Bush Names Nonentity to U.S. Supreme Court

Written from San Carlos, California --

The great leaders name intellectually challenging colleagues to high posts, in and outside their administrations. So, Abraham Lincoln named rivals William H. Seward Secretary of State and Salmon P. Chase first to the Secretary of Treasury and then Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. And Charles de Gaulle named Andre Malraux and the highest ranking Fourth Republic politicians to staff his Fifth Republic administration. Winston Churchill named an all-party cabinet to fight the Nazies in World War II.

Unfortunately, George W. Bush does not compare with these giants of yesteryear.. He's named cronies, nonentities and inexperienced louts to the highest jobs.

Now, Bush has appointed Harriet Miers, only his personal lawyer, to the U.S. Supreme Court, a lady whose chief distinguishing past record includes the assurance that Bush was the most brilliant person she had ever met.

What happened to the distinguished judicial appointments of the past, the Brandeises, Frankfurters and Cardozos? Now, their successors are to be John Roberts and Harriet Miers.

Roberts has already, unfortunately, been confirmed. But I wonder about Miers. Already, some conservatives are said be opposed..

It is a self-serving and dishonest tactic for such nominees to be unwilling in the confirmation proceedings to discuss their personal views. Miers should not be permitted to get away with that.

Unless this undistinguished woman comes across with straight answers, there ought to be an automatic no vote in the Senate. It's high time Bush not be permitted to name the second and third best to high positions.