Q U O T A B L E S

October 27, 2005

J U S T   P O L I T I C S

Miers waves the white flag... withdraws nomination

Her letter to President Bush: [LINK]

President Bush's statement:

Today, I have reluctantly accepted Harriet Miers decision to withdraw her nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States.

I nominated Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court because of her extraordinary legal experience, her character, and her conservative judicial philosophy. Throughout her career, she has gained the respect and admiration of her fellow attorneys. She has earned a reputation for fairness and total integrity. She has been a leader and a pioneer in the American legal profession. She has worked in important positions in state and local government and in the bar. And for the last five years, she has served with distinction and honor in critical positions in the Executive Branch.

I understand and share her concern, however, about the current state of the Supreme Court confirmation process. 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. 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.

I am grateful for Harriet Miers' friendship and devotion to our country. And I am honored that she will continue to serve our nation as White House Counsel.

My responsibility to fill this vacancy remains. I will do so in a timely manner.

Grand Jury Hears Summary of Case On CIA Leak Probe

Decision on Charges May Come Friday

A nervous Washington D.C. still awaits the results of the CIA leak probe, according to the Washington Post [LINK]:

The prosecutor in the CIA leak investigation presented a summary of his case to a federal grand jury yesterday and is expected to announce a final decision on charges in the two-year-long probe tomorrow, according to people familiar with the case.

Even as Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald wrapped up his case, the legal team of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove has been engaged in a furious effort to convince the prosecutor that Rove did not commit perjury during the course of the investigation, according to people close to the aide. The sources, who indicated that the effort intensified in recent weeks, said Rove still did not know last night whether he would be indicted.

Sheehan arrested at White House

After announcing earlier this week that she would tie herself to the White House fence and stay there until U.S. troops were withdrawn from Iraq, Cindy Sheehan has managed to get arrested for a slightly different give-me-attention gimmick. [LINK]

According to an ABCNews article: "Ms Sheehan and the other protesters staged a "die-in" in front of the White House, lying on the ground to symbolize US soldiers killed in Iraq."

What was the arrest based on?

"Cindy Sheehan has been arrested with about 25 other people because she was demonstrating without a permit in front of the White House," Lieutenant Phil Beck of the US Park Police said.

"They laid down on the sidewalk without a permit, they were advised three times to leave the area, they chose not to leave therefore they were arrested.

Will the Flip-Flops never stop?

Writes Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank: "The good news: John Kerry settled on his Iraq policy yesterday. The bad news: He did so 51 weeks after losing the election." [LINK]

Kerry's latest shift of positions regarding Iraq was met with this response from RNC spokeman Tracey Schmitt:

"It is doubtful," spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt said, "that those who follow John Kerry are surprised that his latest of numerous attempts to deliver a cohesive message on Iraq does anything but."

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