Harriet Miers Withdrawal Letter
Harriet Miers Withdrawal Letter
The National Review has obtained a copy of Harriet Miers’s withdrawal letter:
Dear Mr. President:
I write to withdraw as a nominee to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. I have been greatly honored and humbled by the confidence that you have shown in me, and have appreciated immensely your support and the support of many others. However, I am concerned that the confirmation process presents a burden for the White House and our staff that is not in the best interest of the country.
As you know, members of the Senate have indicated their intention to seek documents about my service in the White House in order to judge whether to support me. I have been informed repeatedly that in lieu of records, I would be expected to testify about my service in the White House to demonstrate my experience and judicial philosophy. While I believe that my lengthy career provides sufficient evidence for consideration of my nomination, I am convinced the efforts to obtain Executive Branch materials and information will continue.
As I stated in my acceptance remarks in the Oval Office, the strength and independence of our three branches of government are critical to the continued success of this great Nation. Repeatedly in the course of the process of confirmation for nominees for other position, I have steadfastly maintained that the independence of the Executive Branch be preserved and its confidential documents and information not be released to further a confirmation process. I feel compelled to adhere to this position, especially related to my own nomination. Protection of the prerogatives of the Executive Branch and continued pursuit of my confirmation are in tension. I have decided that seeking my confirmation should yield.
I share your commitment to appointing judges with a conservative judicial philosophy, and I look forward to continuing to support your efforts to provide the American people judges who will interpret the law, not make it. I am most grateful for the opportunity to have served your Administration and this country.
Most Respectfully,
Harriet Ellan Miers
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And if you believe that I have a bridge in brooklin to sell you
October 27th, 2005 at 9:22 amMy ability to keep quiet about your crimes Mr. President is more important than being a justice.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:23 amThe Washington Post has the actual letter (PDF). Obviously, she worked with people in her office. They knew they would have to withdraw her so they got the Republicans to ask for executive documents. They could then pretend like the withdrawal had nothing to do with her inexperience. Rather that the withdrawal had to do with preserving the integrity of the executive.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:26 am"It is all the nasty Senator's fault. All they ever want is evidence and paperwork, they are so mean. Pay no attention to the fact that I was unqualified and the President's personal lawyer. I was the mostest qualified person ever." Harriet Miers.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:26 am#2, you read my mind. No need for me to reiterate that point.
The Implosion of Bush has begun.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:27 amWho wants to bet that letter was written by the WH and then presented as if written by Miers?
More of a "We can't pull your nomination, then we'd be admitting to making a mistake, it's better if it looks like you withdrew yourself. Don't worry we'll write the letter, make it look like you did it. This is the best way Harriet."
October 27th, 2005 at 9:28 amMaybe she finally explained to him that if she were appointed to the Supreme Court, she could no longer serve as his personal attorney. Maybe this is what made him accept her withdrawal.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:29 amThis is our finest hour....no, wait, we didn't do it. They did it to each other, Ha!
Now, here's the rub: we are going to get Judge Roy Bean with an attitude and the entire religious right on speed dial.
Round two is on our turf.
The Twelve Days of Miers: An inappropriately early holiday motif song parody/commentary.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:30 amThe nomination and withdrawal of Miers represent the first time that Bush was truly in charge of his Presidency. We have more of this to look forward to.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:31 amNow we can expect a justice in the mold of a Scalia or Thomas, which is not a good thing. She should have been given a chance in the hearings. We could have been looking at the next O'Connor.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:34 amThis is priceless:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9820159/
25 October:
Scott McClellan: "She is going to be going before the Senate Judiciary Committee in less than two weeks. She looks forward to answering their questions. And I think that people should not try to rush to judgment on it.â€
27 October:
Buh-bye, Harriet.
[And please, whoever it was that sold the ad-space to the wingnuts, PLEASE don't refund a cent. Just put it in the Katrina fund.]
October 27th, 2005 at 9:34 amThe real letter: "Dear sweety pie georgie, I know to much about your PAST, and thoes nasty congressmen are going to ask me about it, so I better hi-tail it out of here." It worked!, Harry Reid supports her, the wingnuts AUTOMATICLY reject her, very clever Harry.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:34 amBushie nominnation of this woman Miers was done on purpose and the next one is going to be someone we do not want. This was plan now so when the indictment come today or tomorrow the news media will have stories about Miers.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:36 amOy, this has been a horrible week for the administration...too bad.
So any plans for Fitzmas eve?? :D
October 27th, 2005 at 9:37 am#2
October 27th, 2005 at 9:38 amI agree. That is the correct interpretation of her meaning.
The "confirmation process" being a "burden to the WH"? Sorry? The process is part of our government. It is not a burden. This admin has at all times feared the release of documents. Why? Is there evidence in the documentation of criminal, or even traitorous, activity? If so, the "ethical" party should be wanting to bring these to the light, not hiding it all away.
And, no, we will not allow her to just fade away. She was unqualified, and they wanted her to be place on the court simply because Bush "knew her heart."
I think Bush set her up to fail. Would she have made it to the bench? I don't think so. Now Bush is free to nominate a heavy conservative.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:42 amOn the Daily Show on Monday, Bill Kristol said matter of factly that Miers would withdraw. There seemed to be no doubt in his voice. But even last night on Fox News, the roundtable gave no indication that this was coming.
How is that ultra neo-con Kristol knew this information? Is this proof that the neo-cons that are not even in government jobs are actually running the country?
October 27th, 2005 at 9:42 amShe will now be able to remain in the White House to defend him and hold Georgie's hand as his administration is exposed for the criminals they are.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:43 amDon't enjoy this too much. I believe something much worse is just around the corner. Bush is gonna have to prove himself to his own party. The next nomination is going to be a nightmare and we won't be able to count on the neo-cons to sink it like they did Harriet. This is going to go badly. Watch out. Sorry to piss on the parade.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:50 amI also feel her withdrawal was part of the plan.
October 27th, 2005 at 9:51 amWhy is what I can't figure out. What advantage
is there in it for them?
Not surprising. Her only qualification was that she was a Sycophant. Not even the Repub Kool-aid drinkers could stomach that cuppa vomit.
October 27th, 2005 at 10:04 amYou chopped off the last paragraph:
"But I still think you an Laura are just *super*! You are a man of great integrity and intelligence and ... well, gosh... you're just *super* *super* *duper*!"
October 27th, 2005 at 10:11 amBad news for Alberto:
October 27th, 2005 at 10:15 am"As you know, members of the Senate have indicated their intention to seek documents about my service in the White House in order to judge whether to support me. I have been informed repeatedly that in lieu of records, I would be expected to testify about my service in the White House to demonstrate my experience and judicial philosophy."
#22
You forgot "cool." Read in a news report that she wanted Barbara and Jenna to know that they had "cool parents."
October 27th, 2005 at 10:29 amI agree with numbers two & 19, but to take it farther...
In an attempt to control the news cycle that is (within the next few days) going to focus on Fitzgerald's findings, they instruct Miers to withdrawal so they can roll out a new nominee at the most opportune time for one of two reasons...
1. to divert attention from Fitzgerald's findings ('Scooter' or Rove or Dick being guilty of something) OR
October 27th, 2005 at 10:38 am2. to divert attention from Bush's next nominee that will be ultra-convervative and pro-life...
"#15"
Right on; and don't forget what Harry knows about plamegate, Iraq, torture, Dubya's Nat'l Guard Duty, and other nasty little secrets would all be possibly open for questioning under oath, and no excuse about conflict with possible court decisions. THey had to do this way for him to save a little face. If the GOP didn't let her nomination go to an "Up/Down Vote" what could they say to the Democrats filbustering the next nominee.
October 27th, 2005 at 11:54 amI think Miers forgot to include the quotation marks around the phrase in her letter: "judicial philosophy."
October 27th, 2005 at 12:41 pmThis could be good news, although there hasn't been any good news from our government for 5 years. Maybe this means that Karl is going to be 'leaving' and they've offered the position to Harriet!
October 27th, 2005 at 12:57 pmIt is really really hard to be confirmed to the SC when you have a 'target letter' hanging out of your back pocket.
oops, I thought we had electronic voting on the SC process... my bad, they want facts and docs too.
October 27th, 2005 at 1:06 pmI am not sure I would go as far as saying that her withdrawl was part of the original plan. I think that the original plan was to try to stealth her in. But the base was just not going for it, and that meant that Repulican Senators would be in on the questioning process. They might be able to still withold documentation, but the grilling under oath would occur, and from both parties (for real this time, not like with Roberts). Perhaps, as well, she decided that under oath she would not lie (she may actually have a measure of actual Christian faith - that "oath" is "before God") or mislead, and thus, with all that she knows she realized that she could not cover for the administration while swearing to God that she was speaking the truth.
October 27th, 2005 at 1:07 pmPlanned or not, though, this will have the effect of bringing the base back together strongly, as they will gladly rally around an ultra-conservative nomination, glad that the party is "back on track". Wait and see.
and further, dumbya just lost his get out of jail free card.... her SC position was critical to his freedom, pity.
October 27th, 2005 at 1:11 pmIt is really really hard to be confirmed to the SC when you have a ‘target letter’ hanging out of your back pocket.
October 27th, 2005 at 1:12 pmSomeone should tell Ms. Miers never to begin a formal letter, let alone one to the President of the United States, with a personal pronoun.
One could only imagine what her Opinions would have looked like.
October 27th, 2005 at 3:24 pm[...] [...]
October 27th, 2005 at 4:19 pm#25 ("to divert attention from Fitzgerald’s findings" is not going to be easy, even for the lightweight American press. It'll be a huge story if Rove or Cheney gets indicted.
October 27th, 2005 at 4:50 pm#34 - "Someone should tell Ms. Miers never to begin a formal letter, let alone one to the President of the United States, with a personal pronoun.
One could only imagine what her Opinions would have looked like.
Comment by Andrew G. — October 27, 2005 @ 3:24 pm"
Thank you for confirming the as*&$le nature of many liberal elitists. Ms. Meirs should have begun the first paragraph with: "Thank you...." - but it is REFRESHING to see a lib dispay some respect for the Office of President.
October 29th, 2005 at 3:36 pm[...] October 25: Harriet Miers’ Nomination Withdrawn. [Link] [...]
November 3rd, 2005 at 12:48 pmPee Female Pee Pee Hole
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 27th, 2008 at 10:48 pm