Forget the abortion issue, this speech is far from being the views of a Conservative. Disjointed prose aside, Miers sounds very liberal on social issues to me.
School funding: Miers bemoans the failure of the the so-called Robin Hood plan for school funding. It sounds like the amendment wanted to take from the "rich" and give to the "poor." It is called forced redistribution of the wealth. Miers seems to favor a state income tax to fund education rather than through the property tax exclusively.
The Courts vs the Legislature: Miers seems to blieve that the legislature has abdicated its responsibilites and "abandon to the Courts the hard decisions so that they an respond to constituents: I do not want to do that--the Court is making me." In fact, it is the Courts that are usurping the authority of the legislatures. Miers seems to believe that the Courts should not be blamed for "activism or intrusion where it does not belong." Rather Miers blames the elected leadership.
Political leaders Miers wants political leaders to show more leadership and make hard decisions. She ties it in to placing low income housing around the city, including in upscale areas and links it to racial issues. "But, with respect to racial harmony, lack of familiarity breeds contempt."
Diversity. "...ultimate benefit of a society whose wealth is diversity and who pulls together against common enemies." She refers to the Rodney King incident and laments the lack of minorities who serve in the judiciary. She bemoans all white juries trying cases which significantly impact the rights of minorities. Quotas anyone?
Women's rights Miers sounds like a feminist referring to "glass ceilings" and sexual harassment. She celebrates the fact that the California Bar will elect a woman for the first time and notes that "Texas jumped that hurdle first."
Abortion Miers mentions "the attempt to once again criminalize abortion or to once and for all guarantee the freedom of the individual women's (sic) right to decide for herself whether to have an abortion."
Religion "No one should be able to oppressively require a student to participate in religious activities against their will, but if a student on his or own chooses to express him or herself in religious terms, that should not be permitted." What does she mean by this statement?
The speech was poorly constructed and written with a number of grammatical mistakes. It certainly does not indicate a superior intellect. Once this is circulated publicly, Miers is toast.
Sheeeze, give her an C on grammatical stuff, and let her speak in her hearing..
If she is as dumb as a box of rocks as you English teachers say, she'll get the ole heave-hoe anyway, whats wrong with that? Then you will get an A for catching it soooooo soon.. I'll present it myself.. :)
It's a recapitulation of the religion clauses in the 1st Amendment.