Whew! Did Harry Reid just put the kiss of death on the Miers nomination?

[Jane Austin]

While taking the wind out of the right-wing meme that we Dems will torpedo anybody Bush nominates because we hate Bush, Reid's comments about Miers (or at least the part I caught) were vague, general, and damned her with faint praise.

I mean "I haven't know her very long, but I've found her to be personable and genuine" is just not much of a recommendation for a Supreme Court candidate.

By that standard my husband, our houseguest from New Orleans, and each and every one of our Golden Retrievers would also be good candidates. :)

Meanwhile, having Reid introduce and endorse her so quickly will have freeper heads exploding all over the country.

Keep in mind that Reid's strong suit as Whip and Senate Democratic Leader was always said to be his skill at strategy.

I just couldn't help but remember this as I watched his almost comically weak endorsement of Miers.

Stay tuned.

[helderheid]

1. I had the same thought and posted a reply to a thread on Reid

glad I'm not the only one. :)

[Jane Austin]

3. I can't imagine any other explanation for such a swift, yet puny,

endorsement.

And Reid *is* very canny.

[wildflower]

70. Tough, too.

Did you hear him on Al Franken's show last week?

wildflower

[TheFarseer]

2. also, she's never killed anyone

and she's never been in the KKK or Neo-Nazis

[bunkerbuster1]

43. ...that we know of.

[libnnc]

4. and she's good at returning her phone calls...

glowing endorsement, that. ;-)

[JNelson6563]

67. yeah, I caught that

I thought Wow! If that doesn't qualify her....

Good goin' Harry, now the wingers hate her even more. :toast:

[cry baby]

I LOL when he said "well, she returns her phone calls quickly"

I knew then that he was just stirring the right wing pot. He also mentioned that she contributed to the Gore campaign.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

19. People seem to like me because I am polite and I am rarely late.

[yurbud]

22. someone else posted that in a thread on winger reaction

[cry baby]

I'm sure wingers are, to say the least, perplexed.

[crispini]

72. No, did he really say that!?

:rofl:

[blondeatlast]

5. Rope-a-dope/finesse is lost on many here. I'm glad to see others

recognize a masterful move.

We're all qualified to be SCOTUS. Reid just complemented the entire nation!

[understandinglife]

27. It is a display of 'rope-a-dope' at its finest. I've already had ...

... people walk into my office and call me on the phone and say the same thing -- 'gosh, i'm qualified to be a SC judge ...'

And, that is exactly what Senator Reid essentially just said to the entire Nation ....

Good to know that if you're nice and haven't mooned the pope or pooped in someone's salad or killed your grandmother you, too, can be a SC justice :evilgrin:


Peace.

[yurbud]

33. when you do rope a dope, aren't you supposed to throw at least one punch?

The Democrats are like a boxer with his eyes swollen shut, six broken ribs, thirty teeth knocked out and a punctured lung saying, "A little longer, and I'll have him right where I want him."

[Jane Austin]

50. "when you do rope a dope, aren't you supposed to throw at least one punch?

Nope, because then you'd give away your game.

[yurbud]

51. ah, you bite the other guys ankle while your on the floor...

or you make him look unsympathetic when they are wheeling you away to the morgue.

[Jane Austin]

53. Um, we're down 55-45 in the Senate.

We were already being wheeled to the morgue.

Reid's strategy is probably the most effective thing we can do at this point.

[yurbud]

64. at some point, you have to clue the public in on what you stand for

if anything.

I think on this one, you may be right, but superficially it looks a lot like the Dems tendency to roll over and play dead.

When I heard Reid and Schumer's comments on the radio, I was crestfallen. All I could think was, "These dickless fucks are betraying us AGAIN."

You've got to take some public stands if you want people to vote FOR you, not just against the corrupt, incompetent, and cruel loads in the White House.

[yurbud]

101. what will this strategy accomplish?

Will it stop her from getting on the bench?

No will it show voters what Senate Democrats stand for?

Or is the only thing they are worried about is right wing talk radio calling them obstructionist?

Who is this "strategy" supposed to impress?

You and the other cheerleaders for this roll over strategy have yet to say what it will accomplish.

[understandinglife]

88. Senator Reid did just that. To mix the metaphor, Bush gave a swat ..

... to the fundie/freeper hornet's nest, and Senator Reid, from a safe distance, then threw a rock at it, this morning....

