fact checker: thanks for the edit..Obviously I need it.

fred

I think we have had sufficient demonstration of the arrogance and ignorance of the Bushites and certainly the potential for ignominious collapse on so many fronts. What does it take? But here we are talking about the Supreme Court. One of three branches of government. Doesn't Congress and the public have a right to a deeper level of transparency than simply the presidential "trust me?" Should public knowledge of the ideology of its members be shrouded--unlike that of elected officials? Perhaps, but certainly not to this degree. And att the very least, can we not demand a person of depth--whether conservative or liberal--a creative legal thinker, not a hack bureaucrat? It is even more appalling that, in the face of her sloppily inadequate answers to initial questioning--among other inadequacies--the prognosis still tends toward her confirmation. Clearly just saying no is a lot harder than it seems.

Many have opined on this subject that the nomination of Miers was due to Rove & company being distracted by indictments. I doubt that was the case.

I think her candicacy was simply the uninformed choice of a supremely ignorant President deciding to do whatever he wants.

On many issues George Bush has proven to be
profoundly misguided by his "god" and his advisers. The day US Forces invaded Iraq,
I told my friends and associates that this
was Vietnam all over again. Declaring
that the mission was "accomplished" only
underscores his utter blindness to the tribal, cultural, religious, and historical
realities of a country (Iraq) that is beyond his ken.

His bungling of Social Security, terrible staff appointments, and awful management of crises have revealed a truly desperate and incompetent man.
Mier's hearings in front of a robust
Senate committee will be a slaughter, and the white house had damn well better engineer her withdrawal. Harriet and George
should both return to Texas and teach Sunday School.

I find it interesting that almost all Americans, both from the "left" and "right", agree on the poor choice of Miers but for totally different reasons. This country is very polarized. The question in my mind is which reason do the majority of Americans agree with?

Actually, I think this is a Rove generated smokescreen to cloud the Plame investigation he and others in the WH are quite worried about. If this is true I expect Rove (via the president) to withdraw her name in time to save the president embarassment but maximize the amount of smoke. If the Plame investigation/fallout continues after that, another unqualified name will be nominated. I predict that historians will be talking about this administration as they talk about the Nixon administration, corrupt, arrogant, secretive and unpopular. I think evangelicals have set themselves back politically by riding this horse.

Here's a thought: is it possible that Bush and Miers colluded on nominating her because they both knew she was such a BAD choice and they knew how upset both sides of the aisle would be. The desired outcome being that Miers would then step down, Bush would nominate someone who would look so much better than Miers ever could and, in a collective sigh of relief, the Dems and Reps would hasten the hearings, vote on the nominee, and get someone into O'Connor's slot without as much as a "by your leave"? Or is it just possible that Bush is really so much more stupid than those who voted for him realized? Frankly, Canada is looking more and more attractive as the seconds tick by. And I'm with candide--when are we going to rise up, march in the streets, and demand our liberation from this tyrant disguised as the leader of democracy?

Roberts is bright, articulate and cunning and has "gamed for the future" in all his undertakings- Miers on the other hand, by accepting the nomination, has failed to understand that preparation for potential court appointments requires a lifetime of insuring that controversy is avoided, meticulous records are maintained for even the most mundane of life's occurrences, and that congressional committees place a premium on the ability of a nominee to join in an intellectual joust that plays hide and seek with an individuals personal opinion about anything of substance.

Unfortunately Miers could not have anticipated her nomination and thus is not as prepared as Roberts. The shame of the process is that it is likely that those that do not engage in the manipulations that enable successful "gaming" can never reach the Supreme Court bench. America is cheated by this process.

What else did anyone expect? I doubt if Bush can tie his shoes without Karl Rove so we can expect much more of this nonsense for the next three years.

Will our democracy survive? Probably. But come election time, every time you see how lousy every thing is going in America, remember: REPUBLICANS ARE AND HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE.

THANK YOU, BUSH FOR TOTALLY DESTROYING THE "CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN MYTH and then engendering their final throes with the Miers nomination. (Could this have been what Dick Cheney meant?)

Miers is not the latest example of the Bush administrations complete incompetence - it is much, more importantly, an indication of where the Republican party now places it values.

