It was suggested to me that if Miers is withdrawn, that Bush will not name another candidate this year, and allow O'Conner to sit another term instead. This way, next year Republican Senators will be forced to act like CONSERVATIVES, even if they are not, if they expect to get re-elected. This will insure that one of our best might just make it through without much trouble.
I for one, would love to see Lincoln Chaffee vote against a nominee two months before his own election.
Lincoln Chaffee will do what it takes to keep his very liberal constituency supporting him. If a conservative candidate is demonized by the press (as I expect) then he will vote against that candidate, and he will pay NO price in the general election.
This is the whole trouble with these senators. Chaffee, Snowe, and Collins answer to their electorates, which are very liberal. That's why they can only support a non-paper trail conservative.
Others, like Hagel, McCain, and Lugar, are in safe seats or aren't up for reelection until 2010.
Some, like Voinovich, have gone mushy and cowardly because they are afraid of the press.
Voinovich you could maybe cowe into voting with the President. The rest would do what they darn well pleased, based on how advantageous it is to them.