Cronyism

filterxg

Senior member
Nov 2, 2004
330
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I'm a republican, I was for Bush in 2000, and against Kerry in 2004. I'm Pro-Life, and have mixed feelings about Roe. I've been okay with Bush's cronyism, at least until Micheal Brown came to light. Harriet Miers is worse. Not because she is less qualified than Brown, but because she is a permanent appointment.

Bush (I thought) raised the bar with Roberts and picking a true constitutional scholar. Miers is going to look like an idiot compared to Roberts, heck she's going to look like an idiot compared to any of the sitting justices. She also isn't the conservative that the far right wanted. Nor is she the intellectual the middle wanted. He pleased nobody except Harry Reid. But at least his friend will leave her mark.

To further upset the right...She's also not somebody who can be predicted. She was raised Catholic, became evangelical. She was a Dem through the 80's, became a republican. None are bad things, but they are signs that she may not be a reliable vote, and prone to U-turns.

I should add that the most important skill of a judge is how they write. Lawyers need to write briefs, which are important. Judges esp federal judges need to write precedent, exactly how far to take a decision. She has little or no experience of this. She might be good, Reinquest was good and wasn't a sitting judges, Souter is horrible and was a sitting judge...Yet its a good indicator of quality.

Here I thought Bush would pick a true constitutional scholar in the mold of Roberts. Maureen Mahoney would have been a good choice if he wanted a practicing attorney and a woman. There were good sitting justices on the right and the middle.

Well Bush's next big decision better not be a crony. That decision is much more important... Alan Greenspan's replacement.
 

Todd33

Diamond Member
Oct 16, 2003
7,842
2
81
Boo hoo, you are getting what you asked for. What did you expect from a rich spoiled kid with bad grades and his daddies name. He has failed at everything in his life and owes everything to corporate ties. He cares not for anything the Jesus freaks do, Rove used you guys, get over it. Welcome to the worst president in the last 100 years, pat yourself on the back.
 

Warthog912

Golden Member
Jun 17, 2001
1,653
0
76
Originally posted by: Todd33
Boo hoo, you are getting what you asked for. What did you expect from a rich spoiled kid with bad grades and his daddies name. He has failed at everything in his life and owes everything to corporate ties. He cares not for anything the Jesus freaks do, Rove used you guys, get over it. Welcome to the worst president in the last 100 years, pat yourself on the back.

that's a bit harsh, but I agree with a few of your points...

BUT it's difficult to say he's the worst in the past century, because relatively speaking our country is in good "health" compared to previous generations IMO.
 

zendari

Banned
May 27, 2005
6,558
0
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Part of the blame belongs on the Dems who would whine about a mere "true constitutional scholar".
 

Mucho

Guest
Oct 20, 2001
8,231
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Politics is all about rewarding your friends and screwing your enemies to believe otherwise is to be naive.
 

Strk

Lifer
Nov 23, 2003
10,197
4
76
Originally posted by: zendari
Part of the blame belongs on the Dems who would whine about a mere "true constitutional scholar".

That makes no sense. The Democrats are to blame because they'd whine about someone who is qualified?
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: Todd33
Boo hoo, you are getting what you asked for. What did you expect from a rich spoiled kid with bad grades and his daddies name. He has failed at everything in his life and owes everything to corporate ties. He cares not for anything the Jesus freaks do, Rove used you guys, get over it. Welcome to the worst president in the last 100 years, pat yourself on the back.
now there's some civil debating :confused:

 
Sep 12, 2004
16,852
59
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The way the Republicans are acting towards Bush's nomination of Miers it may very well be the Republicans that reject her.

Has it ever happened that a majority party has rejected a nomination from their party's President?
 

slyedog

Senior member
Jan 12, 2001
934
0
0
just patted myself on the back. who would you rather bush pick. maybe john kerry would satisfy the libs. let the lady go through all the BS, then judge her
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,885
6,421
126
If Bush was Clinton he'd go on National TV and say, "I did not have Yes with that woman Harriett Miers."

;)
 

Rainsford

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
17,515
0
0
Originally posted by: zendari
Part of the blame belongs on the Dems who would whine about a mere "true constitutional scholar".

What the hell are your talking about? Considering how divided this country is at the moment, Roberts got through with very little problem. Part of the credit here goes to Bush, who seemed equally capable (to some of us at least) of nominating Cheney, or Brownie, or Darth Vader. Overall I think the process went as smoothly as we could have expected given the divided state of politics today.

