Wow. How'd He Manage That?

So new Supreme Court Justice John Roberts has been elevated to his position, despite having only two years' experience as a judge. So the question immediately becomes: can George W. Bush find someone even less qualified?

Yes, yes he can. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Harriet Miers, with exactly zero experience as a judge.

Now, there have been non-judge appointments to The Court before, so this isn't exactly groundbreaking. But you would think that, while the GOP leadership is in the middle of several corruption scandals, that Bush would have the sense to not appoint someone who's sole qualification is that she thinks Bush is the the most brilliant man she ever met. But I guess this is Bush's competitive streak showing itself again - if there's going to be scandals over political cronyism, then Bush wants to be at the top of that, too!

The funny thing is, the right is already out for blood. You can imagine them spitting up their half-chewed kittens and baby livers with the news this morning that Bush was not, in fact, going to appoint a new Scalia or Thomas. Ezra Klein has a great rundown of the wingnut reaction here.

Now, it's almost too good. Two corruption scandals, and criminal investigation and a potentially failed Court nomination? It's like Christmas come early - I'm waiting for a partridge in a pear tree. So I'm suspicious. It could be that Miers is meant to fail, allowing an easier passage for someone with more experience, but also a harder-edged conservative. I wonder if these guys are actually that smart. But Miers is certainly the type to fall on her sword for Bush, by all accounts.

Unfolding, as they say.