On Monday, after Bush nominated Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, most senators issued some kind of vaguely-polite statement. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) said nothing.
On Tuesday, when several GOP senators started voicing support for Miers’ nomination (Orrin Hatch led the way), Brownback issued a carefully-worded statement. Brownback explained that while he “trusts” the president, that might not be enough to win his vote on Miers’ confirmation.
By today, Brownback inched ever closer to opposition.
On “Good Morning America,” Republican Sen. Sam Brownback told ABC’s Diane Sawyer there’s a “good chance” he would vote against Harriet Miers if she views Roe v. Wade as settled law.
The pro-life Senate Judiciary Committee member said he and millions of Americans would not agree that it is settled law because of the effects it has had throughout society and on the unborn. […]
In a separate interview this morning, Sen. Brownback said he is not convinced that Miers is the best person for the job and that will have to be determined in her hearings. When asked if he was disappointed in the President’s choice, he said “yes, I am disappointed.”
In fact, Brownback also told the NYT that he “can see a scenario that I would vote against her on the committee.”
Complicating matters further, it’s not just Brownback.
Add Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.) to the list of Republicans not entirely pleased with President Bush’s nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court.
Lott, appearing on MSNBC-TV on Wednesday morning, told anchor Randy Meier that wants more information about Miers.
“I need to know a lot more about her, her experience and her level of competence and what is her philosophy. I really don’t know this lady and I do think I owe it to my constituents and to my own conscience to do due diligence and find out actually who this person is,” he said.
His first impression, however, was not a positive one…. Lott said while Miers may be qualified, she is “clearly” not the most qualified person for the job.
“There are a lot more people – men, women and minorities – that are more qualified in my opinion by their experience than she is,” he said. […] “[Bush isn’t] the nominee, and it’s not enough to just say ‘Trust me.'”
Republican unrest, if anything, seems to have increased on Day Three of the Miers nomination. If one of them announces formal opposition, it’s easy to imagine others doing the same.
Of course, then Dems would have to decide whether to join them or not. Bizarre circumstances, to be sure.