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Democrats Must Be Delighted…
Irish Pennants ^ | October 21, 2005 | Jack Kelly

Posted on 10/21/2005 12:29:34 PM PDT by quidnunc

Democrats must be delighted with the early Christmas present they've been given. And the Harriet Miers nomination is a gift that keeps on giving. We conservatives are in a bus, heading for a cliff. Nobody seems to be steering, and most want to tromp down on the gas pedal.

Conservatives have engaged in lemming-like behavior before. The last time was the impeachment of President Clinton. He did perjure himself before a grand jury, which presidents ought not to do. But even if the half-eaten remains of small children had been found in the Oval office, the Senate would never have voted to convict Clinton, so his impeachment was an exercise in futility. A very unpopular exercise in futility, one which cost the GOP seats in the House and Senate in the 1998 congressional elections.

Every development in the Miers saga has been depressing.

Like just about everyone, I was disappointed that the president didn't nominate someone with stronger legal credentials and a more clear conservative record.

But I've been more appalled by the vicious, childish reaction to the nomination by many conservatives. I am not pro-Miers. I don't know enough about the woman to have a firm opinion. But I am, in Hugh Hewitt's formulation, anti-anti-Miers. Neither Bush nor Miers deserve absolute trust. A Supreme Court nomination is far too important for that. But on judicial nominations, Bush has earned, and Miers deserves, the benefit of the doubt until she's had the opportunity to speak for herself.

Instead, we've had a churlish, childish display which demonstrates why conservatives are not in the majority, and why we soon will be a smaller minority.

Much of the criticism of Bush by anti-Miers conservatives has been based on the supposition that a candidate they (and I) would have preferred, such as Janice Rogers Brown or Michael Luttig, could be confirmed by the Senate. But this probably isn't so. There are enough votes for confirmation, but not enough to break a Democratic filibuster, nor may there be enough to trigger the "nuclear option." We seem to be one, more likely two votes short.

Those few anti-Miers conservatives who recognize this reality tend to blame Bush for it. After all, he could have supported solid conservative Pat Toomey over squish Arlen Specter in the 2004 Pennsylvania senate primary. These political geniuses fail to recognize that had Toomey won the primary, the Democratic candidate almost certainly would have won the general election.

-snip-


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: miers
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To: quidnunc
We conservatives are in a bus, heading for a cliff

No the Conservative Pundits are. This little stab the base in the back temper tantrum over Miers is NOT going to be forgotten or forgiven any time soon. They do NOT seem to realize their whole credibility is riding on this. If Miers is confirmed and turns out to be a solid Conservative Justices, all these Hate Harriet always crowd will have LOST their standing with the vast majority of the base. I hope they feel this little hissy fit they are throwing is worth it. They seem to misunderstand reality. They did NOT make us, WE made them.

21 posted on 10/21/2005 1:28:40 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (I'll try to be NICER, if you will try to be SMARTER!.......Water Buckets UP!)
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To: MikeHu
Resist the temptation to express an opinion just because one can -- based upon opinions based upon opinions based upon opinions...

And doing a complete 180° turn on the phrase, there's a whole lot of Kool-Aid imbibing going on here.


If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
Also, please see The Backside of American History
You'll love this 187 page .pdf (1.99 MB)

22 posted on 10/21/2005 1:33:06 PM PDT by rdb3 (Have you ever stopped to think, but forgot to start again?)
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To: jveritas
I think your tag line says it all.

Anyone who thinks wounding the POTUS and his Administration "sends a message" about principles is correct. The message is: Donks in charge for the foreseeable future because conservatives are not ready for prime time.

We taught 41 a lesson, didn't we? (yes, I voted for the little nut w/the big ears over *read my lips*. Never again!)
23 posted on 10/21/2005 1:50:14 PM PDT by reformedliberal (Bless our troops and pray for our nation.)
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To: reformedliberal
Trust me that the majority of conservatives will never make again the horrible mistake of staying home on election day or vote for some idiotic third party just to teach the Republicans a lesson because the Republican did not follow 100% of what they want. Of course the bitter Buchannaite, libertarians, and Constitution party voters will never vote GOP but they are an insignificant 1% of the total vote.
24 posted on 10/21/2005 2:01:02 PM PDT by jveritas (The Axis of Defeatism: Left wing liberals, Buchananites, and third party voters.)
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To: TXBSAFH
I need to see a verifiable history of conservatism in elected or appointed offic ebefore I can support someone to this critical a post.

Turncoat.

25 posted on 10/21/2005 2:05:30 PM PDT by Cboldt
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To: jveritas

Yes, I believe that is correct. But it helps the donks identify all of us on the right as "the bitter Buchannaite, libertarians, and Constitution party voters".

Perception trumps reality.

OTOH, we have a year until the midterm elections and 3 years until the next general election and nearly everyone has a short attention span, these days.

I can barely wait until we see who wins the GOP primary. I dread the internecine warfare that will then ensue. It really is emotionally draining.

Maybe I am becoming too old for politics.


26 posted on 10/21/2005 2:27:05 PM PDT by reformedliberal (Bless our troops and pray for our nation.)
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To: reformedliberal
We taught 41 a lesson, didn't we? (yes, I voted for the little nut w/the big ears over *read my lips*. Never again!)

