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The Harriet Miers I Know
New York Times ^ | October 14, 2005 | MATTHEW SCULLY

Posted on 10/14/2005 4:55:21 AM PDT by G.Mason

October 14, 2005

Op-Ed Contributor

The Harriet Miers I Know

By MATTHEW SCULLY

Los Angeles

WHITE House speechwriters first learned the name Harriet Miers in January 2001, when drafts started reappearing full of corrections, instructions and particularly annoying requests for factual substantiation. In the campaign, life had been simpler, the editing and fact-checking a little more casual. Now the old ways wouldn't do anymore because "Harriet said" this or "Harriet said" that. Who was this woman, and could the staff secretary please confine herself to secretarial duties?

We had a few things to learn about the job of the staff secretary - the person who controls all paper passing through the Oval Office - and above all about the caliber of the woman behind the editing. And now that fellow conservatives in Washington are asking variations of the same question about President Bush's nominee to the Supreme Court - Who is this "crony," "cipher," "hack," "functionary" or, as my former speechwriting colleague David Frum has called her, this "petty bureaucrat"? - I think I can help with the answer.

When you know Harriet Miers, it's funny to think of her as the subject of such controversy. Yet already her notoriety is such that even the most innocent of virtues can be thrown back at her as inadequate - "not even second-rate," as a National Review Online posting said, "but third-rate." She's a detail person. Diligent and dependable. Honest, kind, modest, devout and all that. A real mediocrity.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bushwasright; croweatingtime; miersrevenge; readandweep; toldyouso
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To: Neville72

Frum's petulent never ending carping against this woman makes one wonder which one is the woman in this matter.


41 posted on 10/14/2005 6:55:30 AM PDT by OldFriend (One Man With Courage Makes a Majority ~ Andrew Jackson)
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To: BibChr
Thanks for pinging me, Dan. You know what struck me about this was Scully's mention of the "quiet, least assuming person in the room also being the most capable."

"The last shall be first, and the first shall be last..."

"Blessed are the meek.."

Well, of course that's just a religious analogy, and I am certain some will come along to knock it down. I do, however, look foward to hearing from her at the hearings.

And there are some really subtle slams to Frum and Kristol in this article. I was glad to read this just for those comments! (Probably not very Christian of me, but I have been sorely tried the last 10 days.)

42 posted on 10/14/2005 6:55:37 AM PDT by Miss Marple (Lord, please look after Mozart Lover's son and keep him strong.)
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To: G.Mason
Surely the most pertinent conclusion to be drawn from Harriet Miers's low profile is that this is not a person susceptible to the charms of news media flattery.

I want someone like this on the court. I'm sick and tired of the typical Beltway BS.

43 posted on 10/14/2005 6:56:12 AM PDT by Ditto ( No trees were killed in sending this message, but billions of electrons were inconvenienced.)
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To: Miss Marple
If ever there was an example of a Godly woman this lady is it. That may not be what the world wants, but I would take this lady for SCOTUS over Luttig or JRB any day. Does anyone in their right mind think this lady will change?
44 posted on 10/14/2005 6:59:29 AM PDT by GarySpFc (Sneakypete, De Oppresso Liber)
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To: Frank T
Wow. Someone at the New York Times thinks conservatives should back Miers.

Read the damn article. It's not "Someone from the N. Y. Times." It's a former Bush staff member, obviously a conservative, who unlike you and the other bandwagon harpies, worked with Miers and knows exactly what and who she is.

45 posted on 10/14/2005 7:02:08 AM PDT by Ditto ( No trees were killed in sending this message, but billions of electrons were inconvenienced.)
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To: Miss Marple

No doubt.

Well, here's another irony, along the lines of what you said.

Here's Bill Clinton, Rhodes Scholar, a supposed list of accomplishments and endorsements a yard long. What'd we say? "You idiots -- character matters!"

Then here's Harriet Miers. Not a long list of FLASHY accomplishments, endorsements mixed with denunciations. But an almost universally, overwhelmingly attested golden character.

And what are a bunch of FReepers saying?

"Character doesn't count!"

Dan


46 posted on 10/14/2005 7:08:32 AM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
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To: G.Mason

BTTT


47 posted on 10/14/2005 7:09:21 AM PDT by Earthdweller (Republicans should give Miers a fair vote.)
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To: Frank T
Wow. Someone at the New York Times thinks conservatives should back Miers.

Scully's part of the Bush offensive -- no pun intended.

http://www.matthewscully.com/matthew.htm

Matthew Scully served until August 2004 as special assistant to the president and deputy director of presidential speechwriting. He worked for President George W. Bush a total of five years, including 18 months in the 2000 campaign, and was part of the team that drafted the President’s post-September 11th addresses and every major speech of the first term. http://www.matthewscully.com/matthew.htm

48 posted on 10/14/2005 7:10:37 AM PDT by GOPJ (The enemy is never tired, never sated, never content with yesterday's brutality. -- President Bush)
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To: FastCoyote

>My office cleaning lady is also hard working and compassionate. Thank God she doesn't work at the White House or she'd be a Supreme Court nominee.<

Bet that the fact she is the cleaning lady is the only thing you know about her.


