Posted on 10/12/2005 6:25:03 AM PDT by SmartCitizen
It has been nine days since President Bush shocked the world with his nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court of the United States. Like so many, I have spent the past week trying to get a take and establish a position on this out-of-left-field selection.
Many "conservatives," whatever that term means, have pointed out reasons to oppose the nomination. Whether it be cronyism, lack of a paper trail, poor legal qualifications, past political contributions, the reasons to not support her are varied and valid.
As all of the cable news shows have ramped up their coverage of the nomination "fight," I have watched with disgust, the same tired old faces marched out by the media to give us the "Christian" position on Ms. Miers. From Rev. Falwell, to Pat Robertson, James Dobson to Jay Sekulow, like good soldiers they have marched before the cameras, saluted and justified the president's choice.
According to the online version of The Chattanoogan:
Mr. Falwell also stated he trusts President Bush's judgment and will work for Miers' nomination against what he sees as the hard-line Democratic opposition in the Senate, consisting mainly of Sens. Hillary Clinton, Edward Kennedy, Chuck Schumer and Richard Durban, who "would vote no on Jesus."
Focus on The Family leader James Dobson added:
We welcome the president's nomination of Harriet Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court. He pledged emphatically during his campaign to appoint judges who will interpret the law rather than create it. He also promised to select competent judges who will "not use the bench to write social policy." To this point, President Bush's appointments to the federal bench appear to have been remarkably consistent with that stated philosophy. Based on the information known generally about Harriet Miers, and President Bush's personal knowledge of her, we believe that she will not prove to be a lone exception.
Pat Robertson on "The 700 Club":
Ladies and gentlemen, no more Souters. And I applaud the president. I think on this one, so far, every single pick of the president of judicial nominees has been superb. Every single one. And I think he deserves our trust on this one. He knows this woman. He promised the American electorate, if you elect me, I'm going to put in strict constructionist judges, and he's going to fulfill that vow to the American people. And this pick is in keeping with that vow.
Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice chimed in:
President Bush has worked with Harriet Miers for over a decade. She has served as his personal counsel, and has served as White House counsel. So he knows her and he knows how she thinks.
Like the proverbial elephant in the living room, why will no one say what is obvious to everyone? The debate is not over Harriet Miers. No my friends, the debate is far more obvious and glaring. Our "Christian leaders" have invested so much into President Bush, it is hard for them to come-to-grips with the obvious.
"Trust me," says the president.
"Trust him", say Falwell, Dobson, Sekulow and Robertson.
That is why Harriet Miers is in trouble. Not because we don't trust her, but because we don't trust him.
I like President Bush. He seems like a decent enough guy. I believe him when he talks about his conversion to Christ. I think he is genuine. I think Jesus changed his life, as he did mine. But I know many "Christians" like him. They have accepted Christ's forgiveness, but they have not accepted his Lordship. I'm sorry, but saying Jesus changed your life, does not qualify one for unconditional Christian support. Jesse Jackson makes that claim. So does Al Sharpton. Bill Clinton carried a Bible to church. The last I checked, it is the truth that sets us free. I have the courage to say what few Christians are willing to utter: We don't trust the president.
That is why Harriet Miers is in trouble.
I watched in 2003 as a true Christian, Judge Roy Moore, stood for his faith. It cost him his job. Christian President Bush did nothing to support Christian Judge Moore. He later named Moore's chief prosecutor, "conservative" Bill Pryor, to the federal bench.
I watched as the president continued to call Islam a religion of peace. I cowered as he repeatedly stated that Christians and Muslims serve the same God. He invited Ozzy Osborne to the White House and said nothing as his party welcomed former porn star Mary Carey and vile rapper Kid Rock.
He has publicly stated that he is against an abortion ban, that he won't have an abortion litmus test for judges and that he supports the states granting homosexuals civil unions.
He, along with others, told us the war on terror was about WMDs in Iraq. When none were found, it became about regime change. When Saddam was ousted, it became a war for democracy. He instituted the unconstitutional Patriot Act, but called the Minuteman project, those gallant patriots securing our borders "vigilantes."
His fiscal policies have brought America to the brink of bankruptcy, only to open America's coffers to a $250 billion give away to America's cesspool, New Orleans.
