FRUM: A SINKING NOMINATION

NRO ^ | October 11, 2005 | David Frum

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

ping

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

My name will be affixed to that online petition-when it's finally completed-rest assured!

[Ninian Dryhope]

"By asking the first lady to defend the nomination"

What a crock! The White House did not ask the First Lady to defend the nomination. Matt Laurer asked Laura what she thought and Laura agreed that it was POSSIBLE, Guess what? It is possible. Is Frum trying to say that it is impossible that some of the opposition is due to sexism?

Like the President said yesterday, Miers will be confirmed.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

It's not "impossible" per se, but it's very, very implausible.

[Terpfen]

Under these circumstancs, the least bad solution is for the president to withdraw this nomination now, before he does himself further and growing harm.

I'm really tired of hearing this. If there's one thing everyone should've learned about Bush by now, it's that he NEVER withdraws. In fact, pestering about withdrawals might just make him more adamant in refusing to do so. This is one of his strengths; it's refreshing to have a President who will actually stick to something he does.

The only way Miers' nomination will be withdrawn is if Miers herself does it. Bush won't.

[AFPhys]

If this nomination is so dead, why bother sign a petition?

Truth is, Miers will be on the USSC in January or earlier.

Those who are "sinking" are Miers' opponents.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Then we can only hope she's reading David Frum.

[MJY1288]

Poor widdle Frum, he's stomping his feet again

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

We'll see about that.

[Ninian Dryhope]

Frum is way out of line with this article.

"It is madness for a 37% president to declare war on his strongest supporters" How Frum twists the truth.

The truth is, Frum and some conservatives have decided to declare war on our President.

[mystery-ak]

What is with Frum....is this out of revenge for being fired?

[G.Mason]

Interesting.

Frum feels "sick and sad" about the First Lady being placed in "this terrible and false position", when Mr. Frum is part and parcel of those that are tossing the firebrands.

Sick, sad and sardonic is more like it.

On to the hearings ...

"Judicial Nominations "
Senate Judiciary Committee
Full Committee
DATE: October 18, 2005
TIME: 02:30 PM
ROOM: 226 Dirksen

[Miss Marple]

I am not persuaded by Mr. Frum's arguments that Ms.Miers should withdraw. What he is saying is that if we wait for the hearings, Frum and others will have to endure a month of criticism.

Well, too bad. He opened this can of worms. Laura Bush did not attack anyone. She said, when asked pointedly by Lauer if some of the criticism could have been sexist, that it "was possible." Well, it IS possible, and if she or her staff read the threads here on FR the answer would have been "probable."

Many people have valid doubts about Harriet Miers. That is fine. Some of the attacks on her have been derogatory and personal, and that is not acceptable.

No one in the White House has criticized any of the critical pundits by name. No one is going after them personally or professionally. No one is requesting their tax returns or leaning on their employers.

Mr. Frum should quit whining. He wanted to open this debate, and now wants to close it before he is burned by public criticism. What a wuss.

[Ninian Dryhope]

"An attempt to push her nomination through the Senate will only split the Republican party, damage the Bush presidency, and cast doubts upon the Court itself."

Right. And being forced to withdraw the nomination would help the Bush Presidency? Not having Miers confirmed would be a disaster for the GOP, which is why she will be confirmed. The reputations of those who so treacherously opposed this nomination are going to be permanently damaged.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Along with the 46% of conservatives who-if polls are to be believed-are opposing the Miers nomination, or so skeptical that they're withholding judgment, something that is unheard of in SCOTUS nominations, at least when those nominations are made by a party's sitting president.

Face facts.

This nominee has elicited more widespread opposition than any SC selection since Robert Bork.

[Miss Marple]

The polls were not taken the day of the nomination; they were taken after Frum and his allies had been poisoning the atmosphere for a week.

It wasn't the President who went on TV and said he was sad, sick, disappointed, etc. It wasn't the President who said this nomination was a sign of weakness. It was the pundits who have been filling the papers and the airways with their coplaints for the last two weeks.

Having created a climate of unease, the pundits have affected the numbers.

[Petronski]

Is Frum trying to say that it is impossible that some of the opposition is due to sexism?

"Some?"

How much? Most? Half? A bit? Less than 1%?

Damn little, since the short list of candidates preferred by conservatives is led by other women. The First Lady's accusation is a sad joke.

[Alberta's Child]

Not having Miers confirmed would be a disaster for the GOP, which is why she will be confirmed.

You're right.

And if Miers is rejected by a GOP Senate that couldn't even muster a single vote against an avowed Communist like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I can assure everyone here that I'll write in "Ronald McDonald" on ballots for the rest of my life before I ever vote for another Republican candidate.

[oblomov]

>Like the President said yesterday, Miers will be confirmed.


Then he'll "win". Hoo-ray! And conservative support will be missing the remainder of his second term.