[SteveH]

What would a sick relative have to do with this? You mean she needs to curry favor with the Politburo or something? Or she can't refuse an offer from a Mafia don? I'm not really sure what you're getting at here.

I mean, what if... the President gave her no option but to answer yes to the question of whether or not she would accept the nomination, and if she has a sick relative and needs a high paying job with good benefits to support that relative-- she may feel she has an obligation to the relative or to the president or both to accept the nomination. I have read elsewhere that her mother is still living and about 90 years old. Or some other similar scenario. At her age, I don't know if it is a given that it would be a shoo in for her to resign and find a position in private practice.

I am just saying that without the full story, I am not necessarily inclined to hold Miers personally responsible for all of the problems with this... situation.

[counterpunch]

I mean, what if... the President gave her no option but to answer yes to the question of whether or not she would accept the nomination, and if she has a sick relative and needs a high paying job with good benefits to support that relative--

You know, John Roberts took a pay cut to become a federal judge. He was making over $1 million per year as a lawyer.

I know, I know, Harriet Miers is sure as hell no John Roberts.
But still...
Even a lousy lawyer makes more than a federal judge.
And its not like this is the Soviet Union where only government employees can receive quality health care.