Lott: 'Not comfortable' with Miers' nomination

Add Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.) to the list of Republicans not entirely pleased with President Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court.

Lott, appearing on MSNBC-TV on Wednesday morning, told anchor Randy Meier that wants more information about Miers.

"I need to know a lot more about her, her experience and her level of competence and what is her philosophy. I really don't know this lady and I do think I owe it to my constituents and to my own conscience to do due diligence and find out actually who this person is," he said.

His first impression, however, was not a positive one.

"I don't just automatically salute or take a deep bow anytime a nominee is sent up," he said. "I have to find out who these people are, and right now, I'm not satisfied with what I know. I'm not comfortable with the nomination, so we'll just have to work through the process in due time."

Lott said while Miers may be qualified, she is "clearly" not the most qualified person for the job.

"There are a lot more people - men, women and minorities - that are more qualified in my opinion by their experience than she is," he said.

With all that in mind, Lott said he isn't ready to take President Bush's suggestion that she has the same judicial philosophy as he does.

"I have a lot of confidence in this president. I do think he has picked some really good nominees and like all of us, we make mistakes now and then, and it's our responsibility under the constitution in the Senate to review this nominee," Lott said.

"He's not the nominee, and it's not enough to just say 'Trust me.'"

MSNBC Live with Amy Robach and Randy Meier can be seen weekdays from 9 a.m.-Noon.

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