Posted on 10/04/2005 10:45:14 AM PDT by Uncle Joe Cannon
Bush rejects allegations of cronyism
By TOM RAUM
WASHINGTON (AP) - In the face of criticism from the left and right, President George W. Bush insisted Tuesday that Harriet Miers was the best-qualified candidate for the Supreme Court and assured skeptical conservatives that his lawyer-turned-nominee shared his judicial philosophy - and wouldn't stray from a rightward course.
"I've known her long enough to know she's not going to change, that 20 years from now she will be the same person with the same judicial philosophy she has today," Bush said.
Dismissing Democratic charges of cronyism, Bush said: "I picked the best person I could find. People know we're close." Bush has known Miers for more than 10 years, first as his personal lawyer and most recently as a White House counsel.
Bush called the news conference, his first since May, as he struggles to regain political strength sapped by a confluence of events - high gas prices, a rising death toll in Iraq and a bungled response to hurricane Katrina. His job approval rating, near the lowest point of his presidency, faces another test with the nomination of Miers.
In a wide-ranging news conference, Bush said he was considering whether the U.S. military should be used to help quarantine part of the country in the event of a pandemic of avian flu. "I'm not predicting an outbreak," he said. "I'm just suggesting to you that we need to be thinking about it."
On Katrina, Bush said he would work with Congress to "make real cuts" in non-security spending to help in rebuilding the Gulf Coast. "The private sector will be the engine that drives the recovery of the Gulf Coast," he said. But he said the country will continue to spend whatever it takes to support U.S. troops in Iraq.
Bush claimed progress on training Iraqi forces to take over the security of their country - a key measure for when American troops can begin coming home - despite last week's statement from the top U.S. commander that only one Iraqi battalion, down from three, was ready to fight without U.S. help.
He said more than 80 Iraqi army battalions are fighting alongside U.S. troops, and that 30 Iraqi battalions are capable of taking the lead in combat. "That is substantial progress from the way the world was a year ago," he said.
Bush also said:
-He has not reviewed a list of candidates to replace Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan, who retires in January.
-He expects Congress will investigate whether Baltimore Orioles baseball star Rafael Palmeiro lied under oath about his alleged steroid use. "Steroids ought to be banned from baseball," declared Bush, a former part-owner of the Texas Rangers of the American League.
His choice of Miers dominated the news conference, with Bush struggling to please his political base without giving Democrats ammunition to block her confirmation.
Asked point-blank whether she was the most qualified person in the country to serve on the high court, Bush said, "Yes. Otherwise, I wouldn't have put her on."
While she has never served as a judge, Bush said Miers will bring "a fresh approach" to the bench as a trial lawyer who was a leader in the Texas legal community.
Bush challenged Democrats to avoid a partisan tone in confirmation process. "The decision of whether or not there will be a fight is up to the Democrats," he said, urging Congress to put Miers on the bench by Thanksgiving, celebrated in late November in the United States.
: )
Now Bush nominates a close associate for SCOTUS, and charges of "cronyism" reigns? (Cue the stereotypical GOP picture of a bunch of balding, cigar chomping old white guys laughing over T-bone steak dinners and expensive wine in a smokey backroom, waiting to be picked by Bush next)
So it's only wrong when the democrats do it?
Well, gee, Mr. President, you could ask a few of your staff to do some searching, too! Have they ever heard of Google?
oh? if one defines qualified as the one who will operate on the court in the ways that the president deems the best, then he is right. The constitution defines the qualifications of the SC nominee as what ever the president wants, in effect. Dat's da way it works, folks.
Gold Star to you, young middle-aged man!
Cheers!
Her mother is in her '90s and she's a single woman. Odds are she will still be quite capable twenty years from now.
Cool. So can we accurately say he's lying?
This is hilariously pathetic! LOL.
I define it as what it means, not some Clintonian redefinition of the meaning of "is."
Did you read Reid's description of the conversation he had with Bush, leading to the suggestion that he choose her? It is comical....
No. Can you show me where to find it? I also want to know about the supposed list of acceptable nominees. Anything on that?
"This is hilariously pathetic! LOL."
I agree, that's truly amazing to me. Kind of makes me wonder about other things he says with a 'straight face'.
DU called, they need you back.
Oh, 'young man' is fine :-)
What a bunch of turncoats. Bush didn't pick someone that will spark a drag-out fight in the senate, so his pick's no good?
YOU don't know this woman, so automatically she's no good? Bush has known her for 20 years. He's made good picks, with papertrails, on the lower courts. Why doubt him now?
Why expend political capital on a fight that isn't necessary?
What will all of you say a year from now if she turns out 100% conservative? Bush was still wrong because he made you a little nervous?
Good grief.
*LOL* As if he wouldn't reject such allegations.
MSM doing the nudge-wink thing..
Has Fat Ted made this claim yet? If so, what would he call the appointment of Bobby to AG by John?
Too late for rationality -- someone already let the dogs out.
Is it possible that she is being sent up to fail ? So when she is shot down for her total lack of any judicial experience (which is reason enough to vote against her), Bush can shrug, "Well, I guess now I will have to choose a moderate for the court."
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