Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Alexander Hamilton on Harriet Miers
In Federalist Paper #76, Hamilton wrote about the role of the Senate in its advise and consent capacity as follows:
To what purpose then require the co-operation of the Senate? I answer, that the necessity of their concurrence would have a powerful, though, in general, a silent operation. It would be an excellent check upon a spirit of favoritism in the President, and would tend greatly to prevent the appointment of unfit characters from State prejudice, from family connection, from personal attachment, or from a view to popularity. In addition to this, it would be an efficacious source of stability in the administration.
President Bush has appointed someone who appears to fall into the category of "favoritism." Now, one can argue that this may be true in previous picks as well, and the Senate has confirmed them (to the bench or other offices). But two (or two thousand) wrongs don't make a right. For those of us who are strict constructionists, Hamilton speaks to us now"
"Just say,'no' to Harriet Miers."
To what purpose then require the co-operation of the Senate? I answer, that the necessity of their concurrence would have a powerful, though, in general, a silent operation. It would be an excellent check upon a spirit of favoritism in the President, and would tend greatly to prevent the appointment of unfit characters from State prejudice, from family connection, from personal attachment, or from a view to popularity. In addition to this, it would be an efficacious source of stability in the administration.
President Bush has appointed someone who appears to fall into the category of "favoritism." Now, one can argue that this may be true in previous picks as well, and the Senate has confirmed them (to the bench or other offices). But two (or two thousand) wrongs don't make a right. For those of us who are strict constructionists, Hamilton speaks to us now"
"Just say,'no' to Harriet Miers."
