Bush picks two Executive Branch defenders to the Supreme Court

[JackWhite]

Here is another quote from a conservative on this nomination. This quote comes from National Review editor Rich Lowry:

"Just talked to a very pro-Bush legal type who says he is ashamed and embarrassed this morning. Says Miers was with an undistinguished law firm; never practiced constitutional law; never argued any big cases; never was on law review; has never written on any of the important legal issues. Says she's not even second rate, but is third rate. Dozens and dozens of women would have been better qualified. Says a crony at FEMA is one thing, but on the high court is something else entirely. Her long history of activity with ABA is not encouraging from a conservative perspective--few conservatives would spend their time that way. In short, he says the pick is “deplorable.” There may be an element of venting here, but thought I'd pass along for what it's worth. It's certainly indicative of the mood right now... "

So far we have seen prominent conservatives use terms like "ashamed, embarrassed, disappointed, depressed, deplorable and demoralized." This should be interesting.

[benfranklin]

[ QUOTE ]
Here is another quote from a conservative on this nomination. This quote comes from National Review editor Rich Lowry:

"Just talked to a very pro-Bush legal type who says he is ashamed and embarrassed this morning. Says Miers was with an undistinguished law firm; never practiced constitutional law; never argued any big cases; never was on law review; has never written on any of the important legal issues. Says she's not even second rate, but is third rate. Dozens and dozens of women would have been better qualified. Says a crony at FEMA is one thing, but on the high court is something else entirely. Her long history of activity with ABA is not encouraging from a conservative perspective--few conservatives would spend their time that way. In short, he says the pick is “deplorable.” There may be an element of venting here, but thought I'd pass along for what it's worth. It's certainly indicative of the mood right now... "



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It's deja vu all over again. In 1970, Nixon nominated Carswell to the Court. The general opinion was that Carswell was undistinguished and mediocre. Roman Hruska, a Republican Senator from Nebraska came to his defense:

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On January 19, 1970, president Richard Nixon nominated G. Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court. While Carswell's nomination was promptly rejected by the Senate, Nebraska Senator Roman Hruska presented a novel argument in his defense:


"Even if he was mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers," Hruska declared. "They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they, and a little chance? We can't have all Brandeises and Cardozos and Frankfurters and stuff like that there."



Hruska, Roman Lee (1904- ) American politician, Congressman (1952-1955), U.S. Senator (Nebraska, 1955-1977)


[Sources: National Review, 22 Dec, 1997]

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Continuing this old Republican tradition, it looks like Bush is an Equal Opportunity Employer, willing to look beyond conventional standards, such as job qualifications, in an attempt to achieve a level playing field.

[renodoc]

[ QUOTE ]
Here is another quote from a conservative on this nomination. This quote comes from National Review editor Rich Lowry:

"Just talked to a very pro-Bush legal type who says he is ashamed and embarrassed this morning. Says Miers was with an undistinguished law firm; never practiced constitutional law; never argued any big cases; never was on law review; has never written on any of the important legal issues. Says she's not even second rate, but is third rate. Dozens and dozens of women would have been better qualified. Says a crony at FEMA is one thing, but on the high court is something else entirely. Her long history of activity with ABA is not encouraging from a conservative perspective--few conservatives would spend their time that way. In short, he says the pick is “deplorable.” There may be an element of venting here, but thought I'd pass along for what it's worth. It's certainly indicative of the mood right now... "

So far we have seen prominent conservatives use terms like "ashamed, embarrassed, disappointed, depressed, deplorable and demoralized." This should be interesting.

[/ QUOTE ]


See my conspiracy theory post above. Maybe a few republicans get convinced that she is simply not qualified and then the *real* nominee steps out of the shadows. At least I hope so.

[Matty]

[ QUOTE ]
See my conspiracy theory post above. Maybe a few republicans get convinced that she is simply not qualified and then the *real* nominee steps out of the shadows. At least I hope so.

[/ QUOTE ]You're going to have to get more imaginative than that to find any realistic logic behind this choice that conservatives might like.

