Ass Kissing

Since I've already Fristed myself in this post, I might as well go ahead and take a look at this quote (which is all the rage today) from Ozzie's mom via a psychotherapeutic angle:

NY Times:

"You are the best governor ever - deserving of great respect," Harriet E. Miers wrote to George W. Bush days after his 51st birthday in July 1997. She also found him "cool," said he and his wife, Laura, were "the greatest!" and told him: "Keep up the great work. Texas is blessed."

I have two theories on this drippy sugar. First. Miers knows how to butter em' up. In other words, she doesn't mean a word of it but is a master at reading the situation and manipulating a self-centered man to keep her job. This would be generally good news for liberals because it would indicate that she may truly be an unknown ideologically. Put another way, in this scenario, just because she's kissed Bush's ass doesn't mean she's a right-wing religious ideologue. In fact there's evidence quite the contrary.

The other theory centers around her actually meaning what she said. I would consider this to be a classic case of co-dependency. For anyone unfamiliar with this term, it's a pop psychology term for an individual who is extremely self-centered, but uses caring for others as the tool to satisfy themselves. It's also just the flip side of the coin of Bush, who uses aggressive tactics to satisfy himself. Peas in a pod if you will, but strategizing interpersonally in such a way as to massage each other's needs.

If the second theory is true, what does that mean about Harriet Miers as a Supreme Court judge? I think it means that she would likely join the court, read the interpersonal dynamics and adjust accordingly. If the relationships on the court are dominated by Scalia and his ilk, it would be bad news. In a split court, it would likely mean taking on a Sandra Day O'Connor's role, namely mediating and balancing between competing factions.

One thing that is hopeful in either scenario. Miers did give Al Gore money and has been a registered Democrat. There is some evidence that, at her core, she may be moderate.

I'm gonna really go out on a limb here. It's not uncommon for major life-events to have major life-changing consequence. There may be nothing more healing of a dependent nature than a life-time appointment in one of the three major branches of government. It would not surprise me for an older co-dependent such as Miers to "find her voice" in a highly secure job that carries much power and responsibility. If that were to occur, watch out. She could rebel against all that ass-kissing she's been doing and make Earl Warren look like Jesse Helms.

We can only hope, eh?