Posted on 10/18/2005 7:32:23 PM PDT by SDGOP
“We are not in denial. Miers is going to be confirmed,” a White House contact told me. The emphasis in the voice and on “not” were the emphasis of one who has to believe it true, whether or not it is. In a White House that seems off message, unbalanced, and lacking focus, even the thought of not having Rush Limbaugh on board cannot persuade staff that a change of course is necessary.
“This is a White House that not only does not admit mistakes, but does not make mistakes even when it does,” says an outside observer. “It’s not that they’ve lost Rush Limbaugh — they never had him. When has the White House ever not had Limbaugh, other than on immigration? And what the [ ] are they talking about today? Immigration.” This observer, with close ties to the White House, did not believe that Andy Card was really pushing Miers. But, with the growing disconnect, he says, “Rove clearly is not calling the shots. Andrew Card has never understood conservatives and right now the White House does not seem to understand conservatives. I guess Card really is calling the shots.”
Many conservatives have convinced themselves that Miers will withdraw herself or the White House will withdraw her nomination. “That’s not going to happen,” says the White House source. To prove the point, the White House has called in hired guns to strong arm Republican senators. Nonetheless, I’m told from people on Capitol Hill that the more the White House pushes Miers, the less likely it is that she will be confirmed.
Privately, some Republican senators are thinking this may just be the time to go on the offensive against the White House. One Senate aide tells me the White House acts like it is in a bunker, oblivious to the reality going on outside. Several senators who intend to make their mark as the conservative choice in 2008, while being pushed hard by the White House, are contemplating using the Miers confirmation process as a launch pad for their White House bid.
“Look at the RSC,” a Judiciary Staffer says. “We had Katrina, Louisiana’s spending package, and DeLay saying we had won the battle on cutting spending. The RSC seized the opportunity to get out front and they at least look like they’re controlling the debate. They’re amateurs compared to some of our guys. You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
While the public face of the White House is one of confidence that Miers is right on life, qualified, and easily confirmable, the veneer of confidence is wearing off in the shadows. With more and more sources confirming that Andrew Card pushed the nomination out the door before proper vetting had been completed, it seems clearer by the day that original reports will stand — the White House has nothing new to add, but will repackage everything as if it is new. But that just gives more time for opponents of the nomination to pick through the same stuff more thoroughly.
Perhaps once Fitzgerald hands down his indictments, should there be any, the staff can regroup and reassess. Right now there is a growing sense among low level staff and others outside the White House that the wheels are starting to slip from the axle of the Miers bandwagon. Said one third party who has been involved in the process, “The White House is making this a Republican issue. They are now realizing that much of the base considers itself conservative by principle and Republican by practice. Practice changes faster than principle.”
I just read this over there.
Excellent!
this is crap.
I hope rush reads about this and begins to actively oppose the nomination, although he probably has too much class to do so.
Pretty much.
It's like on immigration. He repeats the same stupid stock phrases over and over again hoping it will sell this time.
Read it again.. are you the "source"? Do you know who the sources are?
For once .. I actually think.. I am in before the Zot!
Where are the pancake bunnies?
Yeah. I can see it now. Tom "Let's nuke Mecca" Tancredo sticks his nose into Senate business by insisting "we will not confirm Harriett Miers."
I'm not the source, i just saw this on confirmthem.com. Life would be alot funner if i was a source for anything ;)
I think the White House well knows what's going on...the Republicans in the Senate are weak. They expect the White House to do the heavy lifting on every single issue...they still can't beat a filibuster, come up with social security reform legislation, stop spending, etc.
When he's pushed to it (like he was today), he'll admit he's against the Miers pick. But he pretty much lays low about it.
I hope rush reads about this and begins to actively oppose the nomination, although he probably has too much class to do so.
**
Well, if Erik posted it at Redstate.org too, maybe Rush will see it. Evidently Rush mentioned one of the posts over there. It would be nice if he would use it on his program.
There is no Republican vs. Conservative. Republican = Conservative.
Wishing it (withdrawal) won't make it so.......
Another intelligent Bushbot comment. Maybe you should wonder why a conservative web site dedicated to confirming judicial candidates is calling for this nomination to be withdrawn?
One poster at the bottom thinks Miers will be slightly to the right of Sandra Day O'Connor, another thinks slightly to the left. We really don't know. But most people thought Sandra Day O'Connor was pretty conservative when she was put on the court. They only found out differently afterward. From the looks of her record, such as it is, I think Miers will be to the left of O'Connor too. I'm thinking of bleeding heart remarks like that speech to the ABA where she said that she really, really respects the passions of pro-abortion feminists.
If the white house was wise, theyd be on their knees begging Coburn and Brownback for their help. I beleive the nomination lies with those two since if they both vote no, it'll probably lead to a domino effect giving the republicans in the senate cover to vote no as well. Coburn doesnt give a rats what the white house does to him, and brownback is trying to up his profile for 2008 so i doubt the white house will strong arm either of them.
Rush HATES being wrong.
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