He is one of us, our Christian leaders tell us, and Harriet Miers thinks like him.
God help us!
The church and church leaders have failed us. Psalm 20:7 says, "Some trust in chariots, some trust in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord."
Sadly, our Christian leadership has invested way to much into Republicanism in general, and President Bush in particular. Trusting in horses and chariots, they have been willing to hold their nose as they swallowed the rotten fruit of the Bush administration, knowing that it has always been about the Supreme Court. They couldn't let John Kerry fill those sure-to-open judgeships. They knew he had a litmus test on abortion. So they looked the other way as the rotten fruit piled up.
Someone once described politics as the art of compromise. After a decade of working, Falwell and company finally found a place at the table. The president conferred with them, he asked their opinions, he even prayed with them. The church finally mattered in the White House.
But at what cost? I am reminded of the story of King David and Nathan in II Samuel 12:7, after Nathan, the Church, confronts David, the government, about his un-godly actions.
Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, "As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity." Nathan said to David, "You are the man."
Yes, President Bush is the man. Can you imagine the reaction from the Christian leaders if President Kerry shouldered the Bush legacy?
I feel you cringing as I speak against our Christian golden boy. "How can you speak out against this Christian man?" they ask me. Because I am a Christian. My loyalty is to Christ, not to the Republican Party.
I watched in horror as the Democrats looked the other way in the '90s. Monica, semen stains, Whitewater, impeachment, nothing would break their blind partisan support of the Clinton White House. It's time we Christians got the log out of our own political eye. This may come to you as a shock, but God is not a Republican!
It is not about Harriet Miers. She may be a great justice, a solid Christian, and the right person at the right time. But that is not the issue. It is about President Bush and what the church has allowed him to do.
Now, Judge Moore is running for governor of Alabama. The Republican establishment doesn't like him, because he hasn't yet learned how to compromise. He won't play the game. Dr. Dobson supported him, but most in Christian circles labeled him a lawbreaker. He stands for Truth. He'll win because the people of Alabama trust him.
Isn't it ironic? If Judge Moore were president and he had nominated Harriet Miers, asking us to "trust him," it would be so much easier to do. If he said that she would be a great justice because she thought like him, we would know what he meant.
President Bush says, "Trust me … she thinks like me."
That's what scares me.
LOL, that is one of the first lessons one learns here as of late. Bots are in a panic, President Bush is being exposed as a great pretender, his failed policies (of which there are many) has finally caused conservatived to rebell/revolt. "Trust Me" from spend spend spend, open borders, CFR, Free Drugs for Granny, more pork please Bush just rings hollow to conservatives.
I am not humiliated at all. Again, I ask you: To Whom was CS Lewis referring to in the quote?
Like President Bush says, you either with us or against us. And if you have taken the side of not trusting President Bush, than that would put you on the against side. I for one will stand behind him. I do trust him and the left is loving the division in the Republican party.
That's what strikes me most about most defenses of Bush in these contentious threads -- mostly accusations of disloyalty, suggestions to take a hike to DU, or out-of-hand dismissal...but scant substance.
Aside from trusting Bush personally on this nomination, there is a broader trust issue as well. The idea of 'trust me' on these judicial nominees is a non-starter for many to begin with, regardless of the credibility of who asks for it, because of the dismal history of misplaced trust in judges in the past.
Ronald Reagan, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington could issue a joint 'trust me' statement from the afterlife on the newest judicial nominee, and it would still be unacceptable.
A track record is the only safe assurance. This is why many were skeptical of Roberts, but begrudgingly accepted him when it became apparent he is a uniquely talented legal superstar. As in, 'OK, we are doing this against our best instincts, but this guy is unmatched so we'll take him with reservations as a one-time exception'.
Now the exception has apparently become the rule again.
I am willing to hear Miers out - the hearings will answer a lot of questions - but the nomination of the President's personal lawyer really stinks from my perspective. The degree of self-indulgence and political cuteness in that move alone concerns me.
Love it!
Okay, thank you for a straightforward post. That is your choice and decision and I won't attack you for it. I, on the other hand, do not see much difference between the two parties at all. I reject them both.