I think he realizes the enormous potential of having precisely a deep insider to all-things evil in the Bush neoconster regime - and Miers is about as deep an insider as you can find - in open, televised to the public, hearings -- Plame, TANG, preemptive war, ... lots and lots to press in questioning her. Let her squirm, let her proclaim 'attorney client privilege,' let her spin, ....

If the Dems on that committee do their job robustly, given that by the time they're quizzing her Fitzgerald and the GJ may well be in full indictment phase, it could be an amazing expose for an American public that already has a very low regard for Bush and his neoconster thugs.


Peace.

[politicat]

99. Oh, you're giving credit I don't think the Senate Dems deserve...

If the Dems on that committee do their job robustly,

That's a rather big if, especially considering the lackluster ability of my Senator, one Ken Salazar.

Not to mention they need to stop talking when they ask questions and just ask the friggin' question. They waste time blathering.

[AllegroRondo]

77. Darn, then I'm out.

"Good to know that if you're nice and haven't mooned the pope or pooped in someone's salad or killed your grandmother you, too, can be a SC justice "

Well, that means I'm out. Too bad, the black robes make me look thinner.

[comsymp]

63. OK, so what, exactly, is the rope-a-dope / masterful move?

Because you're right - it's most definitely lost on me.

The Dem Leader just essentially guaranteed her passage with those comments, barring one hell of a smoking gun... which means mediocrity on the Bench, at best - and another possible stealth wingnut, at worst.

And call me cynical, but I can't believe that Little Boots has known her all these years and doesn't have a strong sense of her judicial views, although I do wonder if she wasn't named out of a more short-sighted concern about upcoming legal troubles for the WH - just a replacement member in the Scalia 5.

[Binka]

84. He Guaranteed Nothing....Ever Played Chess?

This is just the opening move or SALVO. Of course Bush knows what she is all about...do you not think Reid hasn't studied this?

I would love to play poker with you. Fish in a barrel.

[comsymp]

86. Yup, and I never sacrifice my queen as an opening move. So, the

question stands. What's this grand master plan?

The MINORITY LEADER has just stated that she seems okay to him.

This ill-advised comment has just kneecapped any other Dem who voices objections *or concerns* without being damn skippy sure he has the facts to back 'em up.

The Talking Heads can now bring said Dems on their shows and (while controlling the time / editing) say, "OK, Senator - your leader says she's fine - what's your problem?"

Every R (and R apologist) can do the same thing - on the radio, on the Senate floor, anywhere everywhere they go.

She will go through the confirmation hearings without having to answer a single question (precedent established) and on to the Floor.

Where's the "gotcha"?


/love poker. bring money.

[Binka]

90. Did You Check The Qualifiers?

His words are a bit different from a chess move. That is an absolute. He said what he did but now we have a new ball game because we can talk about the particulars/ qualifiers. And we can talk about them because Bush and his poll numbers are in the shitter.

Prior to this NO ONE could fucking question the fucking little Hitler now we can. Reid is jumping on this opportunity. This guy has been taking shit on for the last year and a half do you think he is really going to take his dick out and stomp on it?

He sees a window of opportunity and he is going to fucking make them pay for their stupidity. If you love poker you would know that NOW is the time to fucking kick your God Damn enemy and take all of his cash.

[comsymp]

92. And what do you base ANY of this on?

His words are, unfortunately an absolute, as well... or will be spun as such. He's the friggin' DEM LEADER. The DEM LEADER just said that Miers seems OK to him. Barring something truly horrendous coming to light, his comments have just taken the filibuster off the table and put pressure on the few Dems who can usually be counted on to challenge the Maladministration.

Yes, Little Boots' numbers *do* make him more vulnerable than he has ever been. Problem is, though, that it doesn't matter. It has been established that the POTUS can nominate whoever the hell he wants and, barring a spectacularly unpleasant development (dead girl, live boy... or vice versa - although in this case a live girl might actually work to his advantage), he is *entitled* to his pick.

The worst that can happen to the bushies is that they may take a few punches. In the short term, RWNs may be a little torqued, but Miers will be seated. For life.

There have been numerous comments similar to your statement that Reid is going to make 'em pay, but I still haven't heard how you think he's going to do it.

One last thing - as for your last sentence above - "NOW is the time..." - sounds great... as long as you have a damn good hand to play, yourself, because the R's are accustomed to calling the D's bluffs.


edited for clarity

[NancyG]

85. But wouldn't she have to recuse herself

if something involving * himself came before the SC?

[comsymp]

87. No, not HAVE to...

Any more than Scalia or Thomas had to recuse during Bush v Gore.

