Interview with Senator Patrick Leahy
BLITZER: Here are some looks at some of the hot shots coming from the Associated Press, pictures likely to be in your hometown newspapers tomorrow. In Montana, winter storm soccer match. The athletic director at the State University in Billings rolls giant snowballs off the field to clear the way for the game. In California, firefighters on the scene. Several thousand acres have gone up in flames. In Bali, Indonesia, prayers after the weekend bombings. These girls celebrate the Hindu holy day of Galungan, or victory over evil. And in Germany, a polar bear takes in a sun bath and a little relaxation at a zoo. Better than a day at the spa. Today's hot shots. Thanks to those photographers. While many conservatives are up in arms over the president's pick for the Supreme Court, some key Democrats seem unperturbed. The nominee -- the White House counsel, Harriet Miers -- has been meeting with Republicans and Democrats. Yesterday, she met with Senator Patrick Leahy. He's the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. Senator Leahy is joining us now live from Capitol Hill. Senator, thanks very much for joining us. Listen to what your leader, Harry Reid, said on the Senate floor Tuesday.</s>SEN. HARRY REID, (D) NEVADA, SENATE MINORITY LEADER: Even at this early stage of the confirmation process, I will say that I am impressed by what I know about Harriet Miers.</s>BLITZER: Senator Leahy, are you as enthusiastic about Harriet Miers as Senator Reid is?</s>SEN. PATRICK LEAHY, (D) VERMONT: You know, I've been here with 13 nominations to the Supreme Court since I first came to the Senate. I learned long ago what you do is you wait till the hearing's over and then you make up your determination whether you're for or against a person. I find it interesting the number of people who jumped out almost the first day after John Roberts was announced -- actually for the same seat that Harriet Miers has now been nominated for. They jumped out and said, this is the person we're all for him, and now the second person's nominated for the same seat, they're expressing some concerns. I would urge everybody, why don't you let the process go forward. We know very, very little about her. The president says he's known her for ten years. We're going to be lucky to have ten weeks to really get to know who she is before we vote. Why don't we wait till it's over and make up your minds.</s>BLITZER: You were on CNN on AMERICAN MORNING on July 12th. You had some interesting comments. The president referred to them yesterday. Listen to this.</s>LEAHY: I talked, as each of us have, with a number of the current justices. I know they see a number of benefits that could come to having somebody from outside the judicial monastery.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH: One of the most interesting ideas I heard was, why don't you pick somebody who hasn't been a judge? Why don't you reach outside the -- I think one senator said the judicial monastery. I thought it's an interesting idea.</s>BLITZER: You're smiling, Senator Leahy. Is Harriet Miers your idea?</s>LEAHY: You know, the president called me -- I was up in Vermont on Monday -- to talk to me about this nomination. He said remember, Pat, you're the one that gave me the judicial monastery thing. I probably should have said, outside the judicial monastery, maybe even outside the White House complex. But the basic concept is one I suggested to President Reagan, to former President Bush, to President Clinton. None of them took me up on it. I think it is good to have somebody who has not been a judge but who's been extremely distinguished in legal fields in other areas, who might come in on the court. We've had past precedents: Hugo Black was an example of that. Earl Warren was an example. A number of other people, noted law professors -- and they improved the Supreme Court by doing that.</s>BLITZER: Senator, you met with her yesterday. Were you impressed by what you heard when you asked her? I assume you asked her about Roe vs. Wade, abortion rights for women. Did you?</s>LEAHY: No, I didn't. I told her I will probably have to meet a couple more times. This was sort of an initial meeting. I did not know her well, even though I think she's met before with a lot of the members of the Judiciary Committee. I really had only one talk of any in-depth with her before. This was just the beginning. I wanted to have some idea of how she viewed the court, how she viewed the role of a Supreme Court justice. I told her, as I think Senator Specter did, that both he and I would have some very real questions about cases coming forward, judicial philosophy, how somebody might rule. Now, one thing that did impress me -- I did ask her about the fact that some have been going out and saying, "Well, we can say for sure -- we have total assurances she'll vote this way or that way, whether it's on Roe vs. Wade or anything else." She told me that nobody has the authority to speak for her. She has not authorized anybody to make such statements. She disavows such statements, whether -- I think it was Dr. Dobson and others who have been saying that -- and understands that, of course, a nominee has to be independent, even of the president who appointed him or her.</s>BLITZER: Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family. Thanks very much, Senator Leahy, for joining us. Do you know when the hearings are going to start?</s>LEAHY: We're still trying to work that out. This is a very busy time during the Senate. And it could be December.</s>BLITZER: Well, they want her confirmed by Thanksgiving I thought.</s>LEAHY: I want her confirmed once we know a lot more about her. The president has had 10 years to learn who she is. I want to have at least 10 weeks to find out who she is.</s>BLITZER: Senator Patrick Leahy, thanks very much for joining us. Coming up, Katrina aftershocks. A month and a half since the hurricane struck. Our Ali Velshi standing by. He'll explain what's going on right now. Plus, she made news wherever she went. So where is she now? I'll have the latest chapter in the Cindy Sheehan saga. That's coming up in our "Political Radar." Stay with us.