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Bush Chooses Miers for Supreme Court
ap on Yahoo ^ | 10/3/05 | Deb Riechmann - ap

Posted on 10/03/2005 7:10:27 AM PDT by NormsRevenge

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Monday nominated White House counsel Harriet Miers to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court, reaching into his loyal inner circle for another pick that could reshape the nation's judiciary for years to come.

"She has devoted her life to the rule of law and the cause of justice," Bush said as his first Supreme Court pick, Chief Justice John Roberts, took the bench for the first time just a few blocks from the White House. "She will be an outstanding addition to the Supreme Court of the United States."

If confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate, Miers, 60, would join Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the second woman on the nation's highest court and the third to serve there. Miers, who has never been a judge, was the first woman to serve as president of the Texas State Bar and the Dallas Bar Association.

Miers, whom Bush called a trailblazer for women in the legal profession, said she was humbled by the nod.

"If confirmed, I recognize I will have a tremendous responsibility to keep our judicial system strong and to help insure the court meets their obligations to strictly apply the laws and Constitution," she said.

Democratic and Republican special interests groups had been braced for a political brawl over the pick, but they may not get it. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., had urged the president to consider Miers, according to several officials familiar with Bush's consultations with Congress.

Miers has no judicial record, which may complicate any Democratic attempts to block her nomination. It is impossible to predict whether Miers and Roberts will shift the court to the right. She would replace O'Connor, a critical swing vote on the court who helped uphold the right to abortion and affirmative action. Rehnquist, the late chief justice being replaced by Roberts, was a consistent conservative vote.

"We know even less about Harriet Miers than we did about John Roberts and because this is the critical swing seat on the court, Americans will need to know a lot more about Mier's judicial philosophy and legal background before any vote for confirmation," said Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y., a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said: "With this selection, the president has chosen another outstanding nominee to sit on our nations highest court. Ms. Miers is honest and hard working and understands the importance of judicial restraint and the limited role of a judge to interpret the law and not legislate from the bench."

Bush, his approval rating falling in recent months, had been under intense pressure to nominate a woman or a minority.

Miers had helped push Roberts' nomination through the Senate, and Bush said that "she will strictly interpret our Constitution and laws. She will not legislate from the bench." Conservatives apparently agreed.

Initial reaction from conservatives was positive.

"She has been a forceful advocate of conservative legal principles and judicial restraint throughout her career," said Leonard Leo, executive vice president of the Federalist Society.

"Harriet Miers is a top-notch lawyer who understands the limited role that judges play in our society," said Noel Francisco, former assistant White House counsel and deputy assistant attorney general during the Bush administration.

The president offered the job to Miers Sunday night over dinner in the residence. He met with Miers on four occasions during the past couple weeks, officials said.

Rehnquist, whose death paved way for Roberts' nomination, had not served as a judge before President Nixon put him on the Supreme Court. Nineteen other justices previously had never served as judges before getting on the high court.

According to the White House, 10 of the 34 Justices appointed since 1933, including Rehnquist and the late Justice Byron White, were appointed from positions within the president's administration.

"Having never served as a judge, Ms. Miers has no `paper trail' of judicial opinions, and prospective opponents thus will have a hard time identifying positions to protest or complain about," said Supreme Court historian David Garrow. "What's more, Ms. Miers' professional record as an attorney in Texas is undeniably one of significant achievement and accomplishment, and her proponents will be able to present her as a female trail blazer whose life-record is at least arguably comparable to that of Justice O'Connor."

Known for thoroughness and her low-profile, Miers is one of the first staff members to arrive at the White House in the morning and among the last to leave.

When Bush named her White House counsel in November 2004, the president described Miers as a lawyer with keen judgment and discerning intellect — "a trusted adviser on whom I have long relied for straightforward advice."

He also joked of Miers, "When it comes to a cross-examination, she can fillet better than Mrs. Paul."

With no record, liberals say the White House should be prepared for Miers to be peppered with questions during her Senate confirmation.

"Choosing somebody who is not a judge would put that much more of a premium on straight answers to questions because there would be that much less for senators and the public to go on when looking at such a nominee's judicial philosophy," says Elliot Mincberg, counsel with the liberal People for the American Way.

Formerly Bush's personal lawyer in Texas, Miers came with the president to the White House as his staff secretary, the person in charge of all the paperwork that crosses the Oval Office desk. Miers was promoted to deputy chief of staff in June 2003.

As an attorney in Dallas, Miers became president in 1996 of Locke Purnell, Rain & Harrell a firm with more than 200 lawyers where she worked starting in 1972. After it merged a few years later, she became co-manager of Locke Liddell & Sapp.

When Bush was governor of Texas, she represented him in a case involving a fishing house. In 1995, he appointed her to a six-year term on the Texas Lottery Commission. She also served as a member-at-large on the Dallas City Council and in 1992 became the first woman president of the Texas State Bar.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bush; chooses; harrietmiers; highcourt; miers; scotus; taps
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To: NormsRevenge
---I'm waiting for the dust to settle and the confirmation hearings.---

I don't guess we have much of a choice. if this doesn't get much better very quickly, this is going to be the disappointment of the BushII Administration.

