[oceanview]

no one? if we eliminate the people we both agree had no chance because they were too visible and controversial - Brown, Luttig, Owens, a few others - there's no one else?

suppose Stevens passes away tomorrow? who is the pick to replace him?

[oceanview]

actually, I would pose that hypothetical question to everyone here:

suppose Stevens passes away tomorrow? who is the pick to replace him?

if we are so quick to accept Miers because we can't think of who else it could have been, what would we do if Stevens passed away tomorrow?

[Miss Marple]

There is no one else that Bush is sure would be conservative. Sure there are plenty of others with credentials; how can he be certain they won't be a Souter? His father nominated someone based on others' recommendations; he got Souter.

Bush knows that is one of his father's failures and he is doing his darndest to avoid it. He decided to go with someone he knew for sure wouldn't pull a Souter. I guess he could have gone with someone else, but I understand why he went with Miers.