Harriet the meek

...But the noxious mix of sad, retro ideas about women that have been packed into her nomination, plus the always rampant cronyism that rewards loyalty over competence, is becoming more than alarming. God, this administration, and particularly this president, is messed up about women. We're frequently told how much he loves 'em -- loves 'em! Certainly he surrounds himself with them -- Karen Hughes, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Miers are among his closest advisors. He went to war to liberate them in Afghanistan (though they'll likely have fewer rights in the new Iraq than they did before, but hey, you can't have everything -- women especially know that!). Now he's proudly sending another woman to the Supreme Court, to fill the shoes of retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. But Miers is another example of Bush trying to use feminism politically while in fact sending very mixed messages: Good women come to power by doing what they're told, along with, in this case, taking good care of George W.

Maureen Dowd examined it first and best Wednesday morning, but I still can't stop wondering: How does this man get so many strong women to minister to him, personally and politically? First there's librarian Laura, next comes Karen Hughes, who gave up her family to move to Washington with Bush, then famously went home to Texas for about a minute, and is now traveling the globe selling the president's befuddled ideas about Islam to Muslims. And of course there's Condi, lovely and single and like a daughter to Bush (although she allegedly called him her "husband" once in public), vacationing with him and his family in Crawford, Texas, and at Camp David, always available. Finally, there's Miers, a bachelorette just like Condi, and true blue to her boss, maybe even a little bit love-struck. She told David Frum he's the most "brilliant" man she's ever met, and if that's not love, it's drugs, because "brilliant" isn't a word thrown around a lot about Bush. As Dowd wrote, "W. loves being surrounded by tough women who steadfastly devote their entire lives to doting on him, like the vestal virgins guarding the sacred fire, serving as custodians for his values and watchdogs for his reputation."

In a three-day spin cycle jampacked with creepy moments as the administration tries to stand by, and stand up for, its woman, the worst for me came Tuesday, when Bush touted Miers this way: "I know her well enough to be able to say that she's not going to change, that 20 years from now she'll be the same person with the same philosophy that she is today." Yuck. George, maybe you want to marry a gal like that, I'm not sure, but I know that's not what we're looking for on the Supreme Court.

Has Miers really Botoxed her values? Put her curiosity and independence in a blind trust (like the first President Bush, according to Garry Trudeau, so famously did with his manhood)? That seems to be what the president is promising. And he's promising the right something else: Despite her record of "firsts" -- first woman bar association president in Texas, first to lead her law firm -- she's an old-fashioned, nurturing woman who puts others first...

Watch ad, read for free: http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2005/10/06/miers/index.html

Stubborn doesn't equal strong. Loyalty doesn't equal strong. Strong means you can decide what is right and what is wrong, and if it's wrong, say so, and let the chips fall where they may.

Strong means you argue with the fool, get him to change his foolish ways, or go around and stop him from doing harm.

Strong means you don't eat bullshit for breakfast, lunch and supper and enjoy it, not even pretend.

Strong means that you have a private life that is rewarding and free of work.

Strong means you serve the public and the republic for which it stands, not some sorry excuse for a human being.

Strong means you discriminate the goats from the lambs.

Strong means you have some principles to guide you, not someone else's.

"He will not always say
What you would have him say,
But now and then he'll say
Something Wonderful.

The thoughtless things he'll do
Will hurt and worry you
But now and then he'll do
Something Wonderful.

He has a thousand dreams
That won't come true.
You know that he believes in them
And that's enough for you.

You'll always go along
Defend him when he's wrong,
And tell him when he's strong
He is wonderful.
He'll always need your love,
and so he'll get your love.
A man who needs your love
Can be wonderful!"

Sung by Head Wife about King of Siam (remember Yul Brenner?)

Makes you want to gag, doesn't it?