Harriet Miers Leaving The White House

Bush Accepts Resignation Of Legal Adviser And Failed Supreme Court Nominee

(AP)  Harriet Miers, President Bush's failed Supreme Court nominee, has submitted her resignation as White House counsel, the White House announced Thursday.

White House press secretary Tony Snow said the president reluctantly accepted her resignation, which takes effect Jan. 31. He said a search for a successor is under way.

Bush nominated Miers in October 2005 to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. But Miers dropped out under fire from conservatives who questioned her qualifications and would not support her.

Asked why she was leaving, Snow said: "Basically, she has been here six years."

"As somebody said earlier today 'She put 12 years of service into six years,"' Snow said.

Snow said Miers' departure did not signal the beginning of an exodus of senior officials after six bruising years at the White House. Asked if other officials were poised to go, Snow said, "I'm aware of none and anticipate none."

He said Miers, a loyal adviser to the president for years, has been having conversations with white House chief of staff Joshua Bolten about leaving for some time and both of them agreed that it was time for a change at the White House office of legal counsel.

"Harriet is one of the most beloved people here at the White House," Snow said, adding that she was a scrupulous lawyer who aggressively defended the Constitution.

As White House counsel, Miers works behind-the-scenes overseeing a team of attorneys who provide legal advice to Bush on matters large and small. But when Bush picked her to fill an opening at the Supreme Court, she became a household name, albeit briefly. Her background and every word were scrutinized. Television cameras rolled as she walked up Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers charged with confirming her as a justice.

Her short-lived tenure as nominee was dashed when conservatives in judicial circles protested her nomination, and, eventually, the White House withdrew her nomination. Ironically, one of her chief tasks as counsel was to vet potential nominees for openings on the federal bench — and the Supreme Court.

"Participating in the process to help identify the best nominees for the American people has been among the most rewarding of my experiences," Miers wrote Bush in a resignation letter dated Thursday. "Your commitment to nominating judges who will interpret the law and who know the proper role of a judge has made this nation stronger and our justice system fairer."

[duffyshort]

As a committed male that supports feminist ideals, I have no problems declaring that Harriet Miers is a joke on the political landscape that won't be forgotten soon. Her gushing letters to George W. Bush as governor and beyond either make her quite a master manipulator of a doltish Bush or an idiot in the first degree.......RR

[st3v3p]

Harriet Miers was an excellent public servant to the people of the United States and the Office of the President. I suspect that if Justice Sandra Day O'Connor had waited to retire until afer this congress convened I conject she would have had support from both sides of the aisle and would have been confirmed. The Executive Branch's Chief Counsel will be sorely missed though by many of us at least who are grateful for her service.

[nyckate]

To st3v3p - I think that too many of the current staffers in the Bush White House have confused their loyalties - they chose Bush over the Nation and there is no way Miers has been a strong defender of the Constitution when the guy she advises regularly circumvents and who's known view of it is that its 'just a g-dam piece of paper'. No - Harriet Miers served George Bush well but not the Office of President nor the nation.

[jhindson1]

Great !! Now she will probably be appointed to some high office before Bush gets thrown out in *08. Secretary of State will be available soon after Condi quits.

[duffyshort]

I think st3v3p is from the west wing of the White House can someone do some research on that and report back....PS That Medal of Freedom is probably in the works along with the ambassadorship to any english speaking country as Harriet has requested.......RR

[clestes-2009]

No great loss here.

[huskerarmy]

Once it was revealed that she had once referred to Dubya as "...the most brilliant man" she'd ever met, her fait was sealed. I can see her teaching at a community college, a two year school, not four...

[mhanif76-2009]

Another tick out of Bush's coat...

[mbburch06]

huskerarmy, you criticize Bush's intelligence but cannot spell "fate?" Anyone see the irony here? Perhaps you should be attending a community college!

[pendragon679]

Yet another sign that the Bush ship of state is sinking. . .the rats are leaving.

[exusmcsgt]

Miers is touted by the White House as a staunch defender of the U.S. Constitution.

Bubba obviously ignored her when it came to the Patriot Act and his domestic spy programs......

[exusmcsgt]

mbburch06-

Not to worry. Bubba can't spell fate either. Hell, he can't even SAY nuclear!

[st3v3p]

Hope we are having fun folks. I am not part of the White House but go ahead and check. I did live some time in the Capitol Area and made a few friends including the two royal families the Kennedys and the Bushes as well as many other fine folks on both sides of the aisle yet consider myself pretty much middle of the road unlike perhaps some of the contributors and will point out unfair statements on either side including their loyal friends. Kindly, Steve Pardee