Schumer to W's Rescue

Sen. Chuck Schumer has just given President Bush an early Christmas gift: A way out of the MIers mess:

WASHINGTON (AP) - A Democrat on the Senate committee that will consider Harriet Miers' nomination said Sunday that President Bush's Supreme Court choice lacks the votes now to be confirmed, saying there are too many questions about her qualifications.

"If you held the vote today, she would not get a majority either in the Judiciary Committee or the floor," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York. On the 18-member GOP-controlled committee, "there are one or two who said they'd support her as of now."

This is a chance for the President to look like the big man and say something along the lines of "While I continue to support my friend Harriet Miers' nomination to the Supreme Court, it's clear now that the political opposition is ready to mount enough of a fight that her confirmation is unlikely. Therefore, I have withdrawn her nomination."

He does not need to add that most of the "political opposition" to Miers is within his own party. No need to go there, just let everyone draw whatever conclusions they want to draw. He would have to add some niceties about her character in accepting the defeat with grace and would have to make it look like this was as much her choice as his, but the bottom line is she would be out and he would get a much-needed do-over.

Mr. President, one of your bitterest foes has given you a golden opportunity here to right a bad choice. Take it.