Favorable or Unfavorable #72: Robert Bork

[vcczar]

Robert Bork is a rare SC reject who never held elected or confirmed office w/ at least 5 actions. He has some near actions based on comments, but they aren't really related to his role. For instance, he publicly opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but he had not office or name recognition for his opinion to have mattered at that time. 

In 1973, Nixon ordered the firing of Archibald Cox who was investigating the Nixon admin. Bork became acting Att Gen because his two superiors resigned rather than carry out Nixon's orders. Bork believed that a president's orders must be carried out. Bork's action here made him unpopular for the rest of his career. In 1976, the CIA Dir spot goes to GHW Bush. 

The 1986 and 1987 SC vacancies are interesting. In 1986, the Senate had more GOP members than in 1987. In an alternate history, Bork might have been confired and Scalia rejected, although Scalia was never unpopular in the way Bork was. 

For 2005, we have to remember that Miers had basically no experience to justify her nomination to the SC and she was sort of just a family friend of the Bush's. This was probably the most bone-headed SC nomination, possibly in US history. I suspect Bork's criticism here is mostly on thos grounds, rather than ideological grounds.

His actions:

Bork, Robert	1973	Carries out Nixon's orders to fire Cox when two would rather resign during Saturday Night Massacre
Bork, Robert	1975	promised the SC vacancy for firing Cox, but Ford is now pres
Bork, Robert	1976	Ford's initial choice for CIA Dir but advised Bork is too unpopular
Bork, Robert	1986	Considered for SC by Reagan, who ultimately goes with Scalia
Bork, Robert	1987	Nom to SC by Reagan, but is blocked
Bork, Robert	2005	Public criticism of Bush SC nom of Harriet Miers "Disaster on every level"

[OrangeP47]

9 minutes ago, vcczar said:

The 1986 and 1987 SC vacancies are interesting. In 1986, the Senate had more GOP members than in 1987. In an alternate history, Bork might have been confired and Scalia rejected, although Scalia was never unpopular in the way Bork was. 

To be fair, even to this day, many across the aisle don't exactly dislike Scalia, he was someone you could disagree with.  We'll never know what he'd do in the current shitshow climate, but that does protect his legacy.

[Pringles]

What’s funny to me about Miers, (somewhat unrelated) is that Harry Reid and a few other big name Dems are supposedly the ones who recommended her to Bush. Harry Reid, and Pat Leahy both voiced support for a nominee who would’ve been outside the US court of appeals.

[vcczar]

3 minutes ago, Pringles said:

What’s funny to me about Miers, (somewhat unrelated) is that Harry Reid and a few other big name Dems are supposedly the ones who recommended her to Bush. Harry Reid, and Pat Leahy both voiced support for a nominee who would’ve been outside the US court of appeals.

Did their support change after the nomination? I wonder if it was a ploy to get Bush a loss?

[Pringles]

10 minutes ago, vcczar said:

Did their support change after the nomination? I wonder if it was a ploy to get Bush a loss?

I’m not sure honestly. I do know that many conservatives criticized Bush over it, funnily enough even Bork himself. It took several days of questioning, criticism, and Lindsey Graham requesting relevant legal writings which Miers didn’t have to display, Bush withdrew it hastily.