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The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

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You are here: Home / Politics / Pure Bullshit

Pure Bullshit

by John Cole|  October 12, 200511:00 am| 78 Comments

This post is in: Politics, Republican Stupidity, General Stupidity

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This is the weakest of the Miers spin that I have seen yet:

Dobson discussing his conversation with Karl Rove:

“But we also talked about something else, and I think this is the first time this has been disclosed. Some of the other candidates who had been on that short list, and that many conservatives are now upset about were highly qualified individuals that had been passed over. Well, what Karl told me is that some of those individuals took themselves off that list and they would not allow their names to be considered, because the process has become so vicious and so vitriolic and so bitter, that they didn’t want to subject themselves or the members of their families to it.

So, even today, many conservatives and many of friends of mine, are being interviewed on talk shows and national television programs. And they’re saying, “Why didn’t the President appoint so-and-so? He or she would have been great. They had a wonderful judicial record. They would have been the kind of person we’ve been hoping and working and praying for to be on the Court. Well, it very well may be that those individuals didn’t want to be appointed.”

Bullshit. Let me be clear. Complete bullshit.

I have no doubt there may have been one or two individuals who removed their names because personal/professional transgressions may have surfaced in the vetting process.

I have no doubt there may have been one or two individuals who, due to personal preferences and a desire to avoid a confirmation fight, may have removed their names.

But if Dobson, Rove, and the White House want me to believe that the entirety of the legal minds who have been groomed for the past thirty years for this moment, studying, taking the clerkships, doing the time on lower courts, in other words, preparing for this very nomination, if these guys want me to believe that at the crucial moment the shining stars of the movement all chickened out at the prospect of being grilled by a number of friendly GOP Senators and a largely incompetent media, I am not buying it. And because all these folks opted out, it was left to the “pit bull in heels” to pick up the slack and do the tough work (and oh, btw, she just so happens to be a Bush crony with no paper trail and no record other than a religious and political conversion in the 80’s), I call bullshit.

This White House simply never wanted a serious candidate- they wanted someone who could be ‘confirmed’ easily.

Again, I say bullshit. Or I officially declare this so-called ‘conservative’ movement to be dead. Someone call the Kossacks, because it is time for the Rapture, and it ain’t what Dobson thought it was.

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78Comments

  1. 1.

    Shygetz

    October 12, 2005 at 11:04 am

    Wow, who would have thought that all of the brightest conservative justices would have had so many skeletons in their closet? Because Dobson must be telling the truth; he is a man of God, after all. And the GOP is God’s Own Party, right? Right?

  2. 2.

    jobiuspublius

    October 12, 2005 at 11:05 am

    if these guys want me to believe that at the crucial moment the shining stars of the movement all chickened out at the prospect of being grilled by a number of friendly GOP Senators and a largely incompetent media

    LOL. Maybe they couldn’t stomach being lectured by Sessions and ilk, to be degraded like that, ouch.

  3. 3.

    Marcus Wellby

    October 12, 2005 at 11:08 am

    John, with all due respect I don’t think Dobson’s comment is meant to fool you. It is to give the talking heads something to say on the various cable news and talk radio shows. It is not meant to fool you, but the easily fooled.

    And, after repeating for days and weeks, even the less gullible will soon believe it to be true.

    Laura’s sexism trial balloon didn’t fly, this is Plan B.

  4. 4.

    SomeCallMeTim

    October 12, 2005 at 11:15 am

    Or I officially declare this so-called ‘conservative’ movement to be dead.

    Which means what? That when you pull the lever for the Republicans in ’06 and ’08, you won’t be happy about it? That you’ll be pouting and stamping your feet as you do it? After five years of absolutely no demands for accountability by its supporters, don’t you think the WH has good reason to expect its people to STFU and do what it tells them?

  5. 5.

    DougJ

    October 12, 2005 at 11:15 am

    Bullshit??? After the way the press tore John Roberts apart, you’d have to be crazy to want a nomination like this.

  6. 6.

    feral1

    October 12, 2005 at 11:17 am

    Come on over John, the water’s warm and the company is much better. We can use the commentary from cranky old guys to keep us honest and you won’t have to be ashamed that your friends are crooks, liars, and over the top nutjobs.

  7. 7.

    Mr Furious

    October 12, 2005 at 11:21 am

    I just read that shit over at Kos. And “BULLSHIT!” was the wrod that pooped right into my head too.

    Yeah, all the most qualified judicial minds in the country looked at the highest post they could ever attain, the thing they might have dreamed about all their lives and said, “No thinks.”

    In this climate of hand-holding by Republicans, and relative rolling-over on tough questions from Democrats, they thought “I’d better not go through that not so grueling week of making sure I don’t suck on my tie in front of the Senate before I get my lifetime appointment rubber-stamped—that’s tooo much to go through.”