81 posted on 10/03/2005 8:13:17 AM PDT by smonk
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To: inquest

FGS, give it a REST.

Everybody CHANGES; well, not everybody.....I should point out a few with tunnel vision around here.


82 posted on 10/03/2005 8:13:44 AM PDT by Howlin
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To: Mister Baredog
How about a little faith?

I hear what you're saying, but faith is a little tough to come by these days, especially where the Bush Administration is concerned. I held fire on Roberts, even with a lot of misgivings. I'm hoping he'll not be any to the left of Rehnquist, but who can really say? Miers is a political operative, there is no question of that. So why would Bush choose her over any one of a dozen other outstanding and better qualified possibilities? I'm ready to believe. Convince me.

83 posted on 10/03/2005 8:13:53 AM PDT by NCSteve
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To: inquest

No he merely is not a belligerent ahole which many of you would prefer.


84 posted on 10/03/2005 8:14:17 AM PDT by justshutupandtakeit (Public Enemy #1, the RATmedia.)
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To: Howlin
She's been with Bush since 1988; do you think she did that while believing in the liberal causes?

You say that like it's some kind of improbability.

I mean, who'da thunk that Schwarzenegger was married to a Kennedy?

85 posted on 10/03/2005 8:14:46 AM PDT by inquest (FTAA delenda est)
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To: inquest
Based on what? His vague promises?

Next you'll announce you're switching parties, right?

86 posted on 10/03/2005 8:16:11 AM PDT by Mister Baredog ((Minuteman at heart, couch potato in reality))
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To: Howlin
I should point out a few with tunnel vision around here.

Said the pot to the kettle.

87 posted on 10/03/2005 8:16:13 AM PDT by NCSteve
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To: Howlin
Everybody CHANGES

Right, right, she was for the Democrats before she was against them. I've heard something like that before.

Now how about answering my question, if you can?

88 posted on 10/03/2005 8:16:39 AM PDT by inquest (FTAA delenda est)
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To: MizSterious
Any word on who she's financially supported in more recent times?

Here is her contribution history going back to the 80s:

Contributor Candidate or PAC Amount Date
MIERS, HARRIET E MS.
ARLINGTON, VA 22202
U.S. GOVERNMENT/DEPUTY SHERIFF
BUSH, GEORGE W (R)
President
BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC
$2,000
primary
10/08/03
MIERS, HARRIET
DALLAS, TX 75201
LOCKE LIDDELL & SAPP LLP
STENBERG, DONALD B (R)
Senate - NE
GOOD GOVERNMENT FUND
$500
primary
07/13/00
MIERS, HARRIET
DALLAS, TX 75229
ATTORNEY
NEWTON, JONATHAN (R)
House (TX 04)
JON NEWTON FOR CONGRESS
$1,000
general
06/01/00
Miers, Harriet E. Ms.
Dallas, TX 75201
Self Employed/Attorney

LOCKE LIDDELL & SAPP LLP PAC
$415
primary
05/17/00
Miers, Harriet Mrs.
Dallas, TX 75201
Locke Liddell & Sapp/Attorney
BUSH, GEORGE W (R)
President
BUSH-CHENEY 2000 COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE INC.
$1,000
general
04/28/00
MIERS, HARRIET
DALLAS, TX 75201
LOCKE PURNELL
HUTCHISON, KAY BAILEY (R)
Senate - TX
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
$-1,000
primary
06/03/99
MIERS, HARRIET
DALLAS, TX 75201
LOCKE PURNELL
HUTCHISON, KAY BAILEY (R)
Senate - TX
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
$1,000
general
06/03/99
MIERS, HARRIET
DALLAS, TX 75201
LOCKE PURNELL
HUTCHISON, KAY BAILEY (R)
Senate - TX
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
$1,000
primary
05/11/99
MIERS, HARRIET E
DALLAS, TX 75201
LOCKE LIDDELL & SAPP
BUSH, GEORGE W (R)
President
BUSH FOR PRESIDENT INC.
$1,000
primary
03/10/99
MIERS, HARRIET
DALLAS, TX 75201
LOCKE PURNELL
HUTCHISON, KAY BAILEY (R)
Senate - TX
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
$1,000
primary
04/23/97
MIERS, HARRIET ELLAN
DALLAS, TX 75229
ATTORNEY

FRIENDS OF PHIL GRAMM PAC (R)
$1,000
general
05/07/96
MIERS, HARRIET
DALLAS, TX 75229
LOCKE & PURNELL
SESSIONS, PETE (R)
House (TX 32)
PETE SESSIONS FOR CONGRESS
$500 02/24/95
MIERS, HARRIET E
DALLAS, TX 75229
LOCKE PURNELL RAIN HARRELL
GRAMM, WILLIAM PHILLIP (R)
President
PHIL GRAMM FOR PRESIDENT, INC.
$1,000
primary
02/21/95
MIERS, HARRIET ELLAN
DALLAS, TX 75229
LOCKE & PURNELL
SESSIONS, PETE (R)
House (TX 32)
PETE SESSIONS FOR CONGRESS
$500
general
09/23/94
MIERS, HARRIET E
DALLAS, TX 75229
LOCKE PURNELL RAIN HARRELL A PROFES