Nominating Harriet Miers showed that the Republicans have no care for America nor its institutions. It will nominate or appoint anyone, no matter how incompetent, no matter how inexperienced, no matter how damaging that appointment is to a critical national institution like the Supreme Court. This shows that the Republicans are willing to sacrifice the foundations of this country just to have its institutions stacked with cronies to consolidate their power and reward misguided and unquestioning loyalty. Look at the other nominations that have come out of this administration - Michael "Brownie" Brown at FEMA who would let people drown rather than interupt his dinner or Alberto Gonzales who advocates torturing prisoners (not to mention the withdrawn nomination of Bernard 'Boinkin' Kerik).

Once the Republican party stood for personal rights, a limited government and fiscal responsibility. Not any more.

It was reported on the radio this morning (WTOP) that 4 people were involved in Miers' selection: "W", Laura, Andy Card, and Miers lieutenant.

This last is a joke. It is difficult for an underling to block the boss's promotion. Consider the consequences.

Andy Card is competent at what he does, but he is chief of staff for goodness sake. He's not a judicial philosopher.

I think this one's on Laura and "W", two wholly unqualified people. When Laura defended the nomination some days ago a lot of people were surmising that Rove pushed her out there to support it. I don't think so.

It was reported on the radio this morning (WTOP) that 4 people were involved in Miers' selection: "W", Laura, Andy Card, and Miers lieutenant.

This last is a joke. It is difficult for an underling to block the boss's promotion. Consider the consequences.

Andy Card is competent at what he does, but he is chief of staff for goodness sake. He's not a judicial philosopher.

I think this one's on Laura and "W", two wholly unqualified people. When Laura defended the nomination some days ago a lot of people were surmising that Rove pushed her out there to support it. I don't think so.

O RLY??

Republicans & Bush supporters are increasing questioning what kind of man they elected as President! His popularity & administration is sinking into the swamp of cronyism, incompetence, and an increasing stink of corruption!

His insistence on appointing unqualified political cronies to high positions is a cause for alarm to most Americans of both parties. From Brownie to his recent nomination of Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court and the withdraw of Timothy Flanigan nomination after facing weeks of questions over his ties to the lobbyist Jack Abramoff & Karl Rove. His main political brain and probable brain, Karl Rove likely indictment over the leaks of CIA operator's names, increasing speaks of not only cronyism, but of corruption in high places!

Far from the smaller, honest, effective government that most thought they were voting for his administration has used tax dollars like know other government in history to reward supporters and buy votes. His policy of using Federal money for pork barrel laden bills & tax cuts without any attempt to control the growth of big government & spending, and with a large & ever growing out-of-control deficits has many realizing the man they thought they elected is not the man they got!

His rewarding of the Medal of Freedom to George Tenet for one of the greatest intelligence failures in American history leaves a bad taste in the mouth of most Americans. This has also left many wondering if it was a reward for supporting his determination to go to war in Iraq with or without WMD or ties to terrorist!

The failure in Iraq of any planning of how to control or administrate the country after the war, in spite of warning from both within and outside of his administration, strikes many as gross incompetence on the part of him and his advisors!

To add insult to injure, the asinine remarks of Romsfeld that you go to war with what you got, coupled with the lackadaisical approach to getting Armor for our troops, which has accounted for most of the casualties in Iraq, seems to many a total lack of concern for the ones paying the price and fighting an increasing unpopular war!

The war in Iraq has the opposite of the desired affect, instead of protecting us from terrorist it has reenergizes terrorist world wide and made it a recruiting ground for terrorist and terrorist training. We are now bogged down in an unpopular costly war without a viable exit plan.

The dismal failure to respond to Hurricane Katrina after billions of dollars & years of planning increasing demonstrates incompetence and wasting of billions in tax dollars by his administration!

Vice Presidents Chancy transformation from wise experienced advisor to the prototypical corrupt CEO that ripped employees & share holders off for billions is now complete! Due to the rewarding of no bid contacts in Iraq to his ex-company and other big company contributors to Bush's reelection & the resulting inexplicable loss of billions of dollars. In a brazen display of unequaled arrogance they did the same thing again in rewarding no bid contacts for rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina to the same companies!

Bush's planned policy on giving millions of Illegal Aliens green cards as a reward for breaking our laws, is a blatant display of ignoring the wishes of 85% of the American public. His determination & desire to reward contributors with cheap labor at the expense of American jobs and billions in tax dollars to subsidize their many benefits, proves that the welfare of the country and American citizens is subordinate to his desire in rewarding the Rich and Powerful for their support!

