Miers' Withdrawal Reignites Supreme Court Guessing Game

FOXNews.com ^ | 28 October 2005 | Jane Roh

[Aussie Dasher]

Lawmakers and special interest groups started positioning themselves for President Bush's next pick for U.S. Supreme Court justice the same day a fumbled nomination ended in Harriet Miers (search) withdrawing from the confirmation process.

Miers, who will remain as White House counsel, made a surprise announcement Thursday morning that she is withdrawing her name from consideration to replace Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (search), who announced over the summer that she wanted to retire from the bench. O'Connor agreed to stay on while her replacement was vetted through the confirmation process.

In her withdrawal letter dated Thursday, Miers told the president that her pending confirmation hearings would likely be "a burden for the White House and our staff that is not in the best interest of the country."

[Aussie Dasher]

Let's all pray the President gets it right this time.

[Rastus]

Jane Roh

Fitting someone with this name should write this column?

[Aussie Dasher]

More than fitting!

[XR7]

The President did get it right.
The loudmouths on the "right" are a bunch of numbskulls.

President Bush knew Miers.
He trusted her.
I trust him.

We could have had a nominee whom the RATS would have let slide into the confirmation.
And, I'd be willing to bet she was the President's stealth pick.
She'd have been a vote for original intent on the Court.
Now we'll get a "known" conservative who the RATS will fight tooth and nail, and they'll win a few RINO's to their side that will sh*tcan any "conservative" nominee.
We should have trusted President Bush.

Thanks Rush, et al.
Thanks for nothing.

[jbarntt]

We could have had a nominee whom the RATS would have let slide into the confirmation.

*****

Of course they would, because they would reasonably bet that she was another SDO'C or Souter. Miers' was their best bet for a liberal or moderate on the court. I want something better.

Let the Democrats stew over a Luttig or McConnell.

[Lexinom]

Until yesterday, I shared your position. I, too, was sick of the whining and was even a little pleased at the prospect of having someone who had not spent the last twenty years angling for a seat on the SCOTUS. Like you, I trusted, and still trust, this President.

Something changed my mind about Miers, though.

It's partly the position she articulated in the speech, but it's much more insidious than that. Her words demonstrated a disconcerting willingness to please a specific crowd. Situational ethics. That is not the kind of judicial temperment we need.

I wish Ms. Miers all the best in her future endeavors.

[JLS]

Yeah I have to agree those 1993 speeches were very disturbing to me too. She seems to be a woman who is a pleaser. No matter what they start as, pleasers in DC drift left.

[Bush 100 Percent]

You do know that RedState says McConnell is "squishy" on abortion and that he says "Bush v Gore" was wrongly decided?

Why would he be a better pick than Miers? His credentials might look good (so did Souter's) but I'd seriously like to know why you think McConnell is a better choice considering he is questionable on abortion AND the Bush v Gore case?

[Wiseghy]

The President was weakened by this, however there is only one choice now and that is to pick a pure, conservative nominee.

The first shot in the battle will be a "DOA" call from the Dems and some on the "Gang of 14", shortly after the nomination that will get wide apocalyptic play in the MSM, with attendant speculation about the Party over extending itself, etc, etc.

Conservatives will have to put up or shut up to get this one nominated. The fight is here, delivered to us on a silver platter.

[quietolong]

What about Rush?

Boy would that twist the RATs.

[Deo et Patria]

Hoping it's JRB, Edith Jones, or Alito, aka "Scalito".

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

The loudmouths on the "right" are a bunch of numbskulls.

I'd say Krauthammer is a soothsayer more than a numbskull. Way to go, Charles! :-)

President Bush knew Miers. He trusted her. I trust him.

You mean you trusted Miers to take her "self-determination" belief to the Supreme Court in time to hear those upcoming abortion cases? Yikes, that would've been scary!

Do you trust Bush to enforce immigration laws? Do you trust Bush to cut spending and veto bills full of pork?

Thanks Rush, et al. Thanks for nothing.

Sorry you're in such a miserable mood. Most conservatives I know are a happy bunch right now. We're happy that Ms. Miers did the right thing for her country even if President Bush never woke up. I have a newfound respect for Ms. Miers, and I wish her all the best.

It was a joyous occasion yesterday to channel-surf the TV for hours, seeing Ann Coulter so triumphant while at the same time seeing Senator Arlen deeply disturbed and his RINO colleague Catherine Crier bitching at Pat Buchanan on msNBC. Truly, a wonderful day!

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

Hoping it's JRB, Edith Jones, or Alito, aka "Scalito".

Any of those would be great. I'd add Ted Olson, Michael Luttig and maybe even Miguel Estrada to the mix. And, hey, I wonder if that Pickering guy would be interested, too! I wanna see steam come out of Ted Kennedy's ears while on a split-screen with Katie Couric, LOL!

[counterpunch]

Let's all hope we get to see this again.
 

[LibertarianInExile]

AMEN, brother!

I like Kozinski better but JRB would be fine with me, too!

[You Dirty Rats]

Deborah Cook, 6th Circuit and an Ohio fixture. DeWine would definitely vote for her.

[nonliberal]

How about Roy Moore?

[XR7]

Let's all hope we get to see this again.

It will more likely be this...

[Lexinom]

Yes! Great tagline, BTW.

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

How about Roy Moore?

That might cause Senator Arlen to slip into a permanent state of insanity (that is, if he's not already there).