LOCKE PURNELL RAIN HARRELL FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
$225
primary
01/08/90
MIERS, HARRIET E MS
DALLAS, TX 75229

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (D)
$1,000
primary
11/03/88
MIERS, HARRIET E
DALLAS, TX 75219
LOCKE PURNELL RAIN HARRELL

LOCKE PURNELL RAIN HARRELL FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
$630
primary
02/16/88
MIERS, HARRIET E MS
DALLAS, TX 75219
LOCKE PURNELL RAIN HARRELL
GORE, AL (D)
President
ALBERT GORE JR FOR PRESIDENT COMMITTEE INC
$1,000
primary
02/16/88
MIERS, HARRIET E MRS
DALLAS, TX 75201
LOCKE PURNELL ETAL
BENTSEN, LLOYD SENATOR (D)
Senate - DC
SENATOR LLOYD BENTSEN ELECTION COMMITTEE
$1,000
primary
03/30/87

Source: http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/Harriet_Miers.php

89 posted on 10/03/2005 8:17:22 AM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: justshutupandtakeit

That is exactly the way I see our battle for the future.


90 posted on 10/03/2005 8:18:06 AM PDT by roses of sharon
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To: justshutupandtakeit
I would prefer that he not sell us out to the Left. Those who prefer otherwise...well, they're entitled to their opinions.
91 posted on 10/03/2005 8:18:09 AM PDT by inquest (FTAA delenda est)
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To: Republican Wildcat
You know zippo, nada, about this subject, but commenting anyway like you are an expert.

I know that if I did this in the corporate world my ethics department would crucify me in a heartbeat. It's cronyism and you cannot deny or disprove it. Going by the platform and what the majority of the Republican party wants she is NOT the best choice. How many conservatives do you know donate money to elect democrats?

By the way, please cite your expertise on this subject before standing up and looking like a fool while trying to silence other opinions.

92 posted on 10/03/2005 8:18:14 AM PDT by Centurion2000 ((Aubrey, Tx) --- The government seems to be rewarding stupidity lately.)
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To: Capitalism2003

That puts the contribution issue in some context. Thanks.

Contrary to the opinions of some around here people do grow and change as they go through life. I don't believe or act the same way I did decades ago.

But when you are looking for a reason to get outraged any excuse will do.


93 posted on 10/03/2005 8:18:44 AM PDT by justshutupandtakeit (Public Enemy #1, the RATmedia.)
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To: Howlin

It was one of the first several posts on this thread. Unless someone comes up with something a bit more relevant, I don't see any good reason not to support her. (Lesbian? Based on what, I wonder? Active imagination?)


94 posted on 10/03/2005 8:19:42 AM PDT by MizSterious (Now, if only we could convince them all to put on their bomb-vests and meet in Mecca...)
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To: Mister Baredog
Uh, no.

By the way, was there a point in there somewhere?

95 posted on 10/03/2005 8:19:42 AM PDT by inquest (FTAA delenda est)
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To: Howlin

I don't know enough about the nominee to make an intelligent assessment at this point.

But, watching him react this summer, I'm starting to believe that GWB has lost either his "voice", his nerve or both.

And, that's not good for him or our Party.


96 posted on 10/03/2005 8:20:34 AM PDT by Right_in_Virginia
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To: inquest

If he were to "sell us out to the Left" I would be the first to complain. Since that is NOT the case and it isn't even close there is not reason for rational people to be upset.

Of course, the Perpetually Pissed Off are going to bitch no matter what. But who cares what they think?


97 posted on 10/03/2005 8:21:19 AM PDT by justshutupandtakeit (Public Enemy #1, the RATmedia.)
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To: Republican Wildcat

Many thanks! Well, it looks like she "saw the light" after 1988, doesn't it? A lot of folks did.


98 posted on 10/03/2005 8:22:38 AM PDT by MizSterious (Now, if only we could convince them all to put on their bomb-vests and meet in Mecca...)
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To: NCSteve
I'm ready to believe. Convince me.

All I know is I'd rather have Bush making the appointments than sKerry or Gore.

Since they're judges we will never know. Sometimes they reverse themselves.

Time will tell, BUT I do know what Bush's intentions are regarding the court. NO ONE can say he's succeeded for many years to come, although there's some key cases coming up this session.

Don't forget Meirs helped W vet his previous appointments, I'm sure HE knows a lot more about her philosophy than all the instant critics. Can we at least have the hearings before casting judgement?

99 posted on 10/03/2005 8:23:10 AM PDT by Mister Baredog ((Minuteman at heart, couch potato in reality))
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To: MizSterious

Yes. That particular poster seems obsessed with it.


100 posted on 10/03/2005 8:23:50 AM PDT by Howlin
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