Harriet Miers withdrew her nomination to be a Supreme Court justice Thursday in the face of stiff opposition and mounting criticism about her qualifications.

President Bush said he reluctantly accepted her decision to withdraw, after weeks of insisting that he did not want her to step down. He blamed her withdrawal on calls in the Senate for the release of internal White House documents that the administration has insisted were protected by executive privilege.

"It is clear that senators would not be satisfied until they gained access to internal documents concerning advice provided during her tenure at the White House -- disclosures that would undermine a president's ability to receive candid counsel," Bush said. "Harriet Miers' decision demonstrates her deep respect for this essential aspect of the constitutional separation of powers -- and confirms my deep respect and admiration for her."

Miers' surprise withdrawal stunned Washington on a day when the capital was awaiting news on another front -- the possible indictment of senior White House aides in the CIA leak case.

Miers told the president she was withdrawing at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Now we're going to get somebody we really can't stand or Darth Vader, unless "Bush on the ropes" becomes conciliatory because of Rowegate.

Nah. It isn't in Bush's character to be concilitory because he is deluded into believing that he has a mandate.

Update: President Bush in a statement essentially blamed Congress for asking for internal papers Miers was responsible for, and that violated separation of powers, and he commended her for her commitment to separation of powers by withdrawing. Her letter is here.

More update: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX) is speaking on the floor of the Senate about how Miers' withdrawal shows Miers' commitment to protecting executive privilege.

What a crock.