Janice Rodgers Brown. She's, first and most importantly, a conservative jurist. The fact that she's a woman (a woman replacing a woman) and Black (Pres. Bush hates AA's, see in New Orleans) will make it more difficult for the Dems to trash her, although of course they will. But these two issues will be taken away from them.
Strategery again. Damn that Rove, anyway (sarc).
She would be my pick.
Yes, the Democrats will be afraid to smear Janice Rogers Brown, just like they kept as quiet as church mice during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings.
Bush should put up a nominee the Democrats would be tempted to obstruct - it would rally the GOP base to turn out in the off year election. With them having more seats to defend, it would put many Dems in a sticky situation.