Miers is the wrong pick (George Will)

Townhall ^ | October 4, 2005 | George Will

[jdm]

WASHINGTON -- Senators beginning what ought to be a protracted and exacting scrutiny of Harriet Miers should be guided by three rules. First, it is not important that she be confirmed. Second, it might be very important that she not be. Third, the presumption -- perhaps rebuttable but certainly in need of rebutting -- should be that her nomination is not a defensible exercise of presidential discretion to which senatorial deference is due.

[Porterville]

Elitist in the conservative party really showed their hand this time. The separation is between those who are focused on the 2008 elections and removing power from the Bush Dynasty.

[Chena]

Hmmmmmmmmm..... If Mr. Will has to "mine" your post on FR in order to come up with opinions for his article, it does beg the question, "why?". Perhaps he needed to come to FR and read posts like yours in order to come up with some words that will sound good on paper as a way to criticize President Bush's nomination of Miers? That could be a compliment to you, bourbon, or then again, maybe not?

Perhaps Mr. Will doesn't have a mind of his own? Heck if I know, but it sure is interesting.

[Torie]

You seem to not be as interested in evidence of competence and smarts on her part as I am, and more interested in judicial philosophy, which won't matter. She does not need to appease the right, she needs to appease those that don't want another Carswell. Write that down. :)

[gpapa]

Would you prefer Miers or Brown for the SCOTUS?

[akdonn]

"Oh, George Will is country club Republican weenie."

As a columnist and commentator, his job is to present his perspective. Attacking him personally doesn't mean his points are not well established. I had not thought too much about this matter until I read this piece, but having read it I have to say it makes sense.

[holdonnow]

So, now we have 2 arguments. Miers is the best candidate and trust the nomination, and we couldn't pick a better candidate because there are too many weak Senate Republicans.

[Black Tooth]

That will be answered as soon as they think of something clever to say, but will still avoid the question.

[sinkspur]

GWB also appointed Brown to be in charge of FEMA and Chertoff for HMS.

You consider Brown to be bad because the media forced you into thinking he was bad.

Did you know he managed 150 separate disasters for FEMA in his term, including four simultaneous hurricane relief efforts? They all looked like the prelude and postlude to Rita in Texas. IOW, smooth and seamless.

Louisiana is a separate breed when it comes to incompetence. Brown ran smack dab into the Nagin-Blanco maelstrom, and was ground up in it, courtesy of Shep Smith and Anderson Cooper.

Michael Brown was a scapegoat for Louisiana decadence.

[gondramB]

"Please...try to stay focused. Tell us why this woman is, in W's words, the most qualified candidate for the Court?"

Even though I support her confirmation I have to say that the only way she is the most qualified if not having publicly stated opinions is a qualification. But apparently that has become a qualification.

[JeffAtlanta]

I cannot find anything in the constitution about the freedom to spend money on elections.

You won't find a a lot of freedoms in the constitition. The document lists the restictions on the government - it is not an exhaustive list of personal freedoms.

[Chena]

Can we at least wait and see what comes out in the hearings before we all lose our minds? Isn't the President of the United States entitled to at least that much consideration?

Well said, SandyInSeattle. I've been saying the same thing. Either we have trolls among us trying to bring dissent and disgrace to President Bush and fellow Republicans, or we have a terminal illness within the party. With friends like these, who needs enemies?

[Mo1]

Between Miers and Brown who would you choose?

Since I don't know much about Miers because she wasn't on my radar prior to the nomination ... I can't honestly give an answer ..

With that said .. before the President made his choice .. I liked Janice Rogers Brown

Even though I knew it would be hard to get her through the senate for a vote

[holdonnow]

She does not need to appease the right? These are odd formulations. The president left the impression he was of the right, did he not, when he specifically pointed to Scalia and Thomas as his favorite justices. And if the president doesn't have to worry about his conservative base, then why all the complaining? He didn't.

[wide meadow]

From the WSJ column this morning--The primary reason Alexander Hamilton gave for requiring senate approval of judical nominees was to "prevent the appointment of unfit characters ... from family connection, from personal attachment. . . . He would be both ashamed and afraid to bring forward, for the most distinguished or lucrative stations, candidates who had no other merit than that of coming from the same State to which he particularly belonged, or of being in some way or other personally allied to him..." Federalist Papers No. 76

[MJY1288]

First off you aint gonna fight nothing, you're just insult everyone here and watch Hagel, Snowe, McCain, and the other Rino's cave as we lose another fight in the Senate

[gpapa]

I agree.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Cut that chess and checkers crap. Look, who gives a rip about a RINO. You LEAD. You use the bully pulpit. You intimidate them. You threaten to pull all federal highway funds out of AZ, RI, ME, SC, VA, OH, etc. You play hardball. You make it happen. If you did, you would see W's poll number rise, the base would love it, money would flow into the RNC and if we lost the fight we could easily pick up 4 or 5 additional seats in the Senate.

[Chena]

There's a reason George Will is a columnist for the New York Times.

Perhaps you are referring to the "New York Slimes?"

[TAdams8591]

That is exactly my concern, for several reasons. She will be another Sandra Day O'Connor.

[SpringheelJack]

Then, Reagan was duped?

He was if he thought he was getting a judge who would forge a career ruling in the mold of Scalia and Thomas (who weren't around then) or Rehnquist (who was).