Making Conservatives Cringe Since 1977
I'm not Liberal, I'm paying attention.27 October 2005
Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!!!
Below is the text of the letter from Harriet Miers to President Bush, withdrawing her name from consideration as a justice of the United States Supreme Court.
Dear Mr. President:
I write to withdraw as a nominee to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. I have been greatly honored and humbled by the confidence that you have shown in me, and have appreciated immensely your support and the support of many others. However, I am concerned that the confirmation process presents a burden for the White House and our staff that is not in the best interest of the country.
As you know, members of the Senate have indicated their intention to seek documents about my service in the White House in order to judge whether to support me. I have been informed repeatedly that in lieu of records, I would be expected to testify about my service in the White House to demonstrate my experience and judicial philosophy. While I believe that my lengthy career provides sufficient evidence for consideration of my nomination, I am convinced the efforts to obtain Executive Branch materials and information will continue.
As I stated in my acceptance remarks in the Oval Office, the strength and independence of our three branches of government are critical to the continued success of this great Nation. Repeatedly in the course of the process of confirmation for nominees for other positions, I have steadfastly maintained that the independence of the Executive Branch be preserved and its confidential documents and information not be released to further a confirmation process. I feel compelled to adhere to this position, especially related to my own nomination. Protection of the prerogatives of the Executive Branch and continued pursuit of my confirmation are in tension. I have decided that seeking my confirmation should yield.
I share your commitment to appointing judges with a conservative judicial philosophy, and I look forward to continuing to support your efforts to provide the American people judges who will interpret the law, not make it. I am most grateful for the opportunity to have served your Administration and this country.
Most respectfully,
Harriet Ellan Miers
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20502
Inside scoop: http://harrietmiers.blogspot.com/
tags:
News and Politics
Harriet Miers
Update:
Quick Thoughts on a Failed Nomination
By Terry M. Neal
washingtonpost.com
Staff Writer
Thursday, October 27, 2005; 12:39 PM
The liberal People for the American Way, which vehemently opposed the Roberts nomination, did relatively little to oppose Miers. But it reacted with outrage--as though it had actually supported the nomination--upon news that she had withdrawn her name this morning. "It's an astonishing spectacle," said PFAW president Ralph Neas in a statement this morning. "The unelected power-brokers of the far right have forced the withdrawal of President Bush's own Supreme Court nominee, before a confirmation hearing has even been held. President Bush's complete capitulation to the far-right interest groups is astounding. The ultra-right wing dominance of Republican Party politics is complete, and they have dealt a terrible blow to an already weakened president and his administration. Right-wingers are openly saying they elected Bush to put a battle-ready ultraconservative on the court to replace the moderate Sandra Day O'Connor, and they're demanding a new choice -bipartisanship, moderation and mainstream Americans be damned."
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