Kerry was not an alternative, Kerry is a flat out communist traitor. One had to vote for Bush, who at least is not a traitor and as a person, good husband/father and a fine man. However Bush's policies are terrible.
The division in the Republican Party was caused by the NWO RINO himself. The Party left us, not the other way around.
Bump!
I'm not going to go there with you, SC. You have your mind made up and facts aren't going to change it. I argue with liberals all day long. I'm not going to come over here and take on a bunch of whiny conservatives whether they think of themselves as holier than GWB or whether they have already decided that Harriet Miers will not be able to write an opinion of sufficient intellectual capacity to suit them.
I don't know why my party always seems to shoot itself in the foot on a semi-regular basis, but since there's nothing I can do to stop it, I'm going to continue to try to reason with and convert a few liberals.
IBFTZ
Conversely, that's what strikes me most about most attacks of Bush -- the expectation that any argument, however poorly written or reasoned, must be met with a precise, point-by-point rebuttal.
I have argument with the article. This sentence alone should show the distortion the writer creates.
1: If the President supports a repeal of Roe vs. Wade it would not "ban" abortion, but only send it back to the States. The States have the right to decide based on the Constitution.
2: If President Bush had a litmus test for SCOTUS, he would be no better than any President with a political agenda. The President should appoint judges who will apply the constitution....not invent it.
3: Again, the Constitution places so-called civil unions (and other contractual laws) in the hands of the States. The President is only upholding the Constitution in this regard.
:)
I like Harriet Miers for Supreme Court judge for the same reason you don't trust President Bush: My first loyalty is to Jesus Christ and his people, and Harriet is one of them!
It has nothing at all to do with George W. Bush. He may have failed at some things, but what does that have to do with Harriet Miers?
Calling those of us who stand beside the President names will get you no where. Something MSM and fence stadlers might learn, is to be loyal and respectful is not being a machine. We who do stand solidly beside the President have done so for years, and do it because we trust, and believe in him. It might be hard for some to understand that, but as many of us put our trust in someone much higher power than George W. Bush, we know that the right person is in the White House at this time in history. I am not speaking for everyone, but speaking for people in my own family, and also friends who have known W for years. He is the real deal and this hype that he is shoving Miers down conservatives throat like Ann Coulter wants to portray is just not true. He honestly believes she is the right person for the job.
Welcome to FreeRepublic.Pay no attention to the flames.When you can't dispute the message,it's SOP to attack the messenger.
BTW,I'm no newbie and I agree with much of this article.
Come 06 the "pubs" will be around looking for votes from those whiny, meanie conservatives. I have to say with all candor that so many decent pubs here have done their very best to drive conservatives away.
If we are dumb, stupid, ignorant and other names I do not repeat, then surely in 06 republicans do not want our votes.
When pubs lose the house, I know, conservatives will get the blame, can you truly and honestly say that the pubs have not done their share to drive us away because we disagree with Bush????
The division in the Republican Party was caused by the NWO RINO himself. The Party left us, not the other way around.
I disagree with your statement. I know many on FR have not left believing in GW Bush. It is the few that want to speak for us all. I am telling you that is not the case!
If you would read many threads on here and even go to the daily prayers you would know that many many many in this forum and across the nation do not go along with everything so called conservative talk show radio hosts have to say. Many of us stand firmly behind the president.
Like my mother always told me.... if you don't stand for something.... you will fall for anything. I stand with President Bush.
I love these Pharisees, running around and judging the Christianity of others.
Then I read this:
I watched in 2003 as a true Christian, Judge Roy Moore, stood for his faith. It cost him his job. Christian President Bush did nothing to support Christian Judge Moore. He later named Moore's chief prosecutor, "conservative" Bill Pryor, to the federal bench.
Roy Moore violated a Federal Court Order. A Court Order upheld by fifteen different federal judges! He was impeached and convicted by eight of his fellow Alabama judges.
This is about you pimping your lawbreaking gubernatorial candidate, Roy Moore.
Roy Moore is not going to win his race against Riley, because Moore is a charlatan. He uses God, just as the Pharisees used God, to impose his narrow-minded Christianity on his fellow citizens. And enough of his fellow Alabamans will see through this joker to turn him down in the primary.
This is a political ad disguised as an editorial.
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