Let's say you're W..you reasonably expect that you will have THREE SC appts to make in your second term..You also know that the Dems, and the far left-fringe groups will vehemently oppose ANYONE you send up...so you send up the guy who "appears" the least conservative.knowing that once the Dems jump on him..then anything they will say against your next two nominees can be dismissed...as the Dems opposing everything..it's smart politics..and Roberts will prove to be a superb judge...he's the next CJ..
Well, let me rephrase that. Conservatives who want the Constitution to be interpreted the way the founders intended and not activist judges who just make rulings that favor "our side" will be pleasantly surprised.