It looks like the White House is up to its old tricks again these days. Just as the screws are beginning to turn against the Republican Party for its legal woes and ethical lapses, President Bush has signalled that he will try to turn the nation's attention towards the battle over a judicial nomination, as
Mike Allen and Matthew Cooper note towards the end of their article on Bush's relationship with Tom DeLay in this week's issue of
Time magazine.
Republican officials say they are so worried about the Abramoff problem that they are now inclined to stoke a fight with Democrats over the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court in an effort to turn the page from the lobbying investigation. Outside groups plan to spend heavily, and the White House will engage in some tit for tat with Democrats as the hearings heat up.
This tactic is nothing new for the Bush White House. In
July 2005, just as the media began to place increased focus on the investigation into the Valerie Plame leak (it emerged that Karl Rove had spoken with Matt Cooper about Plame, Judith Miller went to jail, and, Bush shifted his position on firing those implicated), Bush announced the nomination of John Roberts to the Supreme Court. Just over two months later, during the same week in which House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was indicted for conspiracy and money laundering and the Security and Exchange Commission commenced a probe into potential insider trading by Senate Majority Leader, President Bush hastily announced that he had nominated Harriet Miers to serve on the Supreme Court.
While it certainly would be unwise to lay down on Samuel Alito without a fight at this moment -- it is essential that Democrats and progressives ensure that a rabid conservative is not allowed to dictate his views from the Supreme Court -- just the same, it would be a strategic mistake to allow President Bush to distract Americans from serious Republican problems. Undoubtedly, a balance can be found between the two to ensure that a sufficient fight is put up against Alito while at the same time the public is educated about the degree to which Washington has become compromised under Republican control.
