Miers rules herself out

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Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, fiercely criticized by conservatives as unqualified, abruptly withdrew her name from consideration yesterday. President Bush said he will make a new nomination "in a timely manner."

Both Mr. Bush and Miss Miers, the White House counsel, cited senators' calls for internal administration documents as the main factor for her decision.

"It is clear that senators would not be satisfied until they gained access to internal documents concerning advice provided during her tenure at the White House -- disclosures that would undermine a president's ability to receive candid counsel," Mr. Bush said.

But Democrats -- including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who had suggested to Mr. Bush that he nominate Miss Miers to the Supreme Court -- blamed right-wing conservatives for Miss Miers' demise.

"The radical right wing of the Republican Party killed the Harriet Miers nomination," said Mr. Reid, of Nevada. "Apparently, Ms. Miers did not satisfy those who want to pack the Supreme Court with rigid ideologues."

For more than three weeks, conservative interest groups and pundits have said Miss Miers, who has never served in the judiciary, lacked a clear record of conservative jurisprudence and could fail to provide a strict constructionist voice on the court, as Mr. Bush promised. Republican senators had deemed Miss Miers unimpressive after meeting privately with her.

The president said he "reluctantly accepted" Miss Miers' withdrawal and said obstinate senators caused it, but as early as last week, the White House had begun making contingency plans for the move, The Washington Times reported Saturday.

After the morning announcement, Republicans circled the wagons, with some lamenting Miss Miers' downfall and others urging the president to move forward by quickly nominating a replacement for the slot being vacated by retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which had scheduled confirmation hearings for Miss Miers to begin Nov. 7, said, "This is a sad episode."

Just two weeks ago, Mr. Specter had said a Miers withdrawal would be "a sign of incredible weakness."