[ExGeeEye]

Betcha the process started at 12:30 pm Jan. 20, 2001.

[tom h]

"Bush supreme court pick 8 a.m ... Betcha the process started at 12:30 pm Jan. 20, 2001."

Agreed. He had his short list long ago. But I'll bet the final selection was not made until it was clear how the Roberts confirmation would proceed. These decisions are always political.

What I have always found interesting is that getting nominees approved has always been difficult. Of Eisenhower's five SCOTUS nominees, three were recess appointments. All were subsequently approved.

What does this mean? That getting your SCOTUS nominees approved always required some deftness on the part of the President.

[finnigan2]

"Betcha the process started at 12:30 pm Jan. 20, 2001."

- You're more than likely right.
I'm certain the name of the eventual pick will have Karl Rove's finger prints all over it. Bush can hardly lose. If he picks a minority or a woman with a conservative track record, he picks up support from those groups and also his political base and, when the Dems/MSM go crazy, he further paints them as Bush hating obstructionists.
In other words, the pick may be designed to create a big political flap rather than being a safe choice.
Regardless of the name, the Dems/MSM cannot afford another Roberts debacle.