Miers: The “Withdraw” Word
The “withdraw” word was mentioned several times this morning on CNN. Will Harriet Miers’ nomination mark “The End of the Conservative Dream?,” as Patrick Lang considered yesterday (buttressed by a Chicago Tribune story that blames Republican leadership‘s failure to stand up to filibuster threats)? Or, will the conservatives stay alive, and force Miers to withdraw?
The repeated use of the word “withdraw” today on CNN could mean nothing. It could be among the first indications — including yesterday’s Forbes magazine piece, “Conservatives to Bush: Withdraw Miers” (via Raw Story) — that pressure is growing for Harriet Miers to do the “right thing.” Toss in today’s report of Tony Perkins’ alarm over Harriet Miers’ sponsorship of a 1990s forum at her alma mater Southern Methodist University that, Perkins e-mailed to supporters, featured “an unbroken string of pro-abortion speakers.”
As Josh Marshall points out, “[T]he key issue [for nominations encountering opposition] is whether and how quickly they can find some committed group to mount a defense.”
Who does Harriet have to defend on her side besides Dubya, few administration apologists, and some Swift Boat spin-cycle artists (quoted but not vetted by the NYT)?
Our question: Do we prefer the devil we are getting to know, or the next one if Miers withdraws? What are we gambling with?
From CNN’s American Morning transcript:
Read MoreSUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well good morning, Carol.
Harriet Miers was in Dallas this weekend. That is where she was gathering records of really trying to bring forward her resume of accomplishments, past posts, as well as with the Dallas City Council. But of course the big question here, Carol, is whether or not Harriet Miers and the White House can convince conservatives that she does indeed deserve that position. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers was attending Sunday morning church services in Dallas; in Washington, conservatives were declaring all-out war over her nomination, directing much of their anger at the president.
PAT BUCHANAN, FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Much of the conservative movement is at war with their own president.
GARY BAUER, PRES., AMER. VALUES COALITION: The problem that we have is that when you make a mistake with a Supreme Court appointment, it’s a 20-year mistake.
MALVEAUX: As some conservatives ratcheted up their rhetoric, calling for Miers to withdraw her nomination, others urged their fellow Republicans to cool down, saying Miers would be faithful to Mr. Bush’s agenda. Continued BELOW:
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A French group, Sortir du Nucleaire (Get Out of Nuclear) 
