Bush Understands Courtesan Intrique

Starting at Michelle Malkin or Ann Althouse or even Charlie Sykes the links will take you through everything written today about Bush nominating his own White House Counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. After reading through the unique mix of bewilderment and outrage I am reminded of a scene from the The Godfather.

Tom Hagen: Mr. Woltz, I'm a lawyer, I have not threatened you.
Jack Woltz: I know almost every big lawyer in New York, who the hell are you?
Tom Hagen: I have a special practice. I handle one client. Now you have my number. I'll wait for your call. By the way, I admire your pictures very much.

At the end of June, after the series of ambiguous and bad decisions, I seriously thought that being a Judge should disqualify a person for the Supreme Court. All professional career paths to the top force a person into the mindset of the profession, and it struck me that we have Judges debating with other Judges, rather than having a focus on the law as it reflects and affects the will of the citizens.

Its Harriet Miers: The other point is that she's not herself a Judge, and therefore has less paper-trails than even John Roberts. Lastly, because of her administration position, she is not an unknown Washington quantity. It is true that she isn't an insider like Roberts, with his distinguished legal connexions. But in 5 years since she has been White House counsel, she no doubt has formed many alliances in that notoriously power-impressed town. She therefore leaves the dual impression of being both an insider looking out, and outsider looking in. Good grief, what a coup.

Ms. Miers background is in commercial litigation which means Bush wants to put someone he trusts to guard large corporate interests on the Supreme Court. This is a big business protection move and reflects the administration’s economic and political values. It also demonstrates that Bush understands Court Politics, and has game planned around the opposition in ways we mere citizens will never comprehend. As citizens, we have allowed a permanent ruling class to develop and their concerns are for themselves first and ourselves second. It is silly to think that either party is going to drastically reform anything in deference to our wishes.