Bush dumps Harriet Miers
Facing the likelihood of spending much of his time in the near future in front of judge and jury, Bush has sent his long-time legal counsel, Harriet Miers, away.
Her replacement, Fred Fielding, previously served in the Reagan and Nixon administrations and was recruited to stave off congressional oversight from the newly empowered Democratic majorities on Capitol Hill.
Fielding was instrumental in the effort to fend off the Watergate investigation - though he never became tainted by the scandal, the Washington Post notes. Don't expect Representatives Waxman, Conyers, Dingell, and other veterans to be intimidated, though.
"Bush advisers inside and outside the White House concluded she was not equipped... and that the president needed someone who can strongly defend his prerogatives."Bush's prerogatives will largely be avoiding personal indictment or the discovery of embarrassing information. Miers apparently does not have the legal mind for the job - despite Bush's unqualified endorsement of her for an even more prestigious and demanding position back in 2005 - that of a United States Supreme Court Justice.
Her replacement, Fred Fielding, previously served in the Reagan and Nixon administrations and was recruited to stave off congressional oversight from the newly empowered Democratic majorities on Capitol Hill.
Fielding was instrumental in the effort to fend off the Watergate investigation - though he never became tainted by the scandal, the Washington Post notes. Don't expect Representatives Waxman, Conyers, Dingell, and other veterans to be intimidated, though.
