Harriet Miers -- pro, part 1 (long but informative)

world magazine ^

[TexanToTheCore]

Atually, I think the confirmation hearings could be quite comical. Senators trying to convert her back to the Liberal side.

Could be a hoot.

[maro]

If she is a conservative Christian, that's a good clue that she won't feel that bound by stare decisis. Luther did not feel bound by stare decisis.

[Alex Murphy]

I don't see how a strict constructionist, a fundamental pro-life Christian is a move to the left. But than again, that's just me.

Beginning with the pietistic movement in the late 19th century, Christians increasingly stayed away (or kept their faith away) from involvement in the arts, sciences, and politics for most of the 20th century. And when they didn't (think Moral Majority and Christian Coalition), what was the general reaction then? Has it changed, even within the Republican Party, today?

Some Christians practice a strict separation of "private life" and "public/professional/political" life when it comes to applying the Bible to public affairs. If Harriet Miers is such a person (or if her church stayed away from "divisive" social positions, such as abortion) there's no telling (not by her church membership, anyway) which direction she'll lean in court matters.

After all, we just learned this year that Billy Graham was a registered, participating Democrat his whole life. If he didn't have a problem being on the left politically, maybe Miers won't, either.

[Humidston]

Oops. My mistake. See post #59.

[GarySpFc]

Hecht says about Miers' judicial philosophy: "She's an orginalist -- that's the way she takes the Bible," and that's her approach to the Constitution as well -- "Originalist -- it means what it says." He notes that her legal practice involved writing contracts rather than tort law, so she was always looking at the plain meaning of the words: "Originalist." He also says she's not a social butterfly who will be swayed by Washington dinner table conversation: "She goes to the dinners she's supposed to go to. She's not on the social circuit."

This lady is going to be exactly what the pro-life people were seeking.

[Humidston]

I need more coffee....

[BamaAndy]

We have to wait and see now--if she is a conservative, I hope she has a sronger personality than imbecile Ginsberg and is not swayed.

[Misty Memory]

Ummmm....My Grand Daddy told me when I was a teen ager, "Anyone that was not married by the age of 40 is either gay (He didn't quite use the politically correct term) or of superior intelligence."

I must be of superior intelligence then. I'm 52, not married and definitely not gay. :)

[twigs]

So would I. But the dem party of 1975 was such a different party than it is today. I tended to vote more for the person back then; now I tend to vote more along party lines. Usually I want to vote for the Republican candidate, but if I don't, I weigh the character of the dem candidate against the Republican party. Yet, I do not always like the direction of the Republicans either.

[Rennes Templar]

...the pietistic movement in the late 19th century...

I'll Google that later...

[#1CTYankee]

Bush can't slide her in as a stealth nominee if you post articles like this, the moon bats will go crazy!

[Jedidah]

I fully understand your concern with Miers' contributions to DNC and Gore. However, as a sixth-generation Texan, I can assure you that supporting Democrats in Texas was the norm, even for solid conservatives, until the relatively recent past.

During the 80s, there were mass defections into the Republican party, largely a result of the Reagan years. Still today, many Texas Democrats are more conservative than Republicans in other states.

I know very conservative voters in rural areas who wouldn't vote for a Republican for any office -- bitterness left over from the Hoover years and the great depression. Honest.

There are numerous explanations for those contributions; let's hold judgement and see what we hear. Could be that Miers' seeming bi-partisanship plays a part in getting votes for a solid conservative to the court.

What irony.

[AFPhys]

It seems to me that YOU are the one betraying the base.

You thought Souter was OK, supported GWHB as a conservative...

What can you possibly say that we should listen to?

[Mamzelle]

Lawyers are often coerced into donating by the ruling partners of the law firm. Sometimes those partners even pay for the donation, so they can give a lot more to a pro-trial lawyer candidate. You often see legal secretaries on less than $30K a year (lawyers are cheapskate employers) donating $2000 a year to a candidate.

Anyway, I have one word for this appointment.

Weird. Weird-weird-weird...

[COEXERJ145]

Oh go soak your head. You've been saying the same crap forever. You hate President Bush, you've always hated President Bush. Nothing he has done or could do would make you happy. Go to LoonyPlace, your mindset fits in with them.

[David Isaac]

I also voted for Perot in "92, but I do not feel resposible for Clinton's election. I would lay that resposibility at the feet of GHWB. I would rather see a skunk with a skunks name on it, than a skunk with my name on it.

I am not overly convinced that the present version could be classified as conservative. His almost passionate aversion to do anything that might damage Clinton's, or his sychophant's, reputations is disconcerting, to say the least.

[AFPhys]

Dittos

This is one of the most informative posts on Miers put on FR during the past four months.

[Decepticon]

I have a feeling that Harriet Miers is conservative, more so than Roberts......and not a politico like Roberts. No way this women is worse than O'Connor, just no way.

[LS]

Agreed. But the Dems are NOT an answer today, as SOME Dems were back in the 1970s.