First Impressions

You know that moment in a baseball game when the visiting team brings in a relief pitcher? The ballpark announcer dryly states, "Your attention please. Now pitching for the Detroit Tigers, Art Vandelay."

And the hometown fans derisively shout, "Who?"

That's my first reaction to President Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers. In a position of such importance and as a lifetime appointment, I believe the president could have done so much better. I want someone with absolutely unquestionable credentials who is a passionate intellectual force. The debate should be on judicial philosophy, not qualifications. Leading the Texas Lottery Commission does not strike me as a stepping stone to the highest court in the country.

I'm open to being persuaded otherwise, but I wonder if a few days of testimony is enough to adequately make the case on something so critical.

For more, read Bill Kristol's Disappointed, Depressed and Demoralized and Peggy Noonan's The Mier's Misstep.

Comments

[Brian Glass]

I agree. Up until now I've been a big defender of GW, but now I feel like he's really let us down.

A liberal Republican (I'm pretty conservative) friend of mine says I should wait and see what transpires - that I am making a judgement call too early.

We'll see...

[Sam Huff]

Knowing that she was the president of the Texas Bar Association, though, gives me confidence that knows the law backwards and forwards.

[Shelley]

I'm with you. I was ready to put up the good fight for a known, staunch conservative.

[phil crissman]

Hugh Hewitt, who I usually find fairly insightful, is also trying to encourage everyone from making judgements too early.

I'm a little concerned that the same folks who were telling the democrats during the long, drawn-out filibuster this summer, "He's the president, he can nominate who he wants, just confirm them!"... these same folks are now saying, "Wait, now *we* don't like this one..."

Not everybody's going to be happy; but, for better or worse, the nomination has been made. I guess we'll see what the senate does, next.