I just watched Pres. Bush announce his appointment of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. This appointment took me by surprise and I'm not sure how I feel about it.
On the positive side. The woman is brilliant and hard-working. Since I tend to lean conservative on most issues, she is predictably conservative in Bush's mind. But then I don't feel a judge allow personal feelings of liberalism or conservatism to influence their decisions one way or the other. But obviously that's not the way things are anymore.
A short list of positives. On the negative side, I can't imagine that the most qualified candidate was picked. I think many more qualifed men were ignored because W had an agenda to replace O'Conner with a woman. I don't even see Miers as the most qualified woman.
W is already getting heat from opponents and genuine conservatives that his appointments smack of cronyism. Ignoring more qualified candidates and picking from his inner circle won't help that charge.
Miers has never served as a judge, something that makes her seem like some political move to send a stealth candidate into the Senate hearings. I suspect that it will only turn up the heat to get into her personal feelings since she has no record.
Although 60 isn't old, W gave up some of his court's influence by not choosing from among the more qualified candidates who are at least 10 years younger. Loyalty is one of Bush's traits, but I'm not sure it served the nation by providing the best qualified SC justice.
I guess I'm disappointed-- in the appointee and the president.
Many US Supreme Court justices have not had prior experience as a judge. This appears as no fault to me. At the age of 60, Miers could serve 20 years on the court, and that is plenty of time to have a big impact.
If Miers conducts herself as Bush suggested she would -- interpreting the US constitution in the light of the intentions of the founders rather than by legislating from the bench -- I will be well satisfied. More particularly, this being a hunting forum and at least partly interested in firearms, I am cheered to imagine she will be a strong supporter of the second amendment as an individual right to keep and bear arms. This is in distinction from the hoax perpetrated by some that the second amendment is only a collective right -- such as of a state militia -- and restricted to a specific purpose -- such as defense.
And in response to the fact that some SC justices have had no prior legal experience,,,,
Who said anything about no prior legal experience? I heard one of the various commentators say that she is consistantly listed as on of the 100 most powerful lawyers in America. She has also been president of the Texas bar.
I heard one of the various commentators say that she is consistantly listed as on of the 100 most powerful lawyers in America. She has also been president of the Texas bar.
She's Bushes personal lawyer isn't she? I really think this will get extremly ugly.
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Prez announces SC pick