[mzmolly]

66. Good point. And Reid WAS a boxer.

:hi:

Reid is also quite a strategist, and certainly NOT a Republican dishrag.

[FreedomAngel82]

68. I hope he knows what he's doing

I think the biggest slam publically is she donated money to Gore. This makes me wonder though why Bush nominated her. I'm so confused.

[tx_dem41]

6. Congratulations for "getting it".

Unlike some of the other ship-jumpers. Your post is appreciated.

[Jane Austin]

12. Thanks tx_dem!

I'm a TX Dem, too. :)

[blondeatlast]

7. She disposes of her nail trimmings hygienically as well nt

[Pirate Smile]

16. She even trims her toe nails too.

[KatmanSD]

8. Bible thumper

Miers is a fucking bible thumper, she believe in the bible word for word as the literal word of god.

[mattclearing]

18. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[blondeatlast]

26. Citations? Linky-poo? Welcome to DU. nt

[Greyhound]

9. Can we nominate you Golden Retrievers? I think the dogs would do a

wonderful job as SCJ. At this point, I'd vote for a dog over any candidates for political office.

[Jane Austin]

20. Heck yeah!

Well, all except Rascal. He's just silly.

And Poppy. At 14, she's a little deaf and would be a lot like having Emily Latela on the court. :)

[indypaul]

55. Dogs not qualified to hold public office

too much understanding of the word "loyalty"

[helderheid]

10. recommended

:thumbsup:

[Jane Austin]

13. Thank Yew!

n/t

[tinfoilinfor2005]

11. I'm thrilled with his choice, and want the freepers who are lurking

to know that.

Couldn't have picked a finer person, certainly fits in with our agenda over here at DU. Fine fine woman. Heard she gave generous donations to Gore's campaign, and maybe a few other dems as well. And rumor has it that she might be gay, so that looks promising. Yes, very good choice. :)

[yurbud]

28. Yes, and I am happy our glorious leader is going to nuke Iran

instead of killing the people one at a time.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

40. That's the spirit!

[yurbud]

41. let's really pull one over on Bush and jump in the oven BEFORE he shoves

us in.

We can call ourselves the Brick Oven Democrats.

[magnolia]

14. That's exactly....

...what I said over at the thread where they are raking him over the coals.

They will go through the whole process before they vote. But...in the meantime...for dems to look pleased with her is the freepers worst nightmare.

[FreedomAngel82]

73. Rhandi Rhodes made a good point about this

The reason why Bush is nominating someone now is to take the focus off of Valerie Wilson, Bill Frist, Tom DeLay, Abrahm and all the rest of the cronyism. Rhodes is playing a clip of Scotty talking about this judge and when he speaks about her "credentials" it's like he's having such a hard time talking about it (like he's choking or something). Very weird.
Especially when he talked about women. :eyes:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

15. Thanks Jane

It's good to see another DUer with their thinking cap on instead of their feeling one.

[Jane Austin]

21. Blush.

n/t

[Inland]

17. Reid understands that a big plus for any nominee is "dems hate her"

bush's base, after all, is a) right wing chrisitians and 2) haters and selfish people who would rather send the country down the tubes than be on the same side as the dems/libs/gays/atheists/easterners/elites/you name it.

[Stand and Fight]

23. Senator Reid never disappoints.

This is one hell of a game of Rope-A-Dope -- just go over to FR and read as their heads are exploding. Fools.

[no name no slogan]

24. Good point, but a minor nitpick

I believe the word is "strategery".

[Jane Austin]

38. I came "this close" to writing it that way. :)

n/t

[jim3775]

25. Yes, it's all strategy and I think Reid is doing a great job playing...

...the game. Some people here are overly-emotional (and they cartainly have a right to be) but they don't see the forest for the trees.

The fact the Reid is tacitly supporting her will make the radical right go into meltdown and spring into action.

[texpatriot2004]

29. And it's already working too. "Conservative" groups are pissed.

Give 'em hell Harry.

www.giveemhellharry.com

[yurbud]

37. they weren't happy about her before according to David Frum

he wrote criticizing her as a candidate before Bush picked her.

You could actually sell the crony angle to the right--Bush is putting cronyism and covering his ass ahead of even their agenda.

[MrBenchley]

30. I know what you mean...

If I was Harry Reid I'd be dancing for joy....the incompetent pResident who is currently under fire for picking unqualifed cronies for important jobs picked an unqualified crony for an important job...and about the only thing she's done in her career is help the corrupt drunk cover up a bunch of his scandals in the past.

