Gee, it can't be good when Arlen Specter is skeptical of Harriet Miers' grasp of constitutional questions.

Though Mr. Specter called Ms. Miers "intellectually able," he said she had a "fair-sized job to do" to become fluent in the language of constitutional law, which will be essential for senators who want to examine her judicial philosophy in deciding whether to confirm her.

"She needs more than murder boards," Mr. Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, said in an interview, referring to the mock question-and-answer sessions most nominees use to prepare for their confirmation hearings. "She needs a crash course in constitutional law."

Ouch! Hardly a sterling recommendation. Is he downplaying her skills because he just assumes she doesn't know these things or does he have some knowledge of her ignorance?

The White House is reportedly compiling a dossier detailing everything that Harriet Miers had done and said on public record from her earliest days in Dallas. Wouldn't you think that they would already have had that ready? They seem so incredibly flat-footed on all elements of this, from not having anticipated the backlash among conservatives to sending Dan Coats out to speak in her favor before he'd even met her. Having Ed Gillepsie go out and talk about elitism and misogynist bias was also incredibly dumb. It's so discouraging that Bush first made a nomination that would tick off his base without any sort of preparation and then that they can't get organized to do their job of selling her any better than this. I want to have faith that she will be a good nominee and Justice, but they're making it awfully hard on us.