[Industrialblog,
October 4, 2005]
Randy Barnett says it better
In Opinion Journal:
Still, it's the cronyism. The obvious personal favoritism. The contempt. The cowardice.
All evidence shows that Harriet Miers is a kiss-ass. This nomination is a victory for suck-ups everywhere. A "diversity" pick is bad enough; a reward for sycophancy is even worse.
I've given President Bush the benefit of almost every doubt. All in anticipation of these Supreme Court picks.
Roberts wasn't quite my guy, but he was furiously intelligent and extremely well-qualified. So I supported that pick.
But this one? I don't care if she votes correctly on everything. She's a mediocre pick. She's a kiss-ass.
I'm not sure we conservatives can shoot our own here. The Left may enjoy this moment, but if you don't join us in killing this selection, you may regret it. After all, Miers is probably very conservative. Gloat a bit (remember that I didn't post-election, though), but help us get rid of this pick and insist the president at least select someone with minimal qualifications.
This is the worst pick since the New York Jets selected Blair Thomas second in the 1990 NFL Draft. (Note: Emmitt Smith was selected 17th in that draft.) But at least the Thomas pick was understandable: Blair Thomas had outstanding credentials.
Ms. Miers would be well qualified for a seat on a court of appeals, where she could develop a grasp of all these important issues. She would then have to decide what role text and original meaning should play in constitutional interpretation in the context of close cases and very difficult decisions. The Supreme Court is no place to confront these issues for the very first time.
Still, it's the cronyism. The obvious personal favoritism. The contempt. The cowardice.
All evidence shows that Harriet Miers is a kiss-ass. This nomination is a victory for suck-ups everywhere. A "diversity" pick is bad enough; a reward for sycophancy is even worse.
I've given President Bush the benefit of almost every doubt. All in anticipation of these Supreme Court picks.
Roberts wasn't quite my guy, but he was furiously intelligent and extremely well-qualified. So I supported that pick.
But this one? I don't care if she votes correctly on everything. She's a mediocre pick. She's a kiss-ass.
I'm not sure we conservatives can shoot our own here. The Left may enjoy this moment, but if you don't join us in killing this selection, you may regret it. After all, Miers is probably very conservative. Gloat a bit (remember that I didn't post-election, though), but help us get rid of this pick and insist the president at least select someone with minimal qualifications.
This is the worst pick since the New York Jets selected Blair Thomas second in the 1990 NFL Draft. (Note: Emmitt Smith was selected 17th in that draft.) But at least the Thomas pick was understandable: Blair Thomas had outstanding credentials.