[Shalom Israel]

I'll be damned if I accept the ideal that only graduates from certain "prestige" schools are worthy of high office.

I agree with you, and disagree with Ann, on the "ivy league" part (disclaimer: I have an ivy league Sc.B.). But ignoring the ivy league bit, the fact remains that we need someone who will apply the Constitution with knowledge and wisdom, and it's not too much to ask that Bush pick someone with the K&W for the job. There's no evidence that Miers is such a person, and like Ann I can't accept Presdient Bush's "trust me". He's let us down too many times already.

[DC Bound]

I can't accept President Bush's "trust me". He's let us down too many times already.

Seems like the folks willing to trust the president sometimes forget that the idea of a republic relies on public participation--citizens letting their elected officials know what they think. It isn't as if we elect a person into a vacuum where they can never learn their constituents wishes, and have to make decisions without knowing whether they will please the electorate or not. The whole idea of politics revolves around give and take, not just while campaigning, but also while serving.

That said, I disagree with Ann on every word she said. I'm disappointed in the president because he campaigned on Reagan's legacy and fell short of it. But in the case of the supreme court, I trust his character and his intentions. The fact that he chose a person of whom he has deep personal knowledge shows he took the nomination very seriously, and chose expediency over brazenness. I think most of us are just disappointed because we think we're not going to get the fight we've been itching for over the supreme court. We should relax; there's plenty of fighting left to do. We should be smart and aim it at the leftists.

[Dead Dog]

Actually,

He may have a point. Isn't there value in introducing new blood into any intellectual "gene pool". If the president knows she is a constructionist, which he does, why not put someone in that doesn't have the ego baggage of some black robed social engineer that has spent the last 20 years preaching from the ivory tower.

What makes a quality judge, years of judicial experience (Greer, Breyer, Ginsberg, 8/9ths of the 9th Circus Court, Stevens, Souter), or an understanding and reverence of Constitutional Intent.

Funny Thought: Would any of us here on FR be questioning Hillary's credentials or judicial experience if President Kerry had nominated her? It's a dark thought, but I doubt it. We'd probably be praying to Jesus (or G_d), and preparing for Biblically dark times