Reid Urged Miers Selection

[NVMojo]

If there is any truth behiind this theory ...could Reid have done it to start a conservative brawl? When you get to the page below, check out the links to the side of the story ...besides, if Bush listens to Reid ...well that could start a brawl!!!

October 3, 2005

he expected political brawl over President Bush’s second Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers might not ever take place – because it was a powerful Democrat, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who had urged her selection.

The senator from Nevada first hinted that he thought highly of Miers shortly before Bush announced the nomination of John Roberts for a seat on the Court.

Bush phoned Reid to tout Roberts, and Reid took the opportunity to tell the president that had had enjoyed working with Miers, the White House legal counsel, during the search for a nominee.

more...

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/10/3/112632.shtml

[SteppingRazor]

1. Two things --

First, that's from Newsmax, which is a disreputable site.

Second, from what I understand from other sources, Reid tentatively supported Meirs, and enjoyed a working relationship with her in the Roberts nomination process... which is a far cry from "urging" her nomination

[Gman]

26. Reid is trying to set off a GOP firestorm

She donated to Gore in '88 and freepers heads exploded now Reid is on CNN touting her. Certain death awaits her nomination and the Dems won't have to lift a finger and won't be accused of being obstructionist.

[patrice]

2. Acceptance : Rejection = Win : Win for Reid - Smart! n/t

[NVMojo]

3. I feel that way too! Even if it is a Newsmax source! Ya gotta laugh!

[patrice]

9. Sounds like something my husband the chess player would pull

with one of his knights, right in the middle of the board.

[MisterP]

16. since when did nominees hinge on Reid's say-so?

Color me a little skeptical about Reid's strategy. I mean, if Reid wet his pants and fell down a stairwell we'd have 20 threads here just exclaiming "Reid! Smart!"

[saigon68]

30. He is a DINO

Like his buddy--- whinny Limp-mann (d) Conn

[apnu]

33. Ried is anti-choice so is Miers

Of course she gets his nod. And you're right, he's a DINO.

[On the Road]

4. Part of the "Gang of 14" Agreement

was supposed to have been that there would be more discussion beforehand of who might be acceptable SCotUS candidates. There is always the possibility that the Democrats HAVE given input and that Roberts and Miers were both considered acceptable.

Even if that's true, the Senate Democrats might not have displayed very good judgment. We really don't know yet, and unfortunately won't be sure until it's too late and there are some important cases under the bridge.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

5. Whatever the case is, we're better off with Miers than Alito.

If anyone can possibly dispute that, they need their head checked.

[rhett o rick]

35. This "we're better off", attitude is starting to get to me. If we aren't

careful, we'll "better off" ourselves right into fascism. The Demo's are powerless to stop the Bush movement. Watch out for a try at a third term.

[politick]

6. Why couldn't they have

presented some of them as passable, then decided to change their minds? Though I'm ethically torn, I would be heartened to find out that Harry Reid was so calculating as to suggest a nominee he knew would wind up in a dog fight. At least it would demonstrate a bulge in his britches (and I don't mean because Miers is a hottie).

[NVMojo]

21. Politick, good points all but I try to remember that Reid was once a boxer

[onehandle]

7. This post breaks a LBN rule.

5. Whenever possible, post excerpts and links from reputable mainstream news sources that are available online. Do not link to blogs, vanity sites, or blatantly biased sources, except in cases where reputable mainstream sources are not available. Please make an effort to link directly to the original source of an article, instead of linking to sites that have re-published someone else's content, or re-packaged someone else's content as their own. The moderators have the authority to decide which websites are appropriate for posting in the Latest Breaking News forum and which are not.

Newsmax is not allowed in LBN.

[NVMojo]

8. gee, thanks! I always appreciate the heavy-handed displinarians

that serve as mods or what have you! Peace baby!

[patcox2]

11. You must respect my authoritai.

nt

[Puglover]

14. I prefer the term

"Board Nannies" I saw that one day and about split a gut.

