I always thought that a presidential candidate would possess a short list of people that he or she would want to put on our highest court. Miers may or may not have been on Bush's list but, sure as sh*t, the president could have made some effort in presenting Miers to the world at large. It is the President's responsibility that Miers comes on the scene as a complete unknown. There is much that he could have done to make Miers a known and respected personality.
yeah, great idea. you really don't know much about the process do you? do you realize that there are interest groups that make it their life's work to prepare to destroy these nominees and the hearings? do you know that they stand, arms folded, in the back of the hearing room, staring down the Dem senators that owe them allegiance, completely out of sight of the cameras ? Their names are Ralph Neas, Nan Aron, etc. Yeah, what a great idea for the President to bring out his judicial pick and let american KNOW her, as the enemy sets about destroying her.
There is a POINT her coming on the scene as an unknown. Bork not being on the Court is a great example.