I highly suspect Bush went against his advisors on this one. Since Bush readily admits that he doesn't follow the news, or read newspapers, and with increasing reports that he's hostile towards hearing any bad news ... maybe he's just not aware that his putting friends above the American people has recently been spotlighted ... and not in a cute, endearing loyal cowboy way that he expects.

Hell, maybe Laura made the pick. "Why don't you pick Harriet? She's a nice person."

[JackWhite]

[ QUOTE ]
You're going to have to get more imaginative than that to find any realistic logic behind this choice that conservatives might like.

I highly suspect Bush went against his advisors on this one. Since Bush readily admits that he doesn't follow the news, or read newspapers, and with increasing reports that he's hostile towards hearing any bad news ... maybe he's just not aware that his putting friends above the American people has recently been spotlighted ... and not in a cute, endearing loyal cowboy way that he expects.

Hell, maybe Laura made the pick. "Why don't you pick Harriet? She's a nice person.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you are very close on this one, Grey. In recent days, many conservatives, Michelle Malkin being one, have been extremely critical of the Bush administration on this front. These conservatives are tired of Bush appointing political cronies in these important positions.

We've heard for sometime now that Karl Rove is running things, and political considerations are a driving factor in all decisions; on this one, and some other recent ones, the White House seems extremely politically tone deaf.

[whiskeytown]

I hate to say it - but ever since Katrina, rumor is he's been off the wagon and making poor decisions...

I can see him having a few one night and saying "hey baby, - wanna be on the Supreme Court? I can arrange that - hell, my political capital is almost totally spent anyways, let's go out with a bang"



I'm serious - her only real redeeming asset is she's a close friend of the President - that's it - nothing to suggest she's the best person for the job - not even close.

My biggest concern is that liberals think she might be a moderate, so they're being cautious - it's the Right Wingers that this is really making angry - but either way her political viewpoints lean, I don't like the idea of someone's first judgeship being on the Supreme Court - I don't think that's wise.

RB

[benfranklin]

[ QUOTE ]
I hate to say it - but ever since Katrina, rumor is he's been off the wagon and making poor decisions...

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Yeah, and there was a "confirmed" rumor on another forum that Doyle and Chip Reese were thrown out of the Bellagio last week for collusion. Lot's of that bad stuff going around. Inquiring minds want to know.

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I don't like the idea of someone's first judgeship being on the Supreme Court - I don't think that's wise.


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The topic of non-judges on the SC was mentioned on the news tonight. If I remember the numbers, out of 109 SC judges, 40 were never judges before. These include Earl Warren and Renquist. I (and others more learned than I) think that it is a good idea in principle, as long as the person is a top-notch legal mind, bringing other experience and views to the court.

The early returns on the top-notch legal mind part in this case seem to leave something to be desired.

[PoBoy321]

[ QUOTE ]
I hate to say it - but ever since Katrina, rumor is he's been off the wagon and making poor decisions...

[/ QUOTE ]

Just as an aside, are you sure it's off the wagon? I always thought he would be back on the wagon.

[Dotson]

This pick boggles the mind because it puts republicans in horrible spot. Never being a judge Miers had no paper trail and since she has always been a lawyer she can just say that she was representing her clients to almost any question she is asked. Some judiciary republicans were not as pleased with Roberts as they talked re: brownback and Coburn. These guys want someone they know will overturn Roe and gave Roberts a pass because he was extremely well qualified, telegenic, and they figured the next nominee's paper trail would assure them he was in the mold of Thomas & Scalia. I just don't understand why Bush would pick Miers. It's a hard case to make that she is the best candidate in the nation for supreme court. Can the republicans all of a sudden encourage the nominee to answer questions they told Roberts not too? Will they try to filibuster? Will they vote no? It will be fun to watch it play out. The democrats need to say good things about Miers and nothing else. Let the news story be social conservatives are upset. I have always thought that Bush wasn't a social conservative and was just playing up that card to get them to vote for him. I guess he figures he doesn't have to run again so he'll do whatever he wants. This could be a good time for the republican party to distance themselves from Bush and position themselves better for the 06 races.

[TransientR]

"So far we have seen prominent conservatives use terms like 'ashamed, embarrassed, disappointed, depressed, deplorable and demoralized'."

You mean they have seen the light about the current state of their party and the administration? [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Frank