Loyal: Having trouble figuring out why the undistinguished Miers was picked for the Supreme Court? Here's a possible scenario:
- Right now Bush is too weak and overwhelmed with problems to put in a divisive figure.
- Miers is on the old side. Out of 111 justices, only 18 were sixty or older when they first sat on the court. So the goal of putting on a long-termer (e.g. Thomas, Roberts) who will determine policy for decades is denied.
- Miers will get Senate approval without much fuss.
- Later on, perhaps two years from now, when Bush is in a stronger position, he'll want to exercise his power as President to shape the court in a more conservative fashion.
- He'll need a vacancy on the court.
- Miers, fiercely loyal to Bush, will resign.
- Bush picks a Thomas/Scalia clone.
posted by Quiddity at 10/03/2005 01:52:00 PM
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Can the admin be that blindly optimistic? I'd guess that the Senate after 2006 may be more hostile (Dem pickups) than it is today. Further, if Miers resigned in Bush's last year, you might have the scenario like Fortas filibuster - Senate (even if minority Dem) refuses to confirm any (let alone a real wingnut) justice pending the results of the coming election).
And he will be a Lame Duck in 2 years.
There's the other scenario: he doesn't even want her to be confirmed so that he can play part of the victim of a deadlock.
