Posted on 10/16/2005 6:13:39 PM PDT by StoneGiant
Time Magazine reports today that the White House recognizes that they have muffed the Harriet Miers nomination, and want a second chance to make a first impression. After having argued almost everything except a track record that would settle questions about why President Bush selected her over more obviously qualified candidates, the administration admits it screwed up and plans a new public argument for her confirmation:
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Get ready for a whole new Harriet. After a disastrous two weeks, White House officials say they hope to relaunch the nomination of Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court by moving from what they call a "biographical phase" to an "accomplishment phase." In other words, stop debating her religion and personality and start focusing on her résumé as a pioneering female lawyer of the Southwest. "We got a little wrapped around the axle," an exhausted White House official said. "As the focus becomes less on who she's not and more on who she is, that's a better place to be." So, as the White House counsel begins her formal prep sessions this week for a confirmation hearing that's likely to start in early November, President Bush will hold a photo op with former chief justices of the Texas Supreme Court who will testify to Miers' qualifications and legal mind. The White House's 20-person "confirmation team" will line up news conferences, opinion pieces and letters to the editor by professors and former colleagues who can talk about Miers' experience dealing with such real-world issues as the Voting Rights Act when she was a Dallas city council member and Native American tribal sovereignty when she was chairwoman of the Texas Lottery Commission. |
Well, I'm still open to any convincing argument from the White House. They might serve themselves better by simply allowing Hugh Hewitt and Beldar to run their campaign, because they have provided the only coherent defenses of the Miers nomination that I have read. The challenge for the White House will be to show why Miers presents such a remarkable and unique opportunity for George Bush to shore up conservative values and originalist philosophy on the court, especially given the choices open to the President with this selection.
That will still be a tough sell. If Miers has any sort of remarkable and unique contribution to conservative efforts, not too much evidence of it came forward in the first two weeks of the nomination. My prediction will be that the administration will talk more about some of the work she did for her clients, a list of big corporations such as Microsoft, defending them against predatory litigation and that type of work. Again, that would speak well of her as a litigator and an attorney, but conservatives will expect something more significant than just client work. After all, during the Roberts hearing, we heard over and over again -- for good reason -- that client work does not tell anyone about the judicial philosophy of the attorney in question.
At least the administration staff has realized that they flunked the first two weeks. Perhaps we'll see something we can support in the next two weeks.
What still gets me is that during the nomination speech he said he discussed the nomination with 80+ senators. So he floated the name in front of them and no more than 30 objected?
What still gets me is that during the nomination speech he said he discussed the nomination with 80+ senators. So he floated the name in front of them and no more than 30 objected?
They should not bother with a do-over. They are going to win no matter what, so why waste their energy? They knew that from the get-go. Their party is still way out on a limb supporting other nominees. So they are pretty much trapped. Welcome to the world of unintended consequences.
Get ready for a whole new Harriet. After a disastrous two weeks, White House officials say they hope to relaunch the nomination of Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court by moving from what they call a "biographical phase" to an "accomplishment phase."
Coming soon! New, Improved Harriet Miers!
Now with 50% more hyped accomplishments!
Less religion, more of the same "what were they thinking?" taste!
Have an old 25% off O'connor or souter coupon? For a limited time, we will also be accepting your old coupons for previous "trust me" republican supreme court picks.
ROTFL
President Bush... making the wrong choice... would be... illogical.
He is... infallible...
And to tell the truth, of the thousands of people on this forum whom I care if they care what I think, you're not one of them. :)
"Have an old 25% off O'connor or souter coupon? For a limited time, we will also be accepting your old coupons for previous "trust me" republican supreme court picks."
You just need to get with the Bush agenda!
1) Spend some money on some kind of international bullcrap that will end up in the pockets of dictators
2) Appease Palestinian terrorists
3) Spend some more money on free drugs for seniors
4) Pretend like you care about border security when you really don't
5) Pay people reparations for the harm mother nature caused in the form of $2000 debit cards so the victims can go on a shopping spree to replace the electronics and high fashion items they stole which recieved water damage
5) Sign unconstitutional bills like Campaign Finance Reform
6) Call Pooty-poot and ask him why, with his good soul, he's still helping the Iranians build nukes
7) Sign some more spending bills Veto? What's that?
8) Wonder why so many Conservatives are mad about that nice lady who sends the sweet greeting cards
9) Give Bill Clinton spome good-publicity headlined even after he's used similar opportunities you've given him to stab you in the back
10) Wonder why, after you've fooled us twice, we've figured out it's "shame on us."
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