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October 27, 2005
miers withdraws nomination
So Harriet Miers has elected to withdraw her nomination.
At first I thought: Well, I guess that this was the most graceful, face-saving course of action the administration could have taken. Failed confirmation hearings would have been a colossal embarassment; Bush's point-blank withdrawal of his nominee would have been embarrassing too. Her own withdrawal, as transparently orchestrated as it may be, was probably the smartest thing Bush & Co. could have arranged.
And then I read Miers's withdrawal letter.
She writes that she is "concerned that the confirmation process presents a burden for the White House that is not in the best interests of the country."
Why is that, exactly? Apparently it's because members of the Senate have "indicated their intention to seek documents about [her] service in the White House in order to judge whether to support [her]." This intention, to Miers, was unacceptable because "the strength and independence of the three branches of government are critical to the continued success of this great Nation." And the senators' unwelcome efforts would undermine the fragile independence of the Executive.
She does not touch, of course, on any of the actual reasons why her nomination has been so controversial. She in fact goes out of her way to defensively declare her career "sufficient evidence" for her fitness to serve on the Court. And finally, she adds that she shares Bush's commitment to appointing conservative judges.
Just when I was starting to feel kind of sorry for the woman.
And now Bush has to nominate someone else. I think we can probably expect someone very, reliably conservative.
Posted by onion slayer at October 27, 2005 10:44 AM