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.
Nuff is no Bushbot. Take your trolling names elsewhere.
Ouch !
Lloyd Millard Bentsen, Jr., is still living but in frail health to my knowledge.
Is this what's bothering you? You want a judicial activist, do you?
I concur.
Our "real" conservatives are coming out of the woodwork. You know, the rather new sign-ons who call themselves "the base" --- that base who always claim we cannot win without them... as though we and POTUS are not conservatives.
That's a different subject.
And I'm not a Bushbot since I strongly disagree with the things you listed in your attempted diversion.
Hey I'm not outraged. I listened to the President's announcement. From what I've seen, she is OK. Maybe she is like an iceberg with 3/4 out of sight but so far so good.
To my knowledge both long-term Senators Tower (R) and Bentsen (D) were abortion supporters.
In this regard, the Fortas comparison is apt.
I like her. this is probably MSM taunting and wanting to bleed us
Why would you think Bush's "team" -- whoever you mean by that -- wouldn't help him with Brown or Luttig? They're both well thought of, tested and trusted by conservatives.
Luttig or whatever his name wouldn't get out of committee. Wake up.
The Chamber of Commerce isn't crazy about him, but if he were the pick he'd certainly get out of committee AND be confirmed. He's a respected and not very controversial judge. You have no evidence to the contrary, just ignorant speculation.
Sorry troll, but Harriet is very pro life. She argued a case AGAINST abortion on demmand. You are a loser. Go back to the DUmp.
As I am reading the posts coming across the Freep screen, it seems like she definitely will be OK.
I am certain you're right. He chose wisely. Not popularly, but wisely. He knows her, and for a good, long time.
They both did, but I can only spell Rudman.
Oh!! So sorry you got the ZOT when I was posting my earlier reply. LMAO!!!!
It's good to know she's a church woman, but I don't find anything here to persuade me she'd make a good Supreme Court justice.
The President has blown his chance to move the court to the right. This will likely be his last chance to change the court. Very disappointing, very.
Divide and conquer....correct. The biggest negative I have about Miers is her age, wish she were 10 years younger.
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