Harriet Miers Update

Ken AshfordBush & Co., Supreme Court1 Comment

(1)  GOP AIDES COMING OUT AGAINST MIERS "As the White House seeks to rally senators behind the Supreme Court nomination of Harriet E. Miers, lawyers for the Republican senators on the Judiciary Committee are expressing dissatisfaction with the choice and pushing back against her, aides to 6 of the 10 Republican committee members" told the New York Times. Said one … Read More

Pass The Barf Bag

Ken AshfordBush & Co., Supreme CourtLeave a Comment

This is ookey: AUSTIN, Texas – (KRT) – Harriet Miers, President Bush’s nominee for the Supreme Court, quickly developed a deep and almost gushing admiration for her boss from her earliest days in Texas government. "You are the best governor ever – deserving of great respect!" she wrote in 1997, in a belated birthday note that was typical of the … Read More

“A Conservative Civil War”

Ken AshfordBush & Co., Republicans, Supreme CourtLeave a Comment

Boy, I like the sound of that term.  I’ve had a fairly busy weekend, but I sort of thought that by Monday, the whole Miers kerfuffle would have simmered down somewhat.  Apparently, I was wrong: How Harriet Unleashed a Storm on the Right Well, he’s finally done it. By nominating White House lawyer Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, George … Read More

Kos: “Why The Right Is Pissed At Bush Re: Miers”

Ken AshfordSupreme CourtLeave a Comment

I think this is spot-on: Nothing here that hasn’t been said in one form or another elsewhere, but this is the root of the problem with Miers: Bush and Rove have spent the last five years doing everything in their power to hide the true conservative agenda from the American people. We get shit like "Clean Skies Initiative", "Healthy Forrest … Read More

Miers: Not Off To A Good Start

Ken AshfordSupreme CourtLeave a Comment

Yeah.  She needs to do some serious studying.  From Volokh: Oh my; this, if true, could be devastating to her chances: Her relatively thin paper trail adds greater importance to her personal meetings with senators and to the committee hearing that is expected to begin in about three weeks. While generally well received, Miers has had a few awkward moments, … Read More

Flip-Flops

Ken AshfordGodstuff, Sex/Morality/Family Values, Supreme CourtLeave a Comment

Yesterday, I wrote about a bill in the Indiana State legislature which would essentially require parents (whether married or not) to be pre-approved by The State of Indiana before producing a child. Well, apparently the bill’s sponsor has had second thoughts, and is withdrawing the bill: State Sen. Patricia Miller, R-Indianapolis, issued a one-sentence statement this afternoon saying: “The issue … Read More

Gonzales v. Oregon

Ken AshfordConstitution, Supreme CourtLeave a Comment

I wanted to get into the habit of analyzing constitutional Supreme Court cases on this blog, as I have done in the past, for a couple of reasons: (1) it interests me; and (2) as part of my job, it has fallen upon me to write — once a year — a summary of leading constitutional law cases for use … Read More

Founding Fathers Would Reject Miers

Ken AshfordSupreme Court1 Comment

Miers, we’re told, is an "originalist", someone who believe we ought to follow the intentions of the founding fathers who authored and advocated the passage of the Constitution. That’s a problem . . . for Meirs. Here’s what founding father Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist No. 76, in which he discusses why the Constitution gave the U.S. Senate the power … Read More

Dobson’s Secret

Ken AshfordSupreme CourtLeave a Comment

I admit, I was a little shaken when I read (well, heard, initially) that religious icon James Dobson (Focus on The Family) said this when coming out in support of Supreme Court Nominee Harriet Miers: Some of what I know I am not at liberty to talk about. Publius has the right response: SUBPOENA DOBSON Well, Mr. Dobson, if you … Read More

Stupid Quote Of The Day

Ken AshfordRight Wing Punditry/Idiocy, Supreme CourtLeave a Comment

Captain’s Quarters on Harriet Miers: Inasmuch as a nomination to the Supreme Court has no prerequisites other than Presidential approval, she cannot be described as unqualified. Other than Presidential approval, there are no prerequisites for FEMA director either, but that doesn’t make Bush’s selection qualified for that position.

As My Mother Says….

Ken AshfordBush & Co., Supreme CourtLeave a Comment

"Oh, that man!"* Bush gave a press conference: "I’ve known her long enough to know she’s not going to change,…" Wait.  I thought 9/11 changed everything. ….that 20 years from now she will be the same person with the same judicial philosophy she has today," Bush said. Call me crazy, but I don’t hold much stock in one’s judicial philosophy … Read More

Okay. Now What?

Ken AshfordSupreme CourtLeave a Comment

We on the left have had fun the past couple of days watching the rightosphere tar-and-feather Bush over his Supreme Court nominee, Harriet Myers.  But ultimately, we have to decide: Do we support her, or do we reject her (knowing that a rejection might mean we get a non-stealth candidate who is qualified, but clearly in the Scalia mold)? Many … Read More

Jonah Goldberg on Harriet Miers

Ken AshfordRight Wing Punditry/Idiocy, Supreme CourtLeave a Comment

This is what Jonah Goldberg at the Corner is saying: Dobson was on Fox last night defending Miers on the grounds she’s an evangelical Christian. It seems entirely possible and plausible to me that Bush had this as much in his mind as her inner-circle status. Well, I don’t know how true this is.  She’s religious, but evangelical?  But fine.  … Read More