Poor Harriet

For the first time since the Reagan Administration’s pot-smoking Douglas Ginsberg, a candidate for the Supreme Court has turned tail and headed home. I caught the news of Miers’s withdrawal this morning on CNN. Already Bush has run a few new names up the flagpole — doubtless trying to appease his dad’s right-wing base.

It seems Harriet, loyal to the end, backed out to avoid trouble in the confirmation process. It did seem that missiles were being lobbed from all quarters. Conservatives thought her under-qualified and not a reliable-enough rightie. Now the question is whether any other nominee will meet the right-wing litmus test and get through the confirmation process.

Among the new flags being hoisted: Dr. James Dobson, Ann Coulter, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Steve Spurrier. Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has been mentioned as well. Apparently if you are about to have your cabinet indicted, appointing the Special Prosecuter to the Supreme Court might be another creative defense.

Why the sudden rush? The Supreme Court will be making some crucial decisions in November, including a huge abortion case. Anti-abortion conservatives (that would be ALL of them) want to pack the court ASAP. — T