Side issue or side show?

Golly, I'm just not sure what to think...

In a series of heated exchanges with reporters at his daily news briefing that seemed to reflect the White House's frustration with the difficulties the nomination has encountered, Mr. McClellan said there had been too much focus by journalists on "side issues like religion" and not enough attention on "her record and her qualifications."

But geez, there sure are a lot of freaks in this side show...I mean, side issue.

To persuade the right to embrace Ms. Miers's selection despite her lack of a clear record on social issues, representatives of the White House put Justice Hecht on at least one conference call with influential social conservative organizers on Monday to talk about her faith and character.

Some evangelical Protestants were heralding the possibility that one of their own would have a seat on the court after decades of complaining that their brand of Christianity met condescension and exclusion from the American establishment.

In an interview Tuesday on the televangelist Pat Robertson's "700 Club," Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the Christian conservative American Center for Law and Justice, said Ms. Miers would be the first evangelical Protestant on the court since the 1930's. "So this is a big opportunity for those of us who have a conviction, that share an evangelical faith in Christianity, to see someone with our positions put on the court," Mr. Sekulow said.

But putting the freaks aside, preznit wouldn't, ya know, violate the U.S. Constitution would he? Gulp.

Bush: Miers' Religion Cited in Court Nod

By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer
24 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Wednesday that Harriet Miers' religious beliefs figured into her nomination to the Supreme Court as a top-ranking Democrat warned against any "wink and a nod" campaign for confirmation.

"People are interested to know why I picked Harriet Miers," Bush told reporters at the White House. "Part of Harriet Miers' life is her religion."

Bush, speaking at the conclusion of an Oval Office meeting with visiting Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, said that his advisers were reaching out to conservatives who oppose her nomination "just to explain the facts." He spoke on a day in which conservative James Dobson, founder of Focus on Family, said he had discussed the nominee's religious views with presidential aide Karl Rove.

It is a shame that everyone keeps focusing on the side show, making even Dear Reader's Iraq adventure look foolish.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 - In a videoconference linking him by satellite to a group of soldiers in Iraq, President Bush sought and won their assurances on Thursday that Iraqi forces are up to the job of helping American troops provide security for the voting there this weekend.

The event, stage-managed for television, came across as carefully scripted and a bit awkward, despite attempts to prepare the soldiers for what they would be asked and to give them time to think through their answers.

"How are they doing?" Mr. Bush asked one of the officers about the Iraqi security forces. "I mean, give us an assessment. One of the things, Captain, that people in America want to know is, one, do the Iraqis want to fight, and are they capable of fighting?"

Capt. Steven Pratt answered that "the Iraqi Army and police services, along with coalition support, have conducted many and multiple exercises and rehearsals." He called their cooperation and communication "impressive."

Reporters were allowed to observe the Washington side of the exchange in an office building on the White House grounds. There, Allison Barber, an aide to the secretary of defense, discussed the questions in advance with the group of 10 Americans and 1 Iraqi soldier assembled in Tikrit, as they decided who would answer which question.

"The president is looking forward to having just a conversation with you," she told them, according to The Associated Press. She described the subjects he would raise and gave instructions, including a request that water bottles be removed from the picture.

Later, at the White House briefing, Scott McClellan, the press secretary, deflected questions about the choreography, saying reporters who asked about that were getting caught up in "side issues."

These days, it's getting harder to tell the difference between the side show and the main event.

As an aside, it struck me today that maybe, just maybe, incompetence, poor judgment, and malfeasance are not improved by performing that way for "14 to 16 hours" a day.

Mr. Libby still arises in the wee hours each morning and puts in 14- to 16-hour days in Mr. Cheney's office. Mr. Rove, who left his house at 5:50 on Wednesday morning, has kept up his usual duties, Mr. McClellan said.

Maybe if they didn't work so hard at fucking up...oh, nevermind.