Cheney to Limbaugh: Miers “has a conservative judicial philosophy that you would be comfortable with, Rush”

Written by Jeremy Schulman

Published

limbaugh-200510030004

limbaugh-200510030004.mp3

In an October 3 interview, Vice President Dick Cheney assured nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh that Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers “has a conservative judicial philosophy that you [Limbaugh] would be comfortable with.” After Limbaugh suggested that Democrats “are ripe to be buried,” Cheney responded, “We're working on it.” He added, “You'll be proud of Harriet's record, Rush. Trust me.”

It is not clear what Cheney was referring to, but Limbaugh has hinted at a “judicial philosophy” he might be “comfortable with”:

  • Defying Bush's call to “tone down the heated rhetoric,” Limbaugh referred to Supreme Court justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer as “socialist wackos.”
  • Limbaugh on abortion rights activists: the “original feminazis” who believe every abortion that doesn't happen “is a setback for the cause.”
  • Limbaugh on abuse of Iraqi prisoners: U.S. guards were “having a good time,” “blow[ing] some steam off.”
  • Limbaugh: prisoner abuse possibly a “brilliant maneuver”; “reaction” to it “is an example of the feminization of this country.”
  • Limbaugh on conditions for detainees at Guantánamo Bay: “It's a tropical paradise down there where Muslim extremists and terrorist wannabes can get together for rest and relaxation.”

From the October 3 broadcast of The Rush Limbaugh Show:

LIMBAUGH: Let me jump right in on the Supreme Court nomination of Harriet Miers. Mr. Vice President, there's a lot of concern out there among the president's supporters that her judicial philosophy is unknown. Because, obviously, she's not been a judge. Do you know what her judicial philosophy is? And how can the public be convinced -- the president's supporters be convinced -- that it parallels the philosophy of [justices] Antonin Scalia or Clarence Thomas, as the president had said, during campaigns, was his objective?

CHENEY: Right, well I'm confidant that she has a conservative judicial philosophy that you would be comfortable with, Rush. I've worked closely with Harriet for five years. I've seen her and worked closely with her -- hand and glove with her, really -- through this process of reviewing candidates for the Supreme Court. And that's how we got to the Roberts nomination. She believes very deeply in the importance of interpreting the Constitution and the laws as written. She won't legislate from the federal bench. And the president has great confidence in her judicial philosophy, has known her for many years. I share that confidence based on my own personal experience.

[...]

LIMBAUGH: I think they [Democrats] are all losing it. I think it [Rep. Charlie Rangel's (D-NY) controversial comment comparing President Bush to Bull Connor] is an example of how they are just -- been totally discombobulated and disjointed. They are all losing it. That's why people think they are ripe to be buried, Mr. Vice President.

CHENEY: Well, we're working on it. You'll be proud of Harriet's record, Rush. Trust me.