Coming back from teaching my night class this evening, my father and I had a discussion of the Harriet Miers nomination. We've not talked about this nominee up until now, but I was not at all surprised to find that neither of us is enthused about the pick.

During the course of the conversation, I realized that there are a lot more reasons for rejecting Miers that have come to light in just the last few days.

At one key juncture after another, Miers has faltered where Roberts glided. Her courtesy calls on the Judiciary Committee's top two senators prompted conflicting tales of curious comments that she may or may not have made. Her answers to the committee's questionnaire included a misinterpretation of constitutional law and were deemed so inadequate that the panel asked her to redo it. She revealed one day that her D.C. law license had been temporarily suspended -- and said the next day that the same thing had happened in Texas -- because of unpaid dues.

Now I'm told that ther edues issue is not a big deal -- especially since they are often handled by the lawyer's firm rathat than the lawyer, and that most government lawyers in DC are not members of the DC Bar. But it is the cummulative effect of these missteps that is troubling. Harriet Miers has, quite bluntly, failed to look competent.

Mr. President -- Harriet Miers is no doubt a wonderful human being and a great friend. She is also, in my estimation, a fine lawyer. But she has been a bad pick from Day One. Now she appears to be in a free-fall. Withdraw the nomination, please, and find another individual to fill this vacancy.

Not just for the sake of the country.

But also for the sake of your friend.

Posted by: Greg at 05:04 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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