If Bush wanted to keep both sides happy, why not nominate another Roberts like justice? It worked the last time... The only person to blame for this nomination is Bush, just admit it for once.
 

jman19

Lifer
Nov 3, 2000
11,225
664
126
Originally posted by: Rainsford
Originally posted by: zendari
Part of the blame belongs on the Dems who would whine about a mere "true constitutional scholar".

What the hell are your talking about? Considering how divided this country is at the moment, Roberts got through with very little problem. Part of the credit here goes to Bush, who seemed equally capable (to some of us at least) of nominating Cheney, or Brownie, or Darth Vader. Overall I think the process went as smoothly as we could have expected given the divided state of politics today.

If Bush wanted to keep both sides happy, why not nominate another Roberts like justice? It worked the last time... The only person to blame for this nomination is Bush, just admit it for once.

Rainsford, while it was nice to mention all of that, there is no point in directing that comment to Zendari. Even when he realizes some fault with the republicans and the current admin, he has to take a jab at democrats and or liberals.
 

zendari

Banned
May 27, 2005
6,558
0
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Originally posted by: Rainsford
Originally posted by: zendari
Part of the blame belongs on the Dems who would whine about a mere "true constitutional scholar".

What the hell are your talking about? Considering how divided this country is at the moment, Roberts got through with very little problem. Part of the credit here goes to Bush, who seemed equally capable (to some of us at least) of nominating Cheney, or Brownie, or Darth Vader. Overall I think the process went as smoothly as we could have expected given the divided state of politics today.

If Bush wanted to keep both sides happy, why not nominate another Roberts like justice? It worked the last time... The only person to blame for this nomination is Bush, just admit it for once.
Harry Reid suggested Miers as a nominee, and Bush being the uniter that he is, took his advice. Maybe you should ask him.
 

Gigantopithecus

Diamond Member
Dec 14, 2004
7,664
0
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Originally posted by: filterxg
heck she's going to look like an idiot compared to any of the sitting justices.

With Clarence Thomas sitting on the Highest Bench, that says a lot!
 

PELarson

Platinum Member
Mar 27, 2001
2,289
0
0
Originally posted by: Rainsford
Originally posted by: zendari
Part of the blame belongs on the Dems who would whine about a mere "true constitutional scholar".

What the hell are your talking about?

Remember in Zendariland if it rains it is the fault of the Democrats!

It will be interesting to see what becomes of this nomination! Wonder what dirt exists from her time as head of the Texas State Lottery?
 

imported_Condor

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2004
5,425
0
0
Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
Yes, it is the Dems fault that Bush is the biggest idiot alive today.

It is probably their fault that he is President. They created their own monster, and now they whine incessantly!.

 

1EZduzit

Lifer
Feb 4, 2002
11,833
1
0
Originally posted by: Condor
Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
Yes, it is the Dems fault that Bush is the biggest idiot alive today.

It is probably their fault that he is President. They created their own monster, and now they whine incessantly!.

LOL, that's good, blame Bush being Prez on the people who had the sense not to vote for him. I guess somehow it'a Clinton's fault too??
 

OneOfTheseDays

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2000
7,052
0
0
Originally posted by: Condor
Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
Yes, it is the Dems fault that Bush is the biggest idiot alive today.

It is probably their fault that he is President. They created their own monster, and now they whine incessantly!.

man you've really gone over the edge Condor. i used to look at you as one of the few sane conservatives on this forum, but you've definitely taken a turn for the worse lately. especially after that "i'd rather pick a crappy Republican than an excellent Democrat" comment. And no, this is the Republican's monster, if you recall the Democrats did everything they could to try and get rid of Bush. Unfortunately they failed, and America as a result is much worse because of it.
 

NJDevil

Senior member
Jun 10, 2002
952
0
0
Originally posted by: zendari
Part of the blame belongs on the Dems who would whine about a mere "true constitutional scholar".

Yes. Bush, who loves compromising with democrats decided now, almost five years into his presidency to reach across the aisle? My god zendari, I didn't think you could be this much of a Bush apologist.

So much so that you blame his pick on the democrats? Since when does Bush care what other people think? He nominated this woman, simply because he believes she is the best possible candidate for this position.
 

zendari

Banned
May 27, 2005
6,558
0
0
Originally posted by: NJDevil
Originally posted by: zendari
Part of the blame belongs on the Dems who would whine about a mere "true constitutional scholar".

