Posted on 10/27/2005 9:04:55 PM PDT by gpapa
Friday, October 28, 2005 12:01 a.m. EDT
The withdrawal of Harriet Miers's nomination to the Supreme Court was going to happen sooner or later, so better that it happened yesterday, which is to say quickly and before any Senate hearings. The issue now is whether President Bush draws the proper lessons from this unhappy episode as he contemplates his next nominee.
To wit, in today's polarized judicial politics, it is unwise to nominate anyone but a seasoned and top-flight constitutionalist to run the Senate confirmation gantlet. Ms. Miers has many virtues, but it was simply unfair to send her--a non-combatant in the judicial wars--to the equivalent of the Russian front. All the more so when the White House had obviously done little preparation or vetting.
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Lessone Numero Uno: Pick someone Revolting cat! approves!
There are no "lessons" from the Miers pick. If this was Rove's "genius," I'd let him go.
Alot of people are saying Bush will chose Maureen Mahoney.
The Swimmer was out today complaining about Miers not even having a hearing - so lesson #1 is to make him eat his own words when he tries to filibuster the next pick.
Yes the lesson Bush learned is who trusted in him and who he cannot trust.
The lesson the Deomcrats learned is that they are free to viciously attack the next nominee since they can point across the isle and say the Republicans did that to their own nominee whom they treated with more contempt than Justice Ginsburg.
The lesson learned is to not nominate Harry Ried's choice and have him get the moonbats to line up in support. In fact the bats screwed this one up big time because if they were in support this would have passed. The bats had to play hate Bush even when they're looking at a gift pony in the mouth.
The right turned on Miers becuase they do not trust president Bush to do what he says. The Democrats and the gang of 14 will turn on the next Bush nominee becuase they DO trust President Bush to do what he says.
The right has trashed Miers becuase they could not know of their own knowledge that Miers was conservative. The left will trash the next nominee becuase they will know that nominee is a conservative.
All of the spring pubicity about the Democrats filibustering Bush nominees got to some people. Democrats now know that in a close race like the 2004 election the abortion issue and court nominees can give the Republicasns a close win. But with a gasoline shortage and gas prices through the roof, with the auto industry in the dumpster, and layoffs in the industrial mid-west, coming inflation, and Republicans not even talking about a fix, the Democrats know the economy will be the big issue in 2006 and again in 2008.
We know such big employers as Delphi are asking for people to take huge pay cuts. There will be more jobs going overseas. The economic issues will work much to the Democrat's advantage. Try 1992 times 3.
People who believe the Bush approval numbers have to do with Irag need to look at the price on the gas pumps and listen to the rumors about factories laying off workers and job losses
Democrats are becoming convinced that the economy is due for stagflation... That is Inflation and job losses with a lowered standard of living. It is what happened the last time gasoline went through the roof. Ask Jimmy Carter what gasoline price increases do to an economy?
With that in mind there is no way the Demorats are going to allow Bush to appoint a conservative to the Supreme court.
The fear of a religious right backlash against Democrats is gone. AS Bill Clinton once said.. It is the economy stupid.
Te media will find some conservative and libertarian groops to oppose any and every bush nominee. It will be Democrats effectively blocking the Bush nominees, but it will the right that takes much of the media reported blame.
The Gang of 14 agreed to confirrm all but extreme nomineees. The right just painted Miers as an extremist. From this point on eveyone Bush appoints will be extreme. Take that to the RINO-DINO bank.
I dont think there are enough votes to do the nuclear option. That means the Democrats are free to filibuster till the cows come home or HIllary becomes president.
The people who are happy tonight that Miers is gone are due for a terrible shock. The game is over.. they just don't know they have lost.
Ginsburg was confirmed in a different era. Those days are gone forever.
Ginsburg could not be confirmed today unless the Democrats held a senate majority and invoked the nuclear option.
See post #2
If this was Rove's "genius," I'd let him go.
***
My guess would be that the problem with the Miers' nomination was lack of input from Rove.
The lesson the Deomcrats learned is that they are free to viciously attack the next nominee since they can point across the isle and say the Republicans did that to their own nominee whom they treated with more contempt than Justice Ginsburg.
****
I don't care what the Democrats think they have learned. The fact is that Ginsburg was qualified for the job, Miers was not. Elections have consequences. A well qualified nominee is deserving of approval, if she is within the mainstream of constitutional thought. That applies to Ginsburg and also to Scalia, and to our present situation.
Lessons Learned: Today we realize the power the Kristols, Krauthammers, Limbaughs, Ingrahams, Coulters etc etc. wield. Who would have thought they could stop the democratic process? I'm disappointed that GW did little to stop the lynching of Meirs. So much for loyalty. Didn't GW realize he was sending Meirs on a suicide mission? GW has lost respect from the rank & file for not providing covering fire for Meirs. She deserved that. Not exactly chivalrous conduct Mr. President unless this was a way to appease and shut up the First Lady at the same time. Unfortunately for Meirs is now she will be remembered as the only woman to withdraw her nomination from the court. Oh well, another fine upstanding American becoming a causualty of politics.
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