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.
IMHO it's time we simply mock these people, it's obvious to me that they are no longer capable of conducting themselves in a manner that brings honor to the Office they hold. For that sad group of Losers, headed by John Kerry, to hold a press conference like they did today, can only be described as JUVENILE. John Kerry attacks Karl Rove and that Pear Legged Witch stands there nodding her head like some kind of ventriloquist dummy. It was disgraceful
Old Italian proverb.."A friend to all is a friend to none ".
sw
Karl Rove isn't going to allow Bush to kill his conservative base, and his legacy, by appointing even a single "moderate" to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Surely President George W. Bush is going to appoint the best constitutional woman available to replace O'Connor. Then, when Rehnquist retires, he'll nominate the finest strict constructionist male available. If Stevens and Ginsberg follow suit and bail out, President Bush has the opportunity to completely wipe out the seven decades of socialism on the Supreme Court which FDR initiated.
George W. Bush has the votes and the nuclear option to confirm the best constitutional conservatives possible. He's not going to blow the Republican Party's base to smithereens in a futile attempt to appease nuts like Schumer, Biden, Leahy, Byrd, Kennedy, and the ever shrinking minority they represent.
He's just not going to do it ! Tell me, PLEASE .......he's not going to do it, is he ?
Excellent points. Specter is infuriating. He should forever live in infamy for his betrayal of conservativism during the Bork mélée.......and you're right about Bill Frist. He appears to be a true southern gentleman, but that's not a quality that cuts it with the den of thieves (and liars) in which he finds himself.
I hate to say it, but Bill Frist looks pathetic to me....and the Democrat leaderships knows it very well. I wish that we could change leaders.
Thanks for your observations.
Char (:
so little confidence in the President.
Because He keeps smoochin' his enemies and slappin' his friends, just like Levin said.
Sounds like love.
I'll believe that.. You post like you are half shot...
bookmark
The boy is Uniteing with anything that remotely appears to be a democrat..
Bush has been stiff arming his BASE from the git go..
But then, republicans DO LIKE getting punished..
The Republican Party is the party of masochists..
B!itch slap them and bend Over and assume the position..
Neat!! I'm glad to know someone in the WH is aware of how we feel about things.
He sounds like a good guy too....congrats, Common Tator.
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.
Maybe so, however, it will look like Mr. Bush did reach out to the demons, when they turn around and bite his hand, hopefully the sheaple will see the whole picture.
The President cannot do anything that will endear himself either to the main stream media or the Democrats.
As far as the sheeple go, they [the ones that are incapable of thinking for themselves]hate him and always will because that what their masters tell them to do.
The ones that are capable of independent thought either respect him or like him. Just as it has been since '00.
" 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 same arguments he used when he led the fight against Bork's confirmation.."
Excellent points. Specter is infuriating. He should forever live in infamy for his betrayal of conservativism during the Bork mélée.......and you're right about Bill Frist. He appears to be a true southern gentleman, but that's not a quality that cuts it with the den of thieves (and liars) in which he finds himself.
I hate to say it, but Bill Frist looks pathetic to me....and the Democrat leaderships knows it very well. I wish that we could change leaders.
Thanks for your observations.
Char (:
Yes, Specter looks and acts like he needs to go home and find his hair, I don't know if that would help, but at least he would be out of the Senate, I'm afraid the chemo-therapy has gone to his head, I do hope that Mr. Spector is getting better---AT HOME! About Mr. Frist, there is nothing wrong with being a Southern Gentleman, there is no such thing as a northern gentleman, however Southern Gentlemen are known to be gracious, courages,handsome, and protectors of their famlies and country, not so the northern agresionists. There are several I could name Spector, kennedy, biden, lil chuckie, the bi@ch hitlery, bald headed biden, etc.....we don't need the likes of them any more. Mr. kennedy, mary jo is waiting for you...............hahahahahahha
You need to keep yourself out of this matter, MJY. This is none of your business. We all know this is up to the Senate to decide. :) HA!
Hey, BB. We all know this is up to the Senate. Keep out of it!
:) HA!
I will donate $2,000.00 for every member of my family (including myself) to the RNC, if George W. Bush nominates Janice Rogers Brown to replace Sandra Day O'Connor :-)
I can't think of a better way to say "Hey! Yuck Foo" to the Democrats than to nominate Janice Rogers Brown :-)
:) Hehe!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.