It's only been a few months since Republicans launched a TV ad campaign demanding that Democrats give John Roberts a "fair up or down vote." That was the only "fair" thing to do in a democracy, they bellowed with righteous indignation.
Now, however, a fair up or down vote is out of the question. They have launched a full-court press to get Miers to withdraw. This is just dripping with irony, which, of course, the Republicans don't see, because if they did they'd have to be ashamed.
Here are some quotes from the summer -- compiled at mydd:
http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/10/25/05237/124#readmore"Every President, Republican or Democrat, deserves to have his nominees voted on. Every Senator has a responsibility to exercise his or her constitutional duty to vote on the President's nominees, and every nominee deserves a hearing, a committee vote, and an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor."
Sen. Elizabeth Dole (NC), November 13, 2003
"All of the president's nominees--both now and in the future--deserve a fair up or down vote..."
Sen. Sam Brownback (KS), May 24, 2005
"Throughout this debate, we have held firm to a simple principle -- judicial nominees deserve up-or-down votes. Vote for them. Vote against them. But give them the courtesy of a vote."
Sen. Bill Frist (TN), April 28, 2005
"The President's nominees deserve a fair up or down vote."
Speaker of the House, Rep. Dennis Hastert (IL-14), May 18, 2005