[helderheid]

31. :)

[yurbud]

32. subtlty of this level is lost on most people and therefore is ineffective

She will be confirmed pretty much no matter what.

The Democrats would be better served by taking a clear stand against this kind of cronyism and ass-covering by Bush.

[gkhouston]

42. and what's to stop them from doing that at the hearings?

this was a great initial salvo. Go, Reid!

[yurbud]

46. I hope you are right

[librechik]

34. Reverse Psychology? Why didn't we think of that before???!!

Why...

I think Miers will make a GREAT Supreme Court Justice!

I count on her to uphold the legality of Roe v Wade, just like Roberts promised he would!

Liberals ought to welcome her!

[FreedomAngel82]

75. Maybe Reid is trying to show

what Rhandi is talking about. How anyone who is a loyalist to Bush and who you know gets you a job instead of actual qualifications. Maybe this will wake people up about Bush and how he is doing. :shrug: It could be very well reverse psychology. And I think Reid mentioned about her donating to Gore is interesting since she was his (Bush) personal lawyer. :shrug:

[Beelzebud]

35. I hope you're all right, and I'm wrong. Honestly.

But to me this just looks like another BS deal from our "leadership".

She'll be sitting on the supreme court, and Reid will be the minority leader that endorsed her.

And once again, we'll be left with another hollow "victory", where the American people lose.

Sorry if I can't seem to find the cause to celebrate...

[Jane Austin]

44. And you think slamming her would have done - - what?

In point of fact, his weak, weak, weak praise of her did slam her - - but without laying him open to those very effective Republican TV ads that say we Dems are just obstructionists?

This is the only effective thing he could have done, and he is brave for going ahead and doing it.

[Beelzebud]

48. Silence is golden.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

36. Yes!! He brilliantly rolled over and kissed Bush's ass.

What a devastating blow! Right up there with Chamberlain's equally brilliant reliance on "smart politics" at Munich.

Score another great Victory for the DLC!

[Jane Austin]

47. Well, it might have made you and me feel better if Reid had blasted her,

but I'm so old now, I can admire good strateg(er)y over being thrilled at someone's words.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

57. And, the "strategy" is to put her in her seat on SCOTUS.

And, yes, it would have made me feel good to see the "leader" of the "opposition" party actually oppose.

[Beelzebud]

60. You're not alone. I see strategery, but no strategy.

She'll be on the SCOTUS, and Reid will be the democrat that praised her nomiation.

Anyone remember what happened to Tom Dashcle?

[Jane Austin]

61. I just think "feeling good" at the expense of actually trying to affect

the course of this nomination isn't a very good idea.

[comsymp]

74. But that's just it - he DID affect the course of the nomination

He just gave her his blessing, weakly worded or not. Barring a MAJOR development, she's in. As I said upthread, mediocre at best, a stealth wingnut at worst.

[FreedomAngel82]

78. I'm willing to wait and see what happens

Then I'd be disappointed or not.

[yurbud]

39. One thing for Bush, he has a stellar record on appointing gays

they're just all in the closet like Mehlman, Karl, Scottie...

and now Melting Harriet.

[Radio_Lady]

56. Do you know enough about Harriet to say definitively she is a lesbian?

Where are your sources?

What does "Melting" mean?

Please explain...

Thanks.

[yurbud]

76. I'm kidding. I only slept with her once, and I'm a guy.

[yurbud]

45. Clinton did something similar with Baby Bush at opening of his library

He praised Bush first for phone solicitor do not call list, no child left behind, the bullhorn after 9/11--and that was it.

[FreedomAngel82]

79. The call list is a joke though and so is NCLB

Not long ago my local news did an investigation on the no call list and found out that companies actually sell the list to other companies and that's how they get your number. Your better off just ignoring the calls and getting a caller ID.

[yurbud]

96. I just liked the damning with very faint praise

[Jane Austin]

49. Hoo Haa!! He called her a Trial Lawyer!

I just saw another part of Reid's statement.

He called her a trial lawyer, not once, but twice, and said that's what he is.

"Trial Lawyer" is a hot-button term for right-wingers, and not in a good way.

Dog, that's funny!

[yurbud]

54. that is a good one. It's too bad he didn't say it's time for a lesbian on

the Supreme Court.

"Let me just say, we are gratified to see President Bush nominate a pro-choice, anti-war goddess-worshipping, evolution-believing lesbian who owns three Che tee shirts and gave her mom Fahrenheit 9/11 on DVD for Christmas."