His failure to control our open borders and continue to allow Mexico & Latin American to export their poverty to the USA by the millions 4 years after 9/11 seems too many, to bring in question, his concern with terrorist and fighting terrorism! Indeed, many question if another terrorist attack is not desired by this administration to allow him to parade with a bull horn & make asinine remarks like bring them on! To again demonstrate to the country and world that he is the bravest Chicken Hawk in the USA & stem the free fall of his sinking popularly & policies!

What many took for a brave resolute leader now appears to be something far different! A complete arrogances & inability to recognize or admit mistakes, the comprehension of an chicken, and if intelligence was measured by height, many now realize ,he would undoubtedly be a dwarf!

This is what happens when you pander to wingnuts and then have to deal with reality...

I actually feel sorry for Ms. Miers..

The wingnuts want someone to say "Jesus Christ is Lord and I will follow his words to the letter on the supreme court regardless of the so-called law written by legislature" publicly, boldly, in the press and on TV... And then have Bush put the pressure on for a partisan win that "fixes" the supreme court, and the devil worshiping rest of the nation be damned, as they should be.
Its actually too bad in a way that she didn't... then the 5% of the elctorate wingnuts would be out in the open and the sane and reasonable world could laugh at them...

They already have their own cabal in the whitehouse courtesy of the Nixon Administration's Cheney and Rumsfeld...

bush is trying to cripple the supreme court with miers right? why? karen wrbelis-retiree rockford mi. klw111@charter.net

I think Bush is a decent man, with a decent wife and comes from a good family. That is why he was elected governor twice and president in 2000. His problem is that he seems to have forgotten where he came from in catering to all of these nuts on the right wing.

I think the sensible center will work with him in the next few years if he wants to reach out and leave a good legacy.

I knew from the day in 2000 that Bush was "elected" President that this country would be in for a ride.

We have seen our share of some ups, but they have mostly devastating downs during his administration.

It's unbelievable to me that the masses of the American people are not outraged to the blatant, outright arrogance that this administration has demonstrated. It's as if we don't do what they say (the old addage applies here: "do as I say not as I do") they make it a point to sabbotage careers, divide families, and even cause the extreme political polarization that we are now seeing.

As for the Harriet Miers nomination...that is laughable at best. Who does he think he is when he answered the journalists' questions in the Rose Garden a few weeks ago regarding what qualifications she has to be a Supreme Court Justice, and Bush's reply was simply "trust me." Uh, hello, we trusted you when you said we were going to war under the (now false) pretense of Iraq's WMD, which we now have nothing to show for but death, destruction and broken promises. "Trust me?" Come on.

I just hope that the administration can come to grips and take a long, hard look at itself before it does any more irreparable damage to our economic, political and social freedom. Otherwise, we are in for an even more bumpy ride for the next THREE YEARS...YIKES!

Mieirs is trying to chew gum and walk at the same time; and not doing a decent job of either. Why not complete the original application and forego Senate self-promotion visits until that requirement is fulfilled? Miers told Spector in advance that she had "years of files to go through and she would work to finish the questionnaire as soon as possible, but she would likely have to send follow-ups to provide additional information." Well? What is she waiting for?

Candide - I agree that the nominations should remain...because they are good for us. By the way, the English language is rich in words, you don't have to stoop to foul language. Three more years is not long enough to have a president who is concerned with our country rather than dallying with a woman who is not his wife and lying to the country about it.

Dismayed - What demonstration of arrogance and ignorance? You should provide proof of your assertions.

Jason Karov - I think kids would be fortunate to have a Sunday school teacher in the form of Harriet Miers or George Bush.

Sully - Evangelicals aren't trying to be political leaders; they want to be spiritual leaders.

DC by way of CA - By all means, go to Canada, this country wouldn't suffer your loss. Take Candide with you.

Bill Arnett - Unlike you, Bush made it to the office of President, so I think he is more than capable of tieing his shoes. When you critize someone, don't stoop to immature namecalling. It is a good thing Republicans are finally in control, imagine a president who can't be trusted by his own wife, or a govenor who waits until the last minute to request federal aid in a time of crisis.

JBR of Great Falls, VA - Republicans are part of America too, so it doesn't make sense that we don't care what happens to America.

Mark G - What makes Laura and President Bush unqualified? Are you better qualified?

Carl Fotain - I am sorry that you no longer support Bush. Like I told Candide, the English language is rich with words, you don't have to use foul ones to get your meaning across. I see no arrogance in Bush's bearing, perhaps you could cite some examples.

