Stand Up Guy: In Today Show Interview, W Quick on Feet on Katrina, Less So on Miers

Today Show/Newsbusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Today Show/NewsBusters ping.

[SerpentDove]

>>Matt sought to pour gasoline on the feminist fire, suggesting there might be "sexism" in the criticism of Miers. Concurred Laura: "that's possible. I think that's possible."<<

My respect for Laura just took a major hit.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Much as it pains me to say so, I was disappointed in Laura's performance, which drew almost exclusively on feminist themes in defending the Miers appointment.

[Russ]

If that's all it took for your respect to take a "major hit" you couldn't have had much to begin with.

[GarySpFc]

Do you know who is considered by almost all to be the greatest justice to ever serve on SCOTUS? Did you realize this person had only briefly studied law? Did you know he did not have any judicial experience when he was appointed chief justice, and yet he is considered the person who had the most influence on Constitutional Law? Have you ever heard of John Marshall? His single greatest attribute, which has been lacking in many of the recent justices to SCOTUS was character.

John Marshall-Biography

Experience: No prior judicial experience. Marshall held many political offices at the state and national levels.

John Marshall was born in a log cabin on the Virginia frontier, the first of fifteen children. He was a participant in the Revolutionary War as a member of the 3d Virginia Regiment. He studied law briefly in 1780, and was admitted to practice the same year. He quickly established a successful career defending individuals against their pre-War British creditors.

Marshall served in Virginia's House of Delegates. He also participated in the state ratifying convention and spoke forcefully on behalf of the new constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation.

Marshall contemplated several offers to serve in the Washington and Adams administrations. He declined service as attorney general for Washington; he declined positions on the Supreme Court and as secretary of war under Adams. At Washington's direction, Marshall ran successfully for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives but his tenure there was brief. Adams offered Marshall the position of secretary of state, which Marshall accepted. When Ellsworth resigned as chief justice in 1800, Adams turned to the first chief justice, John Jay, who declined. Federalists urged Adams to promote associate justice William Paterson to the spot; Adams opted for Marshall.

Marshall's impact on American constitutional law is peerless. He served for more than 34 years (a record that few others have broken), he participated in more than 1000 decisions and authored over 500 opinions. As the single most important figure on constitutional law, Marshall's imprint can still be fathomed in the great issues of contemporary America. Other justices will surpass his single accomplishments, but no one will replace him as the Babe Ruth of the Supreme Court!

http://www.oyez.org/oyez/resource/legal_entity/13/overview

[jla]

Matt sought to pour gasoline on the feminist fire, suggesting there might be "sexism" in the criticism of Miers. Concurred Laura: "that's possible. I think that's possible."

How is it "possible" if those same Conservatives opposing Miers almost simultaneously voice their approval of Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen, and other conservative female federal judges?

I support Harriet, but I can't see why the White House is sinking to these desperate levels to gain favor for their nominee.

[beyond the sea]

W then delved into feminism, referring to Miers as having broken "the glass ceiling"

Not to be contrary, but did Janet Reno break "the glass ceiling"?

***

Let's just wait for the hearings. After all Arlen Sphincter told George Stuffingenvelopes on Sunday that he's going to get to the truth of what Dobson and Rove know. ;-)

Then we'll ask dear Arlen to confirm that Jack Ruby was just trying to spare Jackie Kennedy the pain of a trial by shooting Oswald.

;-)

[PGalt]

"judicial monastery."

Hooray President Bush!

[TNCMAXQ]

Well, at least she's still better than Ter-ay-zah. :-\

Was Matt Lauer wearing men's clothes today, or was he dressed up like a teen pop idol again?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks for posting the interesting information on Marshall, of which I was unaware.

However, as mentioned in the article here, the criticism from conservatives disappointed by the Miers nomination has nothing to do with her lack of judicial experience. It goes to the absence of anything in her record suggesting she is well-informed or concerned about the major constitutional issues of the day, whereas W had a deep bench of brilliant conservative scholars and jurists that he chose to overlook.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Matt & W were similarly, and I'd say appropriately, dressed for the circumstances, in Dockers type pants, with Matt sporting a blue business shirt without a tie and the President in a blue polo shirt.

[L98Fiero]

"My respect for Laura just took a major hit."

So you are saying that none of the criticizm directed at Miers could possibly be sexist in nature? It's not even possible?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

"judicial monastery."

Hooray President Bush!

I must respectfully disagree. The thrust of conservative criticism of Miers is directed not to her lack of judicial experience but to her lack of a record of knowledge or concern regarding the great constitutional issues of the day.

[GarySpFc]

The article has everything to do with Miers experience. The single most important quality missing in most of the recent justices to SCOTUS is character based on a strong morality, WHICH MIERS POSSESS.

[tinytutu]

well, J. Reno certainly broke the "mirrorred ceiling".

[YaYa123]

MSNBC has already started the replay of Matt's interview with the President, which will continue all day, for certain.

This report is accurate with: , "Lauer cited a number of conservative critics of the nomination, then asked: "were you taken off-guard by the amount of criticism you're getting for Miers?""

But in the MSNBC replay, it's isn't Lauer who asked the question, "were you taken off-guard". It's a White House reporter back on the White House lawn who unequivacably (sp) told viewers, "the president was taken off guard". But what's a little misinformation on MSNBC?

[kittymyrib]

In other words, if Miers were not a woman and not a friend of the Bushes, she would not have been nominated. What a thing to admit on national TV!

[soloNYer]

I cringed when I heard Laura acknowledge sexism as a possible reason for conservatives to question the Miers pick. I was hoping Bush would step in to downplay that statement, but he didn't. This should not even be a question of sexism. Isn't it obvious that conservatives would have jumped at he chance to have a Janice Rogers Brown on the court? However, the sexism charge is a way for the media to gloss over the real reasons behind the consternation by many on the right...shifting focus from the interpretation of the Constitution...and it was disheartening to see Laura buy into that reasoning.

I did enjoy Bush saying "You're quoting a lot of Democrats today, aren't you Matt?"

[governsleastgovernsbest]

That is very interesting. Thanks for alerting us to the discrepancy between the actual interview by Matt and the way MSNBC spun it.

Although W never specifically responded to Matt's question as to whether he was caught off guard, the thrust of his answer [that the criticism came because he chose someone without judicial experience] was to the effect he was NOT surprised.