If Clinton had tried to appoint his former secretary to the SCOTUS...

[smoogatz]

Well, I don't even have to say it, do I?

[Inland]

1. Well, we would all wonder what they did with the real Clinton

For Clinton to consciously appoint an unqualified individual and argue that she should be appointed because he knows her so well...that would be such a change of character that we would be thinking he was off his rocker.

Whereas, when Bush does it, we only wonder why Rove let it happen.

[smoogatz]

2. Good point. n/t

[RethugAssKicker]

3. The double standard is sickening... isn;t it?

[onenote]

4. The issue is her qualifications, not her title

You make it sound like Miers was chimpy's administrative assistant. Staff secretary is a much more substantive position. And, indeed, in the Clinton administration, it was held by substantive people. For example, John Podesta was Clinton's staff secretary before he was chief of staff. While I can't imagine Podesta being appointed to Supreme Court by Clinton, it would've been more defensible than Miers, not becuase she was Chimpy's "secretary" but because he is more qualified. http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?cid={E9245FE4-9A2B-43C7-A521-5D6FF2E06E03}&bin_id={41E662CF-E379-427B-971D-127ADB779B1C}

Actually, although he wasn't qualified to be on the Supreme Court, I think it would've been great if Clinton had appointed Sean Maloney, who also served as Staff Secretary. Here's Sean's bio: http://clinton6.nara.gov/1999/05/1999-05-21-statement-by-the-press-secretary-on-sean-maloney.html

And the fact that Miers was Counsel to the President shouldn't automatically disqualify her. Abner Mikva was counsel to Clinton and I would've had no problem with him being named to the SCOTUS.

The issue is her qualifications, not her title.

[smoogatz]

5. I think you missed my point.

I was trying to imagine the wingnut reaction to such an appointment by the Big Dawg. Are you suggesting that Miers IS qualified to sit on the SCOTUS?

[onenote]

6. No. Just that being staff secretary doesn't define her qualifications

I think you missed MY point. She also was WH counsel. So was Mikva. You're assumption of a double standard doesn't hold up if you were to say "if Clinton had tried to appoint his WH counsel to the SCOTUS...."

She's unqualified, Mikva was not. Its the qualifications (or in her case lack thereof) that matters.

onenote

[smoogatz]

7. Never mind.

You don't get it, and I'm not inclined to keep explaining it.

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. Oh, come on. You know that, no matter how well qualified, if

Clinton had appointed his staff secretary, someone he was close to who knew his secrets, the RW would be screaming that he was working to protect himself from future suits or indictments.

That's the point, here.

[onenote]

10. I suppose, but

it would've been just as lame an argument as it is that Miers was appointed to protect chimpy. She was appointed because chimpy is convinced (and probably is correct) that she would be a reliable vote for the Scalia-Thomas wing of the court. Miers alone can't protect chimpy and if you assume that he is counting on Roberts to be part of the group that covers his ass, then there's no reason to think he couldn't have found a dozen other more qualified justices that would be just as dependable in that regard. Nope, the reason he picked her rather than any of these other possibilities is that he likes to reward his friends (cronyism) and he stupidly thought no one would question her credentials (even though she doesn't have any).

onenote

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. A lame argument to be sure, that's never stopped a freeper.

And I agree, she was nominated because * knows exactly where she stands on all the issues important to him. If he didn't know, she'd have not been nominated. And the only way he knows is because of their personal connection.

The conservatives that are making all those worried noises are either faking it or are too dumb to realize that with getting her, they are getting *. OTOH, I know a couple who aren't wild about * because he's not conservative enough, so maybe they do realize that she is his mirror.

[Ferret Annica]

9. Conyism, one of the traits of fascism

Hey, the Neocons don't want Clinton in their ranks, so naturally they would take exception to him doing as they do.

[calimary]

11. Hey, didn't Caligula appoint his horse to consul level?

Why should bush be any different, latter-day Caligula that he is? It's not like we don't have a precedent here...

[Totally Committed]

13. Betty Currie would have made a far better Justice than this creep!

(sorry, she creeps me out...)

There are other far more suitable choices for this position. THis will be part of Bush's legacy. I guess he doesn't care if people think he was a jackass in years to come.

Anyone else think Lindsay Graham would have made a great justice as a nod to bi-partisan moderation? He's not pro-CHoicce, but is on record as saying that the matter has been decided and he wouldn't mess with it. Hmmm..... Maybe that's why he wasn't picked?