    How fucking stupid do they think people are? I know some people are realllly stupid, and that they mark that up a good twenty percent, but this is flat out preposterous.

    The White House is a fucking joke, and Dobson just hung his name on the door too. Good.

  8. 8.

    Mr Furious

    October 12, 2005 at 11:21 am

    I just read that shit over at Kos. And “BULLSHIT!” was the word that popped right into my head too.

    Yeah, all the most qualified judicial minds in the country looked at the highest post they could ever attain, the thing they might have dreamed about all their lives and said, “No thinks.”

    In this climate of hand-holding by Republicans, and relative rolling-over on tough questions from Democrats, they thought “I’d better not go through that not so grueling week of making sure I don’t suck on my tie in front of the Senate before I get my lifetime appointment rubber-stamped—that’s tooo much to go through.”

    How fucking stupid do they think people are? I know some people are realllly stupid, and that they mark that up a good twenty percent, but this is flat out preposterous.

    The White House is a fucking joke, and Dobson just hung his name on the door too. Good.

  9. 9.

    Krista

    October 12, 2005 at 11:22 am

    I think it’s bullshit too. Any judge with any amount of balls (or ovaries) knows that it’s not an easy job. How many of them get death threats against them or their families because of a ruling that they made?

    Name-calling, and having your qualifications questioned? That’s a walk in the park, and nothing that any practicing lawyer or judge should not already be well accustomed to.

  10. 10.

    Mr Furious

    October 12, 2005 at 11:23 am

    Yikes. I got an error and then realized I had tons of embarrassing typos in there.

    “Phew, I can fix ‘pooped right into my head…’ ”

    Oh well.

  11. 11.

    Mike

    October 12, 2005 at 11:24 am

    Best conservative blog on the web. Thanks, John.

  12. 12.

    Doug

    October 12, 2005 at 11:27 am

    Wait a second. We’re being lied to? I’m shocked, shocked! Maybe the UN can send Hans Blix in to search for all of the conservatives who begged off a Supreme Court nomination because of the mean ol’ Democrats

  13. 13.

    Vladi G

    October 12, 2005 at 11:35 am

    if these guys want me to believe that at the crucial moment the shining stars of the movement all chickened out at the prospect of being grilled by a number of friendly GOP Senators and a largely incompetent media, I am not buying it.

    John, they don’t want you to believe it. They know you won’t believe it. They want the mutlitude of morons on the far Christian right to believe it. And they will, because all the morons need is a shred of plausibility around which they shape their beliefs on the subject. This argument wasn’t for your consumption. It was meant for Dobson to and Rove to pacify their base.

    Note, I’m not calling all christians idiots.

  14. 14.

    slide

    October 12, 2005 at 11:43 am

    Dems just gotta love this internecine battle on the right. Brit Hume on the Sunday Fox show first brought up this issue of some other candidates not being suitable, that they were found out to be too “activist” etc. Kristol blew a gasket, saying that now the White House (through surrogate Hume) is going to smear the good conservative Judges that were overlooked. I just love it when Hume (who has got to be the biggest bush ass kisser of all time) gets into it with true conservatives like Kristol. Hume was also the one that followed the “talking points” of the RNC and discussed on his show the elitist attacks on Miers.

    But the great thing is that for Bush to get his nomination through he is going to have to attack the conservatives and their arguments for opposing Miers. Oh, i just fucking love it.

  15. 15.

    scs

    October 12, 2005 at 11:50 am

    Hey it doesn’t sound so implausible to me. But maybe I’m just one of those stupid people you were all talking about. How many people want to be appointed to a stressful, in the middle of all the culture wars, LIFETIME appointment, where any weirdness you engage in will be reported on, just as you are winding down your already long stressful career as a judge and heading towards a peaceful retirement at your vacation house? In fact, I was just thinking about that, before I heard this report. I was thinking to myself,’who the heck would want to be on the Supreme Court anyway?’. In fact, I am not surprised at all to see this.

  16. 16.

    Vladi G

    October 12, 2005 at 11:54 am

    But maybe I’m just one of those stupid people you were all talking about.

    Sound like it. Unless you’re being facetious.

    where any weirdness you engage in will be reported on

    Yeah, because the tabloids are just filled with stories about the wild exploits of Supreme Court justices. (once again, if I’m missing the sarcasm, ignore that).

  17. 17.

    Vladi G

    October 12, 2005 at 11:55 am

    Sound like it

    Ugh. Sounds

  18. 18.

    Mr Furious

    October 12, 2005 at 11:58 am

    See! It happened to Vladi, too! It’s the site…

  19. 19.

    Lines

    October 12, 2005 at 11:59 am

    Perhaps people that love their legal system? People that love their country, people that love to serve?

    How about just plain people that love power but havn’t stepped over ethics and laws to gain that power?

