Posted on 10/07/2005 9:57:33 AM PDT by quidnunc
To hear the howls from conservative commentators following President Bushs nomination of Harriet Miers, you would think that Bush just sold a seat on the Supreme Court to someone whos a cross between Ann Richards and Barney the White House pet. Half the critics arent certain that Ms. Miers shares their views or will vote the way they want on key issues. The other half complain that Ms. Miers has no qualifications to be on the Court, having been neither a judge nor a scholar. All of the critics assume that it is more important that their preferences for appointment to the Court be respected than that the Presidents choice be given presumptive weight.
The critics should take a deep breath, count to ten, exhale and stop whining.
Lets start with the qualifications issue. Having spent 30 years in academia, including 14 years as a dean, I have strong respect for those who have enough passion about legal concepts to write and speak about them. I also have enormous respect for the work of judges, and have many extraordinarily able friends on appellate courts who would have topped my own list of best nominees for the Supreme Court. Ms. Miers wasnt my pick, and wouldnt have been if I had been choosing, because she doesnt bring to the Court demonstrated excellence in the skill set that I value most for that position. But its not my decision to make, and none of my own credentials gives me the right to tell the President who should sit on the Court. They do, however, give me standing to answer some of his critics.
First, its wrong to say that Ms. Miers only qualification for the court is friendship with the President. Of course, her close association with the President put her in a position to be selected. Just as, for example, Robert Jacksons close association with Franklin Roosevelt led to his appointment to the Court. Yet Miers isnt some childhood friend of the Presidents who was nominated out of friendship alone. She is a close associate who has worked for and with the President for years, providing legal services, advice, and counsel on policy and personnel matters someone the President has seen at work day in and day out for years. Shes someone whose views and values the President knows and whose legal skills have benefited him for more than a decade.
-snip-
So which 3rd party are you voting for in '08?
If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
They're going fast!
I don't vote for political parties, I would not piss on either one of them if they were on fire, I vote for people and ideas.
I would not have a problem voting 3rd party or staying at home as a message to the Republican party that "power is given and power is taken away".
Currently I do not believe a legitimate 3rd party exists, but if the Conservatives from both parties joined together, that would make an interesting mix.
I agree with you 100% there.
...but if the Conservatives from both parties joined together, that would make an interesting mix.
Okay, there I have to laugh. Let's say that there really are "conservatives" in the RAT party. If they really were conservative, why remain a Dem? Many moderate to right-leaning Dems have already bolted, so I don't think that there are any left on the Left (no pun intended).
If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
They're going fast!
You caught my allusion exactly.
To hear the howls from conservative commentators following President Bushs nomination of Harriet Miers, you would think that Bush just sold a seat on the Supreme Court to someone whos a cross between Ann Richards and Barney the White House pet.
It takes time for people in the middle who have actually started to think of themselves as Republicans to adopt more conservative positions. Like most of us, I didn't do it all at once.
You frame your argument so well, you've convinced me. I'm going show 'em! I'm going to stay home on election day. Serves the Republicans right. The Democrats will do a much better job of playing to Bush's conservative base.
You win! Hillary in '08!!!
You frame your argument so well, you've convinced me. I'm going show 'em! I'm going to stay home on election day. Serves the Republicans right. The Democrats will do a much better job of playing to Bush's conservative base.
You win! Hillary in '08!!!
Just saw this at the bottom of my posts...so sorry I missed such a well-reasoned post.
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