Many social/fiscal conservatives "put up" with fiscal liberal policies because they believed a promise of judicial restraint for SCOTUS. Now they are confounded and confused by a nomination that is "stealth."
The resulting outpouring is quite understandable, and was predictable.
I think his pick makes perfect political sense. Mr. Bush is edging toward the ropes. This has been a bad year for him. His social security reform has fallen on deaf ears, the opposition to his war is gaining momentum, the hurricane situation, rightly or wrongly, gave him a black eye, and he's got his highest level advisers under the gun in the Plame matter. He just didn't need to subject the country or his administration and party to another Thomas-like confirmation hearing when he could achieve his goals with a low-profile nominee. I think everything will be just fine and I admire his wisdom in sparing us the acrimony that would certainly have resulted from an overt conservative nominee.