    There are plenty of Judges that would be all atwitter over an appointment like this, that could stand up to the vetting process and come out smelling like a rose.

    If you are right, scs, that just makes Miers look more like a moron/crony appointment.

  20. 20.

    Gratefulcub

    October 12, 2005 at 12:10 pm

    I don’t think it was meant to fool anyone. Dobson HAD to say something, because he opened his mouth and got called on it. Republicans were telling reporters that he was going to be brought in front of the senate during confirmation. He had to have a story that could explain his ‘inside information.’ This is the best lie they could create. But it will be debated instead of called Bullshit.

  21. 21.

    scs

    October 12, 2005 at 12:12 pm

    Yeah, because the tabloids are just filled with stories about the wild exploits of Supreme Court justices.

    Well true, they aren’t, but the POTENTIAL, for any potential nominee is there, and I’m sure anyone with even a small skeleton in their closet, or their children’s closet, has that on their mind.

    There are plenty of Judges that would be all atwitter over an appointment like this

    I don’t know, maybe. Someone should do a survey on judges for this, as I think it could go either way in terms of percentages. Some judges probably think that they already DID serve their country by the time they hit 60 and are deserving of peace and quiet by that point. And this has nothing to do with what I think about Miers, by the way, it’s just what I had already wondered.

  22. 22.

    Dan Spartan

    October 12, 2005 at 12:15 pm

    It’s the same reason that people strive for the top jobs in their profession. The Supreme Court Justice is the top rung.

    Why do asst. Coaches want to be head coaches even though they are subject to endless rants of the fans? Why do politicans want to be President? Why do people want jobs that offer upward advancement even if it means more work and/or scrunity?

    Same thing here. The justices,clerks,etc…,for the most part, get into the profession with the hope to make it to the highest court in the land. I just can’t believe that of all the qualified justices, they ALL decided they didn’t want to go through the vetting process.

    Of course, I’m a Democrat so I’m enjoying this. :)

  23. 23.

    Sojourner

    October 12, 2005 at 12:16 pm

    People who want to shape the law in the most profound way possible.

    People who want to make their mark on legal history.

    But I’m sure that folks like Michael McConnell are way too scared of the Senate to seek such an exalted position. In contrast to a great thinker like Harriet Miers.

    Yeh, that’s it. That’s the explanation. Right? Right?

  24. 24.

    Andrei

    October 12, 2005 at 12:22 pm

    I don’t know, maybe

    You don’t know? Maybe?

    How many people live in this country scs? Of that number, how many judges and lawyers do we have? You think that not even 1% of that number, somewhere easily in the thousands, maybe tens of thousands, wants this job?

    Not a single one? None? Zilch? Zippo?

    Go back to sleep. We don’t need another Darrell.

  25. 25.

    Another Jeff

    October 12, 2005 at 12:24 pm

    Yeah, because the tabloids are just filled with stories about the wild exploits of Supreme Court justices.

    Well, that one Supreme Court justice in “The Pelican Brief” liked hitting porn theatres.

  26. 26.

    M. Scott Eiland

    October 12, 2005 at 12:25 pm

    It isn’t just the Republican senators and the media–it’s whatever the interest group slime machine can come up with. Remember the NYT digging into the adoption records of Roberts’ kids? Remember how when Clarence Thomas was nominated fourteen years ago the interest groups were calling virtually every lefty in existence for anything to use against him (Juan Williams wrote about it at the time, so it isn’t just hyperbole)? Add the existence of the Internet, the memory of how Miguel Estrada was treated by the Senate, and the very real possibility that a candidate perceived to be against Roe will be consigned to defeat by GOP pro-choicers after having gone through that hell, and yes, I do find it credible that a lot of candidates would say “no thanks” to being nominated at this time. The amazing thing is that this sort of thing hasn’t been a problem before.

  27. 27.

    Hippie Doug J

    October 12, 2005 at 12:26 pm

    Which means what? That when you pull the lever for the Republicans in ‘06 and ‘08, you won’t be happy about it?

    There is no way in hell John and other so called conservatives will even answer this question.

    :crickets:

  28. 28.

    scs

    October 12, 2005 at 12:39 pm

    Not a single one? None? Zilch? Zippo?

    Andrei, you need to take a refresher course on fractions and percentages. I never said none, man. I said I think the percentage might not be as high as people think, in other words, less than a 100%. There are a lot of numbers between 100% and Zippo%, but maybe you didn’t get to the percentage class yet in school. I’ll start you out, 99, 98, 97 ….

  29. 29.

    Defense Guy

    October 12, 2005 at 12:40 pm

    Which means what? That when you pull the lever for the Republicans in ‘06 and ‘08, you won’t be happy about it?

    There is no way in hell John and other so called conservatives will even answer this question.