Just for information purposes, the little nut whether in or out of the race would not have won it for 41 according to the election pundants. I don't know the answer but for sure there has to be some accountability to this "Two-Party Cartel". Since they have insulated themselves for unending incumbancy I would & will vote for a reputable 3rd party candidate almost every election.

27 posted on 10/21/2005 2:42:42 PM PDT by Digger (Outsource CONgress)
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To: quidnunc
The responses to his muted criticism is enough to prove what he says is correct. Not to worry because the Republican majority WILL be gone next year and replaced by a unified Rat majority.

Pray for W and Harriet Miers

28 posted on 10/21/2005 2:50:08 PM PDT by bray (Islam IS a terrorist organization)
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To: dfrussell
All you had to see was the look on Schumer's face the other day, to know that there are no pro-Miers Democrats ......

The DU's will be cheering on the critics because they don't want to see her confirmed.
29 posted on 10/21/2005 3:23:25 PM PDT by Bush 100 Percent (H. Miers is showing more guts than the Senate)
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To: MikeHu
That's what the mass media is still all about -- the control of the mass mind. Nothing makes them happier than everybody at each other's throats, questioning each other's motives, dividing us into one more factionalism, second-guessing our duly-elected representatives and undermining their every effort.

Red-herrings...

The problem in this instance isn't the press, it's President Bush's really poor nominee and a string of poor decisions.

If you wish to follow him over a cliff, it's your right, but it would appear that a lot of people have written him off and moved on.

30 posted on 10/21/2005 3:26:45 PM PDT by dfrussell
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To: Digger
I voted for the little nut w/the big ears over *read my lips*. Never again

Well, whatever else you wish to say about Perot, he was spot on regarding the "great sucking sound" etc.

31 posted on 10/21/2005 3:29:13 PM PDT by dfrussell
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To: MNJohnnie
Plus, if she is not confirmed, no matter who the next confirmed justice is, when they vote against the Constitution or the way conservatives feel it should be - the pundits better be prepared to be blamed. They'll try and pass it off as GWB's fault but it won't be. All media, including conservative, seem to think that can take activist like stands and, then, never be held accountable ......

I truly feel that they are part of the reason we ended up with Souter, Kennedy, and OConnor. They accepted those nominees because they had conservative credentials and met their judge\academia criteria.
32 posted on 10/21/2005 3:31:20 PM PDT by Bush 100 Percent (H. Miers is showing more guts than the Senate)
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Comment #33 Removed by Moderator

To: JoeSixPack1
If you could take the time to read former Congressman Bob Barr's short book The Meaning of IS, you would understand that the listless Republican "leadership" is very much a reason for the failure to bring Washington under control. Barr said he was betrayed many times by the GOP leadership over impeachment in 1998 and 1999. Barr explains in his book why the leadership is so spineless and why it will always be spineless.
34 posted on 10/21/2005 3:35:22 PM PDT by Theodore R. (Cowardice is forever!)
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To: jveritas
Trust me that the majority of conservatives will never make again the horrible mistake of staying home on election day or vote for some idiotic third party just to teach the Republicans a lesson because the Republican did not follow 100% of what they want.

You miss the point, people who vote third party aren't trying to teach anyone a lesson... they've simply come to the conclusion that there is little reason to vote for a Democrat or a Republican... and that's where we are again.

35 posted on 10/21/2005 3:35:30 PM PDT by dfrussell
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To: Pessimist; flashbunny; aceintx; Stellar Dendrite
Unsatisfied with shrinking the party by tossing out the "RINOs," some anti-Miers conservatives have been savage in their criticism of those of us who've been willing to give the lady a chance. The next time an anti-Miers conservative refers to us as "those who've drunk the Kool Aid," as Manuel Miranda and a number of commentators on this blog have done, I want to bang their heads on a concrete wall until all the **** they've been using for brains oozes out.

Here, boys. This is how all of us who want to give Miers a hearing feel about you.

I think one or two whacks against the wall ought to do it.

36 posted on 10/21/2005 3:46:10 PM PDT by sinkspur (If you're not willing to give Harriett Miers a hearing, I don't give a damn what you think.)
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To: MNJohnnie

Wrong this is way beyond just the pundits. ....Bush is spending political capital fighting his own base. What a waste. Bizzare and sad.


37 posted on 10/21/2005 4:30:27 PM PDT by Blackirish (“This country is not worth dying for" .....Cindy Sheehan)
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To: sinkspur; flashbunny

The Kool-Aid you're drinking obviously does not have a calming effect on you Sinkspur.


38 posted on 10/21/2005 4:50:42 PM PDT by Stellar Dendrite ( Mike Pence for President!!! http://acuf.org/issues/issue34/050415pol.asp)
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To: jveritas
"knee jerk reaction"

How I am tiring of this phrase. I know, you didn't call anybody this, I'm not slamming you, but, it's the Phrase Du Jour.

Count me in for being a Reactionist though. I'm certainly not a radical. Look it up......

39 posted on 10/21/2005 5:40:55 PM PDT by ottersnot (Kill a commie for your mommie)
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To: quidnunc

The only saving grace for me, is that I am so busy with my work right now, and with family events, that I can't spend too much time thinking about this stuff. But when I do stop and think about it, it makes me sick and depressed. We will fall from self-inflicted wounds, and among other things, somewhere in a cave, Bin Laden will be laughing too...along with the Democrats.


40 posted on 10/22/2005 8:08:04 AM PDT by veronica (What will "Ronnie" think? The question that obsesses the internut clowns...)
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