Miers Withdraws Supreme Court Nomination
Well, I'm not one of the folks who've been breathlessly following this, so it really doesn't make that big of a blip on my radar, other than to note to conservatives first that this might have been part of a grander strategy to discredit one person in particular. Remember one of the reasons she was put forth? That Bush supposedly went looking for advice from the Democrats beforehand, and she turned up on whose list? Senator Harry Reid.
He was just as high on Ms. Miers as Mr. Bush was, or so it seemed. But poor Harry--he couldn't get any of the Democrats to come around to his thinking on this. Although the Democrats were content to sit back and let Republicans and conservatives eat each other over her less-that-stellar potential, Reid's credibility took the greater hit, because his putative "leadership" was absolutely worthless.
Although the whole thing looks bad, and in fact, IS bad for the Administration, it seems they have managed to effectively neutralize anything Sen. Reid might ever again say. By entangling him in the same mess, he's lost his ability to be the guy who swings the big raw partisan steak in front of the base.
Look for the next nominee to be more Bork than you ever thought possible. Look for the Democrats to squeal about evil non-inclusiveness, look for the Administration to say that they had their chance, and should have fought harder for Miers instead of reflexively opposing her because she is Bush's choice. Look for Harry Reid to try to act like Big Harry and thunder and spew, and in general look like a washed-up weakling.
Be interesting to see who gets the nod this time.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at October 27, 2005 08:16 AMLook for Miguel Estrada. Honduran immigrant, hispanic, and reliably conservative.
Posted by: skinnydan at October 27, 2005 09:20 AMIt saddened me greatly when they took CHiPs off the air.
Hmm?
What!?
Oh. Well.
Never mind.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at October 27, 2005 09:25 AMI'm wondered from the get-go if this wasn't some kind of feint on Georgies' part.
Posted by: Anymostusest at October 27, 2005 09:29 AMFewer teeth on Miguel, I imagine.
Posted by: skinnydan at October 27, 2005 09:36 AMAnon, I don't know if it was necessarily a feint--I think they really thought that Reid might be able to smooth the way for a non-contentious nomination. I think they realized she would have problems with most conservative of the base, but with enough support from the center, they could get her through without much effort. After all, Reid was the one leading the charge against Roberts, and if they could satisfy Reid, that might shut up a lot of opposition. They probably figured the Right would climb on board, or at least not devolve into the nastiness that it grew into.
As it is, Democrats will now be further weakened by their refusal to play when they had the chance--the conservatives are revved up, united, and ready to rumble, and the Democrats will be more or less incapable of stopping anyone the Administration puts forth. I doubt that was by plan, but as with so many other things Bush has done, it just kinda worked out that way.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at October 27, 2005 09:44 AMI hope he nominates Judge Dredd - HE IS THE LAW!!!
Posted by: skillzy at October 27, 2005 10:02 AMJudge Reinhold was pretty good in Beverly Hills Cop.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at October 27, 2005 10:24 AMNot to mention Stripes and The Santa Clause.
While there may be a possibility of a Hispanic appointment (using Miers as the "feint") I don't think it would be Estrada.
I believe that Pres. Bush felt obliged to select a female candidate, and Miers was the only one that he knew AND trusted enough (besides Karen Hughes) to select. I think he'll still select a female candidate. Maybe he can find one half black/half Hispanic with a physical handicap.
[I was getting ready to post something about Miers over at the Taterbed and then you mentioned her withdrawl. Guess I need to revise it now before posting.]
Posted by: MarcV at October 27, 2005 11:45 AMI think all bets are off in trying to come up with someone to appeal to the Dem's sense of political correctness. And I don't think it's going to be anyone within arm's reach of the President again, which means probably not AG Gonzalez, whose name had been bandied about previously. Eugene Volokh's saying McConnell, which sounds about right.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at October 27, 2005 12:02 PMAl Gore appeals to Democrats, as do The Fat Movie Guy and the Used to be on SNL Radio Guy.
Mind you, they don't appeal to the rest of humanity, or even their own mothers, but the five mental patients controlling the Democratic party love 'em.
Posted by: skinnydan at October 27, 2005 02:16 PMI almost forgot - Roy Moore needs a job, too! He's more qualified than Harriet was.
Posted by: skillzy at October 27, 2005 02:30 PMI saw Ted Olsen's name bandied about for SC (Junkyard Blog?), and he would be another good choice. His connection with 9/11 will give him some terrorist-fighting cred.
I still think the candidate will be female in order to avoid the situation of having only one female on the bench. Hey, how about that chick who played a judge on TV and had Tyne Daly for a mom ... what was that show?
Posted by: MarcV at October 27, 2005 02:36 PMI think we're missing the obvious here--Judge Judy. Or maybe Judge Mablean.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at October 27, 2005 02:43 PMIs Judge Wapner still alive?
I think the Judge Justin clerked for would, in all seriousness, be great. And although male and white, he's Jewish. That's got to count for something, right Dan?
Posted by: Jordana at October 27, 2005 04:58 PMIt counts for a lot. Among other things, it guarantees Matza Ball Soup at the next SCOTUS potluck.
Posted by: skinnydan at October 28, 2005 09:46 AMBrandeis's beef brisket was always popular, but Bader-Ginsburg's borscht hasn't been quite so well received. AND, Brandeis even has his own cheerleaders!
Let's see Scalia top that!
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at October 28, 2005 10:09 AM