From The Atlantic:
The Lesson Of Miers: Excellence Should Be Paramount

The withdrawal of the Harriet Miers nomination shows that excellence does matter and that mediocrity isn't always rewarded.
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Nobody should enjoy the humiliation of Harriet Miers, a person of estimable character who has accomplished much and deserves no opprobrium.

But the failure of President Bush's foolish, self-indulgent nomination was a victory for a principle: that we should insist that new justices combine character with extraordinary capabilities to deal with the enormous challenges that they will face. Chief Justice John Roberts more than fit the bill. Harriet Miers fell far short.

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Foolish? Self-indulgent? The American people would see right through someone who was foolish and self-indulgent; they'd never vote for him. Now, would they? ... Well, would they? ...Well.....would they???


A