Part of the breakdown on the part of some conservatives regarding the Meirs nomination is that they appear to now want a conservative activist judge.
Since much of our side's argument when it comes to the court is that we don't want liberal activist judges, the current desire for 'our' activist judges makes us all look pretty bad.
I don't want a "conservative activist" (although I strain to imagine the reasons why one would be particularly horrible at this point in time). I want someone who will defend and restore the rule of law, like Thomas.