October 31, 2005
Miers Canceled Nomination
:Three weeks and three days after Bush’s announcement of Harriet E. Miers to be the next-associate justice on the Supreme Court, Miers withdrew among speculation that she would not be confirmed. Conservatives had fought the nomination and television ads opposing her nomination were to begin this week. Bush said that he “reluctantly acceptedâ€? her decision. It is widely expected that Miers will continue to serve the President as White House counsel.
(Filed under: Supreme Court, Bush Administration, Miers Nomination, America)
Commentary – A New Supreme Court Choice
:Miers’ withdraw and today’s nomination of Alito was a perfect strategy to change the debate in Washington and bring the Republican base back together. It was clearly orchestrated to happen last week during the indictment scandal so that the White House could air all of its laundry at once. But that does not mean it should not have happened. As this report pointed out on the day of Miers’ nomination, she was not qualified. Clearly, in a legal sense, Alito is. That alone gives me reason to look forward to his time before the Senate. His political views will obviously cause one camp excitement and another concern but that should not matter. He should be confirmed if he is qualified. However, Senators should not forget that the most important qualification of any justice is impartiality and fairness to all. Alito’s past decisions and statements leave many questions to whether he has this. The confirmation hearings will be important for all Americans to learn if he possesses these essential attributes.
(Filed under: Supreme Court, Commentary, Miers Nomination, Alito Nomination)
October 24, 2005
Miers Nomination
:The Senate Judiciary Committee is likely to summon Focus on the Family founder James C. Dobson, a leading conservative Christian, to explain the private assurances he claims to have received from the White House about Miers. This comes during a week when Senators largely claimed to need much more information about the nominee. Her answers to a standard questionnaire were sent back for further clarification, she backtracked on a statement about privacy that she had given the Judiciary Committee Chairman, and Senators are pushing for documents from her work in the White House. This final request is likely to be denied by the White House, claiming privileged information.
(Filed under: Supreme Court, Bush Administration, Politics, Miers Nomination, America)
October 17, 2005
Miers Nomination
:The Bush administration attempted to respond to criticisms of Miers’ qualifications by emphasizing her Christian beliefs this week. Both Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and First Lady Laura Bush stated how qualified Miers is and insinuated that criticisms of Miers could be based on sexisms. Meanwhile, critics of the nomination pointed to documents released this week that shows little in-depth Constitutional thinking but does show her devotion to the President. In July 1997 she gushed to then Governor Bush, “You are the best governor ever – deserving of great respect.” She also said that he was “cool” and that his wife is “the greatest.”
(Filed under: Supreme Court, Bush Administration, Miers Nomination, America)
October 10, 2005
Miers Nomination
:Last week’s nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court by President Bush has led to divisive infighting in the Republican Party. Many Conservatives including George Will and Pat Buchanan wrote scathing reviews of the nomination this week charging that Miers has little in her resume or written record that indicates that she has the experience or the Conservative pedigree necessary to be confirmed by the Senate. Some Senators, including Sam Brownback (R- KS) also openly questioned the choice and are considering to vote against her confirmation. The Bush Administration responded by trumpeting Miers’ evangelical faith and loyal service to the President. Miers also received support from Conservative Christian Commentator/Pastor Dr. James Dobson who said that she had his support because of something he could not disclose. Some Senators are now threatening to make Dobson testify to what he meant with this statement.
(Filed under: Supreme Court, Bush Administration, Miers Nomination, America)
October 3, 2005
The Roberts Supreme Court
:Chief Justice John Roberts began the Supreme Court’s term today on the same day President Bush nominated Harriet Miers (more in the next article and in commentary) to replace Sandra Day O’Connor on the high court. Roberts was confirmed by the Senate late last week with twenty-two Democrats (exactly half their caucus) joining all fifty-five Republicans in the vote. Cases to be heard by the court this term include a case involving the incentives states use to encourage companies to move jobs into their state and a case involving campaign finance reform.
(Filed under: Supreme Court, Roberts Nomination, Politics, Miers Nomination, America)
Harriet Miers Nomination
:This morning, President Bush nominated White House counsel Harriet Miers, 60, to an associate justice position on the U.S. Supreme Court to replace Sandra Day O’Connor. Miers was Bush’s personal attorney in Texas and was the first woman elected president of the Texas Bar Association and a partner at a law firm before working in the Bush administration. She has never been a judge before. The latest task she had was helping the President pick his two Supreme Court nominees.
(Filed under: Supreme Court, Miers Nomination)
Commentary - White House Cronyism
:Bush’s selection of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court is the latest in a series of poor choices for top positions by this administration. Don’t get me wrong, a Justice Miers may be a fine choice to replace Justice O’Connor, I certainly have no great insights into her life or her judicial philosophy. And it is clear that the White House is not going to say much when the Press Secretary said that he had no comment on her beliefs. No, my anger is not with Harriet Miers, it is with the President and his lack of character.
The first time it was apparent that President Bush had little sense of decency in selecting people for positions in his administration was when he selected Dick Cheney as his running mate. At the time, I commented that Mr. Cheney would help the President on his biggest weakness, foreign policy. But I also noted that it was a problem that the President thought it was appropriate to nominate the person that was supposed to be running his search for a Vice President. The man, after all, had sat in on countless meetings hearing about very personal information about potential candidates. To then select that man as your running mate, in my opinion, showed very little character.
Most recently, much was said about Michael Brown’s position at FEMA. He joined the agency with no experience in disaster relief. His previous job as the president of a horse showing association had led to his resignation when the agency was furious at him for using their funds for his legal defense. And journalists have speculated that appointments to positions at the EPA, the FDA, and others mirror Brown’s experience and expertise.
Again, the President has showed his willingness to go with his gut and instinct and not any real sense of his responsibility to this nation to nominate the best candidate for the job. Again, the President nominated the very person that was taking the lead in the search for that position. Again, the President nominated someone with no practical experience or expertise. Again, the President has failed to live up to his responsibility. Instead of getting another solid Justice like John Roberts, the President nominated a complete unknown. That may be good for getting confirmed. It remains to be seen if it is good for the country. And for that, I am mad at the continued cronyism of this White House and this President.