[Parmenio]

I definitely do not think that the Miers nomination was an intentional ploy. However, Bush recognized the error and quickly recouped with the Alito nomination.

Would that something similar had happened in the Reagan Administration.

[rhombus]

I'm not so sure about that. Bush knew the left was going to go after the nominee big time. When the right went after Miers, the left stepped back thinking the GOP was tearing itself apart. Then when Alito showed up, the right was happy and the left missed their opportunity as the public had moved on and didn't want to see another fight over a judge. When Alito's wife started crying over Democratic lack of civility and that made all the media, the Dems were done. Maybe it wasn't just a Rovian magnificent bastartd plan...but we should let the Donkies think it was. ;-)

Would it happen in the Reagan Administration... no, he nominated O'Conner and Kennedy.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

However, Bush recognized the error and quickly recouped with the Alito nomination.

After a firestorm of criticism by his own party. I have to wonder how Ms. Miers would have voted on this issue - and I'm glad that Justice Alito is there to vote to end this brutal practice.

[MBB1984]

Reagan made a clear mistake in O’Conner, though not nearly as big a mistake as Bush I made with Souter. However, Reagan tried Bork and was shot down with Spector, Kennedy leading the voting against him. Reagan then tried Ginsburg (not Ruth Buzzie Ginsburg) and he resigned due to past pot smoking. Reagan then, tired after the Borking and Ginsburg resignation, gave us Kennedy.

[zendari]

I do think it was an intentional ploy.

John Roberts was the President’s first man. Obviously, while he was vetting Roberts, he was keeping in mind other candidates to be the next nominee.

That said, how do you go from Roberts to Miers?

[pointsal]

7-2 would make me happier.