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Democrats Enjoy the Spectacle [GOP Whiffers Expand the Strike Zone] (John Fund)
OpinionJournal ^ | October 6, 2005 | John Fund

Posted on 10/06/2005 2:52:59 PM PDT by maryz

Why are Democrats and liberals so silent on the nomination of Harriet Miers? "The oldest rule in politics is that when your adversaries are fighting among themselves, you keep quiet," says political handicapper Charlie Cook.

Mr. Cook says Democratic Senators are divided in their reaction to Ms. Miers. The older and more tradition-minded are distressed that the president chose someone so close to his inner circle with such a scant public record on legal issues. Of course, they neglect to mention their own role in encouraging the president in that course by filibustering so many of his appellate court nominees. As for younger Democratic Senators, Mr. Cook says they are positively gleeful that Ms. Miers was selected. "Given that Democrats have only 45 Senators they view it as dodging a bullet," he told me. "They feared getting someone who would have been far more formidable on the court."

snip

Conservatives should start to realize the fun and political gain that liberals are having at their expense. While skepticism of Ms. Miers is justified, the time is fast approaching when such expressions should be muted until the Senate hearings begin. At that point, Ms. Miers will finally be able to speak for herself. And those on both sides of the political spectrum will be able to make a more informed judgment.

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: harrietmiers; miers; ussc
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To: Jim_Curtis
Conservatives don't become liberals.

Unless they're appointed to the Supreme Court.

Then, watch out!

41 posted on 10/06/2005 6:02:02 PM PDT by Do not dub me shapka broham ("I'm okay with being unimpressive. It helps me sleep better.")
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To: Do not dub me shapka broham

Conservatives don't become liberals.
Unless they're appointed to the Supreme Court.

Then, watch out!
---
I don't think so. If you are originally conservative you aren't going to lust for empowering yourself by taking power away from the people later on.


42 posted on 10/06/2005 6:36:25 PM PDT by Jim_Curtis (How do we prevent someone from torching his city if he will be rewarded as a lottery winner?)
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To: Rodney King
I totally agree that all of the time, money, and passion I have put into Republican politics and supporting Bush seems to me now to be a total waste of time (other than the war on terror). I have sent letters to the DNC and all of the Senate Republicans I have donated to over the years that I will not contribute one cent more until they start following conservative Republican principles. My only contributions from now on will be to groups like the Club for Growth and to a few lone, principled Rep. standouts like Coburn.
43 posted on 10/06/2005 6:43:57 PM PDT by RandDisciple
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To: Jim_Curtis
That's an epistemic question.

The fact is that there were many conservatives-although there were also a handful that were merely masquerading under that banner prior to being confirmed-who became decidedly more liberal in inclination only after having served on the Court for a number of years.

What's more, there were a few liberals-such as Earl Warren-whose tenure on the bench turned them into full-fledged radicals.

It's an irrefutable historical fact.

44 posted on 10/06/2005 6:51:17 PM PDT by Do not dub me shapka broham ("I'm okay with being unimpressive. It helps me sleep better.")
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To: CharlesWayneCT
"So, will you punish the house republicans, and your state and local republicans?"

Will you punish the senate republicans?

Do you want Harry Reid, who apparently suggested this nominee, to be running the Senate? "


Look in the mirror and ask yourself those questions.

Think about the answer you provide the next time you post to a Conservative.

45 posted on 10/06/2005 6:55:03 PM PDT by Souled_Out
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To: Dreagon
And whose fault is this? Bush's for picking this woman in the first place.

Which is why, when it is all over and done with, even the Bush-bots will wish he hadn't done it. It was needless, and foolish.
46 posted on 10/06/2005 6:57:37 PM PDT by safisoft (Give me Torah!)
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To: maryz
If beating back the Dems and slapping the RINOs were that easy, we would have exercised the nuclear option several months ago, and Bush would have had a free hand.

How would we know? This President hasn't tried.
47 posted on 10/06/2005 6:58:41 PM PDT by safisoft (Give me Torah!)
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To: maryz
I have looked for the proper thread to make these remarks and can not find it. So I am writing it here. Cut me some slack.

Did anyone see Gingrich on Hannity and Colmbs? He was asked about Freehs' book where Freeh is about to tell the world that Bill Clinton tried to shake down the leader of a foreign country. Did anyone hear it the way I heard it? This is astonishing. The Director of the FBI announcing that the President of the United States was shaking down a foreign leader for personal money? Good God. That is the biggest story of the century. Where is it? Did I dream it?

48 posted on 10/06/2005 7:06:39 PM PDT by Texas Songwriter
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To: Jim_Curtis

The VP candidate that year was Lloyd Bentson, a Democrat from Texas. I believe she also gave him money directly. It is likely she was supporting that ticket, but not because of Dukakis.

Not that it matters. Imagine this, conservatives who will argue that political philosophy doesn't matter in judges, since they don't make law, but then get all upset if a candidate was once a democrat. Even is she was a democrat TODAY, that would only matter if we expected her to be an activist judge.


49 posted on 10/06/2005 7:44:51 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: Souled_Out

For this pick, at this time, I don't expect to punish any of my representatives in 2006. My congressman isn't a solid conservative, but he is pretty good. Allen is my senator, and I'm pretty happy with him although I wrote him about his comments on Cindy Sheehan.

After the hearings, I'll write my senators to provide my opinion on the nomination, but it won't be a litmus test for me.

I would support a conservative in a primary against John Warner in 2008, but would support him strongly in a general election against a democrat.

I will be strongly supporting with my time and effort the candidates running this fall in Virginia for Governor (Jerry Kilgore), Lt. Governor (Bill Bolling), Attorney General (Bob McDonnell), and my delegate (Bob Marshall). I also write a column which has been supportive of Jeff Frederick. I supported a more conservative candidate against a long-term republican Harry Parrish, but now I am supporting Harry Parrish in the general election.

I am a strong supporter of primary challenges, I think they are good for the party, and good for democracy. I am in the minority in that view amongst my republican peers here, who only see primaries as good if they don't like the other candidate.

I simply urge that everybody reading this thread, and not just whoever happens to prompt the thoughts I have (and who therefore appears as the "postee") to consider before the election what their goal is, and whether their actions will accomplish that goal. Then do what you think is right.


50 posted on 10/06/2005 8:08:12 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: CharlesWayneCT
"I simply urge that everybody reading this thread, and not just whoever happens to prompt the thoughts I have (and who therefore appears as the "postee") to consider before the election what their goal is, and whether their actions will accomplish that goal. Then do what you think is right."
That seems fair.

The ability to accomplish the goals for the majority of us can be guaranteed in time.

It's about how we treat each other until we know more.

The process of knowing will take longer for some of the FR posters.

51 posted on 10/06/2005 8:52:46 PM PDT by Souled_Out
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To: maryz
From what I've read, Kennedy was pretty conservative at first. Mark Levin attributes his drift to the left and that of O'Connor to their being drawn into and sucking up (not to put too fine a point on it) to the DC social circuit.

I believe this. I have seen Kennedy interviewed on CSPAN and it is clear he has one eye on the mirror at all times. A real preener, I'd say, and a schmuck of a constitutional lawyer.

52 posted on 10/06/2005 9:28:31 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: Texas Songwriter
Keep watching conservative media -- I'm sure Freeh will be all over them pushing his book. (I wouldn't expect 60 Minutes to give him a whole hour, personally!)

The way I heard it, Clinton refused to get permission for Freeh to interview suspects in Saudi Arabia (I think it was), but shook them down for a contribution to the Clinton Library.

53 posted on 10/07/2005 1:44:51 AM PDT by maryz
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