Clowns and Jokers Flank the Prez's nomination

N of eucatastrophe notes that Slate's Mickey Klaus weighs in on the Mess. He's as unimpressed with the evident cronyism of the pick as any conservative would be:

Why does President Bush's nomination of White House Counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court remind me of Patty Hearst marrying her bodyguard? ... I can see how Miers might turn out to be a brilliant pick. But her proximity and loyalty to Bush are burdens, not virtues. They raise extra doubts that need to be overcome--i.e., doubts that wouldn't be raised in an equally under-resumed and unknown candidate who wasn't Bush's in-house lawyer: 1) This is the Supreme Court, which is supposed to be an independent branch. That means loyalty should count for less and prickly integrity for more. The disgraceful Abe Fortas is of course Exhibit A of what you don't want; 2) Even in the executive branch, where cronyism has a long, honorable and effective tradition, it hasn't been working conspicuously well of late for President Bush; 3) This sends a message to all sorts of ambitious, competent GOPers that the only real way to get the big promotions in a Bush administration is to actually work with Bush personally. That's a good way to encourage talent to stay in the private sector...

When the Presidents allies and opponents agree that Ms. Miers ain't the right nominee, the man has trouble. When his base starts noting the good points the "loyal opposition" makes, the man has a catastrophe in progress. The Enemy must smile has he makes use of the Roman's brilliant strategy: Divide and conquer. The President points a loaded gun at his friends and then hands it to his enemies. Now, his allies have begun to turn on him, while Reasonable elites smile. The Dictatorship won't dig in; it continues across the paper mache barricade that once was the Administration's shining promise of a Scalia or Thomas.