1 The book by Orrin Hatch, "Square Peg", gives some pretty good insight into how these things work. Usually, some names are floated around to the leadership of both parties by the White House and vice versa. For some reason, the Miers wasn't handled with the same degree of delicacy that Roberts was; and as was Clinton's later (and successful) appointments. I think what happened here is that the White House took conservatives as a given; and threw a moderate of questionable qualifications their way. A pretty big miscalculation...not the first for this White House. Short Answer: They have to start from Square One and now it'll be harder. They could have found an O'Connor clone, and squeezed that person through; but now they have to save face with the Hard Right of the party and push a conservative through - bringing in the spectre of a filabuster from the Democrats.

2 Hi Ogre, I'm just guessing here, but possibly GWB was shocked that his party didn't back him over Harriet Miers, and never even bothered to prepare a shortlist. That would seem to fit into his "I'm right because I know I'm right" reasoning and short-term thinking. Personally, I thought Ms Miers could be alright in that position - sometimes its good to bring someone who isn't hidebound in 'the way things are done round here' to breath new life into an institution. I have to admit however that her responses to the review committee were far less impressive than Robert's.

3 I suppose you could both be right on this one -- but I just don't get it. When I make a plan, I almost always have SOME sort of backup plan in case the first one doesn't work -- especially when the success of the plan is 100% dependent on someone else! I'm betting they're going to find an O'Connor clone.

4 WE HAVE THREE DAMN YEARS!!!!! WHY do we need to be so clever? The Dems CANNOT hold out that long! I spoke to my National Committeeman, Ron Kaufman, about this in early October, before Miers, and he said, 'Gee, Bork would be GREAT, but that's not the directorn they want to go'. No, they AREN'T going with a SDO'C clone, Ogre, They may FINALY realize that the true base will not be co-opted like that.

5 The Dems honestly believe they CAN hold out that long. With allies with R's after their name (Snow, Spectre, etc.), they CAN. And that's what bothers me.