Harriet, Sweet Harriet

President Bush has proven time after time that he is committed to diversity. His nomination of Harriet Miers, is yet another example of Bush's support of minorities. The president is challenging the homogeneous population of the supreme court. While the nine jurists currently sitting on the bench were all judges before becoming supreme court justices, Ms. Miers comes with from a uniquely a-legal, a-academic background. As Bush explains "I think it's important to bring somebody from outside the system, the judicial system, somebody that hasn't been on the bench and, therefore, there's not a lot of opinions for people to look at."

The president has known Miers for over 10 years. Bush considers her "a pit bull in size 6 shoes." He also pledges, "when it comes to a cross-examination, she can fillet better than Mrs. Paul."

Others who know Miers well equally adulatory. Joshua B. Bolten, the director of the Office of Management and Budget whom Ms. Miers succeeded as deputy White House chief of staff in 2003 says: "You know, she's a very gracious and funny person. I was racking my brain trying to think of something specific...She is a very good bowler. For someone her size, she actually gets a lot of action out of the pins." Margaret Donahue Hall, a partner at Miss Miers' old law firm, told the New York Times, "In my heart of hearts, I know she'd make a great Supreme Court justice, but it's hard to put into words why."

Miers, a funny, gracious, small-footed pit bull who is an excellent bowler will certainly diversify the court and bring with her a unique and fresh perspective.

Sadly, politicians from both sides of the aisle are questioning Bush's nominee, and by extension, diversity and equal rights. Arlen Spector criticized Miers, saying that "she needs a crash course in constitutional law." Yet Specter's very objection to Miers only demonstrates why Miers must indeed be confirmed: a seat on the bench of the Supreme Court will provide Ms. Miers with the best crash course in the world!

And, for the record, Mr. Specter is one of those "pro-choice" (read anti-life) Republican, so it comes as no surprise that he doesn't support Ms. Miers whose pro-life stance is almost certain.