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For there were any number of potential nominees – Edith Jones of the Fifth Circuit, Michael Luttig of the Fourth (whose judicial records were stronger than Roberts' and whose battle scars as warrior-conservatives were immensely more impressive) – who were passed over. Though their nomination would have ignited a battle – one the president would win – about them, there would have been no doubts.

One wonders, why did the president not choose one of them? Why did he decide not to fight?

Because replacing O'Connor is an opportunity to shift the court to the right. Bush nominated an extremely conservative Judge, but one that the Dems will have an impossible time to lay a glove on. Roberts will shift the court to the right, and the BIGGEST compaint will be that Roberts is a white male. Bush will answer that by giving them most likely Janice Rogers Brown to replace Rehnquist. Bush is setting the table to go to a Conservative with a long paper trail on the next pick.