    Why in the hell would it be answered when the candidates aren’t even in play yet. Do you think it’s a good idea to vote straight party ticket for either party?

  30. 30.

    Vladi G

    October 12, 2005 at 12:41 pm

    Well true, they aren’t, but the POTENTIAL, for any potential nominee is there, and I’m sure anyone with even a small skeleton in their closet, or their children’s closet, has that on their mind.

    Are you serious? One publication thought about maybe looking into to seeing if there was anything weird adopting Irish kids from Central America. They were villified for doing nothing wrong, yet you think such a “skeleton” will keep people off the court. You’re either joking, or a total freaking nutcase.

  31. 31.

    Veeshir

    October 12, 2005 at 12:42 pm

    Which means what? That when you pull the lever for the Republicans in ‘06 and ‘08, you won’t be happy about it?

    Yes, because the other option is just too unpalatable to contemplate.
    I would rather take pseudo-conservatives to far-left moonbats any day.

    On an unrelated topic, I hear Al Gore is thinking of running for president. I just can’t wait until the next presidential campaign season.
    Al Gore
    John Kerry
    John Edwards
    Al Sharpton
    Hillary Clinton
    Who else?
    Who cares? It’s going to be comedy gold.

  32. 32.

    scs

    October 12, 2005 at 12:44 pm

    Are you serious? One publication thought about maybe looking into to seeing if there was anything weird adopting Irish kids from Central America. They were villified for doing nothing wrong, yet you think such a “skeleton” will keep people off the court. You’re either joking, or a total freaking nutcase.

    What the hell are you talking about?

  33. 33.

    Vladi G

    October 12, 2005 at 12:46 pm

    a small skeleton in their closet,

    or their children’s closet

    I assumed you were referring to Roberts with the children comment.

    Can you show a precedent of any nominee blocked or withdrawn due to skeletons? I can think of one, Ginsburg, and having smoked pot would probably not be enough tokeep anyone off the court these days. I mean hell, you can be a coke snorter and a drunk and still be President these days.

  34. 34.

    scs

    October 12, 2005 at 12:53 pm

    Can you show a precedent of any nominee blocked or withdrawn due to skeletons?

    As you can see, I said a nominee may have it “on their MIND”. You have to learn to read nuances here. I didn’t say that it had to actually happen. I think it’s just human nature to want to lead as private of a life as possible, and I’m just THEORIZING here, that IF a nominee DID have some skeletons, s/he would be hesitant to sign up. But call me a nutcase for making the statement.

  35. 35.

    Darrell

    October 12, 2005 at 12:53 pm

    It is a sad state of affairs when James Dobson, a man so full of the holy spirit that he thinks Mighty Mouse actually promotes cocaine abuse.. when a nimrod like Dobson is your point man, you know things aren’t looking good

  36. 36.

    Krista

    October 12, 2005 at 12:56 pm

    Well, what Karl told me is that some of those individuals took themselves off that list and they would not allow their names to be considered, because the process has become so vicious and so vitriolic and so bitter, that they didn’t want to subject themselves or the members of their families to it.

    Even, just to give the benefit of the doubt, if some of the candidates DID take their name off the short list — how many were left, and what were their qualifications, and how on earth did Miers rise to the top of that heap? Do they really expect us to believe that she was the best of the lot? There’s a lot of talk of the “dumbing-down” of America…but America’s not THAT dumb.

  37. 37.

    scs

    October 12, 2005 at 12:57 pm

    Besides Vladi, I will refer you above to what M. Scott Eiland said. And to add to that I also believe I remember the nanny-gate scandals with Clinton (was her name Kimberly Wood or something)? There have been plenty of examples of skeletons coming out. Public hair on a Coke can anyone?

  38. 38.

    Steve S

    October 12, 2005 at 12:57 pm

    Upperdown. Just give her an upperdown vote.

    What’s with all this obstructionism!? The Senate ought to confirm Meirs without thought. That’s their job. They’re not allowed to ask questions of the nominee and determine if she’s actually qualified. The Constitution says nothing about that.

    Abide by the Constitution, vote upperdown!

  39. 39.

    Darrell

    October 12, 2005 at 1:07 pm

    Why is Dobson even on the stage to begin with!? He is a certified loon. You know you’re f—ed when Harry Reid, Pat Leahy, and James Dobson are your main defenders. Sad and pathetic.

  40. 40.

    Lines

    October 12, 2005 at 1:16 pm

    Just to formally introduce the ending of this thread:

    Hitler!

  41. 41.

    Steve S

    October 12, 2005 at 1:20 pm

    Don’t you worry none about Miers… She’s got the right religion, and after all that’s the most important qualification for a Justice.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9673338/

  42. 42.

    DougJ

    October 12, 2005 at 1:21 pm

    He is a certified loon.

