October 12, 2005
Not
Until now, I haven't posted anything but the 'fetching coffee' question in regards to the new SCOTUS nomination. However, for the record, I'm not an elitist, and I'm not a sexist. Just because I'm not thrilled with the President's choice doesn't make me either of the above. And I have to say, I'm more than a little disappointed that people I respect, like the First Lady, are intimating that sexism has something to do with it. I'm a single woman, I never finished high school, I'm a regular working Joe, or Jane, if you prefer. I think I am as much representative of the Republican "base" as anyone, and I have as much right to my own opinion without being labeled by other people in my own damn party. I've disagreed with the President before, and until now, I thought that was allowed.
So yes, I'm unhappy on a number of levels. That being said, I'm waiting to see how the hearings go. I'd just like the name calling to stop. We get enough of that from the other side -- we don't need to do it to each other.
Posted by Ithildin at October 12, 2005 10:30 AM | PROCURE FINE OLD WORLD ABSINTHE
The idea that criticism of the Miers nomination is sexist is just asinine and insulting. Edith Jones was (and remains) my first choice to replace O'Connor--not because she's a woman, but because I think she'd be the best person for the job. The idea that there should be a female seat as such on the Court is what's REALLY sexist, as are all the pathetic White House bullet points of Miers' accomplishments to show how she was so great at X, Y or Z "for a girl."
As for "elitism," the law is an elitist profession by its nature, and the judiciary doubly so. Going back to the Whig theory of balanced government and before that the Roman republic, the courts are the aristocratic element of our constitution as the executive is monarchical and the legislature is democratic. It's not "elitist" to expect someone to have some public degree of knowledge and opinion in the field they're going to be working in. It's not unreasonable in any way to expect to be given some REAL reasons to support this nomination beyond "trust me," which is, excuse me, total bullshit.
Posted by: Dave J at October 12, 2005 11:05 PM