The Coming Explosion Over Miers – Redux (Too many conservatives going off half-cocked.)

The American Thinker ^ | October 3, 2005 | Thomas Lifson

[quidnunc]

Rush Limbaugh has found the information that Harriet Miers is an evangelical Christian, a member of a church in Dallas that most would describe as "fundamentalist." I believe that this vindicates my earlier analysis based on mistaken information about a Ministry supported by Ms. Miers.

Blue state fundamentalists tend to hate evangelicals the way that Islamists hate Jews: viscerally. It will take enormous willpower for many of them to avoid saying that one who believes in the literal word of the Bible should not be allowed a place on the Supreme Court. They played footsie with the position that a devout Catholic would be disqaualified.

To partially quote my earlier post: this is a battle the Democrat left can't win with a majority of the American public, which sees religious faith as a good thing. As far as I am concerned about the coming attacks, Dirty Harry summed up my feelings: "Go ahead — make my day."

-snip-

[aBootes]

Sandra Day O’Connor's affirmative action opinion was one of the stupidest things I have ever read.

I have the pleasure of agreeing wholeheartedly with you on this particular issue.

[Ninian Dryhope]

"The President also likes Bill Clinton."

Well there you go. It could have been worse then, couldn't it?

Now, don't you feel better?

We dodged a bullet!

[Carry_Okie]

If so, deconstruction and radical historicism isn't exactly much to bank on.

Guaranteed, any likely candidate graduated long before that depraved standard became nearly as universal as it is now.

[VRWCTexan]

By definition if it's "unknown" how can you be so dead level certain that "mediocrity" will rule the day? I'm truly amazed at the large number of Freepers that are so certain that GWB is all washed up and burned out, and are thus rushing headline to try and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory...

[Friend of thunder]

Now, don't you feel better?

We dodged a bullet!

LOL.

[Nuc1]

I understand. We had a great chance to go on the offensive, set the agenda, control the debate, and make the Rats show the country what they are, in a very shrill and offensive way. From this we could coalesce around an agenda that would feature, as a center piece, the defense against the dictatorship of the black robes. Instead, we loose the chance to set ourselves apart and invigorate the party. This is the real loss, the loss of the dynamic. I don't know much about Harriet. I believe she is as likely as any conservative jurist to remain conservative and I am inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt. Recall Souter, Kennedy, and Sandra Day?

What is unforgivable is to loose this opportunity to finally show some metal. To demonstrate that the good of the country is more important than short term political gain. That principle is the basis for what we say and do. That what those principles stand for are good, noble, and deserving.

I have watched politics since 1964 and I believe this summer presented us with the best opportunity we have had since then to wake up the electorate and change the direction of this country. IMHO our guys are squandering it.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

What does her religion have to do with her interpretation of the Constitution?

Good question!

[Artemis Webb]

Hmmm...I guess you love to claim people don't have facts but run away when you have none of your own...

I'm still waiting.

[xzins]

Precisely.

With a 55-45 lead and a cloture requiring 60 votes and the McCain 14 on the loose, then there is no assurance that any justice can be rammed through.

This selection is very good in my opinion.

[DC Bound]

I think a nomination to a lifetime, unaccountable position deserves a little more qualification than the "President likes her". Might be enough for a position in the Administration, but not for a body capable of abrogating even more of our rights than have been done already. I'd think a little evidence that she meets the criteria that were used during the campaign and for endless fundraising appeals. But then, I'm probably out of step. I have this funny characteristic of people living up to what they promise. Naive, isn't it?

For the life of me I can't figure the nomination out. There are lots of folks who would have been more justifiable. Clearly, President Bush is asking a lot. She doesn't have the right pedigree, she doesn't have experience, she doesn't have anything conservatives want. But I voted for Bush because I trust his judgment. While I wish he would have made me rest easier by picking a known entity, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. We won't know if he lived up to his promises for a while.

[CFC__VRWC]

Secondly, Ruth Bader Ginsberg is not (my opinion) going to last the next three years. She may not be the only one. How old are Kennedy and Souter?

Kennedy and Souter are relatively young and in good health. The best chance for another retirement (besides Ginsburg) would be Justice Stevens (he's 85).

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

You do not have to be a great lawyer to be elected President of a state bar ass'n. In fact, it's not a stellar recommendation at all.

Some of those wonderfully intelligent lawyers include people like JRB, Luttig, Alito, etc. He promised to pick well qualified judges in the mold of Scalia and Thomas. He has chosen someone who is woefully unqualified when there is a field of exceptional jurists to choose from. You're just trying to put the best face on a bad decision.

[Redcloak]

Too many conservatives...demand a fire-breathing, in-your-face, old-time-religion-preaching conservative whose nomination would trigger a to-the-death confrontation with the Democrats.

What they don't seem to understand is that the GOP is by no means assured of winning such a fight.

El Rushbo summed it up quite well: Do you really want to go to war over this when your army is the Senate GOP caucus?

[dmw]

"Seems to be a popular sentiment around here."

Yeah, that and hating Ann Coulter. I guess we are just supposed to drink our Kool Aid and take our Xanax and go along for the ride.

[Ninian Dryhope]

"What is unforgivable is to loose this opportunity to finally show some metal."

I think you mean lose this opportunity to show some mettle, but that aside, a wise man picks his battles. The Rats will continue to be shrill and unreasonable, on that we can depend.

[Aquamarine]

Heard her say something about the genius of the Constitution. She gets it.

[CFC__VRWC]

He stumbled down a flight of starirs today and if not for Judge John Roberts grabbing Steven's arm we would have had another pick today.

That just proves what we knew all along - Roberts is just another Souter! We tried to get the truth out but the Bots weren't having any. Have another glass of Bush Kool Aid!

</sarcasm>

[Judith Anne]

Yes, agreed, in Post 68 or thereabouts I listed their ages, and admitted my mistake. ;-D

[mdefranc]

Normal mortality statistics don't apply to SC justices; the exercise of unlimited, unaccountable power greatly extends one's longevity.