Decades ago Country Joe MacDonald wailed with absurdist resignation, “And it’s one, two, three, what are we fighting for?” — a question many conservatives are asking themselves today.
The Miers nomination may prove to be a wake-up call so energizing the Republican base that they rise in revolt, scuttling the nomination and demanding that Bush fulfill his promise to name a Scalia or a Thomas. That seemed unlikely at first, but the uprising seems to be gaining surprising momentum.
Then there’s this:
Survey USA poll today indicates that 44% of self-described conservatives have a “favorable” impression of Harriet Miers as opposed to only 12% who have an “unfavorable” impression. (45% don’t have an opinion.)
Good news for the White House?
Not exactly. Two weeks ago, CNN/Gallup’s poll showed 58% of self-identified conservatives describing the Miers nomination as “excellent” or “good.” (29% thought it “fair” or “poor.”)
Perhaps Bush will try to make nice with the base by championing term limits and a balanced budget amendment. The Congressional Republicans won’t like that — that stuff was for when Democrats were in charge — but Bush has made clear that he doesn’t much care what Congressional Republicans think . . . .