What'd I say? What'd...I...say?

Stick a fork in her.

Miers Withdraws Supreme Court Nomination

By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent
4 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Harriet Miers withdrew her nomination to be a Supreme Court justice Thursday in the face of stiff opposition and mounting criticism about her qualifications.

President Bush said he reluctantly accepted her decision to withdraw, after weeks of insisting that he did not want her to step down. He blamed her withdrawal on calls in the Senate for the release of internal White House documents that the administration has insisted were protected by executive privilege.

"It is clear that senators would not be satisfied until they gained access to internal documents concerning advice provided during her tenure at the White House — disclosures that would undermine a president's ability to receive candid counsel," Bush said. "Harriet Miers' decision demonstrates her deep respect for this essential aspect of the constitutional separation of powers — and confirms my deep respect and admiration for her."

Miers' surprise withdrawal stunned Washington on a day when the capital was awaiting news on another front — the possible indictment of senior White House aides in the CIA leak case.

Miers told the president she was withdrawing at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. In her letter dated Thursday, Miers said she was concerned that the confirmation process "would create a burden for the White House and our staff that is not in the best interest of the country."

She noted that members of the Senate had indicated their intention to seek documents about her service in the White House in order to judge whether to support her nomination to the Supreme Court. "I have been informed repeatedly that in lieu of records, I would be expected to testify about my service in the White House to demonstrate my experience and judicial philosophy," she wrote.

"While I believe that my lengthy career provides sufficient evidence for consideration of my nomination, I am convinced the efforts to obtain Executive Branch materials and information will continue."

No doubt the Miers meltdown was the smallest ring in the circus this nomination is turning into. Even less in doubt is that the next pick will see Dear Leader tossing his fundie base the red meat they're snapping and slavering for.

Screw the clowns, send in the wingnuts.

Of course, rather than call out the real architects of the Meirs mire--the aforementioned fundie social crusaders and sex police--Chimpy blamed the Senate for asking too many of those pesky qualification questions, again. Not very bright, considering, as a second termer, he needs support from senators far more than from Dobson, Perkins, and their minions. Further, if he gives the Talibangelicals the ideologue they were "promised," he's asking those senators to move away from center while they're looking down the barrel of the off-year election battles. Popular opinion of BushCo being what it is, does anyone think they really want to wagon train with that travelling salvation show?

Old habits die hard, unfortunately; we very well might find ourselves in the midst of the nuclear option showdown, part two. With any luck, the quiet quacking sound that started shortly after Miers handed in her withdrawal letter means that the time for the hubris-laden power plays that we've grown accustomed to over the past five years, has passed.