49 posted on 10/14/2005 7:27:45 AM PDT by Blessed
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To: G.Mason
Fund = Frum


My appologies to Mr. Fund. ;)



50 posted on 10/14/2005 7:42:18 AM PDT by G.Mason
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To: Made in USA
FWIW ... I just clicked on it again (my son wanted the article) and I was told to register also.

Strange, after the fact, event.



51 posted on 10/14/2005 7:45:50 AM PDT by G.Mason
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Comment #52 Removed by Moderator

To: G.Mason

We don't need another testimonial from a friend. This really isn't about Harriet Miers the person. The question is whether she is the best and most qualified person for the job. For those of us who oppose her nomination, she isn't.


53 posted on 10/14/2005 8:16:51 AM PDT by kabar
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To: Made in USA

Check your freepmail.


54 posted on 10/14/2005 8:41:38 AM PDT by alnick
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To: kabar
The question is whether she is the best and most qualified person for the job.

On another thread I asked what are the qualifications for supreme court are, where they are written down, and who decided what they were?

From the responses I got, I found out that there arent any and they're not written down anywhere?

I guess the president decides and the senate can agree or disagree.

55 posted on 10/14/2005 9:13:58 AM PDT by rllngrk33 (The RATs and Media are the enemy.)
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To: GarySpFc

You make a good point. I wish that the conservative nay-sayers would at least wait until confirmation hearings before jumping to judgement.


56 posted on 10/14/2005 9:20:33 AM PDT by Clintonfatigued (Jeanine Pirro for Senate, Hillary Clinton for Weight Watchers Spokeswoman)
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To: kabar
"We don't need another testimonial from a friend."


Of course we do. Obviously you don't and it is fortunate for the rest of us that you do not control our First Amendment rights.


"This really isn't about Harriet Miers the person."


Again you miss the point of this exercise.


" The question is whether she is the best and most qualified person for the job."


Unfortunalely for you and those that think like you do, the Constitution establishes who shall have the power to nominate Justices for the Supreme Court. The President decides whom he believes to be the "most qualified" person. Period. No ifs ands or buts about it. End of story.


" For those of us who oppose her nomination, she isn't."


For those of you who oppose her nomination, you have my deepest and sincerest sympathies.



57 posted on 10/14/2005 9:27:01 AM PDT by G.Mason
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To: rllngrk33; kabar; G.Mason
There have been some rather heated discussions at my house due to the fact that my "better half" is of one opinion and I of another regarding the Miers nomination...!

kabar, I tend to agree with rll...but who would you say would be the ideal nominee, and why?

rll...please link me to previous thread with responses re: qualifications...

G.Mason, thanks for posting this article! I'm e-mailing it to my spouse...I thought it provided some much-needed insight, but of course that's JMHO!

58 posted on 10/14/2005 9:45:50 AM PDT by 88keys (where's a P.O.C. when you need one?!)
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To: G.Mason
Of course we do. Obviously you don't and it is fortunate for the rest of us that you do not control our First Amendment rights.

I am not preventing anyone from expressing their views nor am I advocating that. You are taking "need" too literally. I just found a former WH speech writer's endorsement less than convincing when it comes to Miers' credentials and abilities to be a SCOTUS justice. IMO it doesn't help Miers regardless of whether you are for or against her.

Again you miss the point of this exercise.

Again, you miss my point. I don't consider the opinions of Ms. Miers' personal characteristics to be of primary importance. I believe there are more experienced and qualified conservative personnel out there who have a proven track record in judicial affairs and don't require any speculation on where they stand.

Unfortunately for you and those that think like you do, the Constitution establishes who shall have the power to nominate Justices for the Supreme Court. The President decides whom he believes to be the "most qualified" person. Period. No ifs ands or buts about it. End of story.

I understand the Constitution probably better than you do. We live in a democratic republic, not a monarchy. I can express my opinion on what the President does as much as you can. The President is not infalible. I believe he is wrong.

As a registered Republican and contributor to the GOP, Ken Mehlman sent me an email requesting my support for the Miers' nomination (similar to the request he sent for the Robverts' nomination). He stated, "To ensure Ms. Miers is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, I need you to do three things.

1. Call your Senators. Tell them Harriet Miers has your support and deserves theirs.

2. Sign our petition in support of the timely confirmation of Harriet Miers.

3. Call talk radio, write a letter to the editor of your local paper and tell your friends and neighbors why you support the President's choice.

I responded that I could not support the Miers' nomination and explained why. I had already supported Roberts as requested by Mehlman. End of story.

The Senate must confirm the Miers' nomination. It will be interesting to see how many GOP senators will support her. Coburn, Brownback, and Allen have been non-committal.

For those of you who oppose her nomination, you have my deepest and sincerest sympathies.

I find it interesting that the Miers' supporters must resort to ad hominen attacks and the "my way or the highway" approach whenever those of us who consider ourselves loyal Republicans and conservatives express disagreement with the President on an issue. It is like we committed heresy. Did you support the President signing McCain-Feingold?

59 posted on 10/14/2005 9:56:18 AM PDT by kabar
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To: 88keys
kabar, I tend to agree with rll...but who would you say would be the ideal nominee, and why?

Ideal? I would have preferred Luttig or McDonnell. They have a proven judicial record and an originalist judicial philosophy.

60 posted on 10/14/2005 10:01:10 AM PDT by kabar
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