[Jane Austin]

59. But you see, it's important that he be accurate.

She *is* a trial lawyer, and the right can't nail him on trashing her.

[yurbud]

62. I was kidding. Sort of.

[FreedomAngel82]

81. Yep

Remember how they all claimed to hate trial lawyers? Maybe Reid is making it to where all the republicans will not like her because of that and encourage their republican reps to vote against her and then they won't get her on and hopefully Fitzgerald will have his case finished up and Bush can be gone!

[libnnc]

83. yes indeeedy-doodie

Harry knows what he's doing. This will make the freeptards cannibalize each other.

[comsymp]

94. Shame he didn't include that in his published statement.

No mention of "trial lawyer", whatsoever... although "trailblazer" certainly stands out:


I like Harriet Miers. As White House Counsel, she has worked with me in a courteous and professional manner. I am also impressed with the fact that she was a trailblazer for women as managing partner of a major Dallas law firm and as the first woman president of the Texas Bar Association.


“In my view, the Supreme Court would benefit from the addition of a justice who has real experience as a practicing lawyer. The current justices have all been chosen from the lower federal courts. A nominee with relevant non-judicial experience would bring a different and useful perspective to the Court.


“I look forward to the Judiciary Committee process which will help the American people learn more about Harriet Miers, and help the Senate determine whether she deserves a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court.”
http://reid.senate.gov/record2.cfm?id=246777

[Peace Patriot]

52. janeaustin, I laughed out loud at your post! Very funny!

(Surely you weren't serious about "stay tuned.")

[Jane Austin]

58. Go watch Reid's endorsement again.

In seeing it again, my only fear is that his strategy is too obvious.

[FreedomAngel82]

82. Is it obvious to people who don't follow politics?

To your avearge person who just watches the pundit shows? I think that's who he is going for. People who like Limbaugh and his ilk.

[Peace Patriot]

65. P.S. The only thing we can do about this (as about Roberts or anything

else) is to regain the sovereignty of the people of this country through transparent elections, and then...

a) elect a Congress who will change the number of justices, to outvote the appointments of this illegitimate regime; b) invalidate Bush's appointments, or impeach them; c) amend the Constitution to term-limit justices, or make them electable not appointed, and eliminate the current court. (...off the top of my head, contingent upon our being able to restore our right to vote.)

See my post (#96) at:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4956021

[smoogatz]

69. How do your Goldens feel about the right to privacy?

nt

[Jane Austin]

71. "How do your Goldens feel about the right to privacy?"

Unfortunately, they have NO RESPECT FOR PRIVACY. I mean, they follow us into the bathroom, wedge themselves between us in bed, burst through any door that's not securely closed, and play "Look-Over-There-while-I-Grab-A-French-Fry-Off-Your-Plate" every time we eat.

On the other hand, they wouldn't dream of telling anybody else how to live, so I imagine they'd be OK on the legal issues of Privacy. :)

[libnnc]

80. self delete

point made upthread

[Festivito]

89. Answers phone comment reminiscent of CON phone jamming?

CNN is summarizing his comments as "POSTIVE."

I hope this does not backfire.

[endarkenment]

91. Tried and true Democratic get along and go along strategy.

11 going on 12 years of defeat and retreat. Brilliant.

[sandyd921]

93. All I can say is "I'll have to see it to believe it"

However, I fervently hope that folks on this thread are right about this.

[DanCa]

95. Reids a boxer remember he's sizing up his enemey

He's playing marquis de queensberry and not going for the knock out blow. Size up your enenmy psych out your opposition build up your points and than take them out with a rock hard body blow in the 12th

[yurbud]

98. hope you're right

[yurbud]

97. ***Harry Reid's comments on CNN cut out TRIAL LAWYER

I hardly ever watch TV news, but I have family visiting so I watched CNN.

They played the clip of Harry Reid introducing her, but just the part between the times he said "trial lawyer" so it looked like he was just saying, "she's my kind of person."

I think there was some merit to the attempt to massage right wing fears about her rather than oppose her plainly, but this shows how it can backfire...

OK...now you can kill me (metaphorically, not literally Karl)

[tenshi816]

100. I don't see why I can't have a shot at being

a Supreme Court justice. I'm pretty nice, plus I can hold my liquor and I'm a good cook, and I'm much better at applying eyeliner than Harriet Miers. Since that whole pesky not-having-ever-been-a-judge thing obviously isn't an issue, I'd like a good-paying job for life too.