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Printer-Friendly ModeMiers nomination questioned
October 31, 2005 —
It is fitting that Harriet Miers appeared on the front page of most newspapers in the week leading up to Halloween. Her obtrusive nose, her immense forehead, her tenebrous eyes, and her hematic lips are dreadful. Add a witch's hat and her costume is complete. What was George W. Bush thinking when he nominated Miers to be a Supreme Court Justice?
Several theories exist to explain Bush's haphazard decision. His poor choice does not surprise liberals who think Bush is a moron. If Bush is so dumb, why did he appoint a perfectly qualified John Roberts as Chief Justice? Some people suggest people behind the scenes are pulling the strings for Bush, which is why he occasionally makes decisions that are sensible. This confidential information may be the reason Bush claimed Executive Privilege and refused to reveal documents to the Senate for Miers' confirmation hearings. He may be dumb, but he also may be tricky.
There is another theory floating around that might have more legs than the lethargic media realizes: George W. Bush appointed Harriet Miers because he knew he must appoint a woman or face serious backlash from his party and the public. Bush had someone else in mind though, and it was not a woman. Instead of appointing who he wanted on the Supreme Court, he intentionally nominated a woman who was not qualified and would certainly not be confirmed. Even psychopaths like Ann Coulter agree that Miers was not qualified.
It is no surprise that Miers withdrew herself from consideration on Thursday morning. Democrats went trick-or-treating and received a sack full of rotten candy. Their response was not to throw the candy away, but to share it with their Republican buddies across the isle. They were ready to let Miers receive an up-or-down vote and force Republicans to bounce Bush's candidate themselves. If Republicans didn't shoot down Bush's nomination, then the American public would be stuck with a Supreme Court Justice who was not qualified, and the right wing would have another appointee like David Souter with an unclear judicial philosophy. But don't give Democrats too much credit, because Bush still controls the game. Miers' resignation is simply Bush's way to sweep her under the rug.
Regardless of the reactions from Republicans and Democrats, Bush could not lose by appointing Miers. Either he would get one of his cronies on the Court or he would get to appoint a more qualified and more preferred man. Miers' getting rejected allows Bush to appoint someone like Alberto Gonzalez, a token Latino man, which continues a trend of token appointments by Bush that includes Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. Bush's strategy has been clearly established: choose someone from within his inner circle or choose a minority candidate. It's rare that he diverges from the plan; even John Roberts was a former law clerk of deceased Chief Justice William Rehnquist.
Why would Bush care what people think when he is not up for re-election? He has a legacy to protect. He must be remembered as a wartime president, even if it means he failed. He must be remembered as the only president to bring Jesus Christ to the Oval Office. He must be remembered as the compassionate conservative who loved women, African-Americans, and Hispanics (alcohol and cocaine excluded). Finally, he must be remembered as the second advent of Ronald Reagan; the guy who cut social spending for poor, innocent people in favor or fighting foreign wars for fake causes.
The differing theories about the Harriet Miers fiasco reflect the opinions expressed about George W. Bush. Some think he is an idiot, while others think he is a genius. He gambled by choosing an unknown witch from Southern Methodist University whose biggest accomplishment was leading the Texas Lottery Commission, and he will most likely hit the jackpot once the confirmation of his real nominee occurs.
Bush is always up to something, so do not be surprised if he wears a mask this Halloween. The media will be standing at the door, waiting to see if they get a trick or treat, but maybe they should leave a preemptive pile of feces on his doorstep instead.