Wait a minute. This gal was packing heat? How many panty waisted left wing wackos pack a pistol? Answer: zero.
Don't know about you guys, but I have found that liberals are literally afraid of guns. I had some friends over to see a football game once and brought out my unloaded hunting rifle to show one of them a new scope I'd mounted on it.
The liberal got very nervous and asked me to put it away.
If this gal was carrying a pistol, this is solidly reassuring.
I think you're right. The strategery of course is to confound the libs. Despite Bush's base who wanted a show of strength to put the Dems away, such an action would rally the Democratic base and give them that fund raising opportunity to find sympathy with soccer moms and their naughty daughters. So Bush spends some capital with his base and sends in church lady Harriet knowing she's got some good people around her like Thomas, Scalia, and now Roberts. Who is Harriet going to hang with? Miss Grundy Ginsberg so they can talk about their roscoes? I don't think so.