The Anchoress

Having already written about the question of sexism in the matter of Harrier Miers, SCOTUS nominee, and cipher, I had no intention of revisiting the issue again.

But a few smart women have been writing about it, and I felt compelled to share their views. I had an email from a lawyer who - a week ago - had written a strong email expressing misgivings about the nominee. This time she writes: “I have to admit, [she] is not my dream candidate for the Supreme Court, but some of the criticisms of her have more than a hint of sexism (and obnoxious snottiness).

Harriet Miers obviously sacrificed a great deal in order to succeed as a lawyer. I’m also impressed by the fact that she didn’t buy her position through wealth or personala connections, unlike many people on the right who are criticizing her. The tone of much of the criticism is alienating me — it’s seriously disrespectful to refer to her as the “cafeteria lady,” as I-forget-who did.

Charlotte Allen at The Independent Women’s Forum is also picking up on that whiff of sexism, but from the “tolerant” left.

“…take another look at the Harriet Miers Blog!!! The 20-year-old photo of her with enough Trailer Trash Hair to upholster a sofa, the jumbled spelling, the cheerleader prose. Note the site’s blogroll list of left-wing stalwarts, from Atrios to Air America to Wonkette. This is the hard-left take on Harriett Miers: that she is stupid, unqualified, and lacking in intellectual-elite credentials…

You’ll want to read the whole thing.

I must say, it certainly does seem to me that right now President Bush has very few outlets by which he or his nominee may count on a being given a fair hearing. Miers is everyone’s target de fortnight, and President Bush, himself, has no positive public access. The mainstream media despises him and - as we see here - is actively, overtly working against him on a 24/7 basis, and some - not all, but a few - in the center-right press, angry over the Miers nomination seem - for the moment - incapable of discussing anything coming out of the WH without scorn and derision.

This is not good for our country, and most particularly not good for the war effort or our troops. Whether some are angry over the Miers nomination or Bush’s spending habits, or immigration - the fact is if his own side is now busy piling on - on EVERY issue - because it is easy to do so once anger has been tapped and mobs begin to form. He’s let us down on immigration! He’s let us down on spending! He’s let us down! He hasn’t been perfect!

It is easy to do, this piling on, and I am not saying that folks do not have legitimate gripes - they do - but without a measure of proportionality and awareness of the consequences of the mob, the right could find that it has repaid a man who has spent the last 5 years working hard for this country (imperfectly, but diligently and faithfully) and in the face of a unique world-wide enemy, unprecedented world-and-media hatred and even backstabbing from former presidents - by boxing him in and leaving him without resources…because he has not been better.

I am frankly astounded to see how easily all the good he has done as president can be tossed aside in the face of that imperfection - as though any of what he has been doing and trying to do is so freaking easy.

I think from time to time, folks do have to vent their spleens in frustration when things aren’t quite what they’d hoped for. Fine. But maybe we should understand that we’ve reached a hairy precipice at this point and it is time to perhaps back off and give this man - our president - a little breathing room, before we all go down the cliff, together.

That said…for all that I love and trust President Bush, I must say again, and again…why the hell is Karen Hughes in the Middle East when she is clearly needed at the White House?

I am not interested in piling on. I want to trust and support this exhausted-looking president, and I want to do what I can - in my small way - to push back against an increasingly vicious and dishonest press. But come on, White House. Pull yourselves together.

Remember that scene in Jerry MacGuire, where Tom Cruise is talking to Cuba Gooding, Jr, and pleading with him…”help me…help you. Help ME…HELP YOU!”

Don’t make me kick the bathroom wall and go all flailing and jerky, over here, Mr. President - I’m having enough physical problems. Just let’s pull it together and get back on track, shall we?

Because this is the ONLY post I plan on making re Miers today (barring something new and unexpected) a few links for your edification or amusement. That second link with the graphics came about because - after seeing Alexandra’s work here and here I jokingly suggested she fit Harriet out as Queen Victoria, with her daughters, Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham. She actually did it!

Matthew Scully has a complimentary piece in the NY Times:

My friend David Frum expresses the general complaint when he asks, in his blog, when did Harriet Miers “ever take a risk on behalf of conservative principle? Can you see any indication of intellectual excellence? Did she ever do anything brave, anything that took backbone?” To translate: When all the big-thinkers were persevering year after year at policy institutes and conferences at the Mayflower Hotel, or risking all for principle in stirring op-ed essays and $20,000 lectures, where was Little Miss Southern Methodist University?

If four years observing the woman is any guide, the answer is she was probably doing something useful.

And I especially like this smart and gentlemanly (and gently funny) piece by Jonah Goldberg.