    Why you hate Jesus Christ, Darrell? Don’t you know that he died for us?

  43. 43.

    ppGaz

    October 12, 2005 at 1:27 pm

    I think you nailed it, John.

  44. 44.

    ppGaz

    October 12, 2005 at 1:28 pm

    You know you’re f—-ed when Harry Reid, Pat Leahy, and James Dobson are your main defenders.

    Then you’re fucked. Your goverment doesn’t fart without checking with James Dobson. What do you suppose all this agita over this potatohead government is about, Darrell?

    Hellooooo?

  45. 45.

    Lines

    October 12, 2005 at 1:30 pm

    Why do you guys keep arguing in a thread that has been queered by Darrell? Don’t you know its pointless?

    Maybe the better reason is why do I keep reading it?

  46. 46.

    demimondian

    October 12, 2005 at 1:36 pm

    Maybe the better reason is why do I keep reading it?

    I’ll bet you slow down to rubberneck at car wrecks, too.

  47. 47.

    Andrei

    October 12, 2005 at 1:37 pm

    I said I think the percentage might not be as high as people think, in other words, less than a 100%.

    That was a joke right? I’ll give you credit for Darrell Logic points on that one.

    Someone said:

    There are plenty of Judges that would be all atwitter over an appointment like this…

    To which you said:

    I don’t know, maybe.

    Ok Mr. Math… define “plenty”. And according to our Department of Labor stats, combined there are some 700,000 lawyers and judges in this country. If we claim only 1% of that pool even bother considering dealing with the spotlight of becoming a supreme court judge, we get 7,000 candidates.

    If we only consider judges, we have a pool of some 51,000, giving us 510 candidates if only 1% would even consider trying for the job.

    And that’s worse case scenario of people not wanting the top job in their field in the land brainiac.

    … maybe you didn’t get to the percentage class yet in school. I’ll start you out, 99, 98, 97 …

    I started with the WORSE case scenario percentage in the hopes you’d be able to think about how silly your statement was.

    Ah well… woooosh. Like I said, go back to sleep.

  48. 48.

    Pb

    October 12, 2005 at 1:41 pm

    Veeshir,

    Considering that Al Gore reaffirmed that he had no plans of running for anything today, I think you “heard” a little late. From whom did you hear it? Certainly not from Gore, as he’s said no such thing.

  49. 49.

    Shygetz

    October 12, 2005 at 1:51 pm

    I would love to hear a conservative judicial heavyweight hold a press conference to say “Hey, I’ll take the job.”

  50. 50.

    ppGaz

    October 12, 2005 at 1:51 pm

    Veeshir is having a brain fart, but he is accidentally right about one thing here: Presidential elections are about the candidates. A strong Dem would have beaten Spud easily. We didn’t put up a suitable candidate. The primary process is crap. With a decent smoke-filled room, we could have saved ourselves from Nixon, and GWBush, and Clinton. And Carter.

    The candidate selection process is a crap shoot that can be manipulated by too many manipulators. It produces dumb results like Bob Dole, for crissakes. Dole couldn’t win an election to the Neighboorhood Association Board, even though he is a decent man and a good legistlator.

    There are moves afoot to fix the primary circus, but until it’s really fixed, our national elections are going to be what Veeshir said: Comedy shows, on both sides.

  51. 51.

    danelectro

    October 12, 2005 at 1:52 pm

    veeshir – wesley clark will be running, and imho, will win the nomination.

  52. 52.

    Darrell

    October 12, 2005 at 1:58 pm

    Considering that Al Gore reaffirmed that he had no plans of running for anything today

    Ah yes, and what a strong reaffirmation it was:

    “I don’t completely rule out some future interest.”

    He’ll run. It’s his destiny to reaffirm himself as one of the greatest losers in history. He’ll lose, then grow another beard, get fat, and run around screaming like a lunatic about digital brownshirt Republicans. It’ll be like Groundhog Day

  53. 53.

    Marcus Wellby

    October 12, 2005 at 2:11 pm

    wesley clark will be running, and imho, will win the nomination.

    God, you sound like me a few years ago. I was, and stil am, a huge Clark fan, but I am preparing myself for another Kerry style doofus with no chance of winning. Her name will be Hillary.

  54. 54.

    Marcus Wellby

    October 12, 2005 at 2:12 pm

    He’ll lose

    Why not, there is a first time for everything :)

  55. 55.

    Darrell

    October 12, 2005 at 2:19 pm

    Why not, there is a first time for everything

    Ha! Gore has been on a loser streak since Jesse Jackson ripped him a new one way back in 1988 for introducing us to Willie Horton

  56. 56.

    danelectro

    October 12, 2005 at 2:19 pm

    marcus, if the dems nominate hillary, they have only themselves to blame for the ensuing crushing defeat from the top of the ballot to the bottom. i might just vote against them for the sheer stupidity.

