Harriet Miers Withdraws as Supreme Court Nominee

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Harriet Miers- withdrawal as a US Supreme Court nominee became public this morning when the White House released two letters exchanged between her and President Bush. She says acted to protect the White House from Congressional probing, but others contend she lacked enough votes in the Senate, and Democrats say she was driven out by the Republican right wing. Whatever the reason, Bush is faced with another tough choice at a difficult time in his second term presidency. Will the President go to the mainstream or turn right and provoke a confrontation with Democrats? Would that divert attention from possible White House indictments and lagging support for the war in Iraq? We hear from journalists, evangelicals, advocates of women-s rights, political scientists and legal experts. Reporter's Notebook: Volcker Releases Final Report on UN Oil-for-Food ProgramSanctions were designed to weaken Saddam Hussein, and the $64 billion Oil-for-Food Program was supposed to ease the burden on the Iraqi people. Instead, United Nations mismanagement allowed him to gain strength by widespread corruption. Half of the 4500 participants paid almost $2 billion in kickbacks and illegal charges. Evelyn Leopold is covering the final report of special investigator Paul Volcker for Reuters.
Other potential nominees to US Supreme Court discussed on today's segment:

Miers' withdrawal letter (from BBC)

President Bush's statement on Miers withdrawal

Newsweek article on Miers' withdrawal

Darman-s article on Miers and evangelicals- opposition to her

Biskupic's article on Republican senators, Miers

Report on the Manipulation of the UN Oil-for-Food Program

UN's Iraq Oil-for-Food Program

Leopold's article on Oil-for-Food probe

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney