Harriet Miers, Savior of the Bush Presidency

That Harriet Miers is a fine woman was never in doubt. But she proved it today by saving George Bush's presidency.

by Rod D. Martin
October 27, 2005

That Harriet Miers is a fine woman was never in doubt. But she proved it today by saving George Bush's presidency.

Many of us who could not support the Miers nomination -- and Vanguard PAC was the first major conservative group in America to come out against it -- found ourselves upset with our President in no small measure because of the terrible position into which he'd put Harriet Miers. She is an obviously excellent lawyer, who has served her country well.

But her singular lack of qualification for the particular job under consideration -- much like nominating Bill Gates for head plumber, or Alan Greenspan for chief astronaut -- subjected her to criticisms no one should have to bear, characterizations of her abilities which even her toughest critics took no joy in expressing, and probably personal hurts we all wish George Bush had had the foresight (indeed, compassion) to shield her from.

He could have had his cake and eaten it too, of course: he could…