That's not the point: it strips the Democrats of the argument that his other nominations are extreme, helping Bush to appoint the most reliably conservative justices he can find. That in turn, helps the Republicans carry the day without having to resort to the nuclear option. All these factors will help Republican senators get re-elected in '06, '08 and '10.
These are the same points that got us Kennedy, O'Connor and Souter in the first place. Politics out the window. You can't fool the Democrats with a behind the back pass. No matter what he does they will be on the attack. I say, go for the gusto and accept their declaration of war.