Yes. Bush, who loves compromising with democrats decided now, almost five years into his presidency to reach across the aisle? My god zendari, I didn't think you could be this much of a Bush apologist.

So much so that you blame his pick on the democrats? Since when does Bush care what other people think? He nominated this woman, simply because he believes she is the best possible candidate for this position.

I thought you wanted him to be "a uniter, not a divider"? Now he listens to Harry Reid and you still whine. :roll:
 

NJDevil

Senior member
Jun 10, 2002
952
0
0
Originally posted by: zendari
Originally posted by: Rainsford
Originally posted by: zendari
Part of the blame belongs on the Dems who would whine about a mere "true constitutional scholar".

What the hell are your talking about? Considering how divided this country is at the moment, Roberts got through with very little problem. Part of the credit here goes to Bush, who seemed equally capable (to some of us at least) of nominating Cheney, or Brownie, or Darth Vader. Overall I think the process went as smoothly as we could have expected given the divided state of politics today.

If Bush wanted to keep both sides happy, why not nominate another Roberts like justice? It worked the last time... The only person to blame for this nomination is Bush, just admit it for once.
Harry Reid suggested Miers as a nominee, and Bush being the uniter that he is, took his advice. Maybe you should ask him.

Holy Crap. Who makes the decisions? A minority senator? A majority senator? A majority congressman?

No. The guy who wears the daddy pants ... President Bush. If you don't like his pick, don't blame the democrats (who have no say in the matter, up until the confirmation vote).

How can you be this much of a Bush lover ... blame something that he personally did, on the democrats.

Unfreakingbelievable.
 

NJDevil

Senior member
Jun 10, 2002
952
0
0
Originally posted by: zendari
Originally posted by: NJDevil
Originally posted by: zendari
Part of the blame belongs on the Dems who would whine about a mere "true constitutional scholar".

Yes. Bush, who loves compromising with democrats decided now, almost five years into his presidency to reach across the aisle? My god zendari, I didn't think you could be this much of a Bush apologist.

So much so that you blame his pick on the democrats? Since when does Bush care what other people think? He nominated this woman, simply because he believes she is the best possible candidate for this position.

I thought you wanted him to be "a uniter, not a divider"? Now he listens to Harry Reid and you still whine. :roll:

I'm not whining. I liked Roberts, I like this woman. You're the one who's doing the whining, blaming the democrats. I'm just pointing out how silly you are in not realizing that the democrats don't influence Bush in his pick.

He has a majority in the senate, and doesn't need the approval of the democrats to pick this woman.

Do you think he picked her to satisfy democrats? Or because he thinks she is the best for the job?

I don't like Bush as a president, but everything that he has done in the past leaves me to believe he made the right choice (as he sees it).
 

zendari

Banned
May 27, 2005
6,558
0
0
Originally posted by: NJDevil
Do you think he picked her to satisfy democrats? Or because he thinks she is the best for the job?

I don't like Bush as a president, but everything that he has done in the past leaves me to believe he made the right choice (as he sees it).

The former. I doubt she was his first choice based on age alone, but they threatened to filibuster other candidates.
 

BaliBabyDoc

Lifer
Jan 20, 2001
10,737
0
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I typically wince while reading the WSJ Op-Ed . . . basically similar troll positions as various ATP&N but more familiar with the English language and a better grasp for the differences between facts, opinion, and innuendo.

Today they had a great piece on cronyism. I would post a link but I'm not giving them another $49 for web access.:evil:

Randy Barnett cited this excerpt from Federalist #76 (Hamilton for the uninformed):
"To what purpose then require the co-operation of the Senate? I answer, that the necessity of their concurrence would have a powerful, though, in general, a silent operation. It would be an excellent check upon a spirit of favoritism in the President, and would tend greatly to prevent the appointment of unfit characters from State prejudice, from family connection, from personal attachment, or from a view of popularity . . . He woud be both ashamed and afraid to bring forward, for the most distinguished or lucrative stations, candidates who had no other merit than that of coming from the same Stateto which he particularly belonged, or of being in some way or other personally allied to him, or of possessing the necessary insignificance and pliancy to render them the obsequious instruments of his pleasure."
For the moment let's ignore Hamilton's disdain for reasonable sentence length. I think the guy had a point. Allbaugh, Brown, Myers, and now . . . Miers?!