Free Republic

Some in the news media, citing anonymous sources, say Vice President Dick Cheney recommended against nominating Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court. If true, this should dispel the notion, prevalent on the fever swamp Left, that Mr. Cheney pulls the president's strings. But in this instance, it would have been better if the moonbats had been right. If you're in a hole, stop digging. That's good advice, but it tends to be followed only by those who realize they're in a hole.President Bush is in a pit, dug in large part by his "friends."Like most conservatives, I was disappointed when...

President Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court has divided the conservative movement. Initially, most conservatives, but not quite all, expressed disappointment with the nomination. Since then, paths have diverged. Some conservatives, having gone on record as wishing that Bush had chosen someone else, have now migrated back into the fold, pronounced Miers a qualified candidate, and defended her nomination as the president's prerogative. Other conservatives have continued to ratchet up their attacks on Miers. Nearly every day produces yet another instance of Miers's alleged incompetence, inexperience, or suspected liberal sympathies. Some of the criticisms of Miers are...

Schumer: Miers Lacks Votes to Be Confirmed By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer 17 minutes ago A Democrat on the Senate committee that will consider Harriet Miers' nomination said Sunday that President Bush's Supreme Court choice lacks the votes now to be confirmed, saying there are too many questions about her qualifications. "If you held the vote today, she would not get a majority either in the Judiciary Committee or the floor," said Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record), D-New York. On the 18-member GOP-controlled committee, "there are one or two who said they'd support her as of now."...

WASHINGTON – Harriet Miers, President Bush's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, is on record as supporting the establishment of the International Criminal Court, homosexual adoptions, a major local tax increase and women in combat, WorldNetDaily has learned. While some conservative leaders and organizations were stunned by the appointment, most were not alarmed by the lack of a paper trail by the nominee who has never served as a judge at any level. But a profile of her positions as a leader of the American Bar Association, a Dallas city councilwoman and as presidential counselor...

Though not giving it much more than 'rumor' treatment, on Fox & Friends Weekend it was just reported that the White House is reaching out to GOP senators as to their recommendations for 'Plan B' in the event Miers is withdrawn. One of the F&F hosts clarifed that according to the information Fox has received, it is not WH aides who are doing the outreach directly, but conservative surrogates.

In a just-completed interview on Fox News, John Fund of the Wall Street Journal entertained the possibility that the Miers' nomination would be pulled before getting to hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Asked how that could happen, Fund explained [paraphrasing]: "It could happen if a number of Republican senators go to the White House and say that getting the Miers nomination through would be too much 'heavy political lifting' and that the hearings would offend the dignity of the Senate." Reading between the lines, my sense is that the well-connected Fund is hearing off-the-record from Republican senators and/or their...

RE: OUCH [Rod Dreher] But Kathryn, I fully expect that if Justice Stevens retires, President Bush will nominate his dog Barney to fill that vacant seat. After all, who can a man trust to be loyal more than his dog? I reckon the president knows Barney's heart as well as anybody's, and certainly Barney has no paper trail, unless you count stuff he chewed up when he was a puppy. Besides, if Caligula can put his horse in the Senate... Posted at 06:16 PM http://corner.nationalreview.com/05_10_02_corner-archive.asp#078596

France, Germany and not a few Democrats opposed the invasion of Iraq. John Kerry and many of his political allies opposed the June 28th, 2004 handover of power from Paul Bremer's control to that of the Iraqi provisional government headed up by Prime Minister Allawi. Many voices were raised against holding the Iraqi elections last January. Throughout the spring and summer, many on the left demanded a timetable for withdrawal of American troops. Never once did George Bush waver in his resolve concerning Iraq. On September 12, 2002, President Bush addressed the United Nations and announced his plan for turning...

I have not heard anyone else say this yet, so I may be the Lone Ranger on this one, but all the references to Michael Luttig over the past week got me to wondering if the frequent mentions might result in some unintended consequences. I have probably heard Luttig’s name mentioned a hundred times or more in relation to the Miers nomination. All the references had to do with the fact that Miers was chosen while the more qualified and deserving Luttig was passed over. Those mentioning Luttig all did so in the most complimentary ways, praising his intellect and...

Vice President Dick Cheney: "I Think [President Bush Has] Found A Good One In Harriet Miers. I Think She'll Do A Great Job." (Vice President Dick Cheney, Telephonic Interview By Rush Limbaugh, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 10/3/05) Cheney: "[I]'m Confident That She Has A Conservative Judicial Philosophy ..." (Vice President Dick Cheney, Telephonic Interview By Rush Limbaugh, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 10/3/05) Cheney: "She Believes Very Deeply In The Importance Of Interpreting The Constitution And The Law As It's Written. She Won't Legislate From The Federal Bench." (Vice President Dick Cheney, Telephonic Interview By Rush Limbaugh, The Rush Limbaugh Show,...