After Souter was appointed (why would Sr. have to bow to Rudman's wishes) So using your reasoning, Reagan also bowed to somebody's wishes in appointing O'Connor.
Whatever your conspiracy machinations, the point still stands that Bill Clinton got to appoint two Justices.
If Republicans appointed conservatives, it would not matter who Clinton appointed.
To which party do the terms "political expediency" and "moral relativism" apply?