I'll strongly disagree with you on that. A pro-abort will be a shoe-in. Almost all of the democrats would vote for one, and at least 10, more likely 20 Republicans would do so as well. Where are you going to get 51 votes to defeat a pro-abort judge if one was put up by Bush?
I think he was referring to Bush going down in flames (legacy), not the nominee. It would be the end of the republican party.
No, you misunderstood me. If Bush appoints a pro-abort judge, BUSH will go down in flames. I know, he's a lame duck, and will not stand for election again. But he will lose millions of votes from his base, the Democrats will start picking up seats in congress, and hillary will have a far better chance of winning in 2008.
I'm not just talking about my own views. I'm talking about millions of Evangelicals and pro-life Catholics who would stay home in 2006 and 2008. The momentum of the last three elections would be lost.
Sure, Bush could betray his base and put a flaming RINO on the Supreme Court because he happens to be an old friend and political associate. But it would be the end of his support from social conservatives.