Cynical Nation

Well, I think I can safely put the tin foil hat away now. If Harriet Miers really did have connections to some homophobic fundamentalist evangelical group, the lefty blogs would have certainly uncovered it by now. I mean, it's lunchtime already! Instead, all I see over at Kos is unrestrained glee. Meanwhile, over at The Corner, I'm hearing stuff like this.

Just talked to a very pro-Bush legal type who says he is ashamed and embarrassed this morning. Says Miers was with an undistinguished law firm; never practiced constitutional law; never argued any big cases; never was on law review; has never written on any of the important legal issues. Says she's not even second rate, but is third rate. Dozens and dozens of women would have been better qualified. Says a crony at FEMA is one thing, but on the high court is something else entirely. Her long history of activity with ABA is not encouraging from a conservative perspective--few conservatives would spend their time that way. In short, he says the pick is "deplorable." There may be an element of venting here, but thought I'd pass along for what it's worth. It's certainly indicative of the mood right now...

Now maybe Bush knows what he's doing. Maybe she's a more saleable Robert Bork in a dress, and this is the shrewdest political move of his career. Until I have reason to believe that, however, I'm going to operate under the assumption that the simpler explanation is correct -- Bush screwed up.

In other words, I'm going to my friendly neighborhood watering hole and getting hammered. Page me if something happens.