Republican Senators Should Not Rally Around Their President

Hildebrand · #1 Oct 6, '05, 10:56 am

Pat Buchanan explains why conservatives should be skeptical about Harriet Miers.

http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=9539

Joe Kelley · #2 Oct 6, '05, 2:23 pm

Benjamin Franklin told the Continental Congress they could hang together or they most cetainly would hang separately.

The Republican Senate/Congress can rally with the President or distance themselves from him and become the minority party again. They are rather good at doing the latter.

TPJCatholic · #3 Oct 6, '05, 2:38 pm

Joe,

If Bush proves to be wrong about Miers, the republican party will pay the price and they will become the minority party. It is better for the White House to consider that now.

Della · #4 Oct 6, '05, 2:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TPJCatholic

Joe,

If Bush proves to be wrong about Miers, the republican party will pay the price and they will become the minority party. It is better for the White House to consider that now.

Oh, I hardly think so. The Republican party is perfectly capable of wimping out all on it's own--like they did when they let Clinton off the hook, but went hat in hand to ask Nixon to resign over a minor break in just because the Washington Post made it sound like had raped women and lied under oath. Oh no, that was Clinton, wasn't it?

TPJCatholic · #5 Oct 6, '05, 2:48 pm

Della,

My point is that if Miers proves to be pro-choice, it will be very bad for the entire republican party.

Della · #6 Oct 6, '05, 3:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TPJCatholic

Della,

My point is that if Miers proves to be pro-choice, it will be very bad for the entire republican party.

From what I've read about her, she isn't pro-choice, but she may still vote in a way that might not please those who want to see an immediate reversal of Roe v Wade. She will have to weigh all the evidence that is put before the court and make decisions based on that evidence in the cases brought before her, that's all she can do. She can't promise to vote one way or another on any issue, and I'm sure she is savvy enough to know that.

The Republican party's fortunes aren't going to rise and fall on Miers' court decisions but on how well they can convince the American people that their ideas for the country are better than the opposition's. Unfortunately, we don't have another strong candidate like GWB waiting in the wings, which is what has really got me worried, not if Miers will live up to our expectations or not.

TPJCatholic · #7 Oct 6, '05, 3:36 pm

Della,

Honestly, I think you are underestimating what impact the abortion issue has on prolife republicans. Bush got into office both times on that single issue. If he fails to deliver, all repubs will suffer at the polls. Mark my words.

YinYangMom · #8 Oct 6, '05, 3:48 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TPJCatholic

Della,

Honestly, I think you are underestimating what impact the abortion issue has on prolife republicans. Bush got into office both times on that single issue. If he fails to deliver, all repubs will suffer at the polls. Mark my words.

But I don't understand how people can fault Bush or an entire political party for the actions of one person.

If they select a person who, as far as they know and have reason to believe, will act in one manner but that person fails to do so later, why is that the fault of the people doing the selecting?

How would he have failed to deliver?
He selected according to the information he had available and he selected by the standards which the voters set.

TPJCatholic · #9 Oct 6, '05, 3:56 pm

Yin,

You make good points, which is precisely why Bush and the repubs have to be extremely careful about who their nominees are. The republican party has had some horrible failures, including choices made by Reagan and Bush 1. If that happens again prolife people will conclude that the repubs are not capable of choosing prolife nominees. People will not give their votes to a party that continues to be incapable of installing a prolife justice.

BTW, the dems won't get the votes either...if this happens a third part will begin to be much more viable. Let's pray that Miers works out.

sirduckjr · #10 Oct 6, '05, 4:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by YinYangMom

How would he have failed to deliver?
He selected according to the information he had available and he selected by the standards which the voters set.

Simple. The president had a roster of at least 10, some argue many more federal judges throughout the country that not only had a clear and difinitive prolife record, but are considered to be brilliant. The opportunity to have an open debates on this issue and other constitutional type issues will be avoided. This was an argument that needs to take place in front of the american people. It is one thing to change the law, quite another to change hearts and minds.
Even I agree Miers will probably be prolife. However, that doesnt mean she will reach the high bar setting in overturning Roe vs.Wade.
Having a jurist in the quality of a Scalia or Roberts (hopefully)able to convince others while holding true to their beliefs versus caving in the mold of Kennedy and O'Conner will ultimately determine whether Roe vs. Wade will ever get overturned.