AS much as I'd like the next nominee, if W. gets a shot at another seat, to be a Luttig type, the reaction from the neo-cons and the NRO folks to Miers makes me want to see him ram Gonzalez down their throats next. Petty and spiteful, yes, but . . .

It's hard to pick out the most ridiculous objection to Miers, but close to the top must be that she doesn't have judicial experience. If the president had nominated her to the Appeals Court two years ago, she would have been confirmed out-of-hand. Does anyone really believe that two years experience on a lower federal court makes any material difference?

The two open seats Republicans have been waiting for are filled by Roberts, who may be as conservative as Reinquist, and soon to be justice Miers, who may be as conservative as O'Connor. What has been gained?

Posted by: jd watson at October 11, 2005 6:15 PM

Rehnquist wasn't a very good Chief inside the chambers, though an excellent administrator. Miers is likely to be more conservative than O'Connor. The only seat that matters though is Stevens.

oj:
And that seat will go to Alberto Gonzales.

Posted by: jd watson at October 11, 2005 8:54 PM

Or, Ms Miers may end up being the most conservative Justice on the court, in ten years.

It's like pulling someone up from the minors - you can't know what he'll do in the
Show.

You just put in people that you have some confidence in, and they do what they do.

In Miers' case, Bush has complete and total confidence, which is the best that can be said beforehand about anyone, and ultimately it's Bush's call to make.

Posted by: Michael Herdegen at October 11, 2005 9:58 PM

Other than the Court it's all the minors--the Constitution means whatever 5 of them say it does.

michael -

If a kid doesn't cut it in the Show, he gets sent back down. If you knew your team was going to be stuck with a kid for life, would you want someone brought up with a mixed record in the Japanese minor leagues, or a .400 hitter at the Rookie, A, AA and AAA levels?

And would it make any difference to you if Steinbrenner expressed confidence in the Japanese player?

A Republican President at 40% approval proceeds with a concerted attack his own loyal base using Leftist language.

The man is a genius!

They aren't loyal and aren't his base. They supported McCain and then whined about the size of tax cuts, NCLB, stem cells, steel tariffs, Homeland Security, Medicare reform, immigration, John Roberts, etc..

They're inside the Beltway elites and need to be smacked down regularly in favor of the base.

There's certainly a Beltway element, but that's but a fraction of it.

When Dobson tells his listeners that he's received more calls and letter about this than any other event, we're talking about something bigger than mere DC.

DC and NYC make the noise. Folks react accordingly. But only in the early days of such contretemps. Turn it into Evangelicals vs, Zeus-worshippers and the counter-reaction will be ugly...again.

The pro-life opposition to Miers is not DC-based.

The hysterical, brutal attacks from the Right left the President no choice but to counterattack from the left. Paul is blaming the victim. It is the critics who are being stupid.

Paul:

Yes, it is. It's just lobbyists who want an Eric Rudolph or nothing. Falwell, Dobson, Warren and the rest, out in real America, are pro-Miers.

Bob:

The President as Victim. Right out of the Clinton playbook.

They're only victimizing their own cause. He's beyond their reach.

Paul: Yes, the Clinton playbook. So what. It worked then, what makes you think it won't work now?

Geowrge W. Bush is frequently misunderestimated. The reason for this has to be hubris, because after seeing him as President for so many years and getting so much accomplished these guys still think he's a simpleton.

May I be so lucky with my enemies.