[NVMojo]

19. both will work for me! Thanks for the laughs!!!

[NVMojo]

20. DISCIPLINARIANS ....there, that should do it!!! HEHEHE!!!

[NashVegas]

37. NewsMax Propaganda?

Anyone have the New Yorker article they're talking about?

Else, this is pure bullshit.

[rhett o rick]

10. Maybe I'm slow, but why would GWB listen to Reid? Did i miss a memo? nt

[marshall]

12. Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/10/03/aide_bush_undecided_on_high_court_nominee/

"Reid had personally recommended that Bush consider Miers for nomination, according to several sources familiar with the president's consultations with individual senators. Of equal importance as the White House maps its confirmation campaign is that the Nevada Democrat had warned Bush that the selection of any of several other contenders could trigger a bruising partisan struggle."

[rhett o rick]

18. So Reid threatened GWB with "a bruising partisan struggle" and Bush

capitulated? Is this the same Reid that hasn't been able to stop any nominations? (forgive me if one or two slipped by). Why oh why would Georgie be afraid of a "partisan struggle"? He relishes them. He would look great in the eyes of his right wing. Sorry but I don't buy it.

[zara]

23. Bush was reeling from being called a Loser by Reid, ...

and caved. I really doubt it had anything to do with cronyism, or lack of paper trail and ability to go through with a stealth nomination, or personal loyalty, or anything else but Reid influence. Perhaps Reid hypnotized Bush? Are ex-alcoholics prone to that sort of weakness?
: )

[rhett o rick]

34. One problem, Bush wouldn't recognize it if someone called him a loser

unless Karl told him.

[Zynx]

13. Given how PO'd the Religious Right is, good job.

[Punkingal]

15. As a Nevadan who knows Harry,,,,

I wouldn't give him credit for trying to start a conservative brawl. I don't trust him an inch...he supported a former Kenneth Starr and Ted Olson law partner for congress in Nevada District 3 last year. It was disgusting. He just wants power, and he is much more conservative than people generally know.

[ernstbass]

31. My thoughts exactly

Reid is pro life, isn't he?

[Punkingal]

38. He certainly is,

and he RULES the Nevada Democratic Party with an iron fist. And he is as out of touch as the rest in Washington. He loves to trot out his story about growing up poor and walking to school, etc. Those days are long behind him, but he uses it when it is convenient. It was a sad day when we got him instead of Daschle. I believe Daschle at least was caring...Harry is one cold-hearted pol.

[Mountainman]

17. Nwsmax is nothing but right wing propaganda and is not to be believed.

[Nevernose]

22. Anyone to the right Howard Zinn isn't really good enough for most of us

I suspect that Bush presented several options to Reid, perhaps a few others like Leahy, and they okayed the most tolerable.

[belle]

24. I'm thinking this may have to do with Leahy et al voting yes on Roberts.

At this point, I have no frigging idea, but it does seem like some sort of backroom deal was cut, somewhere, somehow, and that this is indeed the best we were going to do, realistically.

[medeak]

25. daily kos has an optimistic take on it all

http://www.dailykos.com/

[nolabels]

27. Maybe she has compromising neck-id pictures of both * and Reid

Lately, just about nothing could surprise :donut:

[Occulus]

28. I've suspected this for some time now.

I've read the vitriol over Reid here with increasingly raised eyebrows. His support of Miers appears to be a chess move.

As in, coldly calculated.

I bet his single greatest hope and prayer is that she casts the deciding vote to overturn Roe, make homosexuality illegal again, or some other such utter foolishness. If any of those things happen, you can say goodbye to the Republican Party. It will take time, but it'll happen.

I think we need to start taking a much longer view than simply to the next election.

[MisterP]

29. so now we're hoping Roe or gay rights get overturned?

and what makes us think that that'll be the last straw for the U.S.? There are no depths to which we might not sink to, I fear.

[Occulus]

32. Yeah.

Me too. *sigh*

[anitar1]

36. Maybe Reid knows more than we realize. n/t