It was all over Washington two years ago that Sandra Day O'Connor wanted to retire. It was also common knowledge in D.C. that after the 2002 election she told Bush she wanted to retire. Bush asked her to stay until after the 2004 election. She agreed. Bush felt certain he could get a better appointment confirmed in 2005 than he could in 2003.
Everyone in DC. knew this was going to happen. They were just waiting for an announcement. The Sandra Day O'Connor retirement in 2005 was printed in a lot of wire reports in 2003 and 2004. Kristal had no inside knowledge that every member of the Washington Press did not know a year or two ago. Everyone from Novak to Krauthammer printed stories that O'Connor was staying on until 2005 at the urging of President Bush. It was posted several times here on FreeRepublic.
To think that Bush would confide in anyone who would tell Kristal anything is beyond belief.
You can bet the farm that Kristal knows less than the average bear. You can also bet that the president has known for some time what was going to happen with retirements at the court. You can also bet the strategy to handle it has been decided for some time.
It is also true that the handful of people who know what the President is going to do have told no one. Insiders do not leak in this administration. The president makes sure he knows what various people know. Leakers soon find out that they were told stuff that only they were told. When they leak they get caught.. and if they get caught they are no longer insiders.
At the upper levels this administration does not leak. That is one of the reasons the media hates them.
The Democrats have to be careful not to do something that would cost them Rino and Dino support. If they do they will get the nuclear option and BAM.. they will be facing 20 years of conservative court. But if they go easy.. they will be facing 20 years of almost as conservative a supreme court. If they do block a Bush appointment no Democratic president will ever get a liberal confirmed again.
Republicans can't play hard ball first. But if deomcrats break the gentlemens agreement, then Republicans are free to do the same. I look for some Democrats to fold. I look for some of the RINOs to get a back bone. They were looking to play in the media sunshine of moderation.... only to feel the cold steel of the conservative knife pressing against their political backside.
It will be interesting to see what happens next.
Have you noticed that increasingly Trent Lott has become the spokesperson for Republicans in the Senate. I don't think Frist is calling any of the shots. I think the Senate Caucus decides and Lott is chosen as its spokesperson.
More and more the media is going to Lott and less and less to Frist. That is a sure indictaion of who they think is in control. It is a very interesting situation. It is certainly a different situation than I have ever witnessed.
I've got a feeling they will balloon a couple of middle of the roaders to test the waters and see if the social conservatives can do the dirty work and drag the middle to their side of the aisle. If the social conservatives can't do that, then expect a moderate (to freepers) to be nomimated. But I firmly stand that Bush will use the mouthpiece social conservatives to do the dirty work, being the mouthpieces and take the heat if they go over the top. This will hinge on how well the social conservatives handle the issue. Frankly, O'Conner if a wash will be no gain. My guess is the next nominee will be more conservative.
Excellent insight.
It could be that the SenateGOP have setup the Dems.
by agreeing on no filibuster.
bttt