Bill Lowe - I am a Bush supporter, but I don't doubt the man I elected as president. I am increasingly convinced that he is the right man for the job. As I have advised others, don't stoop to immature namecalling when trying to make a point, it undermines your argument.

John - Bush hasn't forgotten anything.

Janet - What divided families? Do not make the mistake of grouping all military families in the same category. I was an army brat for the first 18 years of my life. My father has missed many birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations. He has been through wars and peace-keeping operations and never once complained. The funny thing is, neither have I, or my mom, or my sisters, even when we knew he might never come home. This last time my dad went to Iraq, I grateful that we had a president who knew what it meant to be at war. I ask again, what divided families?

This comment board drags Fred's good column into the sink. I think Miers' appointment was a poor choice, but reading the hateful lefties on this board reminds me of why I'd vote for him again over the alternative. Politicians supported by the crowd on this board need to get nowhere near power.

Candide - my concern is not with Clinton's escapade, but with the qualities our elected president's possess or lack thereof. Again, give me examples - how is Bush ruining our futures?

All very interesting! I think the incompetence of the administration is really starting to show. Does anyone know who the next choice might be if Meirs nomination is withdrawn?

I just can't wait until President Bush makes his nomination for Federal Reserve Chairman. Maybe he'll use the same "fresh face" approach...

Bush is ruining our future by: increasing discretionary spending to the point where the percentage of GNP taken up by federal spending exceeds (by over two points) the percentage of federal spending in the Clinton years; nominating a patently unqualified person to the United States Supreme Court, someone who (when asked by senators) wasn't even able to comptently explain the judicial foundation for the right to privacy recognized in Griswold; lying to the American public about the nature of the "threat" posed by Saddam Hussein's regime, essentially getting us into a war under false pretenses; never -- not once -- vetoing a congressional spending bill; presiding over a vast expansion of federal power in derogation of that held by the states (e.g., the so-called Patriot Act); and opposing (not to mention threatening to veto) the amendments to the defense appropriations bill sponsored by John McCain and others that would require the US military to refrain from torturing POWs.

I voted for Bush, twice, and now I am ashamed. I thought he believed in limited government. I thought he believed in controlling the growth in federal spending. I thought he was a federalist who respected states' rights. I was wrong, dead wrong. And "concerned"? You can kiss my %#%. How's that for using the English language?

Thanks to all for participating in this forum. A couple of you are out-of-bounds in the use of obscenity or threats. It's a good discussion. Don't ruin it. And don't force us to filter you out. Thanks very much.

Fred

I am not sure whom I trust less: Harriet Miers or the myopic Beltway hacks on this message board. Thank God that the leftist on this board are not running the country.

William F. Buckley once said that we would be better off being governed by the first page of the Boston phone book than by the faculty of Harvard. I would add to his comment about Harvard (my dear university), the Washington Post message board.

You people are scary and completely outside the mainstream of America.

Today's comments from Republican Congressman Chris Shays of Connecticut encapsulate the Bush administration's latest set of problems, which Shays attributes to Bush's extreme arrogance and alienation of others to the point that no one wants to step in and bail him out.

What a sad set of circumstances for our beloved nation.

I don't know that I'd say "ruining" our future, but I would say he's damaging it. I'd name four ways:

First, he's making it difficult for us to achieve what we want -- indeed, what his administration wants -- in foreign policy. If we want to do something about Iraq's potential to get nuclear weapons, our options are very much limited. Our resources are strained; other countries are less amenable to being pressured, because they've learned that it's better to stay on the sidelines when the Bush administration is pushing you. And maybe we don't need other countries--but it would seem that the administration is indeed looking for cooperation on Syria, on Korea, and on Iran. What they've done in the last 5 years has made cooperation less likely.

Moreover, since Iran and Iraq are destined to be allies -- they're already shoring up their relationship -- the main benefactor of the war in Iraq is Iran. Our options are limited; Iran's options are widened. Surely this isn't what the administration wanted.

Second, the administration has borrowed an enormous amount of money, primarily from countries such as China, to fight the war in Iraq. Our children will have to pay that back at some point--sacrifices will have to be made, although no one seems willing to talk about sacrifice.

And third, the political atmosphere has deteriorated to the point where civil debates about long-term solutions are very difficult to have. Bush isn't responsible for all or even most of that, but he's responsible for some of it. It's one thing to stick to your guns, but never being able to compromise or admit you are wrong is not a good quality in a leader.

