I very much understand this perspective. However, the more I keep reading the "we must have academic excellence" argument being used against Miers the more it rankles. I wonder why? I have an advanced degree from one of the top engineering schools in the US. At the same time I've found that just plain folks with "utterly ordinary intellects" can do quite well in sorting through thorny and complex questions about adhering to the founder's original intent in the Constitition. My goodness, this woman is being portrayed as a silly simpleton Aunt Bea character. It's not like Cindy Sheehan was nominated. And don't anyone tell me "we just don't know" because we just didn't know about Roberts either - we just took the pundit's and politician's word about it. Sure some folks probably did pull Robert's papers and actually read them. I would guess that most just read what others said about him. This is more about a power struggle within the Republican party than whether or not Miers is "acceptable". Let's not piss off too many people as we choose the next direction for the party shall we? In other words, let's not lose the war to win the battle.
Exactly. Our problem is not in rarefied questions of interpretation in cases that most honest people would flip a coin over. Our problem is with cases where most honest people would see the answer as obvious, but which Elitists don't like, because it doesn't advance their policy objectives.
I would take an honest, decent woman's vote on the court any day over an a dishonest elitist who votes wrong reluctantly because they cannot stand the policy implications of an honest vote.
"In other words, let's not lose the war to win the battle."
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Although I'm someone of "utterly ordinary intellect", I understand what you're saying, and I couldn't agree more...for what it's worth to the John P.'s of the world! lol.
Re: J.P's opinion that Miers would be out of her league on the SCOTUS,I've observed a number of so-called brilliant persons who didn't appear to have an ounce of common sense for all of their knowledge. What's the benefit of knowledge without wisdom? Some decisions of the SCJ's have proven faulty, and even harmful, over the years. All of that knowledge, yet such a lack of judgment!
Harriet Miers is no more a "dummy" than is George W. Bush, although there are a lot of people who would have us to believe both are dunces. Ms. Miers and the president do have one thing in common - they are both devout "born again" Christians. The "wise man" of the Bible says in the book of Proverbs that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom ("fear" meaning reverence). The lives of these two people demonstrate reverence for God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible.
Many, if not most, so-called intellectuals seem to find genuine religious zeal embarrassing and a sure sign of inferior intellect - especially zeal of the "evangelical Christian" kind! (Don't get me wrong, I know there are some real religious nut cases out there! lol.) That plus the lack of credentials from the right institutions of learning is enough "proof" for some that she is "unfit" to serve on the SCOTUS. SMU vs Harvard is the equivalent of being home-schooled or self-educated! It doesn't really matter how smart or capable you are if you don't have the right papers. OTOH, if you have the right credentials, but become "a genuinely devout evangelical Christian", your credentials aren't worth the paper they're written on anymore. (Remind you of anyone) ha.
These are just some thoughts I've had as I've watched this whole mess unfold.
Right... Aunt Bee who happened to be the head of the Texas Bar... amazing
The most dangerous and damaging person we can have on the Court is some one who is not as brainy as she thinks she is, but who believes her press clipping in the Washington Post. Delusions of grandeur evolve and you end up getting, for example, rulings based on foreign law instead of the Constitution.
The Founders knew what they meant and they were both articulate and prolific in their writings. It doesn't take an einstein to understand that when it says "Congress shall make no law," it means "NO LAW." May God spare us anymore brainiacs like William Douglass, Earl Warren, David Souter, Anthony Kennedy, John Stevens, or Sandra Day OConnor.