  57. 57.

    Darrell

    October 12, 2005 at 2:44 pm

    marcus, if the dems nominate hillary, they have only themselves to blame for the ensuing crushing defeat from the top of the ballot to the bottom

    Unless Repubs see Hillary and raise you a Santorum

  58. 58.

    Veeshir

    October 12, 2005 at 2:45 pm

    Oh man, I can’t believe I forgot Wesley Clark. That will make it all the funnier.
    Why funnier? Well, in the run-up to the Afghanistan campaign the lefties were screaming that Bush was going to just bomb from on high and indiscriminately kill innocent people. You know, the way Clark did it in the former Yugoslavia. I can’t wait to again see the pictures of him swapping hats with a convicted genocidist from there too.

    Wesley fricking Clark. That’s too funny.

    Oh, and ppGaz, brainfart? If I hadn’t heard recently that Al Gore was running, why did he sort of deny it today?

    You really are a caricature of a nitwit lefty. Perhaps you should stay off the attack until you actually understand what you’re attacking.

  59. 59.

    Veeshir

    October 12, 2005 at 2:50 pm

    I should comment on the topic of the post.

    If you are relying on Dobson as your ally, you have problems. Serious problems.

    This White House simply never wanted a serious candidate- they wanted someone who could be ‘confirmed’ easily.

    If so, they figured wrong. This is going to be a fairly ugly confirmation process as many of the people who voted for Bush, fought for his election against all the gossamer scandals and got the truth out there are not very happy.
    Dammit, we wanted Janice Rogers Brown so the NYTimesWashPostCNNABCCBSNBCetc. could tell us that she’s neither a woman nor black. That stuff is just beautiful reading..

  60. 60.

    Mike S

    October 12, 2005 at 3:07 pm

    Wesley fricking Clark. That’s too funny.

    I’m sure you prefer someone who loses wars.

  61. 61.

    Krista

    October 12, 2005 at 3:13 pm

    This White House simply never wanted a serious candidate- they wanted someone who could be ‘confirmed’ easily.

    Was that the motivation, though? I think it was just another example of Bush’s arrogance…in his insistence on doing whatever the hell he wants, despite everyone else’s protests.

  62. 62.

    ppGaz

    October 12, 2005 at 3:35 pm

    Perhaps you should stay off the attack until you actually understand what you’re attacking.

    Give it up, man. You’re embarrassing yourself.

    You had a fucking brain fart.

    Besides, I gave you credit for being right about something you didn’t even know you were right about. Show some fucking appreciation.

  63. 63.

    Veeshir

    October 12, 2005 at 4:25 pm

    Ladies and gentlemen, I give you ppGaz, the man for whom logic and reading comprehension have no meaning.

    Brain fart is usually used to mean that the person made a stupid mistake. How did my hearing recently that Al Gore was running for president equate to being a brain fart? Did I not hear it? If not, why did he kinda, sorta deny it Today?

    I stand by my characterization of you as a caricature of a nitwit lefty. I look forward to your reply. I really like them, you just call somebody stupid or wrong or insane or whichever adjective you’ve already decided on with absolutely no back-up for why that’s so.
    You continually call Darrell crazy, stupid and worse and yet you never seem to refute his points.

    My personal favorite ppGaz line was a week or so ago when you said something along the lines of “The answer is so obvious even you should know it but I don’t hold out hope that you do.” without ever mentioning the obvious solution.

    My second favorite was a thread with somebody called menemenetekelupharsin who actually responded to a compliment from you by comparing you to MLK. Then the two of you go off into a pathetic little circle-jerk about how great you both are.
    After reading the thread I was almost positive you were both people. I still think so.

  64. 64.

    scs

    October 12, 2005 at 4:32 pm

    There are plenty of Judges that would be all atwitter over an appointment like this…

    To which you said: I don’t know, maybe.

    Yes Andrei, I think it’s pretty clear I said that as in “yes, maybe you’re right” spirit, not “no, there are NO judges in this country who would be interested”. Especially as I then said “as I think it could go either way in terms of percentages.” In other words, that means that the actual PERCENTAGE of judges interested may be hard to determine. No place did I say NO judges would be interested. Do you have a problem with reading comprehension? Come on. I feel that I have to keep spelling every little thing out here, like a grade school class. What a waste of time.

    And by the way, you said, “If we only consider judges, we have a pool of some 51,000, giving us 510 candidates if only 1% would even consider trying for the job.” The judges that are supposed to be considered hefty enough for the Court are not just judges from Podunkville, but Appeals court judges. I’m not sure how many of those there are, but a lot less than 51,000 to be sure.

  65. 65.

    scs

    October 12, 2005 at 5:09 pm

    Since it was an interesting question, I looked it up.

