Everyone, Right Left and Center, did a collective "WTF?" on the Miers announcement. It just doesn't make sense.
Here's an interesting theory from my friend Rick Oliver:
If the GOP is behind rejecting Miers, doesn't it reflect poorly on them going into '06? Wait a minute . . . it gives the [Republican] Senators a way to distance themselves from this disaster of a President, not only in the eyes of independents, but for the benefit of disaffected portions of the winger base.
* * *
Rove's working on '06 and '08. This has little to do with the nominee.
Sound plausible? I think so. The Bush presidency is an undeniable disaster. Any sentient person with an "R" before their name would want some distance between him/herself and GWB before the next election. Also, if the GOP turns against GWB, they can lay all the GOP's problems off on a failed
person instead of failed
policies.
The only hole I could poke in it would be that to head down this path, Bush would have to not give a damn about his legacy - he'd have to be willing to let his own base think he was a horrible president and allow Republicans to score political points at his expense. The man has an ego. But (silly me), this argument would mean that GWB was actually involved in the strategery! His job is simply to do what he's told by his handlers and be in bed by 9:00. GWB can't run again, so he's useless to his manipulators now.
Anyway, what do you think?