The Trouble with Harriet

George W. Bush's defense of his ill-advised nomination (apparently from a position of political weakness) of the underqualified Harriet Miers, a long-time friend, seems to rest on three shaky pillars.

1. "Trust me."

2. She's a woman.

3. She's done Meals-on-Wheels and taught Sunday school.

The president's advisers (when they aren't accusing disappointed conservatives of elitism) are attempting to rally our support by mentioning (by the way) that she's an evangelical. As we've been saying for years, we don't have racial, gender, or religious quotas for the Supreme Court, even when one of our own is served up.

Sorry, Mr. President. Miss Miers may be a wonderful person (and even an excellent White House counsel) but she cannot possibly be, as you absurdly assert, the best qualified person for the Supreme Court.

There are many better qualified candidates (men and women) on the federal bench. Try again.