Monday, October 24, 2005

How does he amuse me?

Let me count the ways.

From Reuters:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush, citing confidentiality, said on Monday he would refuse to release documents showing what U.S. Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers recommended to him as a White House lawyer.

"That would breach very important confidentiality, and it's a red line I'm not willing to cross," Bush told reporters.


Not just any confidentiality, but very important confidentiality. Why is the line red? Is that a red state-blue state reference?


Senate Democrats and Republicans have sought White House documents related to Miers' work for Bush as they prepare for her confirmation hearing, set to begin on November 7.

At the start of a Cabinet meeting, Bush again praised his embattled nominee. Miers has come under fire from Democrats for once backing a constitutional amendment to ban abortion, and has been challenged by conservatives who see the appointment as cronyism and fear she may fail to move the Supreme Court to the right.

"Harriet Miers is a fine person, and I expect her to have a good, fair hearing," Bush said.
And remember, being a fine person is the most important qualification to sit on the highest court of the land for the rest of one's life. That's why Mr. Rogers was such an exceptional Supreme Court Justice.


Bush has refused to turn over the internal documents before, including many requested in the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

In this case, both Democrats and Republicans had asked for the additional information, arguing little is known about Miers, who was Bush's personal attorney in Texas and who has never served as a judge.

"Requests ... have been made by Democrats and Republicans about paperwork out of this White House that would make it impossible for me and other presidents to be able to make sound decisions," Bush said.

That would, of course, imply that he's ever been able to make sound decisions.

"People can learn about Harriet Miers through hearings, but we are not going to destroy this business about people being able to walk into the Oval Office and say, 'Mr. President, here's my advice to you. Here's what I think is important,"' he added.
'Mr. President, we need another couple billion dollars over at Halliburton. When are we going to invade Syria?'


Bush did not answer a question about a weekend report that the administration was preparing possible contingency plans to withdraw the Miers nomination.

A White House spokesman said earlier on Monday that Bush remained committed to the Miers' nomination. "Absolutely," said press secretary Scott McClellan.

No comments: