Posted on 10/03/2005 10:43:26 AM PDT by The_Victor
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Monday nominated White House insider Harriet Miers for a Supreme Court vacancy, triggering outrage from conservatives who questioned whether she would uphold their political views.
Bush chose Miers, a lawyer but not a judge whose opinions on key issues likely to come before the high court are largely unknown, to replace the retiring Sandra Day O'Connor.
Conservatives who formed the bedrock foundation of Bush's re-election last November immediately protested the nomination as a betrayal of his campaign promise to pick conservative judges, pointing to her past campaign donations to Democrats.
Miers, 60, a longtime ally of Bush's going back to his days as Texas governor and currently White House counsel, would be the third woman ever to serve on the Supreme Court if confirmed by the U.S. Senate. O'Connor was the first and Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been there since 1993.
"I believe that senators of both parties will find that Harriet Miers' talent, experience and judicial philosophy make her a superb choice to safeguard the constitutional liberties and equality of all Americans," Bush said in a hastily arranged Oval Office ceremony with Miers.
O'Connor, a moderate conservative, was the key swing vote on a number of 5-4 decisions on the closely divided Supreme Court. Democrats said much was unknown about Miers and that she would undergo intense scrutiny by the Senate.
The White House noted some Democrats had urged Bush to consider the Dallas-born Miers but would give no names. One of those, however, was Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat.
"I like Harriet Miers," said Reid, who had voted against John Roberts as U.S. chief justice in Roberts' confirmation vote last week. "In my view, the Supreme Court would benefit from the addition of a justice who has real experience as a practicing lawyer."
But some conservatives expressed concern that Bush had missed a historic opportunity to shift the balance of the court in a clear way by picking someone in the same mold as conservative justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.
"It is very hard to avoid the conclusion that President Bush flinched from a fight on constitutional philosophy. Miers is undoubtedly a decent and competent person. But her selection will unavoidably be judged as reflecting a combination of cronyism and capitulation on the part of the president," said William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard magazine.
Manny Miranda, head of a conservative coalition called The Third Branch Conference, said Miers was "the most unqualified choice" for the high court since Lyndon Johnson tried to make Abe Fortas chief justice in 1968.
"I was hoping that the president would keep his campaign promise. He said he would name someone like Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. We thought he meant someone with a clear judicial record on particular issues," Miranda said.
Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn (news, bio, voting record) urged conservatives not to jump to conclusions and not to prejudge her.
Records show Miers has given money over the years to both Republicans and Democrats, including $1,000 to Democrat Al Gore's presidential campaign in 1988.
In 1987 she gave $1,000 to former Texas Sen. Lloyd Bentsen. Bentsen was the Democratic vice presidential nominee who ran against Bush's father in 1988.
In more recent years, Miers has regularly contributed to Republicans such as Bush.
Probably watching and laughing. Probably instigating.
I agree... I've had this nagging feeling that someone has been rejoicing at the general hysteria caused by Bush's nomination... and now I know who...
Plus the idea that someone at DU has probably started a "FReepers Funnies" thread should put a damper on things.... should, but probably won't.
I don't know enough about Harriet Miers to be outraged. I would have prefered Luttig or Brown.
I just don't see the point in building concensus with people who won't accept it anyway.
Doesn't outrage ME.
In fact, the more I learn about her the more I like her.
I'm not outraged. I think the President has made a good choice for the Supreme Court.
Any word on the Democrat/Liberal response yet...
I think a lot of Freepers have raised valid concerns and points regarding this nomination, but I smell a flanking maneuver.
I'm not going to jump on the cronyism bandwagon or even the "Bush sold us down the river" bandwagon just yet.
I suspect there's either something we don't know about this nominee, and Bush feels like he'll be able to push a conservative under the Democrat radar...Or he's deliberately nominated one who will never pass confirmation so that his true choice enters the confirmation hearings a leg up politically. The Democrats are said to have let Roberts slide so they would have more political capital in opposing Bush's next nominee.
I am wondering if this isn't Bush's attempt to rob the Democrats of that capital and let them shoot down a lame duck nominee.
Ditto!
It's really hard to understand where the Prez is coming from sometimes. Actually she really doesn't sound like a stellar pick...a nice lady, though. Bush can't help himself from picking people he has a personal relationship with...that seems more important to him than (in this case) their judicial philosophy.
Dear Fellow Conservatives:
Miers was nominated by the same man who nominated John Roberts.
'Nuff said.
BS. Brown was recently confirmed in the full Senate. Luttig would be confirmed as well.
Why can't you deal with reality?
How about that dude nominated in 1972 with no judicial experience?
You know, the guy we just buried?
Snort. Rooters would print the same thing if the Right were doing handsprings.
I was stunned and disheartened when I first heard the nomination. I'm an Enangelical Christian, and worked as vice-president for a pro-life group. After reading about this lady's personal life and talking to someone who knows her in Dallas....I'm rejoicing.
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