Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Misunderestimating The Furor Over Hurricane Harriet
GOPUSA ^ | October 10, 2005 | Chuck Muth

Posted on 10/10/2005 8:55:12 AM PDT by Warhammer

Misunderestimating The Furor Over Hurricane Harriet By Chuck Muth October 10, 2005

The White House's spinmeisters are either ignorantly misreading or intentionally mischaracterizing the general conservative opposition to Harriet Miers' nomination to the Supreme Court. They continue "misunderestimating" the furor at their own peril.

It's not that conservatives think she's "unqualified." We accept the fact that one need not have been a judge to sit on the Supreme Court. We accept the fact that many a fine justice had no judicial experience before joining SCOTUS. On the other hand, a lot of really lousy former justices had no judicial experience either.

We also accept the fact that Miers is an accomplished lawyer who won't "legislate from the bench." And we're fairly comfortable that she won't "go Souter" on us.

And it's not that she isn't "conservative." Conservatives not only accept that she's a conservative, but is most assuredly a social conservative, as well. We also accept that she's probably a very nice, but tough, lady who "has a good heart" (whatever the heck that means to one's ability to interpret the Constitution).

And it has nothing to do with the fact that she didn't come from an Ivy League school. Most of the other individuals on the short-list of nominees who would have been warmly embraced by grassroots conservative activists and leaders didn't come from Ivy League schools either. In fact, NOT coming from an Ivy League school is probably more in her FAVOR among rank-and-file conservatives who are not exactly enamored with Harvard and Yale ivory-tower liberalism.

And it's not that we don't "trust" the president - although after McCain-Feingold, Teddy Kennedy's No Child Left Behind program, LBJ's prescription drug bill, that pork-filled highway bill, his federal Marshall Plan for New Orleans, losing his veto pen, amnesty for illegal aliens, etc., etc., etc., perhaps that trust should come into serious question.

And it's not that Ms. Miers is a close, personal friend to the president. Although the charge of "cronyism" is, indeed, a legitimate point, that really isn't what all the hubbub is about.

No. This is about Republicans never blowing an opportunity to blow an opportunity.

The visceral objections to Harriet Miers have more to do with the fact that many conservative activists have been toiling in the political trenches for many years to elect a Republican president and a Republican Senate for the expressed purpose of being able to seat individuals on the nation's highest court who have the conservative judicial and intellectual star-power and brain-power we were denied by the Left when they "borked" Robert Bork. The fact is, with Republican kiesters warming 55 of the Senate's 100 seats, a superior Bork-like nominee could have been confirmed to join Justice Thomas and Justice Scalia and Chief Justice Roberts on the Supreme Court of the United States of America.

Instead, we get...Harriet Miers?

We could have had filet mignon. Instead we got hamburger. We could have had Dom Perignon. Instead we got Pabst Blue Ribbon. We could have thrown a touchdown. Instead we ran it up the middle for a two-yard gain. And then to rub salt in this open wound, the president insulted the nation's collective intelligence by claiming, laughably, that he "picked the best person (he) could find." Perhaps he should have extended his search beyond arm's length.

It's not so much that Harriet Miers is "bad," but that we had an opportunity to do so much better.

There are only nine seats on the Supreme Court. Vacancies don't occur very often. Why settle for a second- or third-stringer when there were so many experienced, bona fide super-stars sitting on the bench waiting to get into the game? With the World Series on the line, why send an untested, inexperienced rookie to the mound when you have the likes of Roger Clemens or Randy Johnson at your disposal? This nomination is the sort of decision which would get a major league manager fired on the spot.