    The United States is divided into 12 regional circuits. Each circuit is represented by a court of appeals for that circuit. These courts hear appeals from the district courts within its circuit. There is also a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which hears appeals in specialized cases and has national jurisdiction. The court of appeals reviews the trial record from the district court and determines whether the district judge applied the law correctly. The appellate court does not redetermine the facts of the case or take additional evidence.

    Each circuit is divided into districts. There are 94 districts in the United States. Each district is represented by a district court. These courts are the federal trial courts. In a trial, witnesses testify and evidence is presented by the parties. A judge or jury decides the facts and applies the law to those facts. The vast majority of federal cases begin in the district court

    .

    So 94 and 12, roughly 106 judges to choose from. Taking your scenario, 1% being intested would mean 1.6 judge to choose from. Hey, maybe that 1.6 judge wanted to spend more time with his or her family.

  66. 66.

    scs

    October 12, 2005 at 5:10 pm

    And of those 106 judges, how many are women I wonder? Another interesting question.

  67. 67.

    Mike S

    October 12, 2005 at 5:16 pm

    There are plenty of State courts including Supreme’s. Not to mention legions of Constitutional scholars.

  68. 68.

    scs

    October 12, 2005 at 5:18 pm

    Okay looked it up. From the NOW website..

    Although still proportionately low, women currently comprise twenty-three percent of the federal judiciary

    So 23% of 106 is approx 24 women for Bush to choose from.
    1% of that .23 of a woman. She might be considered a little too much of a lightweight for the job.

  69. 69.

    scs

    October 12, 2005 at 5:24 pm

    Sorry, on a posting roll here. So 24 women, how many of them are too liberal for Bush? How many of them are too rightwing? How many didn’t want the job? How many does that leave for Bush? Probably leaves Meirs.

  70. 70.

    ppGaz

    October 12, 2005 at 5:32 pm

    My personal favorite ppGaz line was a week or so ago when you said something along the lines of “The answer is so obvious even you should know it but I don’t hold out hope that you do.” without ever mentioning the obvious solution.

    Bwahahahaha! Something tells me that it’s not the first time anyone ever said that to you, numbskull.

    Point me to the post, please. I don’t recall it.

  71. 71.

    danelectro

    October 12, 2005 at 5:41 pm

    no reason for us to speculate on how many were qualified, scs. why don’t we ask the head of the search committee?

  72. 72.

    Elinor Dickey

    October 12, 2005 at 6:29 pm

    So 24 women, how many of them are too liberal for Bush? How many of them are too rightwing? How many didn’t want the job? How many does that leave for Bush?

    There are a lot of factors to weigh. Another is whether or not the president was personally comfortable with the nominee. The fact he knew Ms. Miers for so long helps a lot with that.

  73. 73.

    MM

    October 12, 2005 at 8:36 pm

    There are a lot of factors to weigh. Another is whether or not the president was personally comfortable with the nominee. The fact he knew Ms. Miers for so long helps a lot with that.

    “Honest guys, she’s cool”

    OK, that’s a good reason to bring your buddy’s shy roommate on a road trip with you, or to find a new getaway driver in “Heat”. Not so much for a lifetime SCOTUS appointment

  74. 74.

    Tractarian

    October 12, 2005 at 11:06 pm

    Since it was an interesting question, I looked it up.
    …

    So 94 and 12, roughly 106 judges to choose from. Taking your scenario, 1% being intested would mean 1.6 judge to choose from. Hey, maybe that 1.6 judge wanted to spend more time with his or her family.

    You may want to do some more looking up, scs.

    There are 13 judicial circuits, each with a court of appeals. The smallest court is the First Circuit with six judgeships, and the largest court is the Ninth Circuit, with 28 judgeships.

    There are currently 165 Federal appellate judges, 96 of which were appointed by Republicans and 69 of which were appointed by Democrats. And there are a hell of a lot more federal district judges.

    According to The Federal Judges Biographical Database at the Federal Judicial Center, there are currently 1271 federal judges in total, including senior judges. Excluding senior judges, there are 816 active judges. Of these, 201 are women. 85 of these active female federal judges were appointed by Republicans.

    In any case, the notion that any single one of these jurists (virtually all of whom were already Senate-approved) wouldn’t jump at the chance at the most prestigious legal job on the planet is ludicrous.

  75. 75.

    Tractarian

    October 12, 2005 at 11:11 pm

    While I wait for my earlier post to be moderated, here’s the list of the 85 active, female federal judges appointed by Republicans.

