Posted on 10/11/2005 4:32:52 PM PDT by Cautor
I was going to write a juicy piece with lots of good quotes from White House sources, but in the past twenty-four hours I've gotten calls, emails, and instant messages requesting that I please not quote anyone. What's going on? Here's the story I was going to write: I was going to write about the flurry of White House conservative staffers contacting me to vent. Slowly, but surely, momentum among the conservative staffers shifted from tight lipped Bushies to angry activists and then abruptly stopped. A couple worked under Miers and said they loved her, but could not fathom that she would be considered for the post, given that no one really knows where she stands except potentially on affirmative action and that would be bad for the conservative position.
What all the callers wanted to say, but then decided they should not say, or at least not be quoted saying, was that Andy Card really and truly was the person pushing Miers. The general theme was that Tim Flanigan had moved on in 2002, Gonzales had moved to Justice taking well trained staff with him, and Miers was left to fill a definite void with some lesser experienced staff.
Those who mentioned Roberts praised Miers handling of Roberts and commented that Miers went to bat for Roberts right out of the gate with a game plan in place, but no one was there to do the same for Miers. An independent source tells me that Miers begged for more time, but the White House demanded that Monday be the day. Interestingly, there is a credible rumor out there that the White House insisted on Monday because the intended nominee to be announced backed out over the weekend. Yes, it is a very credible rumor.
Part of the Miers pick seems to be a confused process and a rush job, which adds credibility to the rumor of a last minute back out. But, the White House conservatives and outside parties all indicate that they were ignored. They were heard but not listened to. Several who talked to RedState insist that warning flags were given to Andrew Card and others, but that those warning were ignored and Card pushed the issue all the way to the President's desk.
One outside source who has a good ear to the ground tells me that the White House most likely has nothing else to offer in Miers' favor, but will just recycle previous sound bites. This same source bolsters what a White House staffer tells me, in that the vetting process was so poorly done that much of what is now coming out about Miers was unknown before her nomination.
The remaining questions are whether Republican Senators will force the White House to withdraw the Miers nomination and, if so, will the replacement be less favorable to conservatives.
Got to take off now but no hard feelings ok? Nothing wrong with a little spirited debate. I do think you have a cool cowboy handle :)
Not unless she flops. She will get her chance at the hearings. The allegedly unhappy GOP senators have no cards to play. So much fantasizing, so little reality it would seem.
Thanks. It's from a line spoken by Chill Wills in the movie "McClintock."
Why on earth did you call yourself "nerdgirl?" Are you a computer geek?
"The allegedly unhappy GOP senators have no cards to play. So much fantasizing, so little reality it would seem."
Nice to see you're such an authority on this subject you link yourself as the authority for your conjecture. I'm really impressed.
"and the vast majority of the non-prudes in the GOP thought Laura was funny as hell."
Interesting obsrvation you made, but I think you are dead wrong in your assessment. We beat this to death here on FR when it happened. People with lower moral standards seemed to go for it though ;)
I am sorry. I cannot begin to be impressed with Andy Card having so much impact on who should be recommended for SCOTUS.
I would be way more comfortable if Bush pulled the idea himself. Card is not a legal mind for crying out loud.
It would even be better if Karl Rove came up with it, but with the Plame situation...I guess Andy saw his chance and pushed it.
Extremely disappointing for a White House, especially a supposed "conservative" White House. I put it in quotes due to the drunken spending that Bush is allowing to go on in the House and Senate.
Veto something for crying out loud!
I am encouraged by the recent report that the House leadership did a turn around on spending. The true conservatives really need to take over the House.
You need to understand that Sink needs rest. He's irascible because he thinks we should all just TRUST BUSH. It's a burr under his saddle that some of us won't do that mindlessly like he does.
The remaining questions are whether Republican Senators will force the White House to withdraw the Miers nomination and, if so, will the replacement be less favorable to conservatives.
If Bush is THAT STUPID, I give up on his last 3.25 years. They will be worse than the last few Reagan years...which were totally run by moderate to liberal Republicans.
Worse than his Dad's last two years...knowing that his Tax Summit Deal sealed his fate.
I remember seeing a interview piece from PBS where Bush Sr. was actually blaming his relection loss on the Fed Chairman!
It was the Tax Deal, breaking his word and selling the House Republicans down the river!!!!
Yes we did. And those who thought as Malkin did were laughed off the boards.
"Veto something for crying out loud! "
That would be nice, but it's not a "word" in Dubya's vocabulary it seems. Thank you for your post.
It is not authority, it is analysis.
"It is not authority, it is analysis."
I agree, it's not authority. It's Torie's opinion parading as analysis. Now run along and analyze that.
"And those who thought as Malkin did were laughed off the boards."
Only the weak ones.....LOL
WOW! So much for credibility.....LMAO!
Thanks for the "heads up"
I love getting email from you. I'm sure you've got your opinion straight on this one.
bttt
Bush pulled a rookie out of the bullpen when he called up Miers.
We need an experienced jurist who knows constitutional law...not a girlfriend of Laura's.
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