Nevertheless, there are still some GOP partisan loyalists out there who are blindly accepting the president's nomination on faith and disparaging anyone else who dares voice objection as not being a "team player" or a "true conservative." These Bushophiles need to wake up and smell the coffee. For the record, here's just a partial list of prominent, bona fide, card-carrying conservatives who have expressed reservations, if not open hostility, to the Miers nomination over the past week:

Former Judge Robert Bork, American Conservative Union chairman David Keene, columnist Charles Krauthammer, talk show host Rush Limbaugh, columnist George Will, Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Roger Pilon of the Cato Institute, Bill Kristol of the Weekly Standard, columnist Thomas Sowell, columnist Mona Charen, former ACU executive director Richard Lessner, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS), columnist Robert Novak, columnist Bruce Fein, columnist Peggy Noonan, former Bush speechwriter David Frum, columnist Terrence Jeffrey, columnist Michelle Malkin, the Wall Street Journal, Manny Miranda of the Third Branch Coalition, the Federalist Patriot, columnist David Limbaugh, Gary Bauer of American Values, Alan Keyes of Renew America, columnist Pat Buchanan and Paul Weyrich of the Free Congress Foundation.

All of these people are wrong and the president is right? All of these people aren't "true conservatives"? All of these people aren't "team players"? Come on.

George W is not the Pope. He is not infallible. He made a mistake. But it's a mistake which can and should be rectified. The nation need not settle for second or third best with this lifetime appointment. President Bush should take a "mulligan," withdraw this nomination and appoint someone such as Judge Janice Rogers Brown instead. Absent that, Ms. Miers should take herself out of the game - for the good of the conservative movement and for the good of the nation.

-----------

Chuck Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, a non-profit public policy advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. The views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Citizen Outreach. He may be reached at chuck@citizenoutreach.com. Talk show producers interested in scheduling an interview with Mr. Muth

should call (202) 558-7162.

--------------------

Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government
KEYWORDS: harrietmiers; supremecourt
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 141-160161-180181-200 ... 221-222 next last
To: Cboldt
and she is a crony.

What I love is the "Alexander Hamilton was a crony" argument. Given his obvious skill and professional accomplishment by that time, that was a charge that was easily put to rest. There is no parallel to this case.

161 posted on 10/10/2005 11:25:48 AM PDT by AndyJackson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 158 | View Replies]

To: AlguyA

"masquerading as intellectual debate."

hahaha...


162 posted on 10/10/2005 11:31:10 AM PDT by dakine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 155 | View Replies]

To: Howlin
"...wait and see how she does in the confirmation hearings and then decide if she's a good nominee or not."

ROFLOL! How she "does?" You mean, whether she makes you feel warm all over, or not?

Forget I asked. Just to give something to consider, I remember watching the Bork hearings, he 'did' terrible. No warm fuzzies there. But he still would have made the best SC justice this nation's ever had.

163 posted on 10/10/2005 11:34:41 AM PDT by AlguyA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 159 | View Replies]

To: AlguyA
But he still would have made the best SC justice this nation's ever had.

Too bad he blew his chance.

164 posted on 10/10/2005 11:38:28 AM PDT by Howlin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 163 | View Replies]

To: AlguyA
There is just absoluely to much speculation going on by people who know nothing. At this site there is a thread from a "insider" "knowledgeable source"... guaranteed to be accurate that tells us Spector basically told the President it had to be Miers or Gonzales or the nomination wouldn't make it out of committee. And there is a thread telling us that Spector wants to investigate the WH because they allegedly made a back room deal with some ultra conservatives to get support for Miers.

I've seen a lot of politics in my time... but none as bad as this deal is going.

165 posted on 10/10/2005 11:41:08 AM PDT by kjam22
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 163 | View Replies]

To: Howlin
"Too bad he blew his chance."

No. Its too bad the nation lost its chance to have him on the Court.

At least, I suspect this is how those who are truly conservative would view it.

166 posted on 10/10/2005 11:41:46 AM PDT by AlguyA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 164 | View Replies]

To: AlguyA

It is too bad he never was elevated to the Court, but he has no one to blame but himself.


167 posted on 10/10/2005 11:44:35 AM PDT by Howlin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 166 | View Replies]

To: kjam22

Agreed.


168 posted on 10/10/2005 11:45:01 AM PDT by AlguyA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 165 | View Replies]

To: Howlin

>>>His base? Well, that doesn't include you, does it, since you voted for Gore in 2000.<<<

How much is the Bush administration paying you to support his latest bout of wimpiness? Stick a sock in it.


