I would guess that he queried five women and only Janice Rogers-Brown said, "Send me!" She's that feisty and will NOT back down.
But he has since cooled to Rogers-Brown because, among other tings, Reid served notice that a Rogers-Brown nomination would be a declaration of total war, the Democrats would shut down the Senate if necessary to derail her nomination.
I firmly believe that the ensuing battle would have resulted in far more hurt on the Democrats' cause going into next year's elections. I know that Bush's base would have been FIRED UP in a way that they are not with respect to Miers' nomination.
It did not have to be a woman. Ok. Let's see. Lets put up 4 men, 4 woman, and a half-and-half. Make you feel better?
It has nothing to do with Laura Bush wanting a woman. Look at the group photo of the Justices, and with oconnor gone all you have is one female justice and I am not so sure she is even female. If ginsberg takes ill and has to leave there will be no women on the Court. Do you see the Picture this creates? Do you see the perception of a male dominated court in 2005 or 2006? We will look like the Party that just does not believe that women measure up to men. I would love to see Stevens and Ginsburg go one right after the other, and then GWB say Ok, no more trashing of nominees this is who I want or we will just run short, and that way the Republicans will have all the winning majority. This of course is after Miers is confirmed.