WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush on Thursday accepted the withdrawal of Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, according to a statement from the White House.

In her letter to the president, Miers said she was "concerned that the confirmation process presents a burden for the White House and its staff and it is not in the best interest of the country."

"It is clear that senators would not be satisfied until they gained access to internal documents concerning advice provided during her tenure at the White House -- disclosures that would undermine a president's ability to receive candid counsel," Bush said.

"Harriet Miers' decision demonstrates her deep respect for this essential aspect of the constitutional separation of powers -- and confirms my deep respect and admiration for her."

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said he respected Miers' decision and looked forward to working with the president to quickly picking a new nominee.

We remain ready to fulfill our duty to provide advice and consent on judicial nominees," the Tennessee Republican said. "And the Supreme Court still awaits its next justice -- a highly qualified nominee who is committed to upholding the Constitution and who believes in the limited role of a judge to interpret the law and not legislate from the bench."

Miers, 60, was nominated earlier this month by President Bush to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the high court. (Profile)

Bush's decision to nominate Miers, his White House counsel and a longtime adviser, had divided his supporters, many of whom wanted a nominee with a clear record of opposition to abortion.

On Wednesday, White House spokesman Scott McClellan had dismissed the suggestion that senators were reluctant to come out in support of Miers because they are unimpressed with her as a nominee.

"I think you're seeing a lot of members of the Senate saying, 'We want to hear what she has to say in the hearings,' before they make a judgment," he said.

"With Harriet Miers, there are many in the Senate that simply did not know her previously, although she is widely respected within the legal profession."

Senators had hoped to begin confirmation hearings the week of November 7.



Ohhhh well. Next Nomination: The Marlboro Man.

If anyone had cared to listen to Dobson (that wacko), he essentially said that Miers' pro-life-ness made her a shoe-in for the Supreme Court.

Me, I'm hoping for another swing-vote. The Supreme Court should be, after all, a neutral party, neither conservative nor liberal.

Miers was pro-life. Just as a note.

Hopefully, Bush'll learn from this and pick a rela candidate instead of a cronie. Roberts looks like a dream compared to that nightmare. Or..nightMIERS. Oh ho ho ho. I'm tired.

Heh. But Bush could do the exact opposite and go with an ultracon. Which I don't think would be good for anyone.

Miers was a moron...


"While I was an at-large member of the Dallas City Council, I dealt with issues that involved constitutional questions. For instance, when addressing a lawsuit under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the council had to be sure to comply with the proportional representation requirement of the Equal Protection Clause."

What porp[ortional representation requirement of the Equal protection clause? Do you not know BAKER v. CARR? Have you read the constitution? you are a lawyer and you make this kind of mistake? You are about to be given the highest judicial position in your country and you can't navigate your way through law 101?


Way to go Miers



Also way to go republicans

Bush was trying to slip a conservative under the radar, he knows her and her views because they are friends, it is obvious that he wants to put someone in the court who is against abortion, and he was trying to do this without starting a fight, but his moron ass republicans shot him down. Idiots didn't trust him, they DID NOT TRUST GEORGE BUSH TO PUT A CONSERVATIVE IN THE COURT. sound stupid? yes. Now Bush is going to be mad at the republicans for shooting miers down, and I believe he will nominate a moderate to get back at them



Bush better pick Gonzalez...

True. One's morals turn into ethics in a small community of practice. The ethics of this community may spread or conflict, and then it turns into a majority ruling as law.

I know that social beliefs and judicial philosophy are supposed to be seperate from each other. However, I don't think that they are. Usually, one's personal beliefs are reflected very clearly in one's judicial philosophy.

Thanks FML, Although our constitution is loosely based on fundamental christian doctrine, does not mean that one must be a fundamentalist christian to interpret it seems to be the mental block that the neo-cons suffer from when choosing justices.

It's not about the morality of it all, same for abortion as gay marriage. It's about the legality, when you confuse the two, excuse my french but shiat hits the fan.

Why do you guys keep saying things like "religious" and "anti-choice"?
Social beleifs and judicial philosophy are so removed from eachother that I fell silly explaining this. That was part of the problem with Miers, she said a few times that she had "no judicial philosophy." That means she would be ruling with her social conscience.

That's my fear as well, blue. But I was glad she had the judgement to see that she wasn't qualified enough. Silly Bush and his chronyism (sp?)!

This is good in that it looks bad for the Republicans. However, I wonder who will be nominated. Bush might be super-pissed that Miers was "defeated" and nominate some really, hardcore, religious conservative.

quote:

another die-hard anti-choice fundamentalist.

She seemed to be pro-choice. She gave that speech where she said that she favors "individual choice" in issues like that.

YES!!!!!!!! YES, YES, YES!!!! *does a little happy jig*

Hahaha I'm happy she gone.... I just hope she doesn't get replaced by another die-hard anti-choice fundamentalist.

Political suicide alert- Next nominee is none other than (drum roll please)



JOHN ASHCROFT!!!!



kidding

Well like I said, I wouldn't doubt it.

Oh, I didn't mean the real one. I meant the cartoon.

Damn it, you beat me to the punch.

quote:

Next Nomination: The Marlboro Man.

He's dead. But I wouldn't be surprised. The "logic" used is hysterical...