Mixed Feelings: Harriet Miers

"The idea that we now have to roll the dice and wait a number of years to find out if this one works out when it is not necessary." -Rush Limbaugh

"First, Bush has no right to say "Trust me." He was elected to represent the American people, not to be dictator for eight years. Among the coalitions that elected Bush are people who have been laboring in the trenches for a quarter-century to change the legal order in America. While Bush was still boozing it up in the early '80s, Ed Meese, Antonin Scalia, Robert Bork and all the founders of the Federalist Society began creating a farm team of massive legal talent on the right.
To casually spurn the people who have been taking slings and arrows all these years and instead reward the former commissioner of the Texas Lottery with a Supreme Court appointment is like pinning a medal of honor on some flunky paper-pusher with a desk job at the Pentagon — or on John Kerry — while ignoring your infantrymen doing the fighting and dying." -Ann Coulter

"I'M DISAPPOINTED, depressed and demoralized." -Bill Kristol

This is a sampling of the leading voices of the conservative movement. They are feeling mad, betrayed and frustrated and I have heard many on the left wondering why. For me it's simple. This past election was all about these SCOTUS appointments...

On one hand I'm disappointed in Bush. I really wanted him to nominate Justice Janice Roberts Brown. Even if Harriet Miers turns out to be a staunch conservative in the mold of Thomas and Scalia...this was a cowardly pick. Clinton didn't care what Congressional Conservatives thought when he nominated Ruth Bader ACLU Ginsburg. He picked a flaming liberal -and she was confirmed. Bush should have done the same, with his head held high. It's what he promised.

On the other hand Miers may have been a brilliant pick. She doesn't have much "on paper" that can be made into flame-throwing 60 second clips by NOW and NARAL, YET she has been Bush's friend for over 10 years. Meaning, there may be no "on the record" discussions about her beliefs...but I am sure all the relevant conversations have been had in "off the record" private talks. Bush is a young guy and I am sure he isn't looking to relive his father's "Souter shame". How many long term, close friends do you have that you are oblivious to their beliefs on abortion, the war, the terrorists, the detainees, capital punishment, gay marriage, religion in schools, etc.? I would assume not many. And I assume that Bushy knows all these things about Miers.

So, even if it was a good pick...it wasn't a bold pick. Just keep your fingers crossed that this isn't a Kennedy, Souter, O'Connor déjà vu.