Posted on 10/20/2005 1:27:08 PM PDT by Stellar Dendrite
The Miers Support Team: Gloomy and Demoralized Now they’re discussing stopping her visits to the Senate.
Strategists working with the White House in support of the Supreme Court nomination of Harriet Miers are becoming increasingly demoralized and pessimistic about the nomination's prospects on Capitol Hill in the wake of Miers's meetings with several Republican and Democratic senators. On a conference call held this morning, they even discussed whether Miers should simply stop visiting with lawmakers, lest any further damage be done — and so that time spent in such get-acquainted sessions will not cut into Miers's intensive preparation for her confirmation hearing.
The strategists discuss issues on a twice-weekly conference call led by Leonard Leo, the executive vice president of the Federalist Society who has taken leave to help the White House shepherd the nomination through the Senate. A number of people who have taken part in the calls described the conversations to National Review Online. None wanted to be identified, because they do not want to openly oppose the White House or defy loyalists like Leo who are trying hard to defend Miers. Nevertheless, they paint a grim portrait of morale among those close to the nomination.
"The number of participants is declining," says one knowledgeable source. "With Roberts, these calls occurred five or six or seven times a week. Pretty early on, the calls on Miers were scaled back to twice a week. That says something in and of itself."
"It's been a gradual descent into almost silence," says a second source of the calls. "The meetings with the senators are going terribly. On a scale of one to 100, they are in negative territory. The thought now is that they have to end....Obviously the smart thing to do would be to withdraw the nomination and have a do-over as soon as possible. But the White House is so irrational that who knows? As of this morning, there is a sort of pig-headed resolve to press forward, cancel the meetings with senators if necessary, and bone up for the hearings."
"They are going to be keeping the meetings that they've already scheduled," says a third source. "But they have scheduled murder boards today from 12 to 5. She has to focus on her hearing. And the questionnaire that wasn't filled out, to me that's an indication [the White House] hasn't done the vetting. She has to spend a lot of time discussing stuff that should have been done before. So between those two things — finishing the questionnaire and preparing for the hearing, which is going to be make or break — they prefer to put her time into that."
"In the early days, there were people on the call who tried to give facile defenses of Miers, and they were immediately shot down," says a fourth source. "And by the way, those defenses weren't as insulting as the White House line — no way would they have done the 'sexist, elitist' line."
In summary, says the first source, "People have been looking for ways to support this. There are a lot of us who would like to find a reason to be encouraged. Every time I try to accommodate myself to this nomination, folks at the White House say idiotic things that piss me off, like that spin on Rove's part about her supposed deep involvement in judicial selection for three years, which is just not accurate."
"Demoralization and pessimism?" the source continues. "That's been a constant. We're in the various stages of grief."
Ping
This pick was an emotional pick, not a rational or logical pick.
I don't care if Dubya nominates the second coming of John Marshall, it will come down to a fillibuster, because the Pro-aborts can't afford for the O'Connor seat to swing towards the right.
They will die on that hill, and we may as well accept it and prepare for it.
Is Miers worth fighting for?
Abandon ship.
"There is no graceful out. That's the problem."
This is just so sad and sick. I do feel somewhat sorry for her, but I have read a lot of her 'stuff', and she should have known, herself, that she did not belong in the SCOTUS. She is in way over her head and the only way to stop the bleeding is for her to withdraw.
And yes, I have signed the petition.
FYI..
This is heartbreaking..no one wins.
If Byron York says it, then it is a done deal. Miers is toast.
Pull Miers. Nominate Brown.
I just don't see it. I think the President is legitimately angry; he feels like his own supporters have turned on him (well, he turned on us; first with la Amnestía, then with Miss Souter here). We were afraid of Alberto Gonzales. We got Gonzales lite, female department, complete with a record of affirmative-action and gay-rights advocacy. (She is the one responsible for Bush retaining the Clinton pro-gay "don't ask" policy).
She may be a vote against Roe -- should it ever come to the USSC again -- but is otherwise a social and economic liberal. She is a quota queen and will help enforce that racist system for the next decade plus.
She hasn't written, hasn't led, and hasn't even tried cases -- her whole record is eight circuit and eight appeals cases counting the ones she was co-counsel or subordinate counsel in. In her career.
I do believe that if she is not withdrawn she will squeak through. The Dems will vote against her en bloc, and no more than one or two Rs will actually vote against the President.
If she is withdrawn, the President will probably name his original first choice -- Alberto Gonzales. Gonzales has little to recommend him, but the president will say "trust me" and a lot of folks will trust him (the only thing responsible for Miers's support). To Miers' negatives, the equally socially liberal Gonzales adds staunch opposition to firearms rights (Miers is untested on the issue, like so many others, although she has spoken of the 2nd as an individual right).
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
Can't throw money at this one, I'm afraid.
They will die on that hill, and we may as well accept it and prepare for it.
You are so right.And I agree that Harriet Miers is not worth it.
I think it began with his ego, and now it's hers as well. She certainly is not protecting the president, now. This is an embarrassing shame, and now his ego is not lookin' purty.
I still think this is payback for our not wanting his other crony, the AGAG. Well, he's hurting himself most of all...and he has 3 more years in the WH, but he'll be sitting alone, without his base.
AMEN!
She does have a sick mother that she takes care of - at least financially. Miers could say that upon further reflection, she really should be home spending time with her mother.
I'm getting to the point where I'm not so mad at GW as I'm sad about him. This poor guy is in the wilderness. God forbid he takes the country out to the wilderness with him.
I hear you, but then again, since the White House and Republican National Committee have made it clear that anyone who steps up to oppose them on Miers will be treated as an enemy and face the consequences, well, that's going to make it such that no one will want to speak publicly who could face reprecussions.
I really want the judiciary hearings to take place. He nominated her and I want to know whether she is a dim bulb. If she is then so is he. I want to know.
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.