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Records suggest warm relationship between Bush, Miers

Supreme Court nominee called Bush 'the best governor ever'

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- U.S. Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers told George W. Bush in a 1997 birthday card that he was "the best governor ever" and, in a separate note to her boss, said she hoped his twin daughters recognize their parents are "cool."

The communications between Miers, who served as chair of the Texas Lottery Commission, and Bush, then governor of Texas, tell the story of a very warm relationship.

Bush faces criticism that he chose Miers for the high court because of their close friendship.

The correspondence with Bush was among thousands of pages of records released Monday by the Texas state archives from Miers' record as chair of the Texas Lottery Commission from 1995-2000.

A transcript of her confirmation hearing before the state Senate in 1995 indicated that lawmakers asked Miers, an attorney, only a few questions and that her nomination by Bush was generally unopposed.

Miers and Bush exchanged several birthday notes and general well-wishes during her lottery tenure.

In 1997, Miers sent Bush a belated birthday card featuring a sad-looking dog and the note: "Dear Governor GWB, You are the best Governor ever -- deserving of great respect!" She added, "At least for thirty days -- you are not younger than me."

Bush's birthdate is July 6, 1946; Miers' is August 10, 1945.

Bush wrote back to wish Miers a happy 52nd birthday, telling her that he appreciated her friendship and to "never hold back your sage advice." He ended with a postscript: "No more public scatology."

That October, Miers wrote Bush a note saying she hopes his twins, Jenna and Barbara, recognize they have "cool" parents.

Bush told Miers in a birthday note in 2000: "Have a great life!"

Erodalak wrote:On Bill Maher's show he was saying she called GWB "The most brilliant man she'd ever met".

boybutter wrote:she did say that and..... well..... i guess you can't count public appearances as judgement of greatness....

yeah, people appoint friends to high office.... who cares right.... i mean FEMA wasn't effected... right??

i mean what is the supreme court?? really

Milesaway wrote:Appointing someone to serve on the Supreme Court for the rest of their natural life? That is no big deal...in fact I think the Mr. Bush should just appoint a friend to be on the Court. It would even be better if she was unqualified--that way when she makes really important decisions that effect our right to have this discussion, she might just go with her gut or what Mr. Bush wants. Good idea!

Milesaway wrote:Actually, she is quite different from most who are nominated to the Supreme Court. She is simply not qualified for the Supreme Court. She is not a good jurist and has never been a judge. She is not a scholar of the law. Researchers cannot dig up any past opinions. She has not had a brilliant career in politics, the academy, the corporate world or public forum.

Basically, the ONLY reason she has been nominated is because she is Bush's friend. Have S.C. justices been friends of the President in the past--OF COURSE. But usually there is an attempt to make sure they are qualified (See newly crowned Chief Justice Roberts, friend of Bush, but qualified).

Milesaway wrote:Actually, she is quite different from most who are nominated to the Supreme Court. She is simply not qualified for the Supreme Court.  She is not a good jurist and has never been a judge.  She is not a scholar of the law.  Researchers cannot dig up any past opinions.  She has not had a brilliant career in politics, the academy, the corporate world or public forum.

Basically, the ONLY reason she has been nominated is because she is Bush's friend. Have S.C. justices been friends of the President in the past--OF COURSE. But usually there is an attempt to make sure they are qualified (See newly crowned Chief Justice Roberts, friend of Bush, but qualified).

Goose_Man wrote:

Milesaway wrote:Actually, she is quite different from most who are nominated to the Supreme Court. She is simply not qualified for the Supreme Court. She is not a good jurist and has never been a judge. She is not a scholar of the law. Researchers cannot dig up any past opinions. She has not had a brilliant career in politics, the academy, the corporate world or public forum.

Basically, the ONLY reason she has been nominated is because she is Bush's friend. Have S.C. justices been friends of the President in the past--OF COURSE. But usually there is an attempt to make sure they are qualified (See newly crowned Chief Justice Roberts, friend of Bush, but qualified).

You must be stuck on stupid

Milesaway wrote:Actually, she is quite different from most who are nominated to the Supreme Court. She is simply not qualified for the Supreme Court. She is not a good jurist and has never been a judge.

Milesaway wrote:She is not a scholar of the law. Researchers cannot dig up any past opinions.

Erodalak wrote:She's unqualified because she has no judicial experience. She's NEVER been a judge. She's never argued a case up to the supreme court. She also jocks Bush, which in turn can lead to some very biased decision making. Just another example of cronyism.

Durck wrote:

Erodalak wrote:She's unqualified because she has no judicial experience. She's NEVER been a judge. She's never argued a case up to the supreme court. She also jocks Bush, which in turn can lead to some very biased decision making. Just another example of cronyism.

10 of the 34 justices appointed since 1933 had worked for the president who picked them. The list included the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, first tapped for the court by Richard M. Nixon, and Byron White, named by John F. Kennedy.

Several of the Chief Justices were not even judges:

William Rehnquist (appointed 1986) Chief Justice Seat: Lawyer, clerked for Justice Robert Jackson, wrote a memo in 1953 defending "separate but equal" during Brown case; when asked to explain, he claimed he was merely reflecting Justice Jackson's views, not his own.

Charles E. Hughes (appointed 1930): Governor of NY, Sect'y of State under Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge. Led fight against New Deal legislation as unconstitutional.

Salmon P. Chase (appointed 1864): Senator from Ohio (Free Soil Party), Governor of Ohio, and Secretary of the Treasury under Lincoln, where he was tasked with the design of the first federal paper currency – many of the denominations were adorned with Chase's own face. Assumed to be another appointment for political loyalty.

Roger Taney (appointed 1836): This was a political appointment by Andrew Jackson to reward loyalty. A leader of the Federalist party, Attorney General of Maryland, then US Attorney General, he also served a brief stint as Secretary of the Treasury, where he helped Jackson in his war against the Second Bank of the United States (an area where many hard-money libertarians might consider him a hero).

That is just 4. There are many many many justices that are friends of those appointing them. Cronyism? No. Qualified? Are you?

-Duck

mofish wrote:http://www.cronyjobs.com/