Their reasons for supporting Miers are ironically similar.
Because Miers has never been a judge — and thus has never written a judicial opinion — Senate Republicans are left with having to trust Bush's judgment. If the GOP fails to support Miers, what does that say toward their support of Bush? Essentially, Bush is staking party unity on Miers confirmation. It's a dangerous game to play, but Bush is no doubt confident he will win.
Meanwhile, Miers lack of a court record leaves Senate Democrats with little to rally the troops around — at least in the 10-minute chunks they'll be given for questions during her confirmation hearings.
And maybe they think that Bush has nominated a future Souter. Miers' loyalty to Bush notwithstanding, her background, includes contributing to Al Gore's 1988 run for president and to Lloyd Bentsen's 1988 run for Senate. She also has been on record supporting gay rights.
However, on abortion rights, Miers appears to be to the right of recently confirmed Justice John Roberts. But do Democrats want to be seen as having a one-issue "litmus test" for the Supreme Court?
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