Well, William Rehnquist had neither qualification when he assumed his post over 30 years ago. He was an Assistant Attorney General, but that doesn't involve much legal scholarship.
Look, I know you're unhappy with this nomination. Lots of folks are. If you want to tell your Senators to vote against Miers, go ahead. I suspect, if they're Republican, they will vote for her, regardless. I know mine, John Cornyn and Kay Hutchison, have already announced their support. Cornyn knows Harriett Miers. Well. And he is enthusiastic about her.
Rehnquist was Assitant Attorney General for Legal Counsel, as was Scalia before he went to the DC Circuit. It is the most prestigious position at the Justice Department, short of attorney general and solictor, because he helps develop constitutional policy for the entire federal government. Now, you've dumped on Thomas and Rehnquist in an attempt to justify the Miers appointment. She either stands on her own two feet or she doesn't. Stop ripping our solid folks in a lame effort to defend this.
This nomination, for better or worse, and I'm hoping and praying for "better," is going to proceed and IMHO will be approved with very little trouble regardless of anything Mr. Will ... who I've admired for years, BTW ... or anyone here says. And for anyone who wants to stay at home in 2006 out of protest, I have nine words for you: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
I didn't say I was ready to do that.
I just don't know anything about her.
It's the cronyism angle that bothers me. Especially in the wake of Brown and Myers. Bush seems to prize total loyalty above all else. It *is* possible to take that to extremes.
The real question - especially if Miers underwhelms in her hearings or any adverse information comes out - is what I, and people like me, will do if the nomination is in jeopardy. Or when the RSCC or RNC calls next year for money.
We might just stay home.
As you mentioned before, Bushs' lower court picks have been solid. That might give one hope about this one. But none of that changes the fact that Bush just gave a slot on the top court to his longtime personal lawyer and acolyte - tolerable, maybe, for an undersecretary position or minor ambassadorship, but for the Supreme Court? If Hillary had done this everyone here would be screaming.