So Long, Harriet Miers?
In today's Washington Post,
Charles Krauthammer and Bill Kristol both take whacks at Harriet Miers.
Here's Krauthammer: "There are 1,084,504 lawyers in the United States. What distinguishes Harriet Miers from any of them, other than her connection with the president?"
Here's Kristol, in
a story by Dan Balz: "The idea that one is supposed to sacrifice both intellectual distinction and philosophical clarity at the same time is just ridiculous."
Ouch!
Coupla things....
While liberals are surely enjoying watching conservatives turn on each other like a pack of starving rats, they need to be careful what they wish for. If the Miers' nomination is withdrawn, Bush will feel compelled to put up someone more hardline, in order to appease conservatives who will be feeling their oats.
Second, it occurs to me that the Republicans are doing a great job of shoring up core Democratic constituencies: first, with New Orleans, African-Americans. Now, the sight of George Will, Charles Krauthammer, Bill Kristol et al ganging up on Harriet Miers may well backfire among women.
I wrote previously that the Dems will probably oppose Miers. I think now that was wrong. They should support her as better than the alternative. In doing so, they look non-partisan when it comes to institutions that are supposed to be non-partisan, and they avoid the appearance of knee-jerk attack dogs. Plus, they stand behind a woman.
No wonder conservatives are pissed at the president....his nomination is a boon for the opposition party.
