A fair number of Miers supporters (i don't keep notes as to which) asserted either that if Miers is dropped, President Bush would nominate somebody worse, e.g., Gonzales; or that they HOPED President Bush would nominate Gonzales in order to spite the people who voiced objection to the Miers nomination.
The good news is that nearly all of those people will unite behind the nomination of Alito.
There is tension in the DEM camp, and in the bowels of the gang of 14. Buy stock in Maalox!
I was pretty sure Bush would nominate Gonzales, because he's a personal friend, his name has been floated several times in the past and he'd be confirmable (because he's definitely on the RINO side).
I'm glad he didn't, and now I hope the pundit class gets behind this nominee and puts as much energy into attacking the Dems and their RINO supporters as they put into attacking Miers.
My hope and prediction is as follows: I have noticed McCain moving further to the right, in recognition of the difficult of winning the GOP primaries as a RINO. If Bush played this smart, then McCain has already signed on with Alito. If that is the case, then McCain can might intend for this battle to be his after-fight make-out session with the base. In that case, the other moderates will follow McCain with an eye towards them wanting him to be the next President.
Anyway, that is my hopeful prediction.
Once again GWB shows that he has more class than most in his party.
Conservatives calling him every name in the book, and he doesn't respond with a "spite" nomination, like Gonzales, but with Alito.
However, those that are pleased with Alito must acknowledge that Bush has done his part...now it's up to them to influence their representatives in Congress to approve Alito.
Otherwise, Bush's original plan for a "stealth" nominee will have seemed like the right plan.
Bork's "borking" eventually gave us Kennedy...not such a win for the conservatives. If Alito isn't put through, the next pick might not be as conservative.
Yes, I was unclear, but I had noticed that and disagreed with them, although I did support the idea of allowing the Miers hearing to happen and was disgusted by the nastiness of much of the anti-Miers sentiment.
My comment was more toward the general rumors about Gonzales each and every time there's an SC opening. People have worried themselves silly over something about which there was not an iota of evidence may occur.
Has Lindsey Graham commented yet? IMO, he would be wise to support this nomination. He's not 'out of the woods yet' over his inclusion with the "Gang of Fourteen".