This says it all.
Harriet Miers.... the positive case for her is that GWBush knows her well since she has been his personal lawyer when he was Texas governor. He knows she is conservative. He knows her mind. I see the Karl Rove behind this sly calculus
Little paper trail (obviously)
She's a woman (obviously) making it harder for Chucky and the gang to trash her
The unpleasant fact is GWBush's poll numbers are down, thus giving him less leverage over the Donks. Harriet Miers is as good as we can get at this time and place.
Very bad news:
Chuck Schumer now giving press conf and being mildly positive about Miers:
"President Bush apparently didn't nominate someone from the right wing of his party. He knows that the country doesn't agree with those far-right policiesl."
He called today a day of "some hope; a good first day."
So for those who distrust Kristol, shouldn't you in any case be concerned by Schumer's praise, particularly when coupled with similar remarks from Geraldine Ferraro?
Sad to say, Kristol-- a guy I thoroughly dislike-- is right.
1) The Democrats want to stage a fight and defeat a nominee, no matter who it is.
2) Miers is moderate enough and lacks a paper trail - i.e., the Democrats will look ridiculous if they stage the collective hissy fit they have promised their left wing.
3) If Miers gets rejected, the Democrats will have exhausted themselves, and they will end up facing a Lutting or Brown with zero credibility left to argue against them, especially since Miers' lack of judical experience is the only card they have to beat her. If they predictably overplay it, how are they going to subsequently fight off a Luttig?
4) If Miers gets confirmed anyway, Bush has managed to get a more conservative nominee onto the Court than would have seemed likely in the current political environment.
5) Stevens and Ginsburg aren't going to make it to 2008, so more openings are imminent.
Good. That means she's a good pick. Kristol has been wrong about almost everything, and is a McCainiac to the core.
I'm sorry...Wasnt Billy a McCainiac... ?
I trust Pres. Bush over this appointment rather than that former liberal, Bill Kristol.
This says it all.
Kristol supported McCain for President against Bush. He lost all of my respect then. I have faith and trust in President Bush.
She donated to Gore's campaign. She's a NOW-nag. What more needs to be said.
Bill Kristol was and remains John McPaines butt boy and tries to "stick it to" Bush at every opportunity.
I like the fact that Dubya picked a person he personally knows. At least there is some personal history there.
Souter was recommended to Bush senior by Sunnunu and Rudman, and didn't know the guy. I doubt that fact escaped Dubya.
Truly amazing! We have not had a hearing yet and all the pundits have it all figured. Me,I'll wait for the hearings and hope some factual information comes out.
That is except in the case of his father and all his friends.
Plus ...
a pick made from a position of weakness, as Rush said
Bush crony
not qualified
Stealth nominee
demoralizing to the whole conservative base
... NOT going to bring out the base in '06 and '08