Why couldn't GWB have nominated JRB, Emilio GArza, or Priscilla Owen?
I read Owens and Brown said "no thanks". The NY Slimes was going to investigate the Roberts childrens adoption until FR went into attack mode. What makes you think that the candidates WANT to go through that kind of he!!? If that's the case, the Prez can't tell us they all said "no".
Even if Brown and Owens said "no", there is a deep conservative bench on the federal judiciary to choose from.