169 posted on 10/10/2005 11:45:15 AM PDT by PhilipFreneau ("Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." -- James 4:7)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: PhilipFreneau

Feel free to skip over any of my posts that offend you.


170 posted on 10/10/2005 11:46:28 AM PDT by Howlin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 169 | View Replies]

To: Howlin
"It is too bad he never was elevated to the Court, but he has no one to blame but himself."

You really don't know much about American politics, do you.

171 posted on 10/10/2005 11:46:40 AM PDT by AlguyA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 167 | View Replies]

To: sinkspur

>>>You need to read the forum. It appears that the "rank and file" conservatives think you guys are elitists and just plain wrong about Harriett Miers.<<<

Rank and file conservatives think you are being paid off to support the Miers nomination. There is no other logical explanation.


172 posted on 10/10/2005 11:49:49 AM PDT by PhilipFreneau ("Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." -- James 4:7)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: AlguyA

I know enough to know he wasn't smart enough to get himself on the Court. And I know he didn't get much support from the Reagan administration.


173 posted on 10/10/2005 11:51:34 AM PDT by Howlin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 171 | View Replies]

To: flashbunny

>>>Nice. Hit and run. Seems to be par for the course from the squishy republicans these days. Try to make a slam using liberal tactics and run away. <<<

I'll take his place. Convince me that Bush did not wimp out again, if you can.


174 posted on 10/10/2005 11:52:36 AM PDT by PhilipFreneau ("Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." -- James 4:7)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: PhilipFreneau

"Convince me that Bush did not wimp out again, if you can."

I can't, because I agree with you. He did wimp out.


175 posted on 10/10/2005 11:54:13 AM PDT by flashbunny (Sorry, but I'm allergic to KoolAid.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 174 | View Replies]

To: mosquitobite
You're the one saying trust Bush! I've simply pointed out ONE reason NOT to.

Good grief! You don't trust Bush on judicial appointments because you disagree with TWO decisions of ONE judge?

Are you going to divorce your wife when she brings home chunky peanut butter because she should know you like smooth?

176 posted on 10/10/2005 11:55:25 AM PDT by sinkspur (If you're not willing to give Harriett Miers a hearing, I don't give a damn what you think.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies]

To: PhilipFreneau
But if what the WH, the people that know Miers from her church etc.... if what they say is true.... the president just nominated a 3rd grade sunday school teacher from a conservative evangelical church, who is conservative, who reads the constitution as literal as she reads the bible. If this is true I just have to step back and say ... WOW...!

If this is true she will be the most conservative member of the court, because I know 3rd grade sunday school teachers at conservative evangelical churches... and I know what they believe about the bible and the constitution.

So the question to me is not is she a bulldog. I don't care if she is the smartest constitutional lawyer in the world.... because she is not going to change Ginsberg's mind. She isn't going to change Sutor. We just need her to vote the way we want her to. Period. That's all it's about... how will she vote?????

We can let Roberts evaluate things all day if he wants to.... and to be honest.... I'm a little more worried about his vote than I am Miers' vote right now.

177 posted on 10/10/2005 11:56:34 AM PDT by kjam22
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 169 | View Replies]


178 posted on 10/10/2005 11:56:52 AM PDT by evets (God bless president Bush!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 176 | View Replies]

To: Howlin

>>>And those definitely against her drops to 26 percents of the people on FR<<<

I didn't vote, so that should read, "And those definitely against her drops to 26 percents of the people on FR who actually voted in this poll".


179 posted on 10/10/2005 11:57:22 AM PDT by PhilipFreneau ("Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." -- James 4:7)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]

To: PhilipFreneau
Rank and file conservatives think you are being paid off to support the Miers nomination.

I knew it was just a matter of time before we heard from the mental defective wing of the conservative movement.

180 posted on 10/10/2005 11:57:29 AM PDT by sinkspur (If you're not willing to give Harriett Miers a hearing, I don't give a damn what you think.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 172 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 141-160161-180181-200 ... 221-222 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson