That goes just as much for Republican senators having to face their general homestate electorate. A Republican in any kind of tough re-election battle next year is going to be highly motivated to find some good reason to part with this not very popular president. Voting against Miers would distinctly please most movement activists, and would be seen among independent swing type voters as a desirable sign of independence.
Indeed, why would any Republican senator vote FOR Miers? Even trying to do the best thing for the Republican Party at this point starts to point toward bailing. The personal politics will be against it. Plus, they can legitimately justify to themselves that she's just completely unqualified.
Oh, and don't neglect to mention cronyism. The Miers nomination has almost been worth it just for the pure founts of exasperation it has generated from Ann Coulter. She had the funniest explanation for the Miers pick, also one that looks especially bad on Bush. She suggested on Hannity and Colmes that Bush picked Miers because he "hates" conservatives. He was mad because conservatives had made it abundantly clearl that they found Alberto Gonzalez unacceptable. Oh yeah? You don't like this crony pick? I'll get you a crony pick that you'll like even less.
I hate to think that the leader of the free world would be acting in such a childish manner over such a critical appointment. However, that seems like at least as good an explanation for this hamhanded move as anything I've seen.
In any case, it would be difficult to argue that this nomination was not a move of major hubris, knowingly picking an underqualified crony for this crucial appointment, and expecting his people to just fall in line because he said to. For personal entertainment value, I'd likely to see Democrats and lefties going all moonbat on us, but they just won't have to. Republican senators will likely kill this deal for them.
Article comments
1 - Michael J. West
One thing I'm seriously wondering is this: what are the chances that, if it looks like she could be confirmed, the most ardently opposed Republicans will be the ones to filibuster? Given the ferocity of the opposition, it's not so far-fetched.
That said, I have absolutely no doubt that Bush will NOT withdraw the nomination unless Miers herself asks him to. And even then, he will do everything he can to convince her to stick it out. This is a man who apparently prizes personal loyalty above all else, and he gives as good as he gets.
2 - Al Barger
Oh Bush is bullheaded alright, but if this nomination is just absolutely going down bad, reality will kick in at some point.
I wouldn't expect a Republican filibuster, but it wouldn't likely be necessary. If they're in a position to have one, then it'll be unnecessary.
3 - Michael J. West
I don't know...the Bolton nomination went down pretty bad, bad enough that even Bolton apparently questioned whether it was worth it. But Bush held him to the confirmation....although whether that was because he knew he could make the interim appointment, I don't know.
4 - Nancy
Those waiting for "common sense to kick in" on the part of W. Bush are hopefully not holding their breaths meanwhile. This particular president has shown an uncommon lack of that commodity to date - including needing to be herded by his handlers into attending to hurricane victims nearly three days past the storm date. His experiences, on the contrary, have shown him to date that the GOP congress members are indeed nothing more than Bush toadys. If there weren't an election coming up next year, and a bigger one lining up in 08, you can bet your bottom dollar Republican congressmen would be solidly behind W, hissing & indignantly shredding the reputation of anyone who dared to point out Mier's failings. They could care less about the quality of the next SC justice; they're just practicing good ol' political CYA. To ascribe nobler reasons for their balking would be to give them credit for motives they're far too venal to entertain.
5 - Al Barger
Oh Nancy, I'm not counting on Dubya showing any sense- I'm figuring that some Republican senators will knock him in the head with it.
In fairness, not all politicians are completely venal all the time- not even all Democrats! Still, self-interest and the public good are liable to be lined up together in this case.
6 - Nancy
Al, I'm not counting on any of them doing anything because it's GOOD & the right thing to do, of either party. They're all overprivileged, they're all wealthy - & guaranteed of all kinds of special benefits for the rest of their lives, even long after they've left office, the rest of us will never know. Not one of them certainly can speak from the point of view of a "normal" working stiff citizen of the US, because they aren't, & never will be again. They operate in a total vacuum of disconnect, self-centered, selfish interest, and a "culture of corruption" that is so pervasive most of the time they can't even realize that what they say or do stinks in the nostrils of the average citizen. And I do include BOTH parties in this.
7 - RJ
I went from being a McCain supporter in early 2000, to a Bush-supporter in mid-2000, to a Bush-admirer in late-2000, to a Bush-lover in late 2001, to a hesitant Bush-lover in 2003, to an anti-Kerry voter in late-2004, to a hesitant Bush-supporter in early 2005.
After Miers, I'm not sure I even respect the guy anymore.
However, he isn't Hillary, so at least he's got that going for him...
8 - Alethinos
For once I actually agreed with George Will on this: she is NO choice at all. She still isn't. I am sure she's a nice lady. Suitable for the bench - no.
Maybe Bush will find some other nice church lady to nominate. I heard there's a bunch of them down on the corner of Pennsylvania Ave., having selling homemade perserves...
Alethinos
9 - Temple A. Stark
Al, This post was chosen by the section editor as a BC pick of the week. Go HERE (link) to find out why.
And thank you
- Temple