(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
WALLACE: Justice Hecht, I know that you've talked to your old friend, Harriet Miers, this week. How does she respond to these attacks by conservatives that she's just a crony of the president and that her nomination is a joke?
HECHT: Well, it's just false and the criticism just rolls off her back. She's got a record miles long. This is a very solid appointment because of a solid, consistent track record over the years.
And to say that she doesn't have experience with these constitutional issues or with judicial philosophy -- she's been vetting for the president judicial candidates to the federal bench.
She has to know what is involved in these constitutional issues and judicial philosophy and inquire of candidates where they stand. And so I can't think of anybody else who would have had more experience with these issues on the ground than Harriet's had.
WALLACE: But what has she specifically said to you when people say she's just a crony, that this nomination is a joke?
HECHT: She just dusts it off. She knows it's not true, that the president has chosen her because he's watched her for 10 years. He's thrown her hardballs. You ask your lawyer time and again what's the answer to this question. Your lawyer gives you good advice. What do you think after 10 years? That she's a great lawyer.
WALLACE: Justice Hecht, let me ask you one other question. Bill Kristol, a member of our panel who will be on in a few minutes, says that this is such a bad nomination that Harriet Miers should actually consider stepping aside. Any chance of that?
HECHT: No chance at all. I mean, she is going to see this through, but not only that. Senator Graham says when her record becomes more apparent to the American people -- and they're going to see it in this confirmation process -- then not only is she not going to withdraw, people are going to herald this nomination as a good one.
The only way she'll withdraw from the contest, which isn't at all likely for a Texas gal with her reputation, is if she makes a mess of the hearings and becomes the embarrassment Fair Weather Republicans claim she is.
I can tell you why.
Lindsey Graham is one weak-kneed RINO, who does not want to vote on the NUKE option. He'll support anything to having to cast a vote to break a fillibuster.
The Gang of 14 Idiots Boxed Bush in on his pick.
South Carolina, Throw the bum out!
Bauer and all the direct-mail money men obviously want a controversy to raise money. I wouldn't trust that little weasel with anything, much less the future of conservatism.
He had better say that unless he wants to get a subpoena from the RATS.
Look, the reason Bush nominated her was because the Dims have things on the others or their relatives, she is the only candidate at this time who probably can't be "Borked" or worse. We may not like it but the candidates themselves turned down Bush, not the other way around. They don't want their private lives dragged through the dirt and the mud.