    Altonaga, Cecilia M.
    Alvarez, Micaela
    Amon, Carol Bagley
    Armijo, M. Christina
    Armstrong, Saundra Brown
    Barker, Sarah Evans
    Batchelder, Alice Moore
    Beckwith, Sandra Shank
    Black, Susan Harrell
    Blackburn, Sharon Lovelace
    Bowdre, Karon O.
    Boyle, Jane J.
    Brody, Anita Blumstein
    Brown, Janice Rogers
    Caldwell, Karen K.
    Callahan, Consuelo Maria
    Camp, Laurie Smith
    Cardone, Kathleen
    Carnes, Julie E.
    Cauthron, Robin J.
    Clement, Edith Brown
    Collyer, Rosemary M.
    Conti, Joy Flowers
    Conway, Anne C.
    Cook, Deborah L.
    Cooke, Marcia G.
    Cooper, Mary Little
    Covington, Virginia Maria Hernandez
    Crone, Marcia A.
    Doherty, Rebecca F.
    Duncan, Allyson Kay
    Eagan, Claire
    Edmunds, Nancy Garlock
    Ericksen, Joan N.
    Fawsett, Patricia C.
    Feuerstein, Sandra J.
    Fischer, Dale S.
    Flanagan, Louise W.
    Gibbons, Julia Smith
    Gonzalez, Irma Elsa
    Granade, Callie V.
    Hamilton, Jean Constance
    Harmon, Melinda
    Henderson, Karen LeCraft
    Herrera, Judith C.
    Hopkins, Virginia Emerson
    Huff, Marilyn L.
    Irizarry, Dora L.
    Jackson, Carol E.
    Jones, Edith Hollan
    Jorgenson, Cindy K.
    Keeley, Irene Patricia Murphy
    Kovachevich, Elizabeth Anne
    Krieger, Marcia S.
    Ludlum, Alia M.
    Minaldi, Patricia Head
    Newman, Pauline
    O`Connor, Sandra Day
    Owen, Priscilla Richman
    Pratter, Gene E.K.
    Preska, Loretta A.
    Prost, Sharon
    Raggi, Reena
    Reade, Linda R.
    Robinson, Julie A.
    Robinson, Sue Lewis
    Rodgers, Margaret Catharine
    Rosenthal, Lee Hyman
    Roth, Jane Richards
    Rovner, Ilana Kara Diamond
    Rufe, Cynthia M.
    Rymer, Pamela Ann
    Smith, Rebecca Beach
    Springmann, Theresa Lazar
    St. Eve, Amy J.
    Stotler, Alicemarie Huber
    Sykes, Diane S.
    Tacha, Deanell Reece
    Townes, Sandra L.
    Ungaro-Benages, Ursula Mancusi
    Vratil, Kathryn Hoefer
    Williams, Karen J.
    Wolfson, Freda L.
    Wood, Kimba Maureen
    Wright, Susan Webber

  76. 76.

    Veeshir

    October 13, 2005 at 5:39 am

    ppGaz, you said it to someone else. I might have been Darrell.
    It made me laugh because you were talking about something fairly complicated and you of course had an obvious plan but you didn’t share it.

    It’s so obvious where that thread is but I don’t expect you to actually be able to find it.

  77. 77.

    scs

    October 13, 2005 at 5:20 pm

    Thanks Tractarian for clearing that up. I suppose my error was that each court has more than one judge on it. I still don’t really get the differnce between the 165 and the 1271 number. If the district court number is 165, where do the 1271 come from? What other kind of Federal courts are there? Sorry, don’t know that much about the system yet. I also know there are state supreme courts which could also be sources. Tried to quickly look up how many women in there but couldn’t find it. Kind of wondering about your list though because wasn’t Kimba Wood nominated by Clinton? I guess he was open minded.

    In regard to your last point, “the notion that any single one of these jurists (virtually all of whom were already Senate-approved) wouldn’t jump at the chance at the most prestigious legal job on the planet is ludicrous”, I don’t completely agree with. Nothing is absolute man. I know for sure Kimba Wood wouldn’t, as she had seemed to have “nanny” problems. So that’s one. Who knows how many others may also have nanny problems or other problems.

  78. 78.

    scs

    October 13, 2005 at 5:38 pm

    Okay I just used that site you linked to (Federal Judicial Center) Pretty cool. Anyway, I limited the search to active female judges appointed by Republicans from Jan 1995 to Jan 2002. You know how many I got? 8. Here they are:

    Number of judges matching the search criteria: 8

    Armijo, M. Christina
    Bowdre, Karon O.
    Caldwell, Karen K.
    Camp, Laurie Smith
    Clement, Edith Brown
    Eagan, Claire
    Prost, Sharon
    Robinson, Julie A.

    I figured those were good dates to use. You want a judge who has been sitting for more than 3 years. You also don’t want a judge who is too old, lets say under 55 years old. Let’s say a judge was at least 45 when she was confirmed, so ten years ago would be about the limit. But, if you want to go back to 1990, which would make the age probably over 60, the search gives you 36.

    Still not a whole lot.

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