This is Who We Want on the U.S. Supreme Court?????

A couple of weeks ago, President Bush made, in the opinion of The Shadow, one of the dumbest appointments he ever could have made. He appointed Harriet Miers to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the United States Supreme Court.

Let me set the record clear right now. The Shadow is not saying, directly or indirectly, that Ms. Miers is unqualified to serve on the high court. The Shadow is not defaming her character or professional qualifications. But The Shadow does wonder what was the president thinking when he appointed her.

Ms. Miers has never served as a sitting judge. She has served as president of the Texas Bar Association. She has had a "unique" relationship with a sitting member of the Texas Supreme Court. And she has been in President Bush's inner circle for the past 10 years.

In fact, in 1997, according to CNN.com, she sent Bush -- who was then governor of Texas -- a belated birthday card in which she called Bush "the best Governor ever".

The Shadow has to wonder -- with all of the sitting judges on the U.S. District Court and Courts of Appeal -- we could not find a more qualified person to fill this vacancy on the Supreme Court. This is one appointment that speaks of favoritism.

The Shadow will watch this one closely. But with many conservatives and others wondering about her qualifications, I would think that the best thing that Harriet Miers can do for herself and the country right now is to withdraw. If the president wants to reward her to a judgeship, there are plenty of vacancies on the U.S. District court that she could fill.