[dirtboy]

It is not clear that, after Mr. Robert's hearing, a better qualified nominee would have been rejected.

Oh, the rumblings were all out there from various key Senators if you bothered to look. Just about every pundit, left and right, agreed that the Dems would give this nominee a harder time than Roberts.

[ClaireSolt]

All of you Constitutionalists might stop and consider this another way. It has occurred to me that Bush met with Senate leaders and devised a strategy to return the appointment and confirmation of the judges to the Constitution and take away the influence of the interest groups. After all, they have no role under the constitution, at all.

[aBootes]

Oh, the rumblings were all out there from various key Senators if you bothered to look. Just about every pundit, left and right, agreed that the Dems would give this nominee a harder time than Roberts.On the contrary. I do know who was "rumbling." And having listened to "rumbling" before, it does not frighten.

The question, however, it not one of a "harder time," but of confirmation or not. I think there are some who would have made it and many who would have been willing to try.