I figured a central diary for conservative Miers reaction would be handy. Here's one mini-sequence:
Chill people By: LagunaDave
The reaction here is ridiculously hysterical.
President Bush has nominated someone who he knows very well, and has confidence in. This is not a stealth nominee like Souter. Miers has worked closely with the President for years.
He promised he would appoint justices that would interpret the constitution as written and not legislate from the bench. Absent evidence to the contrary, I'm confident that's what he's done.
People should stop hyperventilating like Kos diarists and get informed before freaking out.
Please?
Your confidence By: Clayton
Is built upon the foundation that "the President" trusts the nominee. The problem is that many of us are just about done trusting the President.
I've included some more RedState quotes on flip.
Please add other conservative reactions as you see fit.
Here's a diary on Free Republic reactions by daveweigel: Freepers unhappy about Miers
As promised, some other fascinating looks into their mentality:
What are the benefits? By: Mark I
I don't see the political benefits to this nomination. Bush will get no credit for finding a truly qualified nominee. It furthers the cronyism charge that's building among the Dems. Who knows if she's even willing to stick around in Washington once Bush is out of office, leaving no conservative or even mildly conservative imprint on the Court. The base will yawn, the Dems will still growl because she's attached to Bush. I just don't get it. It's almost as if our vaunted decision maker president just threw up his hands and said' "what the Hell Harriet, you take it, I'm tired." That approach worked out well with the VP, but I dare say this was a MUCH more important selection process.
I was thinking about... By: NotSoBlueStater
... that cronyism part, too. This won't help with that stuff, either.
My belief has been, though, that Bush is a man of convictions. I tend to admire that even when I don't share those convictions.
This is troubling on that level.
Category Five Disastrous Pick By: Allan Bartlett
If this is the nominee, Bush has just given the base a huge middle finger. Who is this woman? Nothing is known about her. Why didn't he nominate Luttig, McConnell, JRB, Edith Jones, etc. 2006 is a lost cause now.
Bush you LOSER By: SpectatorGirl
We're staying home. We're done. You lost the Catholics in the swing states. buh-bye OH. You betrayed us. Miers has NO SUPPORT WITH THE BASE. You ran on a platform of scalia. YOU LIAR.
Note to GOP candidates: Want our support in 2008? Reject this one.
Advice (from a Democrat) on how to cope By: Neil the Ethical Werewolf
Over the next few weeks, liberal groups and liberal bloggers are going to worry themselves sick about whether Harriet Miers holds any of several frightening conservative positions.
You should use this time to check out some liberal blogs. They'll probably make you feel a lot better about her.
It's time to move on By: Estes
Rally to the conservatives in the House, the few in the Senate, and the men fighting the war.
The White House is on their own.
Call 911 By: Allan Bartlett
The Bush Presidency is over as conservatives know it. He has spent the country into oblivian. Not one spending bill has been vetoed. He has expanded government. He has left the southern border unguarded. Now he gives us this crap? Sorry George. You are not a conservative. Who the hell is this woman besides your personal lawyer?
We're disgusted By: SpectatorGirl
Bush lied to us. Let Kos cheer.
The post below should not get lost, that her name was on a list of acceptables supplied by the Democrats.
Bush is a gutless, abortionist liar. I spit on him. Seriously.
Worst day to be a conservative since Bader Ginsburg was confirmed.
I cannot believe this is happening...... By: TitansAFC
Bush did lie to us, and now that I know he is capable of such blatant lying, I am distraught.
Now we have to seriously wonder if the Democrats were right all along. Did we go to war for oil? Was it payback for daddy?
Luttig, Jones, Brown, McConnell, Estrada, Garza, Alito, etc. etc. etc. ........so damn many good picks and they all get shunned - TWICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TWICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cannot believe that I ever trusted this man. I am such a fool. I cannot believe that I have been so foolish as to look past the open borders, the excessive spending, the support of moderate Senators over Conservatives, the nation building in Iraq, the twisted bankruptcy "reform," etc.
I feel so sad right now, so angry. I have never felt so betrayed by George W. Bush, never. I will not buy into his "trust me," and "wait and see," we need to urge our Senators to vote her down, and organize primary challenges for those Republican Senators who support her. They're all probably going to stand behind her and the President. we must not let their solidarity be the defeat of Conservatism.
I am so sad right now. I will not, I absolutely will not support this party in 2006 or 2008. No chance.
Will never give another dollar to Republicans By: captain
we have 55 republican senators.
could have picked a real conservative.
instead, he picks a 60-year-old woman who's never been married and has never had kids. are we really to believe that she'll vote to overturn roe?
are we to believe that this woman hasn't had sex outside of marriage over the past several decades? and if she has, hasn't she been counting on the right to abortion just as other career-oriented women do?
bush has betrayed us. i will never again contribute to the republican party.
i dont like the pick but this post is ridiculous By: MikeKS
way to judge and make assumptions about people's personal lives who have had a different life than you have.
i also know many "career oriented" women By: MikeKS
who are pro life and quite conservative who have not and do not want to have kids.
Suprised us. By: rbenson
Did we really think Bush was going to pick someone who we expected. He went under the radar.
Just becasue he suprised the conservatives doesnt mean she is not a conservative. Many of you will be eating your words. Many will be prasing this nominatin ears down the road. Some of these comments are just horrible. So waht if she is not married. I have single never married ladies in my church who are extremely Godly. What a horrible judge on her charector! Shame on some of us conservatives.
agreed By: beezle
as I said earlier - I'm not passing judgement yet. But people need to take a deep breath and show a little more decorum than is shown in Kos or DU.
Please, let's grow up By: izaraurora
Good grief, what a bunch of crybabies. "I'm never going to vote for / work for the Repupblicans again." "Bush lied to us." "I'm disgusted." And best of all, "Bush is an abortionist."
And you wonder why conservatives get a bad rap in some quarters. Get a grip! I'm inclined to give the President the benefit of the doubt here. I think he's earned it.
Seems to me there are two possibilities here:
She really will be a justice in the mold of Scalia and Thomas.
She's a sacrificial lamb, part of a deliberate Rovian plot to go down in flames at the hands of out-of-control Democrats so they can have the upper hand in ramming through the second nominee.
Either way, we win.
Thanks to MadRuth:
Won't Help By: Toral
Bush 'knowing her views' means nothing because he knows nothing whatsoever about the law and it's her legal philosophy that is important.
Also, some links to the source diaries:
Surprising to Many
The Stealth Nominee
This one's especially interesting because of Erick's reaction:
Me, the sources, everyone it seems was wrong. We've all heard the rumors, but not a one could believe the President would do that. Where is our Scalia/Thomas.
I think I'll let the President fight this battle himself, for now.
It appears, for what it is worth, that George W. Bush was the ultimate stealth nominee. He has acted like a true-blue conservative, talking the talk and walking the tax cut walk. But, he has expanded government, spent the future, and now nominated she who has the potential to be a female Souter.
Let's hope I'm wrong, but right now I'm not impressed.
Update [2005-10-3 7:53:1 by Erick]: Miers also apparently gave money to Al Gore back in 1988. At least back then he was pro-life. But still. This ain't good.
The Nominee: Harriet Ellan Miers