i agree. i think all this a lot of spin so no one is ready to attack. with people like Brown, Owen, Luttig, Estrada, Jones, garza, etc... within seconds of the announcement the Dems and the Left will be all over them like glue. You'll be hearing about "Priscilla Owen's America" and the like. They have already opposed them, hey already have all the materials prepared, all the talking points, etc...
By picking someone slightly under the radar it allows the WH to define the pick before the Dems can smear him/her, like they did with Roberts. People saw the announcement. They saw he was young, good looking, humble, charming, good family with a wife and young kids, soft spoken, etc.. The dems had no credibility after that in saying he was some deomn who was going to be a radical on the court. In essence, his confirmation was secure right away. I look for a similar effort to be made this time.
I don't care what the Dems say or do and neither should W.
He should pick a solid originalist that is confirmable, but
not worry about Dem's attacking the nominees record.
If they Bork this first nominee, then send up another
even more conservative orginalist.