The Dogs Have Eaten

I wrote "Dog’s Breakfast for GOP" on 10/11/2005. Today, breakfast was served. Harriet Miers reportedly asked President Bush to withdraw her nomination and he obliged. The base had not shown support and stories of internal rifts between conservatives were fueling one of many drags on Mr. Bush’s polling numbers. I assume Harriet Miers did actually request the withdrawal because the political situation wouldn’t allow her to be confirmed. Despite limited public comments (I believe I only heard her speak upon accepting the nod), Miers was perceived as “un-confirmable.” Republican senators did not report sparkling results from private meetings and the potential disengagement of “the base” in the mid-term elections was enough to spook the leadership. While I doubt Democrats could have done much, I believe they should have defended Miers more thoroughly. She was suggested by Minority Leader Harry Reid before she was nominated, yet Democrats were conspicuously silent when she was attacked from the right. They asked for bi-partisanship, received it, and then revealed in the trouble it caused for their opposition.

Now the President will be forced to throw his base some red meat. Do not expect the next nominee to be one the Democrats requested previously. Instead of bi-partisanship, the Democrats have now invited a political fight. This is exactly the WRONG move by Democrats. If they had simply provided enough support for Miers until the senate hearings, they could have kept the news cycle full of Mr. Bush’s problems. Without support from either side, it was easier for Mr. Bush to withdraw her and wait until everything comes to a head. Don’t be surprised when a stalwart conservative is nominated. It should happen soon after the CIA leak story is dealt with. This axe won’t hang too much longer and if it falls, heads will roll. After that, it will be a full-scale political battle-royal. The Republicans need to pick a fight and it’s going to be about the court. The base was angered because they expected some red meat and got vegetables. Democrats really missed the boat; they could have prolonged GOP infighting. They will enjoy the news cycle for now, but now isn’t as important as one year from now. Head’s up Republican voters, the meat is on its way.