I'm usually not into these type of prognostications, but I'm currently in Stage Six of The Termite's Stages of Schadenfraude, and wanted to reminisce about a similarly joyous experience.
Let's all take a trip on the wayback machine to late 2005. Following Katrina, the vast majority of the country came to realize what many here had known for a while: our President, to put it mildly, was a bit flawed.
But there were a proud few who refused to acknowledge what was becoming overwhelmingly obvious. Fortunately, our president wasn't done, and wanted to close 2005 out with a flourish.
For those dead-enders who saw nothing wrong with a President's oversight of a failing war and the drowning of a major American city, the Harriet Miers saga seemed to be a perfect crystallization of what was wrong with this administration. Cronyism, incompetence, valuing loyalty above all else...this had it all.
Of course when Bush first nominated Miers, the press (and anyone with a love of the justice system, respect for the constitution, or a high school education) was apoplectic. The firestorm was immediate and severe.
What was the administration's response? Was it:
- facts to refute the charges that Miers was not qualified? No, because there were no such facts -- she was imminently unqualified for the Supreme Court.
- a debate over what skills are necessary to be a good Supreme Court justice? No, because she had no demonstrable skills that could even arguably be deemed useful in the role of a justice.
- that the press was being sexist, and holding Miers to a different standard because she was a woman? BINGO!!!
In the absence of any credible defense of their ridiculous appointment, the administration claimed that critics of such appointment were being sexist.
Of course we all remember that when the sexism defense failed miserably, Miers quietly removed herself from consideration...
And that is where my humble prognosticating comes into play: I say get on intrade now, because within two weeks, when the sexism defense fails miserably, Palin will be stepping aside for the good of her family.