This is one comparison I am really getting tired of:
The Obama Administration needs to recall that George W. Bush’s first nominee, Harriet Miers, was withdrawn after twenty-three days under not dissimilar circumstances: insufficient evidence in the nominee’s record to encourage his political base to become enthused about the nominee.
First off, John Roberts was actually Bush’s first nominee, but I just want to get the nitpicking out of the way.
Miers was not known at all when she was nominated. I remember that morning so well. There was a bipartisan reaction of “who is that” once Bush named her. Compare that to Kagan, who has been on the short list for over a year now. Even Republicans know her and have shown support for her. Miers had support from no one, not on the left or right.
And to even begin to compare the resumes of these two ladies is laughable. Kagan has a very distinguished career in academia, while Miers resume looks like that of someone who could never be happy at a job for longer than a couple of years.
But again, this all boils down to anti-Obama rhetoric. Obama could have appointed Robert Kennedy, jr. to the Supreme Court and the people at FDL would be upset and bashing Obama for it.
Adding…Would we much rather have John McCain as President and picking this justice? Look at his vetting process. It can all be summed up in two words – Sarah Palin. Enough said.