Nope. The gender issue is NOT off the table. Conservatives were accused of being 'anti-woman'. Picking a man would be Smack Number Two at conservatives.
All the more reason we should keep pushing for Janice Rogers Brown, since this process has been tainted. Not only a great mind, but a woman, and a minority to boot.
I hate to bring factors like that up when talking about the Supreme Court [I pulled for Brown prior to this fiasco actually], but we need to put on some armor at this point to shield ourselves from Bush as well as the left.
"I really think that Bush thought he was doing the right thing in Miers."
I disagree. If you are confident in your choice, you don't bypass proper vetting with something this important. When a president bypasses proper vetting, particularly with someone perceived being the president's friend, watch out.
"I don't mean to be sexist or in any way misogynistic, but we don't know what Bush thought of the others and who had withdrawn from consideration prior to the pick. We just don't."
His top choices weren't the conservative top choices. So that is another bad sign.
"I think it was the desire to pick a woman that caused the Miers choice. I think that was the mistake. Not the pick."
Ha! There are many outstanding conservative females who would greatly improve this court. I don't hesitate to bash some women when they sound nuts. I slammed Peggy Noonan one time. I slammed Madam Not-So-Bright and the Wookie [Reno] constantly. I think the lipstick petition of female marines was completely insane. But when I see brilliance, it's not always male. Most notably: Ann Coulter.
Best bet is to call it as you see it. My advice is, look at what people say and do, and try to leave gender out of it.
I hope you don't feel too smacked.......:-)