Mark makes excellent points about avoiding the mistakes of the past.
What we don't know is how hard the President also tries to undo the mistakes of the past. He is determined for her not to be another Souter. The question is, even if she remains on the side of a strict reading of the Constitution, is she a mediocre legal talent or is she brilliant?
If you appoint a friend or business associate, you may overlook key characteristics that could get in the way of the work that needs to get done. This is a valid concern.
But the President that we have is like no other. He is the one who had to deliver the bad news in his father's administration. He has dealt with the worst of the job so there's no dancing around the edges-- he knows how to deal with the worst.
It is no accident that he has had the truly big successes he's had. We are really in a wait and see situation to find out if she can persuade us to support her regardless of the President's backing.
Let the Libs enjoy their little so-called victory....all the more fun when they get the rug pulled out from under them later. They always march in lockstep, throwing any ethics that threaten to get in the way to the wind. They did that with there defense of Clinton. The conservatives can appear to "eat their own" but in reality they have honest discord which is healthier in the long run. You have to respect that honesty. It's what made me a conservative after spending to many years as a Lib. Get voter fraud out of the way as others have said, and we'd be unstoppable.
The Libs hate this pick .. they are just holding their breath in hopes the we eat each other alive ...toss this nomination and split the party voater for 06 and 08
But it's a gamble for them .. Either the President is right that Miers is a good conservative choice or another nominee is picked and is a well known conservative judge