What do I think about all this, Killborn? Of course plenty of people have been leery of Bush on various things. Conservatives aren't easily satisfied. What one wants, another doesn't.
But NRO has acted exactly like liberals thoughout this brouhaha...smear tactics, misrepresentation and outright lies. Their targe is Bush, not Miers. David Frum has hated Bush since he worked for one year as a speech writer in the White House and discovered that no one thought he was brilliant. He was loose with the facts then, too, and Harriet Miers was the one who repeatedly sent his speeches back to him for correction. Bush refused untruths.
I think the judges the antiMiers have been braying for will, if one is appointed, turn out to be Souter. Bush's father let someone else pick a Supreme nominee and that was Souter. That's why Bush picked his own -- Miers. She would have been great. Those out there questioning that know nothing about law or anything else and don't care. Get Bush is what they want, even if it gives us a Democratic Congress and Prez.
Good to see you back, fella! Good to see your name at FR!
Peggy
Like I've said many times before, the process forced her withdrawal. The Pres. doean't give up this easily, nor do I think that any woman called a "pit bull in size 6 shoes" would. It's only when the compromising of confidential information would have led to Senatorial confidence that Miers decided not to compromise the process.
I think she would have been a fine justice but my paranoia in all things won't let me rest until I get 100% confirmation that she is an originalist. This is the same with any candidate the President puts up. Even if FR is ecstatic, I'd still have some doubt reserved. You are right on the Souter point. We don't really know how this process will turn out. We don't have anymore evidence that Miers would be or not be a Souter than that anyone else on the short list would be or not be a Souter. For all our sakes, I hope this turns out for the best.
Her treatment was quite shameful and many FReepers are jumping on conclusions based on evidence that wouldn't convict a jaywalker. It doesn't prove that Miers wasn't jaywalking but it's still scanty enough to alow further inquiries and evidence. I feel really bad for the PRes. I feel relieved that he din't look too dejected yesterday but who knows. IF I were in the Pres. position, I'd come out with guns blazing. But he has too much class, character, patriotism, and forgiveness to engage in petty vindictive behavior like publicly blasting the opposition or nominating a Souter just to teach his detractors a lesson. Pres. Bush has been backstabbed time and time again by RINOs, Dems, and now his hardcore base and the punditocracy but he just brushes it off, prays for strength, and moves on. I hope he'll come out of this stronger and nominates someone to appease the beast. :) That way he can focus on more important issues.
One characteristic of this Administration is the constant delays dropped into his way to impede his agenda. First RINOs, then a hurricane, later indictments, and now Miers. A few more events like this, he might as well just retire and take anyone who wants to implement the Bush Agenda with him and force an early election. Might as well have a new guy in charge if he won't ever get his policies implemented.
That's my rant. Good to see you again too!
Tom