Posted on 10/12/2005 3:30:33 AM PDT by ejdrapes
OCT. 11, 2005: A SINKING NOMINATION There has not been a moment since October 3 when I have not felt sick and sad about this Miers battle, but today may have been the worst day yet. This morning, the president mobilized Laura Bush to join him on national television and accuse critics of the Miers nomination of "sexism." Reading the transcript of the interview, you can feel this kind and gracious woman's disinclination to speak an untruth. "It's possible," she says. "I think it's possible." What a terrible and false position to put the first lady in! And what a sign that the White House has finally understood that it has lost the argument over this nomination. By asking the first lady to defend the nomination, the White House is implicitly admitting that the president's word alone has failed to carry the day: That, in other words, when he said, "Trust me," conservatives said "No." The first lady's appearance was a dangerous confession of personal and political weakness by the president - one that will be noticed and exploited by the president's Democratic opponents. Even more ominously, the Today show interview announces a new strategy of trying to win the Miers nomination by waging war on the president's core supporters. In the first week of the battle, the White House sent out James Dobson to woo evangelical conservatives. That didn't work out too well. So now the White House has switched strategies. It has turned its back on conservative evangelicals and is instead using Laura Bush to woo suburban moderates. But remember: Laura Bush is on record as a supporter - not just of abortion rights - but of the Roe v. Wade decision. Interviewed on the Today program in January 2001, Mrs. Bush was asked point blank about the case. Her answer: "No, I don't think it should be overturned." Is it credible that Mrs. Bush would be endorsing Harriet Miers if the first lady thought that Miers would really do what James Dobson thinks she'll do? It is madness for a 37% president to declare war on his strongest supporters, but that is exactly the strategy that this unwise nomination has forced upon President Bush. And every day that passes, he will get angrier, the attacks will get fiercer - and his political position will weaken. That is why it is wrong and dangerous for Republicans to say, "Let's wait for the hearings." Even if the hearings start in the next couple of weeks, as the White House now says it wishes, the Miers matter will extend itself at least into November. That's a month and more of the president's team accusing the president's supporters of sexism, elitism, and who knows what else; a month of rising tension between this president and the conservatives who elected him; a month in which the president's poll numbers will drop even further. The longer it continues, the costlier this battle will prove for the president. And if forced to its ultimate conclusion, the odds are rising that this is a battle that will end in ultimate defeat for Miers and for Bush. Under these circumstancs, the least bad solution is for the president to withdraw this nomination now, before he does himself further and growing harm. Many readers have asked what they can do to help achieve a good resolution of this crisis. Here are a few suggestions. First, please send an email to Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingraham thanking them for their brave stance against this nomination. These two broadcasters have been tireless and fearless on this story - but they are under intense and increasing pressure, and it makes a huge difference to them to know that their work is heard and supported. (And let me add: It has made a huge difference to me as well.) Next, communicate with the Republican Senators on the Judiciary committee. Lindsey Graham has already committed himself to the nominee, but the others have not - and Brownback in particular seems to be leaning negative. It will again make a huge difference to these senators to know that conservatives across America will support them if they stand up to White House pleasure. Finally, some friends and I have drafted a petition to the president that we will shortly be putting on a webpage for all who wish to sign. Here's the draft text: "WE ARE REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES who supported the election of George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. Today, we respectfully urge that the nomination of Harriet Miers to the United States Supreme Court be withdrawn. "The next justice of the Supreme Court should be a person of clear, consistent, and unashamed conservative philosophy. "The next justice should be seen by all as an independent custodian of the constitution, untainted by any hint of secret pledges or political obligations. "The next justice should be a person of the highest standard of intellectual and juridical excellence. "For all Harriet Miers' many fine qualities and genuine achievements, we the undersigned believe that she is not that person. 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. "Sometimes Americans elect Republican presidents, sometimes we elect Democratic presidents. Whatever the differences between the parties, surely we can at least agree on this: Each party owes America its best. President Bush has a wide range of truly outstanding conservative jurists from which to choose. We believe that on second thought he can do better - for the Supreme Court, for conservatism, for America." Comments on this draft text are welcome, but PLEASE do not yet send signatures. When the site is ready to take and forward your message to the White House, I'll post a note and link here at NRO. Don't worry, we'll act fast.
>>>Slurring his supporters is nothing new...Those that want to protect the borders of the country from illegal invasion, drug runners and terrorists, Bush has branded vigilantes...His global plan is to eliminate the borders...<<<
The border issue alone could doom the GOP, not discounting the significance of CFR, massive spending, expansion of central control of education, and now this latest slap at his conservative base? It is almost as if Bush is trying to get Hillary elected. The Bush family certainly loves her husband.
And the JRB pick was under an ideal scenario.
I don't think anyone except the most wild-eyed optimists expected her to be nominated.
But to not choose McConnell, or Luttig, OR JONES, FOR GOODNESS SAKE, is just an insult.
There's no use sugarcoating it.
>>>So, please tell me what hope we conservatives have, given the realities of politics in this country, outside the GOP?<<<
What does the GOP have without the conservative base? And if the GOP is going to give away our wealth, our culture, and our country, what difference does it make who we support?
