Talk of the Town

The Washington Post has collected a steady stream of quotes on Harriet Miers (pictured here with President Bush in 2001) withdrawing her nomination for the Supreme Court. Among them:

"This is a sad episode." -- Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) (left) -- he said on October 11 that it would be "a sign of incredible weakness" if Bush withdrew the nomination.

"I do not believe that this nomination was withdrawn simply because of the president's refusal to release White House documents. That is a fig leaf to cover the real problem which was a badly mismanaged and rush nomination." -- Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) (right)

"In a month, who will remember the name Harriet Miers?" --Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) (left)

"When his party turned on him (President Bush), he was in trouble and she was in trouble."-- Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)(right)

"Various groups, particularly on the Republican side, didn't give her the opportunity to share why she's qualified." -- Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH)

“It's a telling statement about the instability and ideological confusion facing the White House and the Republican Party." -- Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) (WashPost)