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 was initially discouraged too, but Jay Sekolow said she's a good pick, and I have confidence in his opinion, he's rarely disappointed me.
Like she made donuts for her church group?
Or is it because Harry Reid thought she would be a good choice?
I was initially discouraged too, but Jay Sekolow said she's a good pick, and I have confidence in his opinion, he's rarely disappointed me.
That's nutty. Bush and the Republicans in Congress stuck their necks out in support of Schiavo.
I hope the prolife Republicans in this country FINALLY wake the heck up.
Pro-life is not about "breaking the law."
Same MO.
The only thing that matters is that Harriet Miers is an Originalist. And that is going to kill the left's hold on the USSC.
I LIKE this pick.
Not all conservatives are jumping off the band wagon.
Well put. Great Post!
Dear bushbot: Miers was nominated by the same man who allows pork spending, signed CFR, and won't close the borders.
Your statement was that she wouldn't get out of committee. Not only did she get out of committee before, but one of the results of "the deal" was that a bunch of Rats are on record saying she's not particularly objectionable.
You are at odds with recent history.
Watch who's infuriated when the Libs find out she attends an evangelical church.
If you were Bush, would you go to war against the Libs with the GOP Senate team he's been delt ?
Good Point!
First difference- #41 didn't know Souter personally.
#43 knows Miers very well. ALSO- for those fearful- who do you think helped bring the Browns and Owens to the president's attention? Uhhmmm...that would be Harriet Miers.
FYI- she is a member of an Evangelical church in Dallas.
Dubya likes to work with people who know their stuff. Just from that, the selection of nominee is likely to be excellent. The law is a funny thing. No judge can know how he will decide on any issue until he hears the issue, and his decision often enough will surprise even himself.
I'm with you (post #40)
In the coming days hours, the democrats will like her less and less...lol.
Leahy already has "concerns" --- seems he thinks she's too closely associated with POTUS and his views. Imagine THAT!
Show me where it says Miers is pro-choice.
Otherwise, I'll just assume you're part of today's influx of trolls from DU.
The late Senator from Texas was Lloyd, not Floyd, Bentson, and he was a good man.
Texas Democrats are often more conservative than Republicans from other states, especially prior to 1990.
Sununu recommended Souter. He also claimed to "know him". what it really tells us is that at this high level of government, you never really "know" someone well enough to predict what they are going to do when you hand them a lifetime appointment with no recourse to pull them back. A governor or a president has so many buffers in between themselves and people who work for them, they any claim that the "know" this person - means very little.
we've got to end lifetime tenure for federal judges. one 10 year term and out. the entire system would work alot better that way.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.