Yep. Build a campaign on McCain's failures. Band of 14 to prevent Constructionist judges, his pro abortion positions, CFR, and last but not least in Arizona, immigration control. Align the Republican challenger as closely as possible with the positions of the Democratic Governor and spend a bunch of GOP money. It would help if the national GOP would not fund McCain but you can bet that will not happen.
Yes, I'm sure Mr. Frum knows full well about those "resignations".
>>>And which is why, we pray, and deeply, for Supreme Court Justices who understand that ALL FAITHS are relevant and important. That tho our foundations determine that no state sponsored religion is to grab a foothold, all religions are important and provide a moral and cultural rock for our nation.<<<
You are ignorant of the original intent of our founding fathers with regard to 'state sponsored religion', and to the utter foolishness of treating all religions as equally important. I would recommed Joseph Story's 'Commentaries on the Constitution' if you wish to understand the origional intent of the framers. Justice Story's commentaries were routinely cited in constitutional arguments to justify Christianity in our society, until the ACLU corrupted the judicial process and the minds of many Americans. See:
http://www.lonang.com/exlibris/story/
And what a great decision that was...your example was intended to support sexism in the picking of SCOTUS judges??
It's a glorified country club that's politically and culturally impotent.
It's as simple as that.
We hold the balance of power, now we just need to learn how to wield it.
I cast my ballot for a new set of pundits.
You may be quite plain but you WERE NOT plain with your post.
You said you smelled a rat or something in more than one way when I posted to you about being out at the Heinz "farm". You never explained your innuendo.
That is all.
Public servants that stand up to illegal aliens-and the methods they and their enablers use to extort money from honest, industrious American citizens-are rewarded with the support of Hispanic voters, as was the case with Pete Wilson, quite possibly the greatest governor of California in the 20th century.
With these "sexism" charges against Miers pick opponents, George and Laura have morphed into a Republican version of Bill and Hillary.
Since you want to talk about IN politics...
The GOP leadership in Indiana has wasted many opportunities, IMO. They put most of their energy and money into winning the gubernatorial race (which Republican Mitch Daniels won handily), ignoring the US Senatorial (which DLC-lib Bayh won) and the 7th district Congressional race (lefty Julia Carson won). These races were winnable, yet in both cases we had poor GOP candidates. Even worse, as if that were not enough to assure defeat, neither GOP candidate got a dime from the state or local party, and got no assistance from the well-run Daniels campaign.
I did volunteer and contribute money to try to secure a different outcome. But, leadership matters, as does the essential management function of efficient resource allocation. I don't belong to the inner GOP circle, and have no influence over these decisions. Given my (politically prominent Democratic) family history, I would NEVER be trusted in such a position, despite my lifelong hardcore conservative orientation. Even my nugatory volunteer activities were viewed with suspicion and distrust. I saw incompetent campaigns (in one, the GOP candidate burned a copy of the local paper in effigy in front of the news building when they endorsed his opponent), lacking even the most basic political instinct or management skill, and was powerless to "help" except in an inconsequential, functionary capacity (and also though my generous financial succor, natch).
So, rather than "sitting on my ass", I've wandered around a bit, and become disenchanted through a lifetime of political involvement. Anyway, I prefer to type standing.
I do not insist on ideological purity, but if neither party is aligned with me on basic principles, then I don't have a stake in what is simply a power struggle between two interest groups.
I'd be willing to listen if anybody had one reason to support Miers other than trust Bush. I dunno, maybe he's looked into her soul ala Putin, but so far I haven't seen any facts to support that position, just that I should trust Bush.
Hey, I'm a conservative, I don't' trust any pol all the time.
I sure didn't think very highly of those pukes that took up for Clinton regardless of what he did. I ain't one of those, I put my country and what I think is best for it above any politician.
Sigh, I guess I'm stuck in the 90's when the republicans actually had a conservative agenda; the contract with American, defunding the Dept. of Ed. and NEA. Smaller governments, more local control, term limits, ending welfare, ya know, wild crazy stuff that Bush won't touch.
Instead we get the biggest increase in the size of goobermint in the history of the country. Expanded funding for the Dept. of Ed and NEA, CRF, a PC war of nation building with no exit strategy (remember those hits of the 90s?), a pig in a poke for the SCOTUS, porous borders and nary a whiff of SS reform, private accounts and getting rid of the NEA (remember those promises?). And while we're at it how about a veto every once in a while?
If conservative Bush supporters can justify all that bring it on, I'll listen again but I've already tried and, as a conservative, I can't and I'm not willing to have the republican party treat me like the dims treat blacks thinking that "where else are they going to go"? And don't give me that "oh, so you're voting for Hillary" stuff. No, I'm not voting for Hillary but so far it looks like both republicans and democrats want to take the country to socialist hell, one just wants to get there 10 mph faster.
I'm not going to help either one. I love this country far too much to be a willing accomplice when I think anybody is doing something to send it to the trash heap. And that doesn't include shutting up.
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.