[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.

[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The only way Miers' nomination will be withdrawn is if Miers herself does it.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.

[MJY1288]

Poor widdle Frum, he's stomping his feet again

[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

[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.

[PjhCPA]

In spite of you coolaid-drinkers who will support Bush no matter how stupid a decision he makes, I'm signing the petition. The SCOTUS nomination is too important. Too many true conservatives, whose intellect and advice I respect, are saying Miers should not be confirmed. Signing this petition is the least I can do.

[varon]

bump

[rmgatto]

Frum must have really screwed the pooch when he worked in the WH. And why should we listen to a speechwriter about this particular matter?

[goldstategop]

I thought the problem with the First Lady's response is its more of that identity politics that so typical on the Left. The Administration has all but admitted this was a "diversity" appointment and Harriet Miers was chosen in part because she's a woman. Nothing wrong with diverse representation in a legislature but it has no place on a court. That's the kind of thinking that's transformed our courts into activist "super-legislatures," e.g, the pernicious belief various interest groups and their agendas need to be accomodated. I can think of no greater threat to the rule of law. As I said, the President ought to start over - people will forgive him and the country will be better off for it.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[RobFromGa]

I'm working my own that begins...

"I am a REPUBLICAN AND CONSERVATIVE who supported the election of George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. Today, I respectfully urge that my subscription to National Review be terminated for picking this puclic fight with the President when you should be instead celebrating 50 years of achievement.

[Capriole]

The difficulty in withdrawing the nomination is that there may not be anybody else with whom to replace her. I read elsewhere that 80% of the potential nominees decline a nomination because they can't face the increasingly vicious confirmation process. A nominee might be a great jurists, great legal mind, and a great legal writer, but not have it in her to speak brilliantly ex tempore when facing a blistering attack from the sluts on the Senate Judiciary Committee; nor would many a fine jurist be able to present a career and personal history that cannot in any way be faulted by the savage liberal press. John Roberts is a one-in-a-million, unflawed judge so they attacked his children. Who can face that kind of thing?

[LibLieSlayer]

frum... a "sinking", unemployed wordsmith".

LLS

[cynicom]

I was embarrassed that Bush allowed his wife to be drawn into such a conversation. This is not the Clinton administration. Laura was used and it is a shame.

[LS]

It is simply a falsehood that a "pro-choice" woman cannot be a conservative and/or cannot support a pro-life candidate.

My wife has voted, many times, for pro-life candidates and usually bases her assessment of the person on the person's overall trustworthiness and positions, not a SINGLE ISSUE. In that case, I fully think that Laura Bush, regardless of her personal preferences (and we don't know why she said she didn't think Roe should be overturned---perhaps she just thinks it's poor anti-abortion strategy, and that it's more effective to do other things), would support a friend and reliable person all the way. It is rumored she strongly supported Roberts, who, by all accounts, is strongly pro-life.

2) The FundandFrum duo is really attacking on this. Frum, I can understand, because I suspect he was let go at the White House under less than wonderful terms---and if you read his book, you can sense he isn't altogether comfortable with the evangelical tone in the White House. Fund, I don't know: I have seen him on Fox, and never took him to be a solid conservative---more of a Mort Kondracke type.

[linkinpunk]

Is David Frum the "conservative" who has an "affair" with his friend's daughter?

Since hearing that, I have a hard time taking anything he says seriously.

[jwalsh07]

David Frum is a damnable liar, his characterization of the interview is right out of the Goebbels playbook. I swear I'm in the midst of a nightmare where the right wing in-crowd has been body snatched by the left wing in-crowd and trained to lie, obfuscate and exaggerate in order to score a cheap political point.

For me at least, life will never be the same. No biggie just different.

[shrinkermd]

From this morning's Washington Times:

"James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, said he spoke with Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove on Oct. 1 -- two days before the Miers nomination -- and was told that "Harriet Miers was at the top of the short list."

"Also on that list were several candidates that many conservatives say they would have preferred, Mr. Dobson said on his radio program that was recorded yesterday and will be broadcast today.

"Well, what Karl told me is that some of those individuals took themselves off that list," he said, according to a transcript obtained last night. "They would not allow their names to be considered because the process has become so vicious and so vitriolic and so bitter that they didn't want to subject themselves or the members of their families to it."

"White House officials could not be reached for comment last night.

[JCEccles]

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?

Good point inasmuch as Laura is also on record as knowing Miers' heart.

The worst of it is, Bush only considered women for the seat. By arbitrarily excluding all men from consideration he engaged in exactly the sort of indefensible, noisome sexism that Laura is now accusing good conservatives of engaging in.

For the record: I wouldn't care if all nine justices were women IF they were all strict constructionists of a similar intellectual or moral stature as Scalia and Thomas and they were the best picks going head to head against men nominees.

But Bush's crony Miers, I fear, comes up way short on all accounts.