Cronyism in high places: First FEMA, now SCOTUS

(Harriet Miers started her nomination process by meeting with key senators, including Harry Reid, the minority leader. Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times)

If you've been wondering why the Democrats keep losing, check out the initial response of their Senate leader to the Bush nomination of judicial novice Harriet Miers to the highest court in the nation:

From the NYT:

Harriet Miers started her nomination process by meeting with key senators, including Harry Reid of Nevada, the minority leader said he believed Ms. Meiers's lack of judicial experience would ultimately be to her benefit because the Supreme Court needed someone with non-judicial qualifications.

[I suppose that he also believed that what FEMA needed was someone without emergency management qualifications. What are these people smoking in Washington? Dan]

"I think that's a plus, not a minus," said Senator Reid, who like Ms. Meiers was trained as a trial lawyer. "I'm very happy we have someone like her."
Mr. Reid, regarded by Republicans as being a particularly partisan Democrat - and who voted against the nomination of Chief Justice Roberts last week - stopped short of making an endorsement.

[Oh! And what is > "I'm very happy we have someone like her."? What would an endorsement look like? On the other hand, listen to the gauntlet as layed down by a right-wing Republican leader: Dan]

On the conservative side of the party, Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas has said he would vote against a nominee who was not "solid and known" on cultural issues like abortion, same-sex marriage and religion in public life.
"If the president doesn't nominate a solid nominee, that is going counter to what he campaigned on," Mr. Brownback said, before this morning's nomination announcement. And if such a nominee "involves a contentious battle, then let it be."

[Is there a left-wing of the Democratic Party, to counteract this nonsense? Whatever one's political leanings are, at this point, why would anyone vote for the Democrats to lay down again? Dan]