"However, the general rule that should govern proposals to amend the Constitution is: Don't. ... So the nation probably should just live with this constitutional provision, whatever the cost to Granholm's career. Her hyper-liberalism, which extends from gun control and affirmative action to a watery form of reparations for slavery, is of, shall we say, Pelosian purity and probably is itself an insuperable impediment to national aspirations."
(2) Krauthammer wrote about Bush's performance after the hurricane, not his culpability before. Your claim ("Charles Krauthammer piled on W for Katrina, without any facts, and apparently without understanding how FEMA works with state governments") is not reflected in Krauthammer's words.
"Late, slow, and simply out of tune with the urgency and magnitude of the disaster. The second he heard that the levees had been breached in New Orleans, he should have canceled his schedule and addressed the country on national television to mobilize it both emotionally and physically to assist in the disaster. His flyover on the way to Washington was the worst possible symbolism. And his Friday visit was so tone-deaf and politically disastrous that he had to fly back three days later."
(3) If you discount Frum's opinion because he doesn't have Supreme Court-type credentials, you discount everyone who isn't a "Constitutional expert," which is not a rhetorical tactic I'm used to seeing conservatives make.
(4) I have no interest in defending Coulter, who I do not consider one of our best pundits.
(5) And Kristol, who cares, but it would be nice to read why he's wrong instead of finding a superficial reason to discount his opinion.
Anyway, I await your explanations of how any of the above (except Coulter) are venal, disdainful or out of touch.
My comments on Krauthammer were based on what I heard him say in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane. The column you quote is a refined version of his column. In the aftermath of the hurricane, Krauthammer was griping that the president didn't mount a massive PR campaign. Well, too bad. He was busy getting relief in and STILL dealing with a governor who wouldn't ask for federalization of the guard.
I just heard Krauthammer again on a Fox replay, concerning this Supreme Court pick, and once again he uses words like "small" . He says he isn't being an elitist, and then proceeds to be just that.
It is not my inclination nor do I have the time this morning to personally refute everything you wrote. I will say this; as a group, the pundits have disappointed me by shooting from the hip before they have even heard the woman. Those who have worked with her professionally, like Ken Starr, seem to think this is excellent choice.
And I stand by my comment about Ann Coulter. Coulter's insults about this woman were crude and demonstrated a lack of appreciation for Mier's accomplishments. Whether you consider her one of our best pundits or not, she was part of the mix.