Breaking News: Miers withdraws Supreme Court nomination

[Kak]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9837151/

WASHINGTON - Confronted with criticism from both the left and right, Harriet Miers on Thursday withdrew her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a statement, President Bush said he “reluctantly accepted” her decision to withdraw, after weeks of insisting that he did not want her to step down.

The White House said he blamed her withdrawal on calls in the Senate for the release of internal White House documents that the administration has insisted were protected by executive privilege.


I didn't expect this to happen, I didn't think she was qualified and I knew a lot of others didn't and she was taking harsh criticism not only from the left but even more so from the right. I knew a lot of conservatives were calling for her nomination to be withdrawed, but I didn't expect it to happen.

Discuss.

[Kak]

Wow this thread really took off

[Shinobi]

well it's not like anyone knew about her, what's to discuss ? :D :p

[siddy]

well it's not like anyone knew about her, what's to discuss ? :D :p

that's actually very true. I don't think many had a real emotional investment in her getting in.

[nyarlathotep]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9837151/



I didn't think she was qualified.

Why wasn't she qualified?

[FaKToR]

No prior experience as a judge and she's not significantly great attorney which leaves her with no reason to be a supreme court judge.

[marty]

No prior experience as a judge and she's not significantly great attorney which leaves her with no reason to be a supreme court judge.
No prior experience as a judge doesn't necessarily mean one isn't qualified to be on the Supreme Court. Not that I'm saying I'd like Miers on there

[Lord Kelvin]

Well, it also had to do with the security blanket of knowing how she'd vote, which seems to be a big topic these days :rolleyes:.

Yes, I know why that's important, and why everyone was making a big fuss over it, but still, I think it's retarded.

[Milkman Dan]

Why wasn't she qualified?
Just look at all the sound bites of the Senators that interviewed her. The Conservatives thought her not conservative enough, and the Liberals too conservative. A lot of them were saying her understanding of Constitutional law was horrible, embarassing, worrying, and a bunch of other ominous adjectives.

[nyarlathotep]

Ok just wanted to point out prior judicial experience is not a requirement. I didn't get to catch any of the questions to her.

One thing I did hear is O'conner agreeing to stay until a replacement is found. Big mistake, if she's eager to get out now. That means they'll drag feet finding a replacement knowing that she'll stay no matter.

At least that's how it works in my office.

[FaKToR]

No prior experience as a judge doesn't necessarily mean one isn't qualified to be on the Supreme Court. Not that I'm saying I'd like Miers on there
I didn't say you had to be a judge, it's just that if you're not a great lawyer than your only other chance is to be a great judge, which she isn't.

[Lord Kelvin]

I didn't say you had to be a judge, it's just that if you're not a great lawyer than your only other chance is to be a great judge, which she isn't.
In this case I still think it was more of an issue of the fact that they didn't know how she would vote on issues rather than on how well she knows the Constitution, precedents, etc.

[SWATJester_os]

Or be a great scholar, like Justice Brandeis was.

[GoatChomper]

In this case I still think it was more of an issue of the fact that they didn't know how she would vote on issues.....
Not at all.....notice how little Roberts revealed under questioning?

[Lord Kelvin]

Hmm, looks like I've been drawn in by the media again, those bastards :o

[SWATJester_os]

Supreme Court Nominees rarely reveal a lot about how they will stand on issues, precisely because where they stand on issues shouldn't matter as a question of law, and would jeopardize their impartiality as justices.

Souter did not reveal much, and look how liberal he turned out. Scalia never was interviewed much, but also didn't reveal much, he was a charmer like Roberts.

In fact the only name that springs to mind as having been a person who answered every question thrown at him is Robert Bork, and we all nkow what happened there.

[Lord Kelvin]

That name sounds very very familiar, but I can't remember what he did off the top of my head...

Gimme a sec to search.

-e- Dammit, I just realized where I heard his name from. He's that super-conservative guy who appears on Fox sometimes.

[GoatChomper]

In fact the only name that springs to mind as having been a person who answered every question thrown at him is Robert Bork, and we all nkow what happened there.
His nomination was DOA.....everybody with a role to play in his confirmation hearing was of an age to remember his part in the Saturday Night Massacre.

[Moe_Rahn]

Well, when even Robert Bork thinks your nomination was a disaster (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9623345/), that might not be a good sign.