Reid says he likes Miers. Does it bother anyone that she has no

[still_one]

experience as a judge?

[rodeodance]

1. she is a devotee of Jr-that is what bothers me.

[wtmusic]

18. Exactly

The lifelong advocate can suddenly learn impartiality? Don't think so.

[MildyRules]

2. Not really

I want to hear her VIEWS though. What does she stand for? What does she stand against?

[still_one]

7. It does bother me

I do NOT think the Supreme Court should necessarily be the place where someone does on the job training

[MildyRules]

21. Tell that to the ghosts

of Taft, Fortas, and Powell.

[JimmyJazz]

3. Does anyone think she might experience a bit of animosity from

the other Supreme Court judges for not having earned her keep? :shrug:

[onenote]

6. no

History is replete with justices -- even Chief Justices -- that weren't judges first. Earl Warren. William O Douglas. Byron White. Tom Clark. Lewis Powell. Arthur Goldberg....

onenote

[John Q. Citizen]

4. Who is Reed. Ralph Reed?

[still_one]

12. no, Harry Reid, sorry I spelled it wrong

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Setting_stage_Democratic_Senate_leader_praises_1003.html

[John Q. Citizen]

24. Thanks for the link. I'm not sure it means much that he "like her."

In fact what I'm hoping is that he's setting the stage to help reject her based on the merits and not on personal animosity.

I have no real idea, but if I were going to reject, I'd start out positive and then become increasingly troubled.

[still_one]

26. You are right

here is another link about her from DU

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2130848

[Bluzmann57]

5. Yes.

While I am certainly not a legal type, it seems that a person who is going to serve on the highest court in the land should probably have some type of experience. I guess it's sort of like if a person lands a great job out of college, they still aren't at the top. They (presumably) have to earn their way up there. But then what the hell does an uneducated, Union member Liberal know?

[Mass]

8. Not Reed, Reid - other democrat and liberal groups here

They seem less accomodating.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5318263,00.html

Reaction to Bush's High Court Nomination

``She has a reputation for being loyal to this president, whom she has a long history of serving as a close adviser and in working to advance his objectives. In an administration intent on accumulating executive power, Ms. Miers' views on and role in these issues will be important for the Senate to examine.'' - Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee

---

``We know even less about Harriet Miers than we did about John Roberts and because this is the critical swing seat on the Court, Americans will need to know a lot more about Mier's judicial philosophy and legal background before any vote for confirmation.'' - Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

---

``Harriet Miers is a brilliant legal mind. She is a woman of outstanding character who clearly understands what it means to follow the law. She is deeply committed to public service, and has a distinguished history of professional achievement. It is clear that her past experiences have well prepared her for the honor of serving our country as a Supreme Court Justice.'' - Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.



``We are concerned about the nomination of Harriet Miers and we demand she answer questions regarding her views of fundamental reproductive and privacy rights. We expect Miers to make clear her views on reproductive rights during the hearing process, and the Senate should not confirm a nominee who is not willing to do so.'' - Karen Pearl, interim president of Planned Parenthood.


---

``With no past judicial experience for the senators to consider, the burden will be on Miers to be forthright with the Senate and the American people. She must outline her judicial philosophy and provide direct answers to questions about how and whether she will uphold fundamental rights, liberties and legal protections on which Americans rely. ... There must be no rush to judgment.'' - Ralph G. Neas, president of People for the American Way, a liberal public advocacy group.

---

``We owe it to the American people to take our time to be sure the nominee will uphold their most basic and fundamental rights. The public demands this from the process, and deserve no less.'' Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.

---

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. What bothers me most is her close proximity to Bush

Not only does she not have any paper trail, the Committee will not be able to get any papers from her...at all. They are all going to go under "attorney/client privilege" status and the client is BUSH!

It would be funny if Laura put her name in Georgie's brain, though. Laura's pro-choice.

[Avalux]

13. Heard this morning that as head of the Texas Bar Association -

she worked to change the "official" position of the organization from pro-choice to pro-life.

[Norquist Nemesis]

19. Crap!

There goes that thought. Thanks for bursting my bubble to bring me back to reality.

Well, where once we were only fucked, now we're double-fucked. :cry:

[Avalux]

28. Yeah - my reaction too

I heard it on local NPR - here in Texas so I don't have a link. She's not OK.

[Norquist Nemesis]

29. You know...if that's true and can be verified

then that's ammunition for the Dems that she acts from ideology!

[Avalux]

10. Likes her in what way?

This woman may be likeable and intelligent but as you say - she has no record, has written nothing.

Yes, it bothers me tremendously given that she's known Bush for 10 years and in turn is in tight with Rove - she'll do whatever they want. Makes me want to vomit.

[Hobarticus]

11. Yes, it most certainly does. n/t

[TX-RAT]

14. No experience as a judge?

There have been many that had no judicial experience.

[Javaman]

15. Ergo: cronyism no longer matters.

slowly pulling the sheet over democracy

[Javaman]

16. Ergo: cronyism no longer matters.

slowly pulling the sheet over democracy

[Javaman]

17. Ergo: cronyism no longer matters.

slowly pulling the sheet over democracy

[high density]

20. Not really, though this bothers me...

"Bush Loyalist Gets High Court Nod"

(CBS/AP) ... Miers reveals little of her own emotions or ideological persuasions, but has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Bush administration on a broad of initiatives including tax cuts, Social Security reforms, restrictions on federal spending on embryonic stem cell research, national security, education reforms and fighting terrorism.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/03/supremecourt/main897953.shtml

[Mass]

23. I agree - the fact that Bush promotes his personnal lawyer to the SC

bothers me a lot.

[KG]

22. this is mr. 'give 'em hell harry' reid???

oy. :eyes:

[enlightenment]

35. Yeah, right, "give 'em hell" my hind-end

He's my senator -- and he's lost my vote. I am SICK of weasel-words and half-truths, and supporting candidates because he likes their personal ideologies.
If he honestly believes that people with no experience are better than those with experience then I am more than willing to see his butt booted out of the senate and replaced with someone with no experience.
Couldn't possibly be any worse than him -- he's worthless.

[patcox2]

25. Doesn't bother me; I would bet it bothers attorneys less than non-attorney

I prefer judges who come out of lengthy careers in private practice over government hacks who have never had to earn a living.

Leaving aside her personal ties to Bush, I love her resume'. I prefer it to the parade of hacks and ideologues who go through the standard supreme court prep course of being appointed to a sham stint on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, like Roberts and Thomas before him.

[Avalux]

27. Can't leave aside her personal ties to Bush

And I'd like to know what you love about her resume.

[patcox2]

33. I think she's a terrible pick, because of her ties to Bush.

What I like about her resume is an extremely sucessful career in the very tough and competitive world of the private practice of law. Cronyism and Bush ties do not make you the managing partner of a 400 lawyer firm. Nor do they make you Bar Association president. Lawyers are too cutthroat competitive for someone to accomplish those things without merit.

I like judges who have succeeded in the real world, and not in the insulated cocoon of government jobs, which is where most of them come from.

[Spazito]

30. I am wondering if Reid is just laying the groundwork for some VERY

interesting information coming forward on her hiding bush's NG records she was involved in 'reviewing', etc. He says he likes her but also says he is looking forward to what information will come forward about her.


Edited to correct typo

[EST]

31. The primary thing that bothers me is that

G-dub is a petty, petulant, incompetent criminal, surrounded by criminals of varying degrees of ability. He has a long, mind numbing record of flubbing the dub and being rescued by the more powerful denizens of Sherwood forest when his casting directors have allowed him any autonomy.Ergo, in my mind, any choices he makes are automatically suspect.
I have serious doubts that this particular choice that has come to center stage is, in any substantive fashion, remotely related to his own wishes. This smacks of a "community-fix" decision and may well be totally at odds with his own "vision" as to the direction he wishes to produce for the further destruction of America and the world.
On to the selection of Ms. Miers--I don't see that judicial temperament or experience is, in fact, an overwhelming requirement for a seat on the supreme court. The lack of experience may actually be a plus since she will probably be overwhelmed for at least six months and will likely find her own views shifting dramatically as a result of the demands of her office.
I do find it intellectually offensive that Roberts was catapulted from comparative obscurity to the leading position in scotus and I would like to see a candid interview (if such were possible) with some of the more senior members, should they have an opinion on the advisability of not promoting an existing justice to chief.
Her hearing sessions will have to be much more detailed than those that accompany someone with a paper trail, especially given the overly clever manipulation of the hearing process pulled off by Roberts and the republican mafia.

[lostnfound]

32. I think it's okay that he says he likes her.

He didn't say she would make a fine supreme court justice.

He said "she worked with me in a courteous and professional manner". Well, she's known as a polite person. Nothing wrong with a little kindness up front.

And he said "the Supreme Court would benefit from the addition of a justice who has real experience as a practicing lawyer." Well, maybe that's true. He didn't say that the SC would benefit from her appointment to the court.

And he said "I look forward to the Judiciary Committee process which will help the American people learn more about Harriet Miers, and help the Senate determine whether she deserves a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court." ..."Whether she deserves" speaks volumes.

Maybe he's giving Bush plenty of rope. Maybe this attempted appointment will be an embarrassment. Or maybe Reid figures that she will be a weak player on the court -- swayable, eventually -- and is better than the alternatives that Bush would select. Or maybe Reid thinks that by speaking positively about her, he at least can help sow some discord among the GOP.

For now, I'm giving Reid the benefit of the doubt.

[McCamy Taylor]

34. Me me me. On the plus side her only ideology will be protectinhg *.