initial thoughts on miers.

1) Texas Lottery Commission: Does this remind anyone else of how the qualification for the FEMA head was that he used to be the head of the Arabian Horse Association?

2) Sen. Charles Schumer reports that Miers called him to ask for suggestions regarding the selection process. Hm... Bush appoints the person who's helping him with the selection process for an important post. Dick?

3) Shades of...
Justice Thomas?

In brief remarks during the announcement, a beaming Ms. Miers said she had a duty to "ensure the courts meet their obligation to strictly apply" the constitution and to adhere to "the founders' vision of the court."

- NY Times

``This is a smart move. You try to pick a nominee that Democrats won't be able to criticize as much because they are a woman or minority. This is a classic Clarence Thomas strategy.'' Artemus Ward, Northern Illinois University political science professor.

- AP

Justice Rehnquist?

Miers had helped push Roberts' nomination through the Senate, and Bush said that ``she will strictly interpret our Constitution and laws. She will not legislate from the bench.'' Conservatives apparently agreed.

- AP

Justice Scalia?

``She has been a forceful advocate of conservative legal principles and judicial restraint throughout her career,'' said Leonard Leo, executive vice president of the Federalist Society.

- AP

4) No one is happy: The Left/Right mobilization groups get even less traction out of Miers than they did with Roberts. The Right cries foul for not getting a Scalia or Thomas as promised. The Left cries foul as for the umpteenth time they have no paper trail to rally the party. Both sides cry foul for lack of quotable quotes to put on fundraising mailers and emails. And both sides cry foul, and are right, in the continuing Bush Regime culture of cronyism. See Point #1.