Mmmmmmmmm, Burger

Eric Muller notes what may be the best evidence yet of Miers’ utter lack of qualifications:

Today’s Washington Post:

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In an initial chat with Miers, according to several people with knowledge of the exchange, Leahy asked her to name her favorite Supreme Court justices. Miers responded with “Warren” — which led Leahy to ask her whether she meant former Chief Justice Earl Warren, a liberal icon, or former Chief Justice Warren Burger, a conservative who voted for Roe v. Wade . Miers said she meant Warren Burger, the sources said.”
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Did she also say she’s a big fan of Horace, Willis, and Mahlon?

What an absurd answer. On every level. It is absurd to think that she typically refers to Supreme Court justices by their first names. It is absurd to think that Earl Warren is one of her favorite justices. And it is absurd to think that any astute student of the Court would view the disorganized, vain, petulant, and mediocre Warren Burger as a favorite.

It is, indeed, impossible to know which answer would be more embarassing; either she doesn’t really know anything about Earl Warren, or she admires one of the most notorious hacks in the recent history of the Court. Or maybe she thought that Warren Zevon served briefly as an associate justice while waiting for a record deal. In fairness, maybe it’s just that what little knowledge she’s obtained about the Supreme Court comes from King of the Hill, and she admires Earl Warren for breaking the glass ceiling:

HANK: I thought you were busy teaching girls to blow up basketballs. When did this turn into a desire to ruin wrestling?
PEGGY: Oh, give me a break. I don’t see how having a girl on the team would ruin it. Did a woman judge ruin the Supreme Court?
HANK: Yes, and that woman’s name was Earl Warren.

From a stragetic perspective, I continue to believe that Miers is not a terrible option for progressives, for a reason Matt sums up pointedly: “…far and away the most important thing about a Supreme Court justice is the way he or she votes.” But certainly, this profoundly embarassing nomination tells you pretty much all you need to know about George W. Bush’s management abilites.

…iocaste notes this Althouse post, which says that according to the National Review Leahy cut her off; she was actually trying to praise Burger’s adminsitrative abilities. Leaving aside how trusworthy you consider NRO’s anonymous sources, this really doesn’t help; Burger’s administration was generally considered even worse than his jurisprudence…