October 05, 2005
Overwrought Over Quag-Miers
After three days of debate and conjecture from various sources, I see no way in good faith that I could either come out unabashedly in favor of, or wholly against, the nomination of Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court at this time. I remain both disappointed and uncommitted, and will remain so until Miers is questioned in her Senate confirmation hearings. Then, and only then, do I think it will be time to render an opinion on her suitability for the position.
New revelations aside, I probably will have little to say on the nominee until her confirmation hearings beyond the following observations:
- Miers is not among the best or most obvious of nominees for the high court. That said, Miers has more of a résumé than some SCOTUS nominees that have won confirmation.
- Fears that Miers will become a liberal justice seem baseless, and the invocation of “Souter” is hardly appropriate or even vaguely relevant.
The overwrought hysterics of George Will aside and others, I don't think any pundit has conclusively proven she is unfit for the position, when she clearly has more experience than some past justices.
Harrier Miers is a not a great nominee, but on paper, neither was Clarence Thomas. She at least deserves a confirmation hearing, something that The Anchoress also believes.
I also predict that, barring a withdrawal or major misstep during the confirmation process, she will be confirmed as the replacement to Sandra Day O'Connor.
Miers is an interesting pick. I wonder if Bush picked her because of her lack of a paper trial, and hopes that the Left can't mount a good anti-Miers campaign. After the initial reaction yesterday, some of the lefty bloggers have already come out in opposition to Miers. Although, they're not sure why other than "because Bush picked her." Although, the Left would be opposed to corn flakes if they thought Bush had corn flakes for breakfast.
Posted by: muckdog at October 5, 2005 06:59 PMI probably would be happier with a more notably conservative nominee, but I will be thrilled if Miers is confirmed and emulates Scalia and Thomas.
I certainly don’t want to misunderestimate President Bush… he may perceive that our fine GOP leadership could not win in a real nasty partisan fight. They do have a propensity to capitulate rather than stand and fight as evidenced by their failure to definitively defeat the Democratic judicial filibusters this past spring. It has been pointed out that President Bush has an excellent record on his picks to fill appellate court vacancies. It has also been pointed out that he never promised to close the borders or curb spending but he did promise to pick conservative judges – which he has done.
A good general will employ the tactics necessary to win the battle – a great general will win the battle with as few casualties as possible and if necessary the great general will advance around a pocket of resistance to take the objective (rather than expend valuable assets duking it out unnecessarily.) I want to think the president is employing great tactics to achieve the objective of seating another conservative judge on the SCOTUS. Only time will tell. In the meantime, I shall give him the benefit of my doubts.
...will remain so until Miers is questioned in her Senate confirmation hearings. Then, and only then, do I think it will be time to render an opinion on her suitability for the position.
I wish more people who were disappointed would do the same. John Hawkins, (Don't)Confirmthem.com, and NRO have clearly lost their minds on this one. I'm more disappointed in some of these bomb-throwers than anyone, at this point. It's like reading the DU when going to those sites--and I can't even be bothered with George Will and his arrogant ilk.
Posted by: Beth at October 6, 2005 03:38 AM