And fourth, Bush's leadership qualities just seem to have evaporated. Where's the passionate, persuasive defense of Harriet Miers? The ability to get people behind the troops' effort in Iraq, or to explain how Iraq is in the United States's interest? Will he be able to explain to the American public why any legal problems his administration is facing are not hampering their ability to govern? Just the fact that they can't seem to communicate with the public and halt the slide of the approval ratings is disturbing.

Political affiliations aside - Bush has made poor choices, with serious consequences. Our beloved country is facing some tough times. If you're going to bring your friends along, at a minimum, make sure they are qualified for the position. At least Andrew von Eschenbach is qualified to hold the interim head post at the FDA, but unfortunately because he holds another lead post at the National Cancer Institute and he's a Bush family friend - controversy abounds. Ms. Miers should bow out gracefully - she's not qualified. Bush should figure out an alternate way to reward his friends.

Hey Fred, do you think when Scalia said that the Supreme Court is not Congresses taskmaster, that he was positioning himself with other conservatives on the Court to attack the nefarious practice of legislative history?

candide, i agree with much of what you have posted (although I think some of your rhetoric is too inflammatory and undercuts your arguments). But i strongly disagree with your last post ("No one believing in evangelical Christianity can be intellectually with it."). That is an arrogant, bigoted and ignorant assertion.

Candide,

Augustine, Aquinas, Pascal, Adam Smith and CS Lewis, were they alive, would all ascribe to the bulk of the evangelical Christian faith.

You, my friend, are a bigot. If you are representative of the opposition, the Republican Party has nothing to worry about for many years to come.

Candide,

Augustine, Aquinas, Pascal, Adam Smith and CS Lewis, were they alive, would all ascribe to the bulk of the evangelical Christian faith. Evidently, these rational individuals would disagree vehemently with you.

You, my friend, are a bigot. If you are representative of the opposition, the Republican Party has nothing to worry about for many years to come.

The President is displaying his usual arrogance and contempt for what other smarter, brighter, more reflective, and knowledgeable people think. I think his personality consists of his feeling of God given right, by the silver spoon he inherited and never earned, coupled with a average IQ and lack of critical thinking skills.

His appointment of Harriet Miers is an insult to all American Citizens and the Supreme Court. Her primary qualifications are a brown nose & thinking Bush is God. Anyone that thinks he is brilliant says a lot about his or her intellect & ability. If she is confirmed than it shows, we have elected a bunch of idiots to the Senate, which the more I see Illegal Aliens overrunning this country, the crime & cost to this country the more convince I am we have either Stupid or Corrupt Politicians and/or both!

But in spite of the lack of any qualifications for the Supreme Court she is probably a decent person and has many more qualifications for that job then George Bush has for President! From just viewing his policies without any knowledge of the one responsible, I think most would decide we had a Left Wing Liberal Democrat in office! His out of control spending & deficits, pork barrel lading bills, cronyism and the sheer stupidity & incompetence of lack of any foresight in managing Iraq after the conquest was total complete incompetence by him and his advisors. Not to speak of his just not getting it about Hurricane Katrina and the dismal failure after years of planning and Billions of Dollars again demonstrates a disturbing incompetence!

Cronyism, Incompetence, Corruption & refusal to enforce our Immigration Laws and his intent to reward Illegal Aliens for breaking our laws and Businesses with nearly Slave labor at the expense of American Citizens is all a continuation of Democrat Left Wing Policies and is the hallmark of his administration.
.
His discovery after 5 years in office and 4 years after 9/11 that we have a serious Illegal Alien Invasion with millions of poorly educate people pouring across our open borders is beyond belief. His brilliant solutions to the problem are just making them legal, that will take care of the Illegal Alien problem! It shows he has no concept of what problems will be caused by having millions more poorly educated , prolific breeders with a 50% high school drop out rate, the billions in cost for their benefit's, the crime, the lowing of our standard of living & erosion of the Middle class ,will have on this country! It also shows disrespect for Laws & the Rule of Law, as he proved again with the Meirs nomination to the Supreme Court! While I feel sorry for Miers that was threw into a situation and position she is clearly not qualified by a Stupid President with a King George Complex, this feeling does not extend to King George!

I am one of his many Ex-supporters that feel betrayed by this President! I think if the Republican does not disavow his policies that it will set the Republican Party back years. They will have a hard time taken seriously again, that they are capable of an honest, effective, corruption free, smaller government and the Rule of Law!

I believe that this is bull shit

I disagree with that statement hello!