Withdraw Miers
Written by Jack O'Reilly on October 26th, 2005I tried my best to hold back reactionary criticism of Miers and not get swept up in the mob mentality. As passions have cooled, it is now clear that Miers must be withdrawn or withdraw herself.
Read this article by Edward Whelan on Miers’ 1993 speech which suggests that she affirms Casey v. Planned Parenthood. This is the cinderblock that broke the camel’s back.
If you haven’t yet done so, please sign David Frum’s petition to withdraw the Miers nomination. I did just today. Email this link to our allies: http://frum.nationalreview.com/petition/
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Miers quotes via the Corner:
“We undeniable [sic--not my typing this time] still have a justice system that does not provide justice for all as provided by the Pledge of Allegiance. One justice for the rich, one justice for the poor. One justice sometimes for minorities, one for whites.”
“The ongoing debate continues surrounding the attempt to once again criminalize abortions or to once and for all guarantee the freedom of the individual women’s right to decide for herself whethere she will have an abortion.”
“My basic message here is that when you hear the Courts blamed for activism or intrusion where they do not belong… Stop and examine what the elected leadership has done to solve the problem at issue and whether abdication to courts to make the hard decisions is not a too prevalent tactic in today’s world. Politicians who are too concerned about maintaining their jobs.”
So Harriet does not believe in equal rights under the law, steeps her words in the most mind-numbing ‘pro-choice’ rhetoric, and defends judges for trying to “solve problems” rather than discerning the law? Somebody needs to read this speech to Bush NOW.
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I have not made up my mind on Miers. I wish her confirmation hearings would start already, so we can actually hear from her. I trust George W. Bush’s judgment, but if she’s as bad as everyone keeps saying she is, then we definitely have a small crisis on our hands.
I can see it now. George W. can’t pick judges, can’t close down the borders, can’t cure Social Security, can’t curb pork barrel spending, etc. Man, this has been a rough couple of months to be a Republican!
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Welcome to the club.
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He can pick some good judges. But when it comes to Supreme Court judges, well we just have to wait and see on that one.
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Bush has made some mistakes, but is not a moron. He is simply a politician, and I’d be willing to say that he’s isn’t a typical scumbag kind of one. He genuinely cares about the American people and what he is doing, and has made some misjudgments - including a very grave one in nominating Harriet Miers. I disagree with him on some policy issues (Miers, immigration, spending, ….), but I won’t go so far to call him a moron.
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To Bob and Shipwrecked:
I too was trying the wait and see approach, but there is simply too much evidence against her. The article written above by Ed Whelan was what tipped me over the edge. Not only does he have a good eye for discerning constitutionalists from activists, but he is one of the most prudent mind’s in this entire debate. I highly reccommend y’all check out his writings at National Review’s Bench Memo’s.
As for the “will conservatives start calling Bush a moron”, I don’t believe so. Although it is undeniable that this opposition is coming from arguably the more intellectual and principled wing of the conservative movement, I don’t think anyone will stoop to that level.
I mean, that would be as outrageous as the White House calling us sexist or something….oh…whoops…
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I’d have to agree with John on this one.
With all the other possibilities that existed, why Bush picked Miers is beyond me. John Fund did a great story on what went wrong with the Miers nomination. He relates how it was largely the collaboration of Andy Card (White House Chief of Staff) and the President. One problem. Andy Card was Deputy CoS under Bush, Sr. It was Bush Sr.’s CoS, John Sununu, that helped Sr. pick David Souter.
I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but I do believe in having bad taste. And here the coincidence is kinda scary. I think Miers is gloriously unqualified. And I’m not being macho, either. Janice Rogers Brown or Edith Clement would’ve been perfect.
I’m sorry to say the President let me down on this one. I think the confirmation hearings are just gonna prove it.
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You all got what you wished for, and what’s best Miers withdrew http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/27/miers.nominations/index.html
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Also, if you look at the record of Souter before he was on the Court, he was in the mold of Scalia. He sided on the pro-life side, solidly against government intrusion, he even defended the decision of New Hampshire to lower the flag on Easter. Am I defending GHWBush, no, but there was no conspiracy, it was simply a mistake because Souter misled the White House, and didn’t reveal what was a completely activist judicial philosophy.