Ill-advised move by the Democrats

I don't have any problem with the Democrats sitting back, prior to the hearings for Harriet Miers' nomination to the Supreme Court, and enjoying the show put on by the Republicans. But I don't want to see them, at this point, actively defending her, especially on competence grounds.

Harriet Miers is not an appropriate nominee for the Supreme Court, no matter how she might vote. And if Dems, after sensing that she might become a Souter, want to vote for her later, they can come up with excuses for her lack of qualifications then. But there's absolutely no reason to jump into the game yet, and plenty of reasons to hold back.

I am a Christian, and I know many, many people who have had late-in-life conversions and who are passionate about it. I am happy for them and many lead wonderful, giving lives. However, I am extremely worried about a nominee who has that personal passion and no significant experience with constitutional law. I'm even more worried about someone who has assured the President that she has a particular view of consitutional debate, when she has little to no experience in that arena, and who may have only her own personal faith to call upon -- or the views of more forceful Justices -- when deciding cases.

This is a bad nomination from a President who has a reputation for misguided loyalty and crony appointments to important jobs. Democrats should say so, or say nothing at all. Republicans can self-destruct on this one all on their own, for now.

•  I can see how...

  ...it would seem -- considering my last diary -- that I don't want Democrats opposing anyone. That's not it at all. Harriet Miers should be opposed, and it's easy to do it on competence alone -- and make a vivid case for the public to support us. No filibuster necessary.
  
  If Bush presents a more wingnutty candidate next, then we still have the ability to challenge him/her on issues of law.
  
  Meanwhile, Sandra Day O'Connor stays right where she is, and perhaps is the deciding vote on the Oregan "death with dignity" law, for example.
  
  At any rate, this isn't a general call for the Dems to stand down. Far from it.

  by opus on Sat Oct 08, 2005 at 11:15:04 AM PDT

•  What is the other option?

  You think the next person Bush puts up if Miers gets rejected is going to be better? Its going to be Priscilla Owens or Janice Brown. Miers might be the best we can get. Our best strategy is to divide Bush from his base but let Miers get confirmed. Defending her will drive Conservatives nuts.

  by UpstateNYDem on Sat Oct 08, 2005 at 11:15:24 AM PDT

  •  What if this infighting is a ploy by them?

    What if they are staging this conflict so we go along and confirming her is a trap?  Bait and switch.

    by CO Democrat on Sat Oct 08, 2005 at 11:26:50 AM PDT

    •  Why would they need to do that?

      They have 55 Senate seats. They have a well-funded base spoiling for a fight. They would love to nominate a nut who could bloody Democrats going into the midterms. Why would they want to nominate someone who splits their biggest conservative voices down the middle and causes day after day of infighting?

      by JamesB3 on Sat Oct 08, 2005 at 12:27:54 PM PDT

•  I have already

  posted this comment on another diary, but I think it is appropriate to post it here as well....

  It's about the qualifications, stupid! That's what Democratic Senators need to repeat OVER and OVER to the White House. We should point out that we are NOT concerned with her religion, her ideology, her "judicial" philosophy. We are very CONCERNED that, much like Mike Brown, she's UNFIT for the damn job! Let the conservatives spit blood and venom over her pro-life commitment, her lacky-esque devotion to Bush, his thumbing his nose at his base out of political cowardice.

  Democratic Senators need a unified voice on this issue. One unqualified crony in a key government position that lead to a terrible catostrophe is ENOUGH, we don't need ANOTHER!

  And this shouldn't be some sort of anti-Miers whisper campaign. It should be a full voiced condemnation of a President who would nominate someone at least as unqualified for her position as he is unqualified for his.
  

  by deepthought on Sat Oct 08, 2005 at 11:16:35 AM PDT

•  Miers

  I would like to see a few of those older moderate democtatic Senators from the Midwest, say some positive things about Miers. I think Miers is easily influenced by men, and the right wing realizes this. Who will be her hero when Bush is gone? Praise by the mods will drive the wingers crazy.

  by kkjohnson on Sat Oct 08, 2005 at 11:32:23 AM PDT

•  Miers

  Even the Founding Fathers oppose the Miers nomination.

  ......................................................................................

  by Kenyan on Sat Oct 08, 2005 at 12:15:10 PM PDT

•  The opposition party should conduct an

  insurgancy.  Clearly, it works.  I use it all the time against wingers.  Give them rope, lead them across a trap, attack them mercilessly where they can't defend.  Wingers love the spot light.  Let them make fools of themselves.  It makes it easier to defeat the self-defeating thugs.

  by jobiuspublius on Sat Oct 08, 2005 at 03:30:01 PM PDT