[Sometimes A River]

I find it a bit far-fetched that if she wasn't his personal friend that she'd be under consideration.

And, would she have been under consideration if it were another President?

If you can't answer yes to the above, then she technically fits the definition of a crony.

[Siena Dreaming]

then she technically fits the definition of a crony

Thanks for blessing us all with your infallible linguistic expertise.

[Sam the Sham]

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."

[mongrel]

Crony simply means a good friend. Cronyism means favoritism shown to old friends without regard for their qualifications, as in political appointments to office.

It is possible to appoint a good friend without resorting to cronyism. The question is what are the qualifications for office. Unlike the qualifications many are supposing should be there, the President has come up with his own list. From what I see it is that someone be a originalist and that he have a strong sense that they will remain so during their tenure. Secondly, that there be a reasonable chance she is confirmed. With these qualifications, Miers was the most qualified on both counts. A history on the bench is not evidence a la Kennedy. Since he sets the qualifications, cronyism does not apply here.