David Brooks (forgive me) quotes Harriet Miers at her most "substantive."

[BurtWorm]

"More and more, the intractable problems in our society have one answer: broad-based intolerance of unacceptable conditions and a commitment by many to fix problems."

Or this: "We must end collective acceptance of inappropriate conduct and increase education in professionalism."

Or this: "When consensus of diverse leadership can be achieved on issues of importance, the greatest impact can be achieved."

Or passages like this: "An organization must also implement programs to fulfill strategies established through its goals and mission. Methods for evaluation of these strategies are a necessity. With the framework of mission, goals, strategies, programs, and methods for evaluation in place, a meaningful budgeting process can begin."

Or, finally, this: "We have to understand and appreciate that achieving justice for all is in jeopardy before a call to arms to assist in obtaining support for the justice system will be effective. Achieving the necessary understanding and appreciation of why the challenge is so important, we can then turn to the task of providing the much needed support."

http://select.nytimes.com/2005/10/13/opinion/13brooks.html?hp

You need a subscription to read the whole thing, which is actually worth reading to get an insight into how conservatives "intellectuals" are reacting to this nomination. Suffice to say, they're reacting as any intellectual should react--with horror, shame and disgust.

[larryepke]

1. Can anyone explain...

what the quote that begins "We have to understand..." means? It's completely incomprehensible to me!

[Connie_Corleone]

3. I read it 3 times and I'm still trying to figure it out. nt

[Laelth]

7. Sounds like she's saying ...

"Before we can fix what's wrong with the justice system, we must first recognize that there's a problem and that the problem is severe."

That's my take on it, anyway.

-Laelth

[existentialist]

15. Yup, now I think three of us have stated it better than she did.

Maybe one of us should be on the Supreme Court.

[Mist]

9. I'll give it a try:

"Before we can achieve support for the justice system, we need to understand that the idea of "justice for all" is in jeopardy."

At least I think that's what she's saying. (Maybe I need more coffee)

[existentialist]

4. Suppose I paraphrase it:

"We have to understand that there is a problem before we can seek a solution."

That is a generalized paraphrase of what I think she is trying to get at with regard to the particular problems of our system of justice.

I think I understand what she is trying to say there. But such wordiness is not effective writing. Certainly anyone who has to express truisms in incomprehensible language does not get my vote of confidence for being able to address problems just because she can express them so that they are hard to understand.

[BurtWorm]

6. It's not just poor writing.

It's trite thinking.

[existentialist]

10. Yes, that too.

[SCDem]

2. Sounds like she is quoting a textbook

"With the framework of mission, goals, strategies, programs, and methods for evaluation in place, a meaningful budgeting process can begin."

Too bad she did not include "impact" and "outcome" data to be included oh yeah and "objectives" that include a clear "timetable" and "measurable" objectives to be accomplished.

I feel like I just took an Evaluation test.

Are we supposed to pat her on the back for this crap :shrug:

[existentialist]

5. Yes, and

the apt comparison you make with the writing in textbooks is also, in my mind, a telling criticism of our textbooks.

[SCDem]

11. The textbooks weren't that bad

It was the professors who had no real life experience of implementing the said programs that were to be evaluated. I think there is nothing worse than a professor who has never been employed outside of the academic setting instructing to-be professionals on how X program should have evaluated themselves this way and this is the way I would have done it.

[Cocoa]

8. if Bush's approval rating was 65%

Brooks would be writing columns telling us what a genius Miers is.

[existentialist]

13. Yes, but when Bush's cronies' ineptitudes are exposed

for instances by the publication of such writings, that cannot increase Bush's approval ratings.

Or at least may God have mercy on us if it does.

[opihimoimoi]

12. It reveals a mind not WORTHY of the SCOTUS...Its OBVIOUS

and should be required reading for those on the Judicial Committee

This lady is a bag lady in reverse drag.

[Justpat]

14. No wonder Bush has such a liking for her.

Neither one can think or speak in a coherent manner.

[stevietheman]

16. Some of those quotes give the appearance that Miers is anti-freedom.

Why does Miers hate our freedoms?

[Stephanie]

17. I liked when a rightwinger was arguing against "intellectualism" on the SC

He thought it made sense to have "balance" - said not every SC justice should be an intellectual! Oh lord.

[BurtWorm]

18. I wouldn't be surprised if Brooks himself made that argument at some point

Before the Miers nomination. In defense of Bush's (or Bush I's or Reagan's) myriad other anti-intellectual appointments.