"What am I, chopped liver?"
Posted on 07/12/2005 5:16:24 PM PDT by CHARLITE
Last week the president admonished conservatives for daring to suggest that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales would be an unacceptable Supreme Court nominee because of an opinion he wrote in a Texas parental-notification case while serving on the Texas supreme court, and because of his role as White House counsel in watering down the administration's brief against reverse discrimination in admissions policies at University of Michigan. Keep in mind, conservatives have been respectful in their criticism of Gonzales. There have been no personal attacks or false accusations. And these are the same conservatives who went to bat for Gonzales when the president nominated him for attorney general.
Meanwhile, this morning, President Bush had breakfast with, among others, Senators Harry Reid and Patrick Leahy — both of whom voted against Gonzales's confirmation and who led efforts to tie him to torture — for the purpose of consulting with them about his nomination to the Court. And, of course, Reid famously called the president a "loser" and a "liar." And Leahy has conspired with leftwing groups in an effort to derail the president's appellate-court nominees for the last four years, including through the use of unprecedented and unconstitutional filibusters.
What's wrong with this picture? President Bush was quick to slap his conservative base, yet he has shown an inexhaustible supply of sensitivity to those who plot to derail his presidency. Early on, the president was solicitous of Senator Ted Kennedy, inviting him to the White House residence to watch a movie and share popcorn. He even named the main Department of Justice building after Robert Kennedy. In return, Kennedy has never missed an opportunity to stick a knife between the president's ribs.
The president named Bill Clinton, along with his father, to head-up the tsunami-relief effort. Bush 41 has taken the relationship a step further, hosting Clinton at his summer home in Maine, among other things. President Bush even brought Clinton along to attend Pope John Paul II's funeral. And in return, Clinton has traveled the world undermining the president in public statements. So, too, have Hillary Clinton and numerous former Clinton administration officials.
Despite Bush’s efforts — and there are countless other examples — the animus and vitriol leveled against him by his political opponents are beyond anything I have witnessed in my lifetime. And I served in the Justice Department during the Iran-Contra matter.
And as I write this, the same people with whom the president is breaking bread want to break Karl Rove's political neck. Is the disparate treatment of friend and foe not bizarre?
President Bush is at an historic crossroads. His supporters — who defended him through the 2000 election court battle, the attacks on his cabinet members, the attempts to undermine the war effort at home, and, yes, the blocking of his appellate-court nominees — deserve better. It's one thing to be demeaned by the liberal media, the Democratic party, and the Inside the Beltway crowd. But it's another thing entirely for the president himself to treat his base like the crazy aunt in the attic when legitimate concerns are raised about something so important as the next Supreme Court nominee.
It is critical that the White House understand how passionate conservatives are about the Supreme Court's abuse of power. Since Dwight Eisenhower, Republican presidents have promised to appoint individuals to the Court who would uphold the Constitution. They've done a miserable job. Yes, there have been occasions when nominees have changed philosophies after confirmation. But too many times Republican presidents have chosen nominees for reasons that have nothing to do with their judicial philosophy but rather with political calculations to appease liberal demands. Among them are William Brennan, Lewis Powell, John Paul Stevens, and Sandra Day O'Connor.
I understand why Democratic presidents aren't sensitive to the conservative base, but not President Bush. The Supreme Court is out of control and President Bush has the chance to do something about it. And, indeed, he promised to do something about it — i.e., appoint justices who share the judicial philosophies of Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. So, of course, the president's base is nervous when he embraces his adversaries and takes swipes at his friends.
And if political calculations are part of the process, as they undoubtedly they are, surely the White House must know that nothing will be more dispiriting and debilitating to the Republican base then yet another fumbled Supreme Court appointment. The consequences to the Republican party and the nation could be devastating. President Bush — please listen to your supporters, not Harry Reid.
Mark R. Levin is author of the bestselling Men In Black, president of Landmark Legal Foundation, and a radio talk-show host on WABC in New York.
"You're right. These current Republicans in the Senate aren't visibly and energetically supporting our president."
I think they are intimidated by a combination of factors. Their leader (Frist) is weak. That hurts a team's confidence. Their "point man" in this battle, Specter, is a traitor. I would think this becomes a little more self-evident each day, as Specter dusts off the dame arguments he used when he led the fight against Bork's confirmation, decades ago (explaining how bad strict constructionism is, suggesting that Bush will appoint a "moderate", etc.)
They know if they stand by Bush on this, the media will attack them as never before. And they are politicians, they have to fear the media, to an extent. Finally, they know if they don't do the right thing, we conservative Republicans will be on them like the Furies. Not the greatest situation, in a lot of ways.
Gonzales is Spanish for Souter.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
Clinton didn't break his promise to name two far left-wing judges. If our side rolls over and doesn't demand the same from the guy we elected, we might just as well give up.
All his base are belong to us?
Makes NO difference. Bush had totally control over who will be nominated and all it takes is 50 votes for confirmation along with Cheney's vote. There are NO excuses this time for another Souter, O'Connor or Kennedy. Either Bush and the Republicans do what they promised or they can watch their presidency and party fall like a house of cards.
i find it amazing how the base has so little confidence in the President. he, unlike his father, has never broken a campaign promise. HE said he wanted judges like Thomas and Scalia. I believe he wil pick just that
I will never vote for Republican again if Bush screws this up. It's the ONLY reason I voted for him.
I'll waste my vote on a 3rd party candidate if we can't get a conservative judge on the bench with a majority in congress.
If there aren't, they're fools.
Thanks for the ping Char.
"What am I, chopped liver?"
I met him in Washington a year ago at Reagan's Funeral. He and his wife came out of the White House and walked over to Constitution Ave. to watch the procession of Reagan's casket down Constitution Ave to the capital building.
He had an extra chair and offered me a seat. He did not have a clue who Ray Malone was but when I volunteered that I spent some time on Free Republic he immediately showed interest. He knew all about FR. He asked if I posted. When I replied I was Commontator he said he read my postings all the time.
The reason I know he read FR is he knew a lot about me. During the conversation he asked, "You have a lot of radio experience, how do you think Rush's audience will react if this prosecutor makes a case against Rush?"
If he hadn't read a lot of my posts, how would he know Common tator has radio programming experience? He knew my views on a number of issues.
One of his jobs is to help prepare the presidents daily press report.. he does a condensation of what the media is reporting and saying. He read all the major papers,watched news channels, and visits several media web sites.
He gave me his card, and his White House phone number. He even gave me his private email address.
I asked him what he did before he went to work in the Bush White House. He told me he worked for Jeb Bush in the Governors office in Florida.
I am certain that the President gets a condensed version of what is posted on FR. He knew the views of a number of respected freepers.
Well as a matter of fact... yes!!!!
Holdonnow hits a home run. An awful lot of us have been asking these same questions for five years. This New Tone garbage is for the birds.
Also do you think Bush is consulting with these creeps just to appease them cause its good politic? I hope so!
11 posted on 07/12/2005 5:31:09 PM PDT by Bush gal in LA
I don't know why President Met with the Democrats but I Know that it is not good politics.
The Democrats see it as weakness.
Add Justice Patrica Owen to that list as well.
'nuff said.
I fear for my Republic due to marxist influence in our government. Open eyes/see
Hi Char.
FMCDH(BITS)
He is spot on! The decisions the President makes on the Supreme Court nominees are as critical domestically as the War on Terror is for national security.
I agree, the only reason I placed Ann Coulter on top is for effect ;-)
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BUMP!
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