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.
I'm not outraged. I'm initially disappointed in Bush`s choice. However, Miers did lead an unsuccessful attempt to get the American Bar Association to put the abortion issue to a referendum of the group's full membership. That says something, but it doesn't say if she is a pro-lifer.
Agree with nuffsenuff
As doctrinely satisfying as it would have been to see a very hard core conservative nominee, such a nominee would not have been confirmed. The "nuclear option" no longer exists - the Gang of 14 saw to that. Justice Miers is not Robert Bork or Clarence Thomas, but she is very likely much more conservative than Justice O'Connor, and that is what counts. W is not his father; he certainly would not repeat the Souter mistake. He has known her for over 10 years, and he's about the only one who does. She has left no paper trail, and cannot be stopped by Schumer et al.
Rush is disappointed, but Rush would have preferred a huge confirmation fight (great for ratings). That won't happen. Justice Miers will be damaging liberal causes for decades to come, instead of getting mauled by Dems now.
I do not recall Mr.Roberts donating thousands of dollars to proabortion politicians and groups. I cannot say the same for Ms.Miefs.
After reading about this lady's personal life and talking to someone who knows her in Dallas....I'm rejoicing.
I wonder if Mcstain and the gang of 14 were consulted on this pick?
I don't want her to uphold *my* political views. I want her to uphold the *Constitution*.
What really burns my butt, is that this crap is NEVER about the Constitution. That's the last GD priority with everyone inside the beltway.
Welcome to FR, Troll. Most of us here are gracious even to the ignorant.
Sorry to disappoint, but Ms. Miers isn't pro-choice.
In what way? I keep hearing all this nashing of teeth and wailing form the Moveon.org "conservatives". Rather then just foam at the mouth, how about if some of you actually tell us WHY you are foaming at the mouth about this?
And Reid knows he's driving us nuts by voicing his approval.
Miers contributed to Algore and Floyd Bentson;
Both Bentsen and Gore were Pro-life in 1987 when those donations were made.
Just food for thought.
I do not recall Mr.Roberts donating thousands of dollars to proabortion politicians and groups. I cannot say the same for Ms.Miefs.
There is every evidence that Meiers is pro-life.
Souter was not known to GHWB. He trusted Rudman. GWB knows more than any of us, the colossal mistake Souter is.
POTUS knows Harriet. Personally and for a good long time.
Misunderestimated again.
"Bush credited Miers with breaking down barriers to women in the Texas legal profession, becoming the first woman to head her Dallas law firm, the first woman president of the Dallas Bar Association and the first woman elected president of the state bar of Texas. "
Phew. Wow!! That REALLY makes me feel better.
Now I KNOW that she is qualified to sit on the SCOTUS as an original intent type judge.
Thanks for strightening that out for me George.
By the way, the article refers to liberal O'Connor as a "moderate conservative". I always thought she was ocnservative when nominated, then drifted leftwards more and more under the influence of the evil Bader-Ginburg. I guess that means Yahoo considers her a "moderate conservative".
Unfortunately, we are looking for people who will legislate from the bench...just in our favor. Robert Bork had some brilliant commentary on this in his book, "The Political Seduction of the Law." It took me forever to read because of his intellect, but it was well worth it.
I will never understand why the Dems opposed Bork. He was totally apolitical in his view on the law. HE was the strictest of the the strict and would have been a brilliant Supreme Court Justice.
Yes, I also believe the same.
5 years from now, we may all look back and say Roberts/Miers were two of the most fantastic picks ever made. And then again.....
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