So glad that you said that. This mantra of "you never weighed in on someone who wasn't even being seriously discussed until she started being seriously discussed means you can't discuss her" is a bunch of bull.
It's all about quelling the Souter-haters. Gotta put them down because if the RINOs don't, this nominee won't sneak through. Slime the critics, then slide through another RINO...but that won't fly this time. Too many people are tired of O'Connors and Kennedys and Souters. We've worked too hard too long to get screwed again and smile.