Miers nomination withdrawn.

Earlier this morning, Harriet Ellan Miers withdrew her nomination for the Supreme Court seat of retiring Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. It was in Miers' best interest to pull out when she did, avoiding a bruising nomination battle that appeared likely to end in defeat. At the same time, Miers is also taking a bullet for an administration that lacks the political capital to simultaneously keep an embattled Supreme Court nominee's head above water and run damage control on looming indictments in the Valerie Plame affair. By withdrawing her nomination, Harriet Miers has affirmed in a very public and highly poignant way her loyalty to a President she dubiously dubbed "brilliant." However, I wonder about her private feelings toward a boss who subjected her to professional humiliation of the worst kind. On balance, I think it's safe to say that Harriet Miers did the right thing in withdrawing her nomination. Nonetheless, I can't help but feel bad for her. AMDG.