It is interesting that many talk about the "base" as if it is some uniform group of like minded people. There are really several groups in the conservative base but only one that really matters, since they get the vote out, and that is evangelical Christians. If you look at those in opposition and those for, the split is between those who want a Senate fight with the dems and those who are comfortable with a born again Christian selection and trust Bush. The problem is those who are most vocal think they are the majority of the base while they are not. Much like Move On and the Daily Kos with the dems.
So here we have a group of Conservatives who are asking for the defeat of Miers but who, at the same time, decry the dems for going against tradition and not allowing the President to pick the nominee unless they agree. It seems they are now in the same camp and have agreed with the dems that the President cannot have his say in who he nominates but must get their approval first.
This storm will blow over when they start to think about what they are doing and who they are coming to resemble. That is already happening at places like Powerline who think , reason and realize that we often, especially in politics, do not get what we want. Especially in this Senate.
The real base will support the President, the rest will mellow a bit, and he will get the appointment.
What is actually funny in all this is that the dems will not know what to do. They think that the base is against the choice so will lay off. The storm is subsiding, but they will not see it. The dems may be caught short since they think the pubs will do the dirty work. But the complaint against her is she is not Conservative enough, so how can they fight that? Or she does not have elite credentials, but some of the greatest SC Justices did not, so what have they against the "Common Man"? Plus she is a woman, which is what they wanted. In essence, they are painted into a corner.
It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
"The dems may be caught short since they think the pubs will do the dirty work. "
Your words are more prescient than you may realize.
The DNC often over-plays their hand. To wit, notice on all the talking head shows (and ABC, NBC,CBS) the first thing they talk about and try to focus on is the disagreement among the "GOP base" regarding Miers.
They are trying to hype that and portray the GOP as being in "disarray".
Meanwhile, the MSM does a blackout on Bush's speech the other day, and then turns around and does another "poll-a-torial" saying Bush's support is waning.
It's co-ordinated, planned, and it needs to be stopped by a GOP response that is equal in strength.
Great post, KeyWest.
The real base will support the President, the rest will mellow a bit, and he will get the appointment.
A lot of wisdom and reason in that post, Key West (I'm not surprised, btw. :)
I do hope that these Conservatives soon recognize what their behavior has been like, and whom it resembles. (The first day of the nomination felt as though the forum had literally been invaded by aliens).
And you are right in noting the split among Conservatives who are Christians, and looking toward the overall goal of moving America to the right, and towards righteousness, and see in Harriet Miers great hope for accomplishing that goal.... and those who just want the fight to put the Dems away, or want someone more 'impressive.'
My husband and I have watched this whole phenomenon in amazement, and talked about it at great length. The 'fight' is not the end. The movement of the court away from liberal activism, and toward constitutional conservatism IS. And we are both very optimistic that our prayers for just that, will be answered very soon.
Let the President exercise his Constitutional right, and trust him because he has not let us down once when it involves morality or moral conservatism........or the courts.