed because I expected President Bush to nominate someone with a visible and distinguished constitutionalist track record--someone like Maura Corrigan, Alice Batchelder, Edith Jones, Priscilla Owen, or Janice Rogers Brown--to say nothing of Michael Luttig, Michael McConnell, or Samuel Alito. Harriet Miers has an impressive record as a corporate attorney and Bush administration official. She has no constitutionalist credentials that I know of.
"I'm depressed. Roberts for O'Connor was an unambiguous improvement. Roberts for Rehnquist was an appropriate replacement. But moving Roberts over to the Rehnquist seat meant everything rode on this nomination--and that the president had to be ready to fight on constitutional grounds for a strong nominee. Apparently, he wasn't. It is very hard to avoid the conclusion that President Bush flinched from a fight on constitutional philosophy. Miers is undoubtedly a decent and competent person. But her selection will unavoidably be judged as reflecting a combination of cronyism and capitulation on the part of the president.
"I'm demoralized. What does this say about the next three years of the Bush administration--leaving aside for a moment the future of the Court? Surely this is a pick from weakness."
Kritol's depression is good news. Usually, when he is happy liberals are sad. However, I caution people on either side to get too excited or depressed about this nominee, just yet. There is simply too much we don't know. I'm still troubled by her relationship with Bush, which clearly points to the President knowing precisely where she stands on key social issues, such as abortion and gay rights. Our only real hope is that this famously incurious president never bothered to talk to Miers about anything of substance.
7 Comments:
Behind closed doors, Bush supports gays and lesbians. Yes, this makes him a damned hypocrite who sold us out to the religious right for votes. Welcome to politics. But I am very happy with this nomination for one reason. Bush has completely dissed the religious right. This is indeed a major betrayal, and I could not be happier.
There were a dozen Scalia-types that he could have nominated. They were all passed over for a woman who once contributed to the Al Gore campaign. Of course they're furious! My guess is that they strong-armed the administration a little too much, and Bush rebelled.
posted by Anonymous, at
10/04/2005 10:51 AM
Interesting, Chris. If you recall during Bush's second campaign, he hinted that he'd be for civil unions for gays and lesbians, but not marriage, yet the very people he caved in to didn't want civil unions either, yet nobody from their camp went after Bush about it. I wonder what that was all about. Its going to be interesting to see what the next three years bring. It is indeed interesting that he didn't pick a religious bigot in the likes of Scalia et al.
You know, Robert, I was thinking just that. I am hoping that Dubya is not planning to run again for something!
posted by Anonymous, at
10/04/2005 12:40 PM
Maybe he picker her (not just to reward her loyalty) but he's just in no mood for a knock down dragged out fight with the left if he picked another fascist for the court. He's gotta be exhausted from all the scandals and knows the Dems smell blood in the water. He just wants to curl up with his liquor and be left alone. Gary (NJ)
posted by Anonymous, at
10/04/2005 2:45 PM
I agree! I get the stange feeling he's started drinking again!
posted by Anonymous, at
10/04/2005 3:16 PM
I think he's been drinking all along. My only fear now is that an even worse, more than mean spirited republican will run for the presidency. Heaven forbid if its Santorum.
