Posted on 10/29/2005 4:27:24 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
Whether it was an accident, or a sheer stroke of genius, the historical record of what nominating Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court will mean to the nation may look very different than what most liberals would like to see.
For the last five weeks, the Chuck Schumers and Pat Leahys of the universe have driven to their Georgetown brownstones and chuckled to themselves as to how the conservatives in America could have ended up in such disarray. Over cocktails, you could see the arrogance slipping into the conversation. They believed themselves to be watching the self-destruction of the conservative unity that had re-elected George Bush with an average increase of 4 percent for Bush in every county in the nation. And the best thing of all: The GOP was doing it to themselves.
But consider a different possibility ...
The nation as much as sleepwalked through the nomination and confirmation of John Roberts. Roberts himself was much a clone of the justice he ended up replacing on the nation's highest court, former Chief Justice Rehnquist.
Conservatives also knew that Republicans like John McCain and the gang of 14 had, in essence, handcuffed the president with the last-minute compromise that avoided the filibuster confrontation that so many of us wanted to see happen. The gang also threatened future filibusters on any nominee who was deemed "extraordinary" in terms of the controversy surrounding them.
When President Bush nominated Miers – whether by accident or strategy – he set up a chain reaction of events that for the past several weeks have made liberals breathe easy and get cocky, and angered the grassroots who were so passionate in electing the president. (And for many, that passion was focused no where else more strongly than on the court system.)
But that anger will now serve a useful purpose.
As the public has more or less ignored the political process in recent months, President Bush has needed to do something to shift the dynamic to more or less hear a "demand" from the public for a strong originalist, constitutionalist nominee who would, in fact, be confirmed in the Senate and leave a lasting imprint on the Court.
With all of the same cast of characters calling for this judge or that, and the base still asleep, liberals would have felt empowered. They would get to frame the real issues surrounding the debate as to what a constitutional justice looked like.
However, because conservatives have been loud, argumentative and insistent, the debate has automatically swung into their realm of discussion. They have dominated the discussion on what qualifications a judge should have, and why an articulation of a judicial philosophy that would eventually overturn Roe vs. Wade, protect the sanctity of marriage, and preserve the right of property owners to not be summarily displaced by economic opportunists is not only good, but necessary.
Liberals won't give up now, but the fight will be much harder because of the education the public has received in hearing the debate over Miers.
Now Miers goes back to what she did before, vetting, screening and recommending those who should serve on the courts. The list of nominees she had helped put forward prior to her nomination was stellar – and we have no reason to doubt that her future work will not still reflect that excellent quality. But by having been nominated and walked through the process as far as she did before withdrawing, America has had the chance to deepen its understanding of why a conservative justice is the right way to go.
The grassroots is asleep no longer. Instead they are ready to work, march and fight for a Supreme Court nominee who will be stellar, brilliant and able to send the "Gang of 14" and Senate liberals running for cover when the hearings begin.
Kevin McCullough is heard daily from 1 to 4 p.m. EST in New York City on AM 570 WMCA, and in New Jersey on AM 970 WWDJ. Additionally, you can read his daily postings at The KMC Blog. For information on how to bring "The Kevin McCullough Show" to a station near you, call Dave Armstrong at 201-298-5700.
We're doing ok -- power is coming back to most of the areas affected by Wilma. Even the hardest hit areas. I don't have power at my place, but that's not important since the hurricane destroyed most of my roof and the place is uninhabitable anyway. Insurance will take care of that. I rode out the storm at my sister's, whose house withstood the full fury of the storm virtually unscathed. I'd find a Motel to stay in, but she insists that I stay here. She's the best sister a brother could ever ask for.
Anyway, see y'all soon and God bless!
The base is always angry.
Driveby McCullough mega ping!
Thanks for posting this. Good to hear from you. Take care. We need you here!
I am so glad to hear from you! Sorry about your house, John. I hope things get back to normal for you pretty quickly...check in when you can!
Thanks for this post. I like his slant. I have felt all along that there was a quiet logic behind the madness of the Meirs nomination.
"She's the best sister a brother could ever ask for."
I've got five sisters like that, and it is better than being a millionaire.
We're surely glad you're OK, JH2! And thanks for posting the article.
I was really feeling depressed this morning, but read the post and spirits have been lifted.
So sorry about your home, but the up side is that you and your sister get to spend time together.
I'm glad you're safe. Glad to see a post from you too. I guess you stopped doing the 'daily morning avalanche' some time ago?
The list of nominees she had helped put forward prior to her nomination was stellar – and we have no reason to doubt that her future work will not still reflect that excellent quality.That was Alberto Gonzales's list. Miers just resubmitted some of them.
"I have felt all along that there was a quiet logic behind the madness of the Meirs nomination."
I don't think there was a "quiet logic" behind the nomination. While it would be nice to think that Harriet Miers was an intentional decoy, I don't think that's what happened. I think the President picked what he thought would be another stealth candidate. He didn't want a bare knuckles, knock-down drag-out over his Supreme court pick with the so-called moderates in the Senate.
That said, I'm optimistic and I think this is going to be a case of alls-well-that-ends-well. We're probably going to get someone in the Scalia mold. Because the President really has no other choice.
McCullough is extremely optimistic, by even considering the possibility that this was done by design.
I agree though, that we are far better positioned now for a fight. Bring it on, I say- bold conservatism wins every time! Hopefully, W will cooperate by sending us a decent nominee- and I have my Senators' phone numbers handy too.
I ready also. It is time to light a fire under the RINOs butts.
Glad that you are okay. My son is okay, still haven't heard from my brother though.
Let's just get rid of them instead.
Could that just POSSIBLY be because the "base" keeps putting forth the effort to elect Republicans, in hopes of actually getting some conservative things done to limit the activist court and government, and then the Republicans "grow in office"and do nothing to foster conservative ends.
While there still there, they need to know being TV stars does not make them popular.
And all our base belong to us.
That being said, I don't think the Miers nomination was as well planned as Kevin McCullough thinks, but the effect will be the same. Even with Bush's lack of stomach, he could very well nominate a strong conservative because he knows now how well informed and supportive his base will be of a worthy nominee. Even the RINO's will will be forced to take a stand one way or another.
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