October 20, 2005

Bush Defends; Paper Asks for Miers Withdrawal

It's been 17 days since President Bush nominated Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. Critics are still waiting for some evidence that she would be a justice in the mold of Scalia or Thomas. At least we have a questionnaire to go through. Today, the President defended Miers by saying she is a "competent, strong, capable woman who shares the same judicial philosophy that I share." He also mentioned her real-world experience would give her a "fresh outlook." (That is Miers defenders' strongest argument.) What was fresh was no mention of her religion.

I don't want to know if she thinks abortion is bad. I want to know if she thinks Roe v. Wade is bad law. Thinking that doesn't mean one is pro-life. One can think Roe is bad law and still support a woman's right to an abortion. Overturning Roe simply means the question of legalized abortion would be returned to the states. So Miers can support a pro-life constitutional amendment all she wants. That gives me no assurance that she would overturn Roe.

In related news, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, today, asked President Bush to withdraw the Miers nomination writing,

It's not that there is so much wrong with Miers, as it is that there is not enough right about her.

Has she so much as handled a case involving the Constitution, written an article on a constitutional issue or taught constitutional law? In what memorable public debates on constitutional law has she partaken?

"Bush: Miers Will Reassure Senate Skeptics"