Harriet Miers: Before & After
By Keith Boykin, in politics
Tuesday, October 4 2005, 12:37PM
This just in. Harriet Miers is the most qualified person in the country to join the Supreme Court. So says President Bush.
In a press conference this morning, the president defended his choice of Miers to the High Court and claimed, "I picked the best person I could find." That may be true, if he only looked in the West Wing of the White House. Had he looked beyond 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, he might have found a plethora of more qualified candidates, male and female, to appoint to the Supreme Court.
Once again, I'm reminded of Daddy Bush's statement about the appointment of Clarence Thomas. "The fact that he is black and a minority has nothing to do with this sense that he is the best qualified at this time," the elder Bush said. "I kept my word to the American people and to the Senate by picking the best man for the job on the merits."
President Bush today said he applied no "litmus test" on abortion to his nominee, but let's be honest. When you've known someone since the 1980s as a close personal friend, you don't have to ask them those pesky questions about their views. You already know. Bush himself said, "I've known her long enough to know she's not going to change, that 20 years from now she will be the same person with the same judicial philosophy she has Tuesday."
Oh, and about that experience thing, Bush found a way around that too. The president predicted that 20 years from now "she'll have more experience. She'll have been a judge."
Comments conceal
Kenneth Winfrey
October 4 2005, 2:24PM
I agree that her values should not be that hard to figure out. It's obvious that she and "W" have more than a little in common to have been friends for so long. (FYI: If I were a woman, and if any of my friends were to describe me as a pit bull in size 6 shoes, they should expect to be smacked! Although, even back then, she STILL had the whole "Total Recall" outside-the-dome thing going on...)
It's true that many judges don't have to have judicial experience, supreme court or otherwise. Throughout the country, many are actually appointed or elected. I do, however, feel that there should be some standard for the Supreme Court. Nominees should at least have an understanding of the history of the Court, it's rulings, and to have studied the written opinions of certain past and present justices. I would feel obligated to do so, in the least. It would be important to me to fully understand the privilege, responsibility, and impact on society that comes with the job. Oops! I forgot, this is the Bush Administration. They don't bother with such things...
Troy
October 4 2005, 2:31PM
I swear I know her face from one of those Saturday morning cartoon shows. Ah ha! H. R. Puffenstuff, those rings under the eyes are unforgettable!
Andrew Caldwell
October 4 2005, 3:21PM
We're already getting red flags, boys and girls: in 1989 she answered a questionnaire where she seemed open to the idea of banning discrimination against gay men and lesbians, but supported keeping sodomy illegal. So we can keep our jobs and homes but the government can arrest us for fucking. Thanks, Harriet. As for Gay Marriage, how do we ask the opinion of the Pit Bull In Size Six Shoes who, uh, er, has never married?
Andrew in Seattle
Fratman1906
October 4 2005, 3:49PM
It the before/after photos are before going to Washington and after working in the White House for a while, what in the world will the Supreme Court do to her in a few years?
ltskinmdterp
October 4 2005, 4:03PM
I think that this Miers lady, Tammy Faye, and Katherine Harris all read the same makeup tip magazine. Good lord woman...lay off the eye liner.
Laura
October 4 2005, 9:30PM
"(FYI: If I were a woman, and if any of my friends were to describe me as a pit bull in size 6 shoes, they should expect to be smacked! Although, even back then, she STILL had the whole "Total Recall" outside-the-dome thing going on...)"
lol, more like Baby Jane Hudson...
http://anomalies-unlimited.com/Jackson/Bette.jpg
Jeff
October 4 2005, 11:53PM
As far as I'm concerned the jury is still out. SOMETHING is telling me she is a closeted lesbian who struggles with her own homosexuality, which may explain her answers to the questionaire. Never married, no kids, mixed signals. Sounds like a lot of closted gay MEN out there to me...Thoughts?
jaymillion
October 5 2005, 4:46AM
OK Keith, we all know Harriet is ugly. Why must you show the picture of her with the ghastly look on her face over and over?
This is sexist. You are coyly attacking this woman's looks. Man, you're getting dirtier and dirtier.
LR RIDDICK
October 5 2005, 8:31PM
Really even the thought of this nomination is a slap in the face to every JURIST who put in the time practicing as a Lawyer and taking the necessary steps to get on the BENCH. And damn if they had only known just being there made you qualified to sit on the highest court in the land. WOW, only in America.