October 26, 2005
"She needs to step it up a notch."
That's Lindsey Graham's message to Harriet Miers. And Norm Coleman wants "to get a better feel for her intellectual capacity and judicial philosophy, core competence issues." Jeez, how would you like to go to a job interview where the interviewer's presumption was you're too dumb for this and it was up to you to disprove it? You'd better start spewing some supersmart things right now, lady! How grisly! I can't imagine how one could come off well trying to live up to that. Once people have decided you're dumb, pretty much everything you say sounds dumb.
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16 comments:
Another thing that will work against her is that Roberts' performance was so solid...and with each passing day in anticipation of what Miers may say, Roberts' appearance before the Judiciary Committee is being credited with being even better than it was. This creates almost impossible-to-attain standards for Miers' performance there.
It's probably essential that Presidents nominate tabula rasas these days. But in attempting to placate the Right before the hearings, rather than keeping their traps shut, the White House undermined that strategy. They began to write a bit on the slate, inviting others to do the same. Some conservatives are doing it with a vengeance now.
The White House could have gotten Miers confirmed easily. But they have really mishandled this thing, in my estimation.
As a candidate for President, wasn't one of the main criticisms of George W. Bush that he was stupid? Harriet Miers is not my pick for the Supreme Court, but implying she is stupid will only reinforce President Bush's willingness to support her.
This must end soon, up or down. I feel like they're kicking Bambi.
The only problem DRJ ( are those initials or homage to the great Julius Irving?) is that her written words are as unimpressive as her spoken ones. Bush was a novice -- relatively speaking -- on the national stage (at least in being out front) whereas Miers has been an attorney for 20 (?) years plus law school plus undergrad. She should be able to put up a coherent explanation of con law principles and theories, antitrust, etc. etc. Bush had never dealt with Pakistan when he was ambushed with "the quiz".
Miers, supposedly, deals with the law every day and is career driven to the nth degree and deals with nothing else it sounds like (a bit of overstatement I realize).
She doesn't have to hit homers (to go with Roberts and baseball) but doubles would be nice.
patca: exactly how I feel. Dang.
The thing that *really* gets me, however, is that Graham used Emeril's obnoxious catch-phrase... I cringe every time somebody says that.
BAM!!
Her hearing will probably get the highest ratings of any such hearing in living memory. I hope she likes the spotlight, because it will be focused like a laser right on her.
Whether the low expectations and high demands involved will work to enhance or detract from her performance (or people's perceptions of it) remains to be seen. But that's what it is, really--a performance, probably the performance of her life.
PatCA said: This must end soon, up or down. I feel like they're kicking Bambi.
Thanks PatCA, for reminding me that hunting season is not too far off.
Troy: grrrrrr.... LOL!
I do, I do, I *DO* love the comments on this blog!!!
is norm coleman allowed to comment on others intelligence?
Adam: Don't underestimate the drawing power of schadenfreude, as opposed to the masochism typically required.
Troy,
Thanks for the response but you're preaching to the choir. Your audience should be President Bush and Harriet Miers, because they are the only ones who can end this. Calling them stupid won't make that happen.
PS - Those are my initials but I wouldn't mind someone thinking otherwise. Dr. J was one of the greats.
If only there were a BarBri Supreme Court edition for Harriet Miers, she could gain the skills and the confidence to pass those nasty hearings.
In case the Senate permits further do-overs, I wonder if she'd be eligible for the retaker's discount...
Bush should exercise the utmost Executive Privilege... the one honored by all who encounter the office...
The mulligan.
But if the hearings do occur and it looks bad for Miers.... she would rise in my estimation if she would lean into the microphone at the Confirmation Hearing and say those words I would love to hear after a Ted Kennedy harangue... "Yes, but Senator Kennedy, I've never killed anyone."
If you're gonna go down, go down in a blaze of glory.
I have been supportive of Harriet from the beginning, but I have always thought she would have to show well in the hearings. Unfortunately, it is sounding like she has not been showing well in the one on ones. So, it could be a defeat for her, and a humiliation, if both sides go after her.
I think W was right in assuming that he couldn't get a Janice Rogers Brown past the fillibuster because of McCain. But, where does he go if Miers fails? to the right or the left?
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