Bush's Yes Men

A President should have his choice of judicial appointments, absent obvious ethical concerns.

So goes the line of argument expressed thousands of times by Republicans and conservatives.

And even with all of the fighting between GOP regulars and conservatives over the Miers nomination, most right-leaners would argue that giving the President - any President - his nominees is preferred.

For many conservatives, the nomination itself was a serious enough disappointment bordering on betrayal. It smacked of one of those all-too-smug strategies cooked up by puffed-up political insiders over 7&7’s and filet mignon late one night in a dimly lit corner of a Georgetown eatery. “This is freakin’ brilliant, guys (pause for puff on cigar). We can’t lose this one. They can take this nomination and go {blank} themselves.” "Themselves meaning Democrats, conservatives, or whomever else might not think it such an inspired idea.

But what really set conservatives to sharpening their spears followed. First, the President and his minions seemed unable to muster little more of a case for Miers than: (1) trust me, I’m GWB; (2) she’s an evangelical Christian, so trust me; and (3) she’s one of the most respected and accomplished women lawyers in the country. A collective and nationally audible “what?” followed.

Second, with a haphazard ferocity bordering on rage, the administration dispatched its minions to attack conservatives who did not snap into line. Now, in all fairness, George Will, David Frum, Ann Coulter, and other conservative writers may have started the bloodletting, but they are pundits! That’s what they do!

But here is the thing about the Bush Administration and those who are associated with it – nothing is more important than loyalty to Bush. Nothing. That’s fine at times, but it tends to make the hero being worshipped think he’s invincible. It also tends to make the underlings, obsessed with preserving their access and power through demonstrating loyalty, a little too smart for their own good over time.

It also breeds distrust on the outside, even among strong allies. For many conservatives who have labored for decades, they would rather fight their way across bloody political battlefields, sacrificing so much along the way, before they would kneel to kiss the ring of the king.

What Bush and his yes-men have done is expect that conservatives kiss the emperor’s ring and trot off to be good little boys and girls. “Trust me” should be a good enough explanation in their minds.

And here’s the ultimate irony in all of this. Set aside the fact that some in the White House yes-man corps are going to look like idiots for having bungled the communication of this (not the strategy, but the communication), what it does achieve for the yes-men is provide another opportunity to demonstrate their own personal loyalty to the President.

Where the administration also dropped the ball was in not recognizing an opportunity to take a deep breath, do an “aw shucks, we are all on the same team here,” and let conservatives begin to focus on the negatives in not supporting her. They’d have eventually come together. Instead, the President’s yes-men strike back at critics.

Laura Bush is trotted-out, smiling to suggest that sexism might be at play. The White House unleashes religious zealots Dobson and Robertson (or better put, didn’t muzzle them) to turn try and turn religious conservatives against the critics on the right. If they just had faith in the President and in Miers’ Christian’s values they’d support her. Shame on you godless establishment conservatives!