Thumbs Mostly Down on Miers:maybe a succession of really smart clerks...

Craig Newmark of Newmark's Door has had several items lately, citing those who defend Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to become a Supreme (see here and here). I hope he is right, because the odds are good she will be confirmed. [However, I see the price of a bet that she will be confirmed, while still near 70 cents on the dollar, has been dropping at Tradesports.com]

But I am skeptical. She has not provided anyone with any reason to believe she is competent to be a Supreme. From David Frum [h/t to Jack]:

Washington's tight-knit and usually close-mouthed network of conservative jurists and lawyers is dismayed by Miers' thin record and weak abilities. One Republican lawyer told me of a briefing session to prepare Miers to enter into her duties as White House Counsel a year ago. A panel of lawyers who had served in past Republican White Houses was gathered together. After a couple of hours of questions and answers, Miers left to return to the office. There was a silence. Then somebody hopefully piped up: "Maybe if we can find her a really strong deputy ..."

...Ann Coulter expressed that rage [about Miers' nomination] in her inimitably astringent way two days after the nomination was announced: "Being on the Supreme Court isn't like winning a 'Best Employee of the Month' award. However nice, helpful, prompt and tidy she is, Harriet Miers isn't qualified to play a Supreme Court justice on The West Wing, let alone to be a real one."

As I said, I hope Craig is right and I am wrong. I hope Miers proves to be much more than a competent crony. But there is no evidence to expect otherwise.

Kip Esquire has much, much more.

Maybe if they can find her a succession of really smart clerks...