Posted on 10/08/2005 10:44:49 AM PDT by quidnunc
The Washington Times reports that Karl Rove was "very involved" in President Bush's selection of Harriet Miers to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court. This should put to rest the notion that Mr. Rove is a political genius.
-snip-
The world is made up of doers and kibitzers. We in the chattering classes are kibitzers. Many, like Mr. Will, have convinced themselves that thinking and writing about what other people do is more important than actually doing stuff. It isn't.
Harriet Miers is a doer. She practiced law where it matters most, in the courtroom. She was managing partner of a mega Texas law firm. For the last five years she has been staff secretary at the White House, a more important job than most of her critics realize, and White House counsel, at the intersection between law and policy, and as good a preparation for serving on the Supreme Court as a year or two on an appellate court.
Harriet Miers may not be a deep thinker. We'll find out during her confirmation hearings. But to assume she is not simply because she's a doer is unfair, and almost certainly inaccurate.
Mr. Bush has said Ms. Miers is bright, and a solid conservative. We should judge for ourselves in the hearings. But until then, conservatives owe him and her the benefit of the doubt.
I used to think conservatives were morally superior to the moonbats of the Left. But the reaction to the Miers nomination indicates we are just as petty, petulant, snobbish, short-sighted, self-destructive, and unfair as they are.
(Excerpt) Read more at toledoblade.com ...
I think we sound like idiots arguing from ignorance.
I don't remember it that way at all.
In fact, the libs and the Dems were apoplectic at the thought of a solid black conservative ascending to the Bench.
Nearly all Republicans (except maybe in the farthest fringe) were solidly behind Mr. Thomas.
" Please share with us her "many" liberal leanings."
No problem! Unless of course you like feminist lecture series and affirmative action, of course.....
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1498195/posts?q=1&&page=201
"Miers' time on Dallas City Council provides some insight"
Miers was one of 10 Dallas council members to unanimously approve a 1989 agenda item that revised minimum height, weight and vision requirements for Dallas firefighters to facilitate "promotion of certain ranks in the Fire Department," particularly women.
The agenda item's title: "Implementation of Fire Department Affirmative Action Plan."
It is very interesting. Which goes hand in hand with this:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1498109/posts
In the late 1990s, as a member of the advisory board for Southern Methodist University's law school, Ms. Miers pushed for the creation of an endowed lecture series in women's studies named for Louise B. Raggio, one of the first women to rise to prominence in the Texas legal community ...Ms. Miers, whom President Bush announced on Monday as his choice to fill the Supreme Court seat being vacated by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, not only advocated for the lecture series, but also gave money and solicited donations to help get it off the ground ... A feminist icon, Gloria Steinem, delivered the series's first lecture, in 1998.
How were O'Connor and Kennedy "stealth" candidates? They both had a judicial record; they both were conservative. Souter was definitely a stealth candidate (even, unfortunately, to GHWB), and Roberts was as close to one as GWB could get.
I prefer the Army acronym: MOOSEMUSS! I begin to wonder if there are bitter little McCains running about on this forum.
Well, I didn't ask you, and there's a reason I asked him specifically, since he has a reputation for making things up.
You seem to have found one thing - the vote on the Fire Department resolution 16 years ago.
The inference you are trying make with the second item is not exactly truthful. There is no evidence presented in that article she had anything to do with the selection of the speakers after the lecture series was founded.
I've been trying to tell everybody Miers was a Bush/Rove pick. This now confirms it. Relax, this nominee has the "Rovian" stamp of approval.
Quote:
Ultimately, however, the importance of Supreme Court Justices is not in the image they offer but in their workaday decisions that affect our lives. Clarence Thomas's (and George Bush's) legacy will be defined not by his pigmentation, but by his written opinions and by whether he contributes to the transformation of the Supreme Court into a responsible interpreter of the Constitution.On the basis of what is known, there is every reason to believe that Judge Thomas will live up to his promise. Truth be told, however, his public record on issues other than civil rights is still more Souteresque than Borkian. So it is vital that conservatives, during these brief moments of accountability in the judicial-selection process, should participate fully in public dialogue with the nominee. Unlike the liberals, however, our aim should be to learn not what Judge Thomas thinks about abortion, South Africa, contraception, and funding for the arts, but what he thinks about the role of the judicial branch within our constitutional system. – The Editors
(National Review editorial, July 29, 1991)
http://www.nationalreview.com/flashback/editors200510040807.asp
Your memory played tricks on you.
"Well, I didn't ask you, "
I dont care if you asked me, this is an open forum and I will address your challenges whether they're directed at me or not.
"You seem to have found one thing - the vote on the Fire Department resolution 16 years ago. "
Yeah, sure that means nothing right? Lets excuse affirmative action all in the name of "big tent conservatism" right?
Of course her contributions to Gore (who was NOT pro life as many claim here Gore cast multiple pro-abortion votes in the senate from 1985 to 1988.http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1497421/posts?page=71#71)
and her contributions to the DNC days before the 88 election for Comrade Dukakis mean nothing right?
"There is no evidence presented in that article she had anything to do with the selection of the speakers after the lecture series was founded."
Quote: Ms. Miers pushed for the creation of an endowed lecture series in women's studies named for Louise B. Raggio
Ah but of course "women's studies" mean nothing right? Do you even know what courses in "women's studies" entail at the university level? Its radical feminism, my girlfriend in college took one of those courses and you wouldnt believe the marxist drivel they tried to force upon her. But of course...none of it matters right? BTW Louise B Raggio is a democrat
Cool. First it's "elitism", and now Bushbots are complaining about "condescension". It doesn't get any more richly ironic than this.
Just one question, guys: How does it feel?
You forgot about the "sexist" charge leveled by Ed Gillespie, and then later echoed by Charlie Rangel!!
So we're "sexist" for opposing HM, but many wanted JRB. Huh???
An ambulance chaser huh... like Edwards.. check.. will make a note Jack..
This is a fabulously creative line of argumentation. Because one has achieved someting academically, you should appreciate your opportunities, shut up and not comment on anyone else's qualifications. Brilliant, just brilliant.
Why should we? Bush has been governing against the wishes of conservatives for a long time now: Open borders, CFR, and so on.
But the image also underscores a dramatic social and political moment: a paladin of the black civil-rights leadership and a symbol of its alliance with white liberalism is to be succeeded by a black Justice, Clarence Thomas, openly scornful of the values of that same civil-rights leadership and committed to the traditional mores of Middle America, which happen to be shared by much of black America.Now how does Miers measure up to that standard?
I should point out one other thing by the way: The "Souteresque" comment didn't have nearly the same connotation back then as it does nowadays, because he had been on the bench for less than a year by the time those words were written, and he hadn't yet gotten the reputation for being a liberal.
He did the same for Roberts.
The charge of "If you're against Miers, you're an elitist snob" is as valid as "If you're against federally funded school lunches, you're for starving children."
It's delicious. All this fuss over that wonderful humble woman of the people, Ms. Miers, the Bush political insider to beat all insiders.
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