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Jewish World Review Oct. 7, 2005 / 4 Tishrei, 5766 Dubya the gambler will enjoy the last laugh By Tony Snow
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
The Harriet Miers nomination has set off one
of the most delightful psychodramas in recent Washington history. President
Bush, the habitual iconoclast, shattered prevailing traditions and
expectations by asking his former personal attorney and now-White House
counsel to assume a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Elites hate the nomination. Miers, in contrast to the polymath
John Roberts, has little direct experience with constitutional law, and may
know less about cases and precedents than such potential inquisitors as
Sens. Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer. She hasn't spent time on the federal
bench. She hasn't written sage articles for prestigious law reviews. She has
little conventional pedigree — and that drives the local elites nuts.
Conservative activists also count themselves unamused. Sen.
George Allen told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that of the 100 phone calls
his office got on the Meirs pick before noon last Monday, only three
supported the president's pick.
Many conservatives wanted the president to duke it out with
Senate Democrats by selecting a known and documented constitutional
originalist — Judges Michael Luttig, Michael McConnell, Edith Jones and
Janice Rogers Brown topped many wish lists. The president, the thinking
went, not only could have established himself as the King of Capitol Hill,
he also could have killed the recent Democratic tactic of slurring and
smearing conservative judicial picks.
When critics yelped, White House aides panicked. For some
reason, they failed to anticipate the conservative blowback, and when
negative reviews began pouring in, presidential aides issued snarky retorts.
(One pro-Miers website dismissed all the nominee's detractors as "naval
gazers.")
The nomination reflects George Bush's most interesting and
unique tendencies. On the negative side, he has a habit of singing from the
Political Correctness hymnal. In the run-up to the Miers nomination, he paid
obeisance to the ideal of "diversity," which seems more appropriate for Ward
Churchill than from an ideological heir to Ronald Reagan.
In addition, the president hates to fire back at political foes.
As governor of Texas, he crafted an alliance with Democratic stalwart Bob
Bullock, creating an era of good feelings in Austin.
George Bush's desire to court the opposition explains his
refusal to veto a single measure as president, including the execrable
campaign-finance reform law. It also accounts for his meek surrender when
Democrats killed most of his faith-based initiatives, watered down his
attempts to overhaul public education, and slapped back his quest to reform
an unforgivably dishonest and shaky Social Security system.
On the positive side of the ledger, the Miers nomination
highlights George Bush's delicious disdain for the Beltway culture. One can
imagine his chortling with delight upon finding a way to irritate worthies
of both parties.
The president also stressed an unorthodox but admirable
criterion for selecting judges and other officials granted positions of high
trust and authority: He talked about Harriet Miers' character.
He's right. The Supreme Court possesses unparalleled power for
seducing those who don the black robes. No other officials in America can
issue irreversible decrees. What the Supremes say, goes.
Harriet Miers, the president suggested, won't get her head
turned by such blandishments because she has principles. She'll remain true
to conservative precepts and won't "grow" in office, regardless of what The
New York Times says about her.
No wonder the Miers nomination baffles seasoned political pros.
Miers is a cipher. People who purport to be good friends have a startling
tendency to recite Republican talking points. I have yet to find one who can
say, "I'll never forget the time Harriet (fill in a charming reminiscence
here)." It is as if the woman had walked through life without performing a
memorable act — other than to crank out a dandy sweet-potato pie. But
associates also caution against misunderestimating the woman. She apparently
has made mincemeat of more than her share of doomsayers and detractors.
So now things get interesting. The president has stirred up a
lot of mischief, but Miers has to clean up the mess. The upcoming
confirmation hearings will determine her fate — and the president's. If she
defies expectations, George Bush will look like a genius. If the Senate
rejects her nomination, his presidency will come effectively to an end.
That's just the sort of thing the poker-playing president
loves. George Bush possesses a gambler's daring and patience. He loves to
linger over a controversy until his adversaries fidget and sweat. His pleas
to "trust me" have the effect of dragging out the drama — and imparting the
sense that when the Senate finally casts its votes, the guy from Midland
again will enjoy the last laugh.
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Comment on JWR contributor, and syndicated talk show host, Tony Snow's column by clicking here. © 2005, Creators Syndicate, Inc |
Mitch Albom | |||||||||||
