Miers [does not] have a built in "fan base" of people in Washington, in contrast to the people (Democratic and Republican) who knew and respected John Roberts. Even if Democrats aren't truly gravely concerned, they will see this as an opportunity to damage the President.
October 3, 2005
Is the Miers nomination doomed?
Tom Goldstein analyzes the political dynamics of the Miers nomination and predicts defeat!
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Even if Democrats aren't truly gravely concerned, they will see this as an opportunity to damage the President.
They'll have a devil of a time opposing this grandmotherly figure with the same hammer-and-tongs ferocity that we had all expected, and in fact, been promised by the oppostion.
As you point out in another thread, this calls Harry Reid's bluff, and challenges people to come up with a substantial paper trail they can nail her to.
Her almost extemporaneous acceptance speech a while ago was stunning for its clarity and grace.
By first impressions only, I'd say this government official (like Rehnquist was before his nomination to the SCOTUS, let's not forget), is perfectly suited to the intensity of Senate Judicial Hearings questioning.
Senator Joe Biden might have to go for extra tanning salon sessions, because a lot of Democratics blanched when they saw Harriet Miers.
Cheers,
Victoria
We haven't seen her in action yet. Who knows if she's grandmotherly? But lawyers know how to cross examine a nice lady so that you destroy her credibility without generating ordinary, instinctive human sympathy. Be very kind and gentle, but put her into a position where she will show her inadequacies. But maybe she doesn't have them, in this case. Miers is a lawyer herself, probably a far better one than any of the senators.
Maybe Janice can put away the kleenix after all - there will be rumors about George and 'that woman Harriet' trying to skirt her way onto the SC bench....
We haven't seen her in action yet. Who knows if she's grandmotherly?
I meant her general demeanour.
FWIW, President Bush once called her a "pitbull in size 6 shoes".
Some people say cronyism is at work. I say fine, no more than President Kennedy, who appointed his old Harvard/Navy buddy, Byron White (also a non-jurist) to the SCOTUS.
Sometimes, you have to go with who you trust.
He already reached out for an unknown Bush-quantity in John Roberts.
But lawyers know how to cross examine a nice lady so that you destroy her credibility without generating ordinary, instinctive human sympathy. Be very kind and gentle, but put her into a position where she will show her inadequacies. But maybe she doesn't have them, in this case.
If you don't know, I would know less about her record in private practise.
However, she was the first woman elected to the head the Texas Bar Association, and by gum, that's a mighty good reference by her fellow lawyers.
If nothing else, it shows that she can handle overwhelming legal administrative duties, as does her position as counsel to the WH.
Miers is a lawyer herself, probably a far better one than any of the senators.
Indeed.
Grilling a person in front of 12 jurors and a courtroom is one thing.
It's quite another to imagine attacking this aged lady as you would have that robust-looking originalist, Pricilla Owen.
It might go down well in the Beltway, but less I think, in Middle America.
Cheers,
Victoria
I'm not quite sure what it would take to bork